THE DANGERS OF PUNT-SHOOTING 139 



times. In steering up or down tortuous creeks with steep 

 muddy sides, be careful to go with the current and keep head 

 on. If the run of water is strong, and you get athwart the 

 stream, the punt will instantly dip under sideways, fill with 

 water, and throw you out. If the current is very strong you 

 will do well to save your life, and lucky indeed if you save the 

 punt also. A mishap of this kind is such an unexpected kind of 

 a disaster that it takes one instantly, and generally before the 

 calamity can be realised. Be careful to guard against it. 



An idea of how such an occurrence can take place may be 

 experimentally gained by cutting a piece of cardboard the 

 shape of a gunning-punt's bottom. Hold it at each end with 

 the finger and thumb and blow at it. You will instantly see 

 that very little wind turns it flat to the pressure. This is 

 exactly what the punt does when in the stream and similarly 

 fixed. Practised fowlers well know this, and work strong- 

 running creeks very cautiously and carefully. Go with the 

 stream and steer by opposing, not helping, the way of the 

 craft. Do not hurry. There should never be any need to 

 do so. 



When fowling new grounds, take a local hand with you. 

 Failing this, engage someone with a small open boat to follow 

 you. It is wisdom in the long run when punting from shore. 

 If you are quartered afloat, then instruct a watch to be kept 

 aboard your living craft. 



In going to fetch a stranded punt be wise and take a good 

 seaworthy boat. Punts are useless for rescue work. 



We have not made reference to the danger of being caught in 

 a fog out on open waters. Nothing in a case of this kind can 

 be done except to exercise the most expedient methods to get 

 free of the situation by making for the nearest land. A small 

 pocket compass is at such a time of invaluable service. Where 

 shipping occurs it is dangerous during foggy weather to be 

 afloat in so tiny a craft as a gunning-punt. Punters who 



