SHOOTING : A CONTRAST • [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Your recent articles on old country shooting and its consequent slaughter have been very interesting, as it is difficult for a man who has done any of it here to understand the conditions which prevail.
Let me tell you about a young French Canadian friend of mine, born and bred in these Quebec hills, and part of our areat out of doors. He drives the station 'bus in the little town
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where I live, and on the approach of the duck seison, which opens on. September 1st, upon being- asked if he was 'ready for this great day he remarked, " Well, I may take my rifle, and have some fun." Whereupon I queried, " Rifle ? When- ever I go after duck I take a shotgun." He replied, " Oh, yes, so dofI when I get an order for-three or four brace,' but when we want some good fun, hay brother and I, we take our Winchester 22'S—we may only hit one or two in the day, and sometimes not any, . but we sure have some sport." What a contrast !
After all, hunting is, like any bther sport, not a question of what the kill amounts to, but rather is it one of a certain point of view.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Elmcroft, Como, Quebec, Canada.-
JAMES VALENTINE.
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