go SEAFOWL SHOOTING SKETCHES. 



and the stretchers be wedged in and wrapped fast to the string-, 

 beginning iin. from the place they are to be fixed and continuing 

 iin. past, fastening the ends of the whipcord as before. 



Having fixed these, take off the bow string by the same means 

 that you got it on, and commencing, say, 4in. from one end with 

 top of bow string wrap singly i^in., then take in bottom of bow 

 string and bring it to the top, taking both together for i^in. Pro- 

 ceed singly to form the eye of the string, making a knot at 

 each turn in this part for strength and ornament. When you get 

 to the part where the top and bottom are joined go over it again, 

 finishing with i^in. single on the lower string. 



Put a thick leather washer over each horn of the bow, and get 

 the string back in its place by the same means you got it off. 

 It will be rather more difficult, perhaps, as the various whippings, 

 the stretchers, and the leather washers will have shortened it 

 somewhat. Should the string be rather short, either omit the 

 leather washers or let them be very thin. 



Of course, you make everything as tight as possible, and the 

 work will take probably five or six hours. In the old time the 

 charge for stringing was 75. 6d., which, considering the work and 

 cost of material, was very reasonable. If your bow has not got 

 a string at all, try to get to see one at a museum. When properly 

 adjusted the bullet crossbow is very accurate, and it is easy to 

 hit a penny at ten paces with it. The foresight is a white bead 

 on a black thread or horsehair stretched across the " grains," 

 as the serrated forked foresight is termed, and by raising or de- 

 pressing or turning to right or left the sight can be very finely 

 adjusted. The backsight is a leaf with about four pinholes about 

 iin. apart. If you find you can use the lower one you can leave 

 all the holes open to get different elevation. But stop any that 

 may be too low with beeswax. 



I use a bullet of 4o's gauge. The crossbow is much more 

 effective for rook-shooting than a spring air-gun, the ball being 

 so much heavier, though even with the bow it sometimes takes 

 a few shots to knock the bird out of the tree. 



A few words of caution are necessary as to using the bow. If 

 it be one with a stock similar to a gun with a spring hook at the 

 extremity of the butt, be sure to hear the lever catch before you 

 take your hand from it. A friend of mine, nearly 40 years ago, 

 neglected this, and taking off the pressure of his hand the bow 

 flew up to meet the lever, when one fork of the grains struck 

 him in the nose and there broke off, penetrating an inch and leav- 

 ing about the same amount standing outside. This he seized 

 and tugged out. Fortunately, it was not his eye or forehead, or 

 he would probably have been killed. As it was, the wound healed 

 all right, and he is still well and hearty. 



