126 WILDFOWL SHOOTING IN THE WESTERN STATES. 



stances, but the success of those shots depends upon 

 the position that the game may be in when the missiles 

 are delivered. If a wild goose is heading towards 

 you, however accurate your aim may be, at forty-five 

 yards you may fail to kill, at longer distances if you 

 have the object of your aim placed in a better position, 

 you are certain to do execution. 



A gun is frequently condemned because it does not 

 kill dead at a moderate range when first it is used in 

 the field, without any consideration being taken of 

 the position of the game at the time it is shot at. 

 The shooter, in consequence, loses confidence in his 

 weapon, which makes him shoot badly, and further 

 causes its owner to form far from a favourable opinion 

 of the skill of the maker. 



Another matter, old, possibly, as the hills, yet, like 

 many good things, deserves repetition. Find out 

 exactly the charge, by repeated trials, that gives the 

 best result, and stick to it. Overloading with shot is 

 the most common mistake, and one that will do more 

 to prevent a gun shooting strong, or making a good 

 pattern, than any other. An instance of this was 

 most markedly brought under my observation, which 

 I think worthy of recounting. A very intimate 

 friend, a resident of St. Louis, never could get a gun 

 to suit him. He was a very nervous man, and, as a 

 natural consequence, a very indifferent shot. More- 

 over, the weapons he used were of the commonest 

 description, such as were very abundant a few years 

 ago throughout the United States. One day I 

 chaffed him about a succession of egregious misses 

 that he had made, and alluded in strongly derisive 

 terms to the gun he used. " What ? why, man, 

 it is made by one of the best old country makers ; 

 look at the name Egg, London." And, true 

 enough, there was the time-honoured name deeply 

 lettered on both stock and rib. Of course, it is 

 needless to say it was " a fraud," but it took a long 



