556 DUCK SHOOTING. 



in two, so that a piece, perhaps a foot long, may be 

 raised to bail out water if it should become necessary. 

 On the top of the bottom-board, perhaps ten inches 

 from the head of the box, a narrow strip is tacked, 

 which holds the edge of the slanting head-board, which 

 lifts the gunner's head so that he can see over the top 

 of the box. 



Most batteries of to-day have in them a head-board 

 — just referred to — that is to say, a slanting board 

 running from the end of the box down to the bottom, 

 at a gentle angle, which serves as a pillow to lift the 

 batteryman's head high enough so that his eyes are 

 above the edge of the box. Upon this head-board may 

 be placed a rubber pillow, but most men use an old coat 

 or something of the sort to rest the head on. 



The method of setting out decoys in battery shoot- 

 ing has been described and illustrated already. 



SPECIFICATIONS FOR DOUBLE AND SINGLE BATTERIES. 



Boxes — Inside length, 6 ft. 3 in. to 6 ft. 6 in. ; inside width, at 



top 22 in., at bottom 18 in.; depth, 14 in.; sides, i in. thick; 



ends, I 1-4 in. thick; bottom, i in. thick and laid crosswise. 



Boxes pinned to platform by locust-wood pins, two to head 



and two to foot of each box. 

 PLATFORMS — Beams, 2 in. thick and 4 in. deep at centre, with i 



in. crown to upper side; deck, i in. thick. 

 Head Fenders — Battens, i in. thick and 4 in. wide, with canvas 



tacked on top. 

 Side Fenders — Frame of i 1-2 in. strips from 3 to 6 in. wide, 



as per plans, with canvas tacked on top. 

 Fenders joined to platform by hinges of leather or canvas. 

 Sheet Lead 6 in. wide to be tacked around edges of boxes, to be 



bent as required when seas wash over the platform. 



