PIGEON-MATCH SHOOTING. 273 



survive some of us representatives of the rising 

 generation. 



Many of the private matches of the day have 

 emanated from Krider's, and at some of these 

 we have witnessed shooting, which might com- 

 pare favorably with the exploits at the Old Hats, 

 the Red House or any other ancient place of 

 meeting for the English Sporting Clubs. The 



late Mr. S n was a celebrated pigeon shot. 



Messrs. F. G. and C. J. Wolbert, Jr., Major Flom- 

 merfelt, Dr. Sartori, and many others are also 

 very sure. Of the professed shooters, Mr. D. 

 Wills is perhaps the best in the state, either at 

 single or double birds. The spring-trap is now 

 comparatively little used; being considered by 

 practised pigeon shooters to give the bird too 

 little chance of escape. At the public matches, 

 some of the old rules still in force are objec- 

 tionable, and often give rise to dispute. The 

 charges should always be limited to an ounce 

 and a half of shot, which throws ducking-guns 

 and demi-rakers out of play, and places all bar- 

 rels of a moderate guage on a par. The judge 

 should also examine the birds to be shot at, be- 

 fore the match begins, and reject all such as are 

 not strong and well fledged. Such as still have 

 the squab-cry should never be allowed to any 



