Tree-Shooting 43 



reaching him, he was within range. If a fish lies a few 

 inches under water he is quite safe from shot unless the 

 muzzle of the gun is so close that the pellets travel to- 

 gether like a bullet. At a distance the shot is supposed 

 to glance as it strikes the water at an angle ; for that 

 reason the elevation of the tree was an advantage, 

 since from it the charge would plunge into the pool. 

 A jack may be killed in some depth of water when 

 the gun is nearly perpendicularly above the mark ; 

 but in any case the aim must be taken two inches or 

 more, according to circumstances, beneath the appa- 

 rent position of the fish, to allow for refraction. 



Sometimes the jack when hit comes to the surface 

 belly upwards, but sometimes keeps down or sinks, 

 and floats a considerable distance away from the 

 spot ; so that in the muddy water disturbed by the 

 shot it is difficult to find him. If a snake be shot at 

 while swimming he will sometimes sink like a stone, and 

 can be seen lying motionless at the bottom. After we 

 got hold of a small deer rifle we used to practise at 

 the snakes in the mere — aiming at the head, which is 

 about the size of a nut, and shows above the surface 

 wobbling as they move. I recollect cutting a snake's 

 head clean off" with a ball from a pistol as he 

 hastened away through the grass. 



In winter, when the jacks came up and lay imme- 



