CHAPTER XII 
HINTS ON PUNTING TO FOWL, AND THE 
ACTUAL USE OF PUNT-GUNS 
WE must first describe the many ways and means by which 
gunning-punts are worked to fowl. Also, it will be necessary 
to define punting here as of two kinds, viz. single-handed and 
double-handed. In single-handed punting, a favourite means 
of nearing fowl is by using two short hand-paddles. The 
punter lies flat on his chest and works a paddle over each side 
of his craft, propelling and steering his punt at the same time. 
In the larger types of single-handed punts a scull is used out 
of the stern, through a crutch or spur, if in a sufficient depth of 
water. In shallows, the punt is propelled by what is known as 
the setting-pole. This is worked through the same spur as the 
puntsman uses to scull through. The pole is shod with a brass 
or iron shoe, and weighted with lead, so that it sinks and 
enables the fowler to push on the ground when the pole end 
reaches the bottom. Ifthe pole were not weighted, the punts- 
man lying prone in his craft would not be able to touch bottom 
with it. 
The ways employed to work double-handed punts to fowl 
are exactly similar to those already described for the larger 
single-handed punts, except, of course, that in a double punt 
one man (the puntsman) has all the propelling power of the 
boat to look after, while the other attends to the gun. One 
other way of going to fowl in a double punt, is by paddling. 
The puntsman lies on his back, and, facing ahead, paddles 
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