358 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



their construction, and can be made by the Sportsman himself, 

 or any of the younger members of his family, or, what is better, 

 can be purchased for a trifle of the Gunsmith in any reason- 

 able quantity at a few hours' notice. The process for making 

 them is as follows : Having procured a round plug of wood 

 about four inches long, perfectly cylindrical, and two or three 

 sizes smaller than the bore of the gun, a few sheets of strong 

 pliable paper, together with a quantity of thin cut waddings and 

 a convenient measure for the shot, we commence operations as 

 follows: The paper is first cut into pieces of the proper dimen- 

 sions for holding the shot, which of course will be regulated by 

 the size of the gun and our previous experience; this being- 

 done, we place ourself before a table with everything conve- 

 nient around us; a wad is now grasped by the left index-finger 

 and thumb, and placed against the inner extremity of the cart- 

 ridge-roller, and there held by the finger and thumb of the right 

 hand ; one of the cartridge papers is now put under the roller 

 with sufficient of its surface extending beyond the roller, say 

 half an inch, that, when folded upon itself, as hereafter to be 

 described, it will make a tight cylinder. The paper, wad, and 

 roller, all being arranged as above described by a rapid and 

 dextrous movement of the hand, the roller is forced to turn in 

 an even and regular manner over the surface of the table, carry- 

 ing the paper along with it, and which is made to encircle the 

 roller as tightly as possible. The projecting portion of the 

 paper is now folded snugly upon the wadding at the end of the 

 roller, and the forming of the cylinder finished by raising the 

 roller and giving the end of it a smart tap or two on the table, 

 by way of pressing the folds more securely together. The next 

 movement is to withdraw the roller from the cylinder, leaving the 

 wadding at the bottom to strengthen it; the shot is then poured 

 into the cylinder from the measure already agreed upon, and 

 after being well shaken down, another wadding is placed over 

 it, and the projecting edges of the paper folded tightly over it. 

 By this process we will have the proper load of shot in a close, 

 compact, and convenient form, and which can be carried in the 

 pocket loosely, or in small packages of fives and tens. When 

 the fino-ers once become familiar with the handling of the im- 

 plements necessary for making cartridges, it is astonishing the 



