We present polarization profiles at 1.4 and 3.1 GHz for 14 young pulsars with characteristic ages less than 75 kyr .
Careful calibration ensures that the absolute position angle of the linearly polarized radiation at the pulsar is obtained .
In combination with previously published data we draw three main conclusions about the pulse profiles of young pulsars .
( 1 ) Pulse profiles are simple and consist of either one or two prominent components .
( 2 ) The linearly polarized fraction is nearly always in excess of 70 per cent .
( 3 ) In profiles with two components the trailing component nearly always dominates , only the trailing component shows circular polarization and the position angle swing is generally flat across the leading component and steep across the trailing component .

Based on these results we can make the following generalisations about the emission beams of young pulsars .
( 1 ) There is a single , relatively wide cone of emission from near the last open field lines .
( 2 ) Core emission is absent or rather weak .
( 3 ) The height of the emission is between 1 and 10 per cent of the light cylinder radius .