382 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



and cramped, from a lack of shelter when compelled 

 to face the cold and wet, that, after but two days in the 

 open, they were, from their miserable plight, scarcely 

 worth a charge of shot. 



It is often the case that two or three men are 

 employed for four or five days in bolting rabbits with 

 a view to subsequent sport, and that about the fourth 

 or fifth day, if the weather has been unfavourable, 

 the rabbits that were first turned out are back in 

 their burrows safe from the gun, for rain soon washes 

 away even the odour of spirits of tar. 



Now if, instead of two or three men working for 

 nearly a week, half a dozen are engaged for two days, 

 there would be no extra expense, and many more 

 rabbits to shoot at. 



Babbits can be bolted just as effectually in two 

 days by six men as they can in four days by three men, 

 and the great advantage of bolting them in two days 

 is that they are then more likely to remain above 

 ground in the case of wet than they ever would be for 

 the longer period, and there is, of course, always 

 more chance of two fine days and nights than of 

 four. 



You may rest assured that the less time you spend 

 in bolting your rabbits, and the sooner you shoot 

 them after they are bolted, the better will be the 

 sport they afford both in regard to numbers and 

 health. 



