Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-08

for trap shooting, for a twelve-gauge gun. three
drains of powder and two wads are put back OF
one or one and one-eighth ounces Of No 6,
or 10 chilled shot, according to wind and
distance.
Under the rules Of the National Ameri
can association, which have been revised
within the last few weeks, any weight gun II
permissible, but it must not be over ten-bort
in caliber. The powder charge is unlimited
and the charge of shot for ten-bore guns il
fixed at one and one-quarter ounces. Each
contestant must shoot at three or more bird.
before leaving the score. In doubles botf
traps are sprung simultaneously and each con
testant shoots at three pairs, firing at two bird
while both are in the air. When the traps are
set in straight line. instead Of in the segment
Of a circle. a rapid-6ring system is used, the
traps are screened and numbered and the
marksman stands opposite the first trap, shoot,
his bird and then passes on to the right, shoot.
ing from the successive traps till he reaches
the end OF his score. For live birds the
boundaries for both singles and doubles are
fixed as the segment of fifty-yard circle and
a dead line where the marksman stands.
The rise for ten-bore guns is thirty yards
for twelve-bore twenty-eight yards for four.
teen and sixteen-bore twenty-six yards The
rule as to ammunition is the same as for clay
birds. There are clubs in a number of states
affiliated with the American association and all
shoot under the rules quoted.
SOME GOOD SHOTS
The leading clubs in lve-bird shooting are
the Westminster kennel club of New York, the
Carteret gun club, the Bergen club of New
Jersey. the Country club of Westchester, NY,
the Larchmont club and the Tuxedo club. Al
of these organizations have crack shots among
their members and many matches are made
during the season and live-pigeon shooting
goes on at the grounds almost daily. Thou
sands OF birds are used in these matches In
the match hptwaen Dr Knapn nd 81
lasting three days, 1000 were used, Knapp
alone killing over 1000. Among the crack
amateurs are many well-known society and
business men like Frederick Hoey, Seaver
Page, Oakleigh Thorn, Mr.. Murphy, Walker b.
Smith, n. 5. SImpkins, Oliver Iselin and Mr..
Brokaw, all wealthy New Workers Of sporting
prochvities.
These marksmen can easily average eighty
five per cent at live birds. but they would not do
so we'll at clay pigeons all their practice is with
Blue rocks and peorias. 1t is customary to
have on the club grounds a supply of live birds
at all times for emergencies. The Country club
charges its members from thirty to fifty cents a
bird. This club and several others have extern
sive pigeon houses in which blue rocks are
kept all the year round. Some OF the clubs also
keep tame pigeons, but they are not so desir-
able for trap shooting, lacking the gamey
qualities and dash of the wild bird When a
bird is missed at the traps if it be tame one, it
usually finds its way back to the coops.
FAMOUS SHOTS
like DIR. Carver, Bogardus, Brokaw and a few
others can kill ninety-nine live birds out of
one hundred. Frank Glass of Pinebrook N
j., Mr.. Beam and DIR. WEIGH of Englewood
have also done remarkable shooting. The six
brothers Lengerke of New York have run up
brilliant scores at live birds, several of them
averaging ninety out of one hundred in
both singles and doubles. Among the anna
teurs MIR. Louis Heritage, who Was formerly a
famous glass ball shot; Maj. II. Brientnall of
Newark, NJ. and W. Siegler of Montclair n
j., have made scores that stand side by side
with the best Of the professionals.
HOW TO ORGANIZE A CLUB.
The organization OF a trap shooting club is
not a very expensive affair. The best way for
a company of amateurs to proceed about 1t is
as follows: Let them first secure their ground
and then buy three traps for clay birds, whic h
will cost them about 81. These traps can
throw any kind OF artificial bird ami are easily
changed to shoot in all directions. A frst-class
afternoons sport at the CLAWS won't cost the
members over 81 EACH allowing them forty
shots apiece. They should dig a pit on the
ground about three four feet deep and pro-
tect it by a screen for the use of the men who
set the traps. Ii they want to kill live birds a
trap be made very cheaply by any car
penter. 1t Is box-shaped device, ten by eight
inches long and seven inches deep, and can be
either of wood or metal.