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| 18th Century Bird Hunt |
Last installment discussed the beginning of an
old book I found: The Art of English Shooting, published in London 1777. This second part will continue the
discussion.
If you missed the first part, you can scroll down below this page.
As previously stated, the title is rather long.
The author used its length to show the reader what is discussed within the
volume. We are going through the title breakdown. Last installment discussed as
follows:
Of the Knowledge of a good Fowling-Piece.
The ordering and managing the Fowling-Piece.
This installment will start with The
Appendages of the Fowling-Piece and
end with Of Pheasant-Shooting.
The Appendages gives a
clear description of an antique rifle. This is good for those who are
interested in yester-year shooting pieces, and authors who find it difficult to
explain what a protagonist is doing while working with a gun. The problem is,
some of the terms in this volume are impossible to find (in my personal library
and elsewhere), and never seemed to have made it to the dictionaries.
The internet doesn't have explanations, so I must
ask someone who knows guns to help me figure it out. What is a britch-pin for
example? I found an expert who stated, “Today, we call it a breech-pin.”
Now, off we go... (spelling and punctuation as
shown in book)
Page (11)
"The Appendages of the Gun.
"The necessary appendages in the Fowling-piece
are, an iron rod, with a screw or worm at one end, and a scrape (to clear rust
or caked powder) at the other, which rod is to be used for the washing and
dry-cleaning the inside of the barrel, and turn-screw should be kept for the
use of the lock.
As a visual person, I would like to see pictures
of this. There are none in the booklet. To solve the problem, I printed or copied data, then took it a gun shop that had an antique selection. I've been known to clap strong eyes on the pieces, all the while pointing and asking questions. But I digress.
To continue...
"A flask, or horn, for the carriage of the powder, the size and shape of which may be according to fancy; however, it will be proper to have the measure of the charge to hold the exact quantity (powder) the gun is found to carry.
To continue...
"A flask, or horn, for the carriage of the powder, the size and shape of which may be according to fancy; however, it will be proper to have the measure of the charge to hold the exact quantity (powder) the gun is found to carry.
"A leather pouch, or small canvas bag, to
carry the shot; with a tin, or other measure, that will hold the exact charge
of the gun: this article of the exact measure for the powder and shot should be
particularly observed; as it not only saves trouble, but is charging with more
certainty and exactness.
"The Choice of Powder, Shot, and Flints.
"The best sort of Powder is small-grained,
hard to crumble between the finger and thumb, and of a bluish cast; which
should be the only sort used, by rights, for the Fowling-piece.
"The shot should be round and solid; and the
more it has these properties the better it is: the size must be according to
the shooting that it is intended for; there is from No. 1 to 6, and smaller,
which is called mustard-seed, or dust-shot; but No. 5 is small enough for any
shooting whatsoever; the No. 1 may be used for wild-geese; the No. 2, for
ducks, widgeons, and other water-fowl; the No. 3 for pheasants... and all
fen-fowl; the No. 4, for partridges, woodcocks, etc. and the No. 5, for snipes,
and all the smaller birds.
"As to the choice of flints, the clear ones
are the best; but whether the dark or light sort, is immaterial, as there are
good of both kinds: the size should be suited to the lock of the gun, and be
neither too large and thick, nor too small and slight; the first will not give
fire freely, and the other will be very apt to break."
Didn't know that about flints, did you? And what
does ‘clear’ flint mean? See through? Very interesting.
The next section will consist of how to shoot
partridge. According to this small volume, by Act of Parliament, partridge hunting
season was from September 1st to February 12, of the Gregorian calendar. Keep
in mind England went from the Julian to Gregorian in 1752 with the rest of the
world, so the dates are as they would be as today's.
The author of this tome states partridge shooting
was deemed the most genteel and best sport in England which is good for Georgian/Regency
readers and authors. It's a great help to understand background detail in the
stories.
.jpg) | |
| 17th Century |
"Of Partidge-Shooting.
