PUNT-QUNS. 125 



obviated by means of a small copper crutch or rest for the barrel of 

 the g"un. The crutch should work with a male and female screw, so 

 as to he capable of being- raised or depressed at pleasure ; and this is 

 one of the best, the quickest, and most convenient means of adjusting- 

 the elevation of the punt-g-un. I have seen inexperienced hands 

 within fatal range of numbers of wild-fowl, and yet they have fired 

 without killing' a bird, because of the gun not lying at proper eleva- 

 tion : and I have seen others fire at wild-geese successfully ; whilst 

 with the same gun, in the same position, they have fired at widg-eon 

 without a shot touching them. It is because of the gun lying a little 

 too hig-h. The g-eese being- larger birds, sit higher on the water, and 

 receive the shot ; whilst the widgeon being so much smaller, and 

 consequently sitting lower on the surface, the strong shot all flies 

 over theii- heads. 



It is sometimes difficult to convince an ignorant man of the force of 

 this argument, he being- so strongly impressed with the idea that, if 

 the gun lies in a right position for g-eese, it does so for widgeon, or 

 any other bird. Now a gun, when correctly elevated for ordinary 

 purposes, ought to be in such a position as to kill both geese 

 and widgeon with equal facility, sitting on the water ; but before 

 shooting at swans the muzzle should be slig-htly elevated : and the 

 same for waders — such as herons and curlews, which stand on the 

 mud above the ordinary elevation of a punt-gun. 



The tyro sportsman is particularly recommended to pay due 

 attention to the highly important art of elevation. The punt- 

 gun should be placed a little to the right of the punt, that the 

 shooter may place his shoulder firmly to the stock on taking aim, 

 without having- to shift his body on one side or the other, or alter 

 the trim of the punt in any way. 



Gun-hreechings and Recoil-springs. 



And now as to the means of checking the recoil of the punt-g-un. 

 There are several different methods of accomplishing this operation, 

 the most ancient of which is by means of a strong- iron fulcrum, 

 fitting into a stout cross-piece of wood, the latter built into the punt 

 a little forward of the midships. The fulcrum is in the form of a 

 crutch at the upper part, in which to receive the gun ; the stem of 

 the crutch fitting into an iron socket, and there being a cross-bolt 

 or shifting pin run through the upper ends of the crutch and the 



