PUNT-GUNS. 127 



thrown directly upon the spiral spring ; and the barrel having' suffi- 

 cient play, it works with remarkable facility, no perceptible jerk or 

 inconvenience being felt on placing the shoulder to the stock of the 

 g;un when firing it. The apparatus being necessarily composed 

 of iron or gun-metal, it adds slightly to the weight in the fore- part 

 of the punt ; but the same apparatus answers equally well for the 

 shooting-yacht or sailing-punt. The patent spiral recoil-spring and 

 apparatus, as adapted to the punt and shooting-yacht, though exqui- 

 sitely simple, is one of Colonel Hawker's best and most useful 

 • inventions. 



The punter intending to fit a punt-gun with the spiral recoil-spring 

 should have the punt built purposely to receive the fittings ; and the 

 boat-builder will find the difficulties of his task much simplified if he 

 has the gim and fittings by his side whilst building the punt. 



A small gun may be used in the punt, without any breechings, 

 provided the shooter has sufficient courage to fire, a thickly-padded 

 cushion being all that is necessary to place to the shoulder ; but I 

 cannot recommend any one to fire a gun loaded with half a pound of 

 shot and upwards without gun-breechings, wherewith to ease the 

 recoil : though I have seen it done by placing the but-end just under 

 the arm, and nipping it close between the arm and ribs, in this manner 

 allowing the stock to pass beneath the shoulder on the gun recoihng. 



