DECOYS AND HOW TO USE TPIEM 61 



if the other extreme is not taken by selecting one excessively 

 clumsy and incapable of concealment. The only essential re- 

 quirement necessary to your selected craft is " stability," in 

 order thereby to secure a steady aim, which the oscillations of 

 an ordinary light skiff would certainly destroy. 



Guns are things which depend in a great measure upon 

 what a man has been accustomed to. Some can shoot and 

 handle any weapon with a proficiency which is remarkable, 

 and bend appears of little consequence to them ; but then 

 these are men who have spent the whole of their lives in 

 shooting. Yet it has been long ago decided that when once 

 you find a gun really suits you, it is very unwise to exchange 

 it for another. The worst shots one meets with are those 

 who are constantly changing their guns and trying new 

 bends and such-like experiments. Strength of trigger is also 

 of importance, and you should not have a weapon on board 

 pulling under 3 Ibs. or 4 Ibs., otherwise accidents are likely to 

 arise perhaps fatal. 



How many are there who have not fallen into the error of 

 taking a too heavy gun with them for this branch of sport, 

 and having in consequence missed half a dozen good shots, four 

 out of which they would at least have killed with their 

 ordinary weapon ? They seem thoroughly satisfied because 

 they kill one long shot, and they do not pay any regard to the 

 many pricked and wounded birds which they never ought to 

 have fired at. 



It is the most pernicious practice possible to plume one's 

 self over long shots, as one cannot fail to comprehend, who 

 considers for a moment, the subsequent misery and lingering 

 deaths thereby brought about ; much rather pride one's self 

 and relieve one's conscience in having killed clean such birds 

 as are within easy range. 



In shooting over decoys, weight of weapons, so long as 

 they can be easily handled, is not a very material consider- 

 ation, for you must remember that you are stationed in one 

 position most of the time, and moving about is adverse to 

 success; more specially when on the water, place your gun 



