Tliis is reason enough for a novice to let smoke- 

 less alone, until he has learned by experience just 

 what charge he wants. 



n 



SIZE OF SHOT 



Many different sizes of shot are used in duck 

 shooting, and all are satisfactory, from the market 

 hunter with his 1 0-gauge and No. 2s, to the sports- 

 man with his No. 5s. In fact, the size of shot 

 depends largely on where you are hunting. If it is 

 late in the season, and you are hunting on salt 

 water, you will need heavy shot and strong loads, 

 something in the neighbornood of 3s or 4s. But 

 early in the autumn, when the birds are not in full 

 feather, 5s or 6s will do. The writer has used 7s 

 and even 8s v/ith success, early in the year ; but 

 ordinarily, this shot would be too light. Every one 

 who has been afield, can remember almost impossi- 

 ble shots they have made. Sometimes you will 

 "crumple up" a strong flying canvas-back at an impos- 

 sible range, with a charge of 8s ; and again, the 

 heaviest shot seems too light. It is a good plan 

 when going on a long hunt to take shells loaded 

 with several sorts of shot. The smaller sizes will 

 come in handy for killing cripples or an occasional 

 yellow-leg, or Wilson's snipe. 



It is remarkable how a load of No. 8s will kill 

 a cripple, when it is half under water, and at long 

 range, and yet at flying birds they are unsatisfactory. 



51 



