Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/455

 Popular Science Monthly

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��loop to the handle of the trap, by which it may be hung across the shoulders. Then he holds gun in left hand, swings mightily with the right, holding the trap, drops the trap at the end of the swing, grasps the fowling piece and " has at " the flying bird he has just thrown. As the bird leaves any of these traps with the speed of about 150 feet a second, even though it falls off rapidly, the shooter has to hustle to get into action be- fore it is out of range.

Two other traps are in use for throw- ing the birds by "hand." One of them, the Ping Pong, is similar to the Darton, save that the bird is held in the regular steel, rubber-tipped fin- gers of the larger variety, bolted to a wooden handle. This takes more power than anyone but a full-grown man can develop. The other is oper- ated by a powerful spiral spring which swings the throwing arm like the big set position traps, when the finger re- leases the trigger holding it. This re- quires a little effort to set, and is not entirely safe in the hands of the inex- perienced because of the great force with which the spiral spring throws around the arm and the fingers that hold the bird.

So is field prac- tise made available anywhere for the seasoned lover of the scattergun.

��How to Waterproof Your Boots

���The bird can Itaxc one oi' these hand- traps at a velocity of 150 feet per second

���This hand-trap has a powerful spring. It should not be operated by the inexpe- rienced, as it can deliver a terrific blow

��TALLOW has been used a great deal for waterproofing boots. But au- thorities on the subject of leather say that tallow is not the best thing to use because it contains a high percentage of fatty acid which is bad for leather.

Any good, heavy ^ grease will make leather boots water- proof, if the leather is thoroughly soak- ed in it. One of the best substances to use is a belt pre- servative. The most important point in water- proofing boots is to use something that will fill the small openings and stitch holes. Belt pre- servative will best accomplish this result.

Boots should be well washed before being treated. They must be warmed, but not allowed to get too hot. Leather will stand no more heat than will your hand. The preserv- ative is then heated and painted on the warm boots. They are kept warm until the oil has pene- trated the pores of the leather. This process may be re- peated several times, care being taken to work the preservative well in around the stitches. Boots cannot be polished after being waterproofed be- cause the leather is left much too soft and porous.

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