THE SHOOTING-YACHT. 223 



There are conveniences on the decks of such a vessel as the one 

 nnder explanation, for carrying* two gunning'-piints in such a manner 

 that they are not seen above the level of the bulwarks ; everything being- 

 snugly arx'anged, and with especial regard to the comfort of the wild- 

 fowler, his friends, and crew. 



The cost of a yacht of the description here attempted, would be 

 ifi'om £300 to £500, according^ to material, workmanship, fitting-s, 

 and other circumstances. 



Three men will be sufficient to navig-ate a vessel of the kind ; or 

 two, and a good useful lad, if the yachtsman himself occasionally 

 lends a hand ; and which he would only be required to do now-and- 

 then — for instance, if caught in a heavy gale, and having suddenly 

 to reef sails. On such occasions no shooting* could be done ; and the 

 g'un should be well coated with tarpaulin, or placed below, in the 

 cabin. If a very heavy sea comes on, the fore-hatchways must be 

 put on and secured ; in which case, access may be obtained to the 

 cabin from the aft-hatchway, and then through either of the sleeping-- 

 cabins. So desperate a gale as to require all these precautions to be 

 carried out, would probably not occur more than once or twice in 

 several years, with ordinary prudence ; but, having- more than once 

 been in perilous predicaments myself, I have felt it worth while to 

 g'ive the caution. 



The only other occasion when the yachtsman might be called on to 

 take the helm or assist in tacking- the vessel, would be when one or 

 two of his crew have manned the punts, or the yaclit's g-ig- (if she 

 carries one), to go in quest of the wounded birds, just after firing' the 

 larg-e gun. At such a time, it is usual for the yacht to be laid-to ; 

 or, if wind and weather be favourable, the cripples are pursued with 

 the yacht, despatched with the shoulder-gun, and picked up by means 

 of a cripple-net, which is very similar to an angler's landing--net, 

 attached to a long- staff. The cripple-net forms part of the necessary 

 equipment of a shooting-yacht, and is also an indispensable requisite 

 to the shooting-&oa< hereinafter described. 



The comforts aboard a yacht of this kind, are beyond what many 

 would suppose. Provisions may be taken for a week or fortnig'ht's 

 cruise, for a yachtsman and one or two friends ; the cabins may be 

 kept as warm as required ; and the sportsmen need not expose them- 

 selves to the weatlier any more than they wish ; though the most 

 ardent will spend most of their time on deck, or in the well or fore- 



