152 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
We figure a gun-hanger. A pair of these are necessary 
for each gun. They will last a lifetime if made of yellow 
brass or copper. If of forged iron, they should be well 
galvanised and then painted. As these hangers are adjustable 
they supersede fixed hooks. These latter are not at all 
advisable. 
Mud-boards cannot be omitted from the list of punters’ 
tools. Although dangerous things to the inexperienced, they 
are ever useful for assisting the fowler to gather fowl on ooze 
where he scarcely dare venture to step without them. It must 
not be supposed, however, that the punter is able to walk on 
all soft places, simply because he has boards. Some mud is 
too soft for him, especially that known at many parts of our 
islands, and called locally ‘‘new warp” or ‘‘blather.”” Rotten 
ooze and soft clay whereon grows ‘‘zos’’' (the wrack-grass or 
widgeon-weed) can generally be easily walked with boards. We 
quite believe, however, it would be found that one could walk 
_on these places without boards, though, no doubt, with greater 
exertion and bodily risk. The only advice relative to the art 
of walking on mud with mud-boards is, keep the feet well 
apart. The more one flounders along, the better. After the 
knack of ‘‘floundering”’ along has been acquired, nothing 
more is needed. To attempt a graceful pose in mud-shoes is 
never advisable, and, no matter how one proceeds, be glad 
you can get along, for it is when you stick that graceful poses 
occur! In the case of a stick, we advise to lie flat, if possible, 
and crawl out. Failing this, assistance is of absolute necessity, 
or results will most surely be fatal. Prevention is better than 
cure. Keep off treacherous spots and regard them as ‘‘holy 
terrors.”” Duck are of no value compared with a human life. 
Mud-pattens are made square, oblong, and oval, according 
to the ideas of the punter; yet they are all for the one and 
same purpose. Our sketch shows what is said to be an im- 
1 Zostera marina. 
