SNIPE 253 



situation every ounce of weight tells. Advocates of 

 the small-bore guns for snipe-shooting claim for their 

 diminutive arms that, being so much lighter, they are 

 more quickly brought to bear than are larger guns 

 upon fast-flying birds. Still, with the wider killing 

 circle of its increased shot-charge, the 12-bore will 

 contribute, day in and day out, more greatly to the 

 success of the snipe-shooter of this country than pro- 

 bably any other denomination of shot-gun. 



On whatever grounds snipe-shooters may agree to 

 differ, they must of necessity concur in the opinion that 

 with respect to the explosives at his command the 

 gunner of to-day is in a position far superior to that 

 occupied by his fore-elders. In the old black powder 

 days the humid atmosphere of the marsh would often 

 hold in suspension the thick smoke of the explosion, 

 thus completely excluding from view all objects in front 

 of the shooter, and so frequently preventing the use of 

 the second barrel. Now, the thin vaporous smoke of 

 present-day nitro-compounds is little in evidence, whilst 

 the slight noise of their explosion, of course, exercises 

 a far less disturbing effect upon a marsh full of shy 

 wild-fowl than did the all-terrifying roar of the old 

 black powder. On another point, also, there would 

 seem to be general agreement among snipe-shooters, 

 namely, with regard to the size of shot most suitable for 

 their sport, the size known as No. 8 being, invariably, 

 selected by the snipe-shooter of Great Britain. This 

 small size of shot is, of course, best employed when 

 snipe are the sole objects of pursuit, but where teal or 

 wild-duck are met with No. 6 shot may be used with 

 much advantage. 



It may here be remarked that in I oz. of each of the 



T 



