AMMUNITION 39 
In this connection there are, and can be, no hard and fast 
rules. The experience of the sportsman himself must decide. 
One may, perhaps, give some general indication however. 
For all ordinary work, 5 or 54—I prefer the latter—is a 
safe all-round size with a long-chambered 12-bore gun. No. 4 
is useful also for flighting work on duck, curlew, plover, etc. 
when the wind is rising. 
Large shot should zo be fired often from 12-bores. 
For geese I have found No. 3 shot an excellent size zx 
calm weather. It is not very generally used, I believe, but a 
trial will convince the gunner that I am correct. Small 
chilled-shot pellets of No. 3 find their way in among the 
thick feather-cushions of geese in a surprising fashion. 
In a gale, however, when the shooting is best, or, on the 
other hand, for long stalking shots, much larger sizes must be 
used. No. 1 and B.B. are the most popular sizes in Norfolk 
and Essex, and are very deadly. No. 3 is essentially a size 
for use in moderate conditions. 
While dealing with shot, one should not omit to mention 
the method of confining the pellets in tallow invented by 
Colonel Hawker in 1837. 
This plan is not, perhaps, very general, and it involves 
some trouble and experiment. Nevertheless, it answers 
excellently in certain cases. During the winter of 1908, in 
conjunction with my fowler, John Snell—as good and ex- 
perienced a sportsman as can be found upon the eastern coast 
—I made careful trial of this loading. Brass cases were used, 
and charges of No. 1 and also of B.B. were confined not in 
tallow, but in the best hog’s lard. Some very long shots were 
the result, and the penetration was enormous. It may be said 
at once, however, that a beginner or only a moderate shot 
will not do much with the grease cartridge. Absolutely 
straight shooting is essential. 
And let me recommend any sportsmen who have not tried 
