332 SHOOTING. 



or beam, and do more damage to the framework of 

 a ship than the small one. Upon the same prin- 

 ciple, we think large shot is more effective for shoot- 

 ing the stronger species of game. 



But assuming that game is right well fortified 

 with a covering of fur, feathers, or down, that cir- 

 cumstance would not induce us to resort to small 

 shot ; quite the reverse, because we know that small 

 shot cannot be fired through down effectively from 

 a large gun at thirty yards, much less from a light 

 fowling-piece. No stanchion-gun will shoot No. 7 

 effectively at hoopers, geese, and the larger wild 

 fowl, the birds killed would be chiefly such as were 

 struck in the head, not one would be stopped by a 

 body blow ; yet large shot from the stanchion-gun, 

 after passing through down, strikes an effective 

 body blow. No doubt, No 7 may be shot through 

 down, but after overcoming the resistance, it would 

 scarcely injure the bird, certainly not break a bone. 



Thus we find, that small shot fired from any gun 

 is totally inadequate to kill birds protected with 

 down by a body blow ; but that large shot, flying 

 from a large gun with not half the velocity of the 

 ineffectual small shot, achieves what is desired. It 

 is the momentum that effectuates the object. 



A collateral advantage arising from the use of 

 large shot should not be overlooked. In order to 



O 



kill in good style with small shot, the aim must be 

 such that the bird fired at shall be near the centre 

 of the charge as thrown ; for if the bird be near 

 the outer circle of the charge, it is ten to one that 

 it is only slightly wounded ; but if near the outer 