"In the beginning of the season, they haunt
the wheat, barley, oat, peas and bean stubbles; but the wheat-vetch is their
favourite: they also lie in turnips, clover-feed, on fallow-land; and indeed,
at times, are found any where.
"The most proper dog, and what is generally
used for Partridge-shooting, is the pointer, a dog extremely well calculated
for the sport; as Partridges can seldom or ever be seen on the ground, if the
stubble, etc. be but three or four inches high: if the pointer be staunch, and
have a good nose, he will seldom pass in common fields within forty yards of a
covy, without intimating by a point pretty near the exact line they lie in.
"A brace, or leash of dogs, are sufficient,
where the fields are not uncommonly large; if they are, two brace or more will
be preferable."
I can already see a sub-plot form in my mind's
eye...
"The small light dogs are, for many reasons,
to be preferred to the large, heavy, Spanish breed; as they hunt the ground
over quicker; quarter it better; and will go over two or three times as much as
the heavy sort, without being tired, or loosing the skin off their feet.
Remember, I have not
made any corrections. What you read is what was printed in 1777.
Below is a very
suspenseful moment in the hunt…
"...Now appears the difference between the
good and bad sportsman; the greatest coolness and composure are now necessary: when
they rise, lift your gun deliberately to your shoulder; single out that bird
which flies most separate from the rest, and when you find your aim true and steady,
and not before then, fire; observing carefully the way the rest of the covey
take, and mark, as nearly as you can, where they go down.
"As to rules for shooting flying, they are
of little or no signification: a good gun, a cool and steady aim, and practice;
for the nice difference in aiming at or before the mark, must all contribute to
make a good flying marksman.
"The best of Partridge-shooting, in the
sportsman's esteem, is, when the birds take to the hedges, (as we term it) … in
the time of rain, for shelter; where they will lie for some time after the rain
is over: when it is fair, and not before, take two or three spaniels, or
rather, a brace of good hedge-pointers, and hunt the hedges near where you know
the covey lies: two persons should go together in this sport, one on each side
the hedge; the bird being reckoned his shot, on the whole side of the hedge it
flies out. The birds will soon separate, and afford excellent diversion, by
rising singly, and near you, giving time for the better aim.
"When pointers are used, the birds are
frequently obliged to be beat out, by striking the bush where the point is
made, and they will often lie and suffer themselves to be taken by both
spaniels and pointers; so stupid and lazy are they after rain...”
There’s room for one
more:
“Of Pheasant-Shooting.
“This sport begins, by Act of Parliament, on the
first of October, and lasts till the first of February.
“The Pheasant’s brood is called an eye, as the
brood of the Partridge is a covey. They are of late years become much more
scarce than formerly; however, they are found in the woods in most of the
counties of England, more or less: they afford very pretty shooting, though far
more fatiguing and tiresome than partridge-shooting; owing to the bushes,
briars, and other disagreeable circumstances of the woods.
“Spaniels are to be used in this sport: and two,
three, or four brace, may be taken together into the wood: the number of
persons together should not exceed three or four, and they should go regularly
up and down the wood, and spread at about thirty or forty yards distance: the
dogs should not be of the wild sort, but keen-nosed, and apt to give their
tongue, (i.e. bark or yelp) when they come on the scent.
“Keep as near the dogs as possible; and when they
spring, one or more, let such only fire at the bird as to whom, in point of
rising, it belongs; which rule should be always observed in all sorts of
shooting in company. In pheasant-shooting, the trees frequently interfere,
therefore forbear firing till you have a clear aim at the bird; which, if it
cannot be had, it is better to let him escape for another chance.”
In other words, once the birds are flushed from the bushes, make certain you do not shoot your hunting buddies while trying to aim at the birds. If they fly free before you can steady your gun and shoot, then let the birds live.
In other words, once the birds are flushed from the bushes, make certain you do not shoot your hunting buddies while trying to aim at the birds. If they fly free before you can steady your gun and shoot, then let the birds live.
So ends Part II of
proper gaming in Georgian England.
Next Installment: Of Woodcock-Shooting
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