THE FOWLING-PIECE. 327 



the whole bring him more game, as a few additional 

 pounds in the weight makes a deal of difference in 

 the distance the person travelling can carry it with 

 ease, and few persons can shoot well when fatigued. 



The most approved guns under the system which 

 prescribes a heavy charge of powder and a light 

 one of shot, are double-barrels, bearing the following 

 relative proportions of length to calibre;* four- 

 teen gauge, thirty-four inches long ; seventeen 

 gauge, thirty-two inches long ; twenty gauge, thirty 

 inches long. For the shooter who never uses shot 

 larger than No. 6 or 7, these are proper proportions ; 

 and did the guns weigh nine or ten pounds each, 

 they would shoot No. 6 or 7 shot well. But when 

 under seven pounds and a half, which is the 

 heaviest gun we should think of using in hot 

 weather, or for a long day's woodcock shooting, 

 they do not throw small shot as effectively as a 

 short gun throws large shot. 



Barrels twenty-eight inches long, and fourteen, 

 sixteen, or eighteen gauge, are of convenient 

 size for a gun not exceeding seven pounds and 

 a half. Those of eighteen gauge shoot shot well ; 

 but those of fourteen throw a cartridge more satis- 

 factorily. Sixteen is a desirable medium. These 



* The size of the bore, gauge, or calibre of a gun by which is 

 meant the diameter of the barrel is distinguished by the number of 

 leaden balls fitting it which make a pound j thus, eighteen leaden 

 bullets, each fitting an 18 gauge barrel, make a pound ; sixteen fit- 

 ting a 16 gauge, or fourteen fitting a 14 gauge barrel, are also equal 

 to a pound. The different gauges are also known by the number of 

 thirty-seconds of an inch the diameter consists of ; thus, the dia- 

 meter of an 18 gauge barrel is 20-32's of an inch ; a 16 gauge 21 - 

 32's ; and a 14 gauge 22-32's. 



