BAY-SNIPE SHOOTING. 87 



Notwithstanding the greatest experience, and de- 

 spite the most favorable signs, the oldest gunner will 

 find that more or less uncertainty exists in obtaining 

 sport, and that his unlucky expeditions generally out- 

 number his lucky ones. Often a flight will commence 

 unexpectedly and without any apparent reason ; 

 and a change of weather, after along continuance of 

 wind from one quarter, will be followed by good 

 shooting for some days, although such weather is 

 not intrinsically favorable. The follower of bay- 

 birds must therefore make up his mind to disap- 

 pointment, and on such occasions live on his hopes 

 for the future, or his recollections of the past. 



For this sport a heavy gun, such as is commonly 

 employed for ducks, is not at all necessary ; inasmuch 

 as many of the birds are small and the flocks fre- 

 quently scattered, it is rarely desirable to use two 

 ounces of shot and five drachms of powder ; and to 

 fire such a charge at a solitary dowitcher, as is often 

 done, is simply ridiculous. A light field-gun, with 

 an ounce and a quarter of shot and three drachms 

 and a half of powder, (or, as I prefer, an ounce of shot 

 and three drachms of powder,) is amply sufficient — 

 will confer more pleasure and require more skill in 

 the use, will cut down a reasonable number from a 

 flock, and will kill a single bird handsomely. 



The gun should be kept at half-cook, and may be 

 laid upon a bench beside the sportsman ; there is 

 always time to cock it, even if a flock is not seen till 

 it is over the stools ; and a gun at full cock in a stand, 

 is a danger that no reasonable man will encounter. 



