BAY SHOOTING. 119 



only. But this gTin should not be fired with to exceed 1 oz. at 

 the utmost of No. 8 shot. 



For autumn shooting, spring Snipe shooting and the like, 

 the piece I should recommend would be 32 inches barrel, 14 

 guage, and from 7 1 to 8 lbs. weight, and this I believe to be 

 the most killing proportion that can be adopted,, and by all 

 odds the best gun for general shooting, and therefore the mosl; 

 sei-viceable and most appropriate for a man who uses but one 

 piece. 



For Bay Snipe shooting, or inland wild fowl shooting, a heav- 

 ier piece is requisite, if we would do the greatest possible exe- 

 cution with a given gun, and for these purposes I would prefer 

 a length of 36 inches with a weight of ten pounds, and a guage 

 of 12. I am still speaking of double guns. 



But for large-fowl shooting, and especially at large flocks, I 

 would by all means prefer a single gun, as a double gun of the 

 requisite length and calibre would be wholly unmanageable if 

 made of the proper weight of metal ; and must consequently be 

 made so light, preserving the true length and guage, as to kick 

 very severely, if not to be dangerous. 



The heaviest shoulder gun that can be used conveniently and 

 quickly, is from 13 to 16 lbs., and with this weight a length of 42 

 inches, and No. 7 guage, 3 oz. of No. 1 or 2 shot can be thrown 

 with the greatest possible effect, and will do more execution 

 than larger shot. A is the biggest that should ever be fired from 

 a shoulder gun, and if made in a green wire cartridge, will exe- 

 cute as far as can possibly be desired, even at Geese or Swans. 

 The best wadding for Duck guns is thick felt wadding, and the 

 best powder is that already named — Curtis & Harvey's Hawkers 

 Ducking powder. A little less than the same measure which 

 contains your charge of shot, full of powder, is the right charge 

 for guns of all weights and calibres, according to the new and 

 true system of heavy powder, light shot. 



I am perfectly satisfied that one sportsman, using two such 

 single guns as that here described, will kill double the quantity 

 of game that will be brought to bag by another using a double 



