108 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Jan. 25, 1913 
Shooting in 1818. 
From a copy of Nicholson's British Encyclo¬ 
pedia, published in Philadelphia in i8i8, comes 
some interesting material. Definition of “Sport¬ 
ing” comes first and is unique. Here we find 
mentioned hunting license, scarcity of game, 
covert beating, ownership of game, night shoot¬ 
ing and the fact that fowling is practiced by 
persons of rank only. 
Sporting. —Although we have not omitted to 
notice what generally appertains to the winged, 
finny or quadruped parts of nature, it appeared 
to us better to collect the whole of the matter 
relating to sporting, in general, under one head, 
thereby to preclude the necessity for reverting 
to other volumes for such information as might 
be sought. The reader will, however, remark 
that we have, under the article “Angling,'’ fur¬ 
nished an ample detail of that diversion ; there¬ 
fore we shall proceed to the discussion of what 
relates to fowling. The first item presenting it¬ 
self to our consideration is the gun, which ought 
always to he suited to the occasion. For ordi¬ 
nary field excursions, that is to say, when quest¬ 
ing for pheasants or partridges, the piece ought 
to be conveniently light, and of rather a small 
bore; the barrel from two feet four to two 
feet six, or perhaps eight inches in length. Cham¬ 
bered guns undoubtedly strike hardest, and in 
most instances will be found to scatter least. 
Hence a good marksman will prefer such, but 
taking care to allow full thirty yards distance 
to the bird, unless in cases of emergency, before 
the trigger is drawn. When this precaution is 
neglected, the chance of missing is greater, while 
on the other hand such birds as may be hit are 
absolutely spoiled by the column of shot which 
brings them down. The gun requisite for cock¬ 
ing, that is, for woodcock shooting, is of a very 
light construction and very short, because the 
birds generally rise well within shot, and that 
the branches of trees, etc., may be less in the 
way of the gun’s motion while taking aim. We 
have seen some guns made for this branch of 
shooting that have been little heavier than a 
large horse pistol. With regard to such birds 
as are found on plains, or are aquatics, guns of 
a larger caliber and more strongly fortified, so 
as to resist a large charge of powder without 
recoiling severely, are indispensably necessary. 
The selection of a gun must after all depend 
on various circumstances. For instance, a power¬ 
ful man, in the prime of life, and of a large 
stature, would be no ways incommoded by such 
a one, as would prove highly distressing to an 
elderly person, of a weak frame, and of a 
diminutive size. Again, we necessarily make a 
distinction according to the nature of the sport, 
hence when shooting in a punt, or when laying 
wait for waterfowl, a heavy gun may be used. 
In truth, without a very strong charge, some 
of the more shy, or more full feathered, birds 
are not easily brought down. Some experienced 
persons find that with a stout barrel, weighing 
from ten to fourteen pounds, they can bear the 
recoil of even two drachms of powder, which in 
an ordinary piece would produce' at least an 
highly unpleasant recoil, if not some damage to 
either the piece or the sportsman. Every barrel 
ought to be chambered, because the piece is 
thereby strengthened, and the force or impetus 
of the shot considerably increased. With re¬ 
spect to the kind of chamber, a variety of opin¬ 
ions exist; for the most part purely theoretical, 
and in support of some favorite hypothesis, 
started by way of novelty by some maker anxi¬ 
ous to obtain celebrity. After mature consider¬ 
ation, we are rather disposed to accord with a 
number of old sportsmen in commending the 
plain cylindrical chamber, made in the butt screw, 
or by a very small screw stump added to the 
butt of the piece, the latter being preferable in 
respect to security against lodging fire in the 
worm of the screw, but rather more expensive. 
