liiO FRANK FORESTER'S FIELD SPORTS. 



Indian rubber is an abomination ; as, if it excludes water, it 

 also excludes air, prevents ventilation, and enclosing all the 

 exudations and transpirations of the pores, is equally uncom- 

 fortable, unwholesome, and filthy. The moment boots are full 

 of water, they are a dead weight, and of course a disadvan- 

 tage ; I have, therefore, in all ordinary ground, long abandoned 

 the attempt to keep dry ; and invariably use laced ancle boots 

 of heavy cowhide, for all sorts of sporting. These may be worn 

 either with short gaiters and ti'ousers ; or, what I consider 

 in every particular superior, and especially in the facility they 

 give to movement in encumbei'ed ground, or among brushwood 

 and stumps, knee-breeches, and leathern leggins, buttoned on 

 the outside. The breeches may be made of corduroy or fus- 

 tian for spring and winter, of duck or drilling for summer 

 shooting ; and, if made long and loose from the hip to the knee, 

 I believe no walker who has once adopted them in this climate 

 will ever return to heavy boots and trousers. 



If, however, the Snipe-shooter is determined on endeavoring 

 to keep himself dry, he had better provide himself with long 

 boots from Canada, which he can procure, perfectly water- 

 proof and of excellent quality, of any maker in Montreal or 

 Quebec, for eight dollars a pair ; whereas the same, not equal- 

 ly well-made, would cost him double the price, in New- York. 

 I will here, farther state, that Mr. CuUen, No. 119 Broad- 

 way, New-York, is the only workman on this side the Atlantic, 

 whom I know, that can tuiTi out a real-working-shooting-boot 

 or shoe. 



If you adopt my plan, reader mine, you must make up your 

 mind to get wet through in five minutes after going out, and to 

 continue wet through, until your return home at night ; but be- 

 lieve me, as in many other cases, ce ri'est que le premier pas qui 

 coute, the first shock is all that you have to dread ; the water 

 within the shoe immediately becomes warm, by contact with 

 the foot, and you think no more about it, afi;er five minutes ; 

 while in a long day's fag the absence of the heavy, dragging 



