380 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



or elsewhere, and by whatever gunsmith. Guns 

 are now brought to such a pitch of excellence 

 that inferior ones would be hard to find, if a fair 

 price be given and a respectable dealer consulted.* 

 The least valuable should be taken fowling. Salt 

 water ruins a pretty weapon in no time ; they can- 

 not thus be too plain. Every atom of engraving, 

 every chink and corner, will at sea become, even 

 with the utmost care, a trap for rust. A fowler can- 

 not expect to keep his guns so clean or look after 

 them so well in a duck-punt as if land-shooting. 

 The constant wear and tear and hard cleaning 

 requisite when fowling will rub to pieces a daintily- 

 built gun in no time. In these days a gun can be 

 loaded so easily and quickly, that two single-barrels 

 are all that is wanted in a double punt. They are 

 very handy and light, and should be at least three 

 inches shorter in the barrel than is usual. You won't 

 notice any difference on the pensioners thereby, but 

 the convenience of reduced weight and length will 

 soon be seen. They will be as mere pistols to 

 carry over the mud when chasing the wounded, 

 compared to what a double gun would feel ; and this 

 is to be thought of when a shooter is laden with 



take your own choice by all means. Your judgment may pick out a 

 first-class weapon ; on the other hand it may not. 



* Nothing pleases gunmakers like a supposed improvement or an 

 alteration in the manufacture of guns, for such changes bring " grist " 

 to their mills. " Novelty ! novelty ! we can't have too much of it," 

 they cry. Hammerless guns were their last windfall. Yet one of 

 the most practical sportsmen I know told me the other day that he 

 could discover very slight, if any, advantage in a hammerless gun ; 

 and I quite agree with him. Quoth he, " What is the difference as 

 to trouble between cocking small rebounding hammers that lie below 

 the line of sight, and moving a safety-bolt or indicator ? " 