The lock of a gun is a most important ob¬ 
ject. It cannot well be too small and compact, 
provided space be allowed for the free move¬ 
ment of the several parts. We all know that 
the lock of a pistol will answer its purpose as 
well as that of a musket. The great considera¬ 
tion is that friction should be avoided by every 
possible means, which is best effected by the 
most simple movements, and by keeping them 
clear from the plates. Every part subject to the 
action of another should be well steeled and 
hardened, and where practicable, friction-rollers 
should be employed. The pan, above all things, 
ought to shut very close, and to spring up in 
a smart manner, when struck by the flint. The 
trigger should not be subject to action at half 
cock, but at full cock ought to draw with little 
resistance; at least, it should not require such 
force as might derange the aim, or delay the 
discharge. 
Such guns as have double barrels are com¬ 
monly provided with a trigger for each lock, 
though some are made with but one trigger. In 
the former case either barrel may be discharged 
at pleasure, which is not always the case in the 
latter mode of construction, which though ap¬ 
parently more simple is by no means so con¬ 
venient. The alleged reason of having but one 
is that the interior is simplified, while the sports¬ 
man is less bewildered in regard to the choice 
of triggers, and in the application of the finger 
thereto, but we conceive that no cool or expert 
sportsman is ever at a loss in those particulars. 
We now come to speak of the sizes of shot 
in ordinary use, as they are appropriated to 
various kinds and sizes of birds, observing that 
many old sportsmen and gamekeepers consider 
it advantageous to mix No. 4, 5, 6 and 7 in nearly 
equal quantities. This, however, does not seem 
to be warranted. The application of particular 
sizes to corresponding purposes appears to us 
more proper; nor can we reject that which rests 
on the solid basis of reason in favor of a system 
but partially supported, even in words, and with¬ 
out a sufficient course of experiment under the 
eye of impartiality. We have, indeed, the asser¬ 
tions of various gentlemen of the most candid 
dispositions, and versed in those experimental 
tests requisite to sanction a practice, whereby it 
should appear that no mixture should ever take 
place, but that where large, shy game is sought 
(such as wild geese, bustards, etc.). No. i should 
be used; or. in default of that. No. 2. That 
where wild ducks and other hard-feathered birds 
are in view, No. 3 or 4 should be used. That 
for hares, pheasants and partridges. No. 4 and 5 
ought to be employed. That for woodcocks. No. 
6 and 7 suit well, while for snipe and quail. No. 
7 and 8 answer admirably. As for ortolans, 
larks, etc.. No. 9 and 10 should be used, where 
the birds are not very shy, otherwise No. 8. 
Erom this it will be seen that No. 4, 5, 6 
and 7 certainly constitute the general expendi¬ 
ture of the regular sportsman, but we cannot 
from that deduce that they ought to be mixed. 
However much we may differ in the above point 
from the Rev. W. B. Daniel, author of the cele¬ 
brated “Rural .Sports,” such is the opinion we 
entertain of that work, that we shall present 
our readers with the following passage, extracted 
from his second volume. He gives the follow¬ 
ing table; 
Grains. 
One ounce of common shot. No. 4, contains. .166 
Charge for double gun.317 
One ounce of patent shot. No. 4, contains.. .202 
Charge for double gun.37S 
(The difference of charge, between the patent 
and the common shot, is, therefore, 58 
grains in the ounce.) 
One ounce of No. 5, common shot, contains. .230 
Charge for ditto .437 
One ounce of patent ditto.271 
Charge for ditto .512 
Difference 75 grains. 
One ounce of No. 6, common shot, contains. .300 
Charge for ditto . 554 
One ounce of patent ditto .327 
Charge for ditto .630 
Difference 76 grains. 
One ounce of No. 7, common shot, contains. .363 
Charge for ditto .708 
One ounce of patent ditto .388 
Charge of ditto .757 
Difference 49 grains. 
MIXED SHOT. 
One ounce of No. 4, 5, 6, common shot, con¬ 
tains .232 
Charge for ditto .434 
One ounce of patent ditto. No. 4, 5, 6.263 
Charge for ditto .493 
Difference 59 grains. 
One ounce of No. 5, 6 and 7, common shot, 
contains .297 
Charge for ditto .582 
One ounce of patent. No. 5, 6, 7.330 
Charge for ditto . 599 
Difference 17 grains. 
