CHAPTER III 
SOME GENERAL NOTES 
AsovVE all, the smaller details of gunning-punt management are 
of incomparable value and assistance to the wildfowler. Things 
apparently of no great importance must still be known. What 
we would endeavour to instil is the importance of being equally 
acquainted with the minor matters of the subject, as with those 
of greater importance. Although small matters do not gener- 
ally stop progress altogether, they often cause much inconveni- 
ence and loss of time. 
In the general working, the mooring, and the hauling and 
launching of the punt, every care should be exercised, so that 
the work is done expediently and well, without injury to, or 
undue wear upon, the boat. No part in the working of a punt 
causes greater wear than launching and hauling. She then 
often has to stand uneven and undue strains. Care should be 
taken to avoid pulling on the side decks. A careful eye should 
be kept upon voluntary assistants, and instructions given them 
how and where to ‘‘lay hold” for a pull or shove at the punt. 
Large double punts are not light articles, and with their flat 
bottoms often suck the mud very tightly. Always contrive to 
move a punt forwards and backwards; sideways as little as 
possible. The proper places to ‘‘lay hold” of a punt for 
hauling by hand are under the stern, the main deck rafter aft, 
at the stern of the cockpit, under the gun beam, and the rowing 
spurs. The cockpit coaming and side decks should never be 
pulled at. When hauling with blocks, fasten to the shackle, 
which should be fixed for towing purposes in the stern chock. 
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