GUNNING-PUNT ACCESSORIES 153 
proved shape. We have used this pattern of mud-board and 
found it answer well. The board should be made of elm 
(steamed and fastened to get the sweep), with strips of oak 
in. by Zin. screwed on, as per sketch. These strips are to 
prevent slipping or sliding over the ooze. The board may be 
fastened on to the foot either with leather straps or rope. 
We have found rope serve these purposes just as well as 
leather, and might say there is little difference practically, 
as one, if well arranged, is as good as the other. Leather 
straps are fixed to the mud-boards with copper rivets. Two 
straps complete the arrangement for each board. The fore- 
strap is fitted so as to admit the toe. The after one consists of 
two pieces of leather rising vertically and riveted or sewn on 
to a strap which is to pass round the ankle. When leather 
boots are worn, and leather straps are passed under the soles 
of the boots and around the ankles to prevent them loosely 
moving on the feet when walking, these straps have to be 
removed before mud-boards with leather fastenings can be put 
on, whereas with rope this is not always necessary. A word 
here about long boots. As these are invariably hard to get on 
and off (particularly off), if a fit for the feet when on, it is 
highly advisable to have them two sizes larger than your feet 
and pack up with wool, using an ankle-strap, above mentioned, 
to prevent movement. Our remarks refer to leather boots. 
Besides the accessories for gunning-punts already noted, a 
few very useful ordinary things might be drawn attention to. 
A baling pot, which should be of thin copper, is indispensable. 
A small bucket, with a couple of fathoms of 14 1n. rope spliced 
to the handle, is an ever-handy tool at the punt-house or 
beaching quarters of a punt. Equally so is a small mop. 
This latter is most needed to wash off accumulated mud on the 
punt’s decks, and may be found of use for several other pur- 
poses, such as a swill-down, etc. It would be well here to 
remember that a plug fitted in the bottom of a punt, although 
