352 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



if we are forced to replenish it several times during a day's 

 shooting; we seldom or never more than half fill ours; but 

 when we have no Marker along to carry extra ammunition, and 

 hope to enjoy a fine day's sport, we are tempted to fill it to the 

 brim. The dampness, or rather the salt air of the Sea-shore, is 

 very apt to disarrange the spring or screw of these flasks, and 

 consequently require our particular attention; a little oil or 

 mercurial ointment applied to them will prevent the accumula- 

 tion of rust. 



ONE BARREL USED MORE THAN THE OTHER. 



The right barrel, in the hands of all Sportsmen, is used more 

 frequently than the left, and consequently in old Guns is gene- 

 rally found to be far thinner than the left. This habit ought to 

 be avoided as much as possible, and the novice should accustom 

 himself to pull the trigger of the left-hand barrel with the same 

 facility that he does the right. 



SHOT-BAGS OR POUCHES. 



The old style of Shot-bag, strung around the neck with its 

 brass charger attached, is entirely ruled out of the catalogue of 

 sporting apparatus, and is now seldom seen, except in the hands 

 of some old-fashioned country sporting friend, who still fondly 

 clings to the antiquated notions and prejudices of his forefathers. 

 This bag has given place to the more convenient and more 

 likely looking leather pouch, which can be stowed away in the 

 pocket, and, though containing several pounds of shot, lies so 

 snugly in its place as scarcely .to be felt about the person. The 

 charger attached to it is made of brass or steel ; the latter is 

 preferable, and we will explain in a moment our reasons for this 

 preference. The charger attached to the mouth of the pouch 

 has a spring handle to it, which governs the movements of the 

 two small sliding-doors that control the flow of shot from the 

 pouch into the Gun, or rather measures out the proper quantity 

 for a load. When this spring is pressed upon and the pouch 

 everted, with the mouth of the charger inserted into the muzzle 

 of the piece, the forward slide is raised up and the inner slide is 



