"
"But, seriously," said the Commodore, "seriously, would you indeed
abolish summer shooting?"
"Most seriously! most solemnly I would!" Archer responded. "In the first
place because, as I have said, it is a perfect sin to shoot cock in
July; and secondly, because no one would, I am convinced, shoot for his
own pleasure at that season, if it were not a question of now or never.
Between the intense heat, and the swarms of mosquitoes, and the
unfitness of that season for the dogs, which can rarely scent their game
half the proper distance, and the density of the leafy coverts; and
lastly, the difficulty of keeping the game fresh till you can use it,
render July shooting a toil, in my opinion, rather than a real pleasure;
although we are such hunting creatures, that rather than not have our
prey at all, we will pursue it in all times, and through all
inconveniences. Fancy, my dear fellows, only fancy what superb shooting
we should have if not a bird were killed till they were all full grown,
and fit to kill; fancy bagging a hundred and twenty-five fall woodcock
in a single autumn day, as we did this very year on a summer's day!"
"Oh! I agree with you completely," said Frank Forester, "but I am afraid
such a law will never be brought to bear in this country--the very day
on which cock shooting does not really begin, but is supposed by nine
tenths of the people to begin--the fourth of July is against it.
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