OF SPORTSMEN 23 



gunmakers. How many years was it before 

 the latter were at last induced, by actual 

 experience with the try-gun, to let us have a 

 say as to the length of our own stocks? 

 Then we escaped from the old straight short 

 stock which saved the life of so many a bird. 

 The Americans apparently have not done 

 so yet, for I read in the catalogue of their 

 biof2*est firm of ounmakers that all stocks 

 will be sent out i2| inch long with a drop 

 [Anglke, bend) of 2| inch, and departures 

 from this pattern will be charged ten dollars 

 extra. Our gunmakers certainly make us 

 pay for our " scatterguns," but they draw the 

 line at two guineas extra for gun-fitting. 

 Now we are trying, and at last with a little 

 success, to escape from the thraldom of 

 ''12-bore 30-inch barrels," a sealed pattern 

 which has been crammed down the throats 



