GUNNING-PUNT CONSTRUCTION 265 
because in the former case special lengths not usually stocked 
are necessary, whereas single punts can be made from boards 
of common sizes. It may be noted that a single punt can be 
built for very much less than a large double punt. 
The bottom planks of the punt are the first boards to be 
assembled. A single punt may have one sound plank only in 
this part, and by this plan joints may be saved. The planks 
are jointed by half lapping, which permits of light caulking at 
both sides. A tonge and grove is unsuitable, as the tonge will 
be sure to break off when the punt has been in use for some 
time. When the bottom planks are fitted (three in a large punt), 
they must be given their requisite ‘‘kammel”’ and ‘‘spring.”’ 
Kammel is the slight round across the bottom, and spring 
is the same thing lengthwise. A large double punt should have 
3 in. spring and 14 in. kammel on a bottom #? in. yellow 
pine. This is essential in making a punt workable when 
aground. ‘‘Spring”’ is secured by fixing the planks down to 
a strong wooden floor. The kammel is gained by screwing 
down several of the floor timbers which have been given the 
necessary round. The floor timbers in a double punt should 
be made of oak 14 in. wide and placed 16 in. apart, their ends 
reaching to 3 in. from the sides. Through rivets in the floor 
timbers are to be substituted later for the screws (see Fig 1). 
The bottom is now ready to receive the stem and stern chocks. 
These are made out of solid English oak (per sketches), all 
planks butting into them. The stem and stern pieces along 
with the centre plank of the bottom are the most important 
parts in a gunning-punt, since they take the main strain of the 
punt-gun’s recoil. The bottom must now be cut to its proper 
sweep. Care should be exercised here in cutting the bevel, 
which takes the side strake at its proper flare. To assist this 
a line may be scribed, and the gun-beam attached by its under 
knees in their respective positions, and also by some of the knees 
which are to secure the sides. These, likewise, assist in hold- 
