GUNNING-PUNT ACCESSORIES 153 



proved shape. We have used this pattern of mud-board and 

 found it answer well. The board should be made of elm 

 (steamed and fastened to get the sweep), with strips of oak 

 f in. by f in. screwed on, as per sketch. These strips are to 

 prevent slipping- or sliding over the ooze. The board may be 

 fastened on to the foot either with leather straps or rope. 

 We have found rope serve these purposes just as well as 

 leather, and might say there is little difference practically, 

 as one, if well arranged, is as good as the other. Leather 

 straps are fixed to the mud-boards with copper rivets. Two 

 straps complete the arrangement for each board. The fore- 

 strap is fitted so as to admit the toe. The after one consists of 

 two pieces of leather rising vertically and riveted or sewn on 

 to a strap which is to pass round the ankle. When leather 

 boots are worn, and leather straps are passed under the soles 

 of the boots and around the ankles to prevent them loosely 

 moving on the feet when walking, these straps have to be 

 removed before mud-boards with leather fastenings can be put 

 on, whereas with rope this is not always necessary. A word 

 here about long boots. As these are invariably hard to get on 

 and off (particularly off), if a fit for the feet when on, it is 

 highly advisable to have them two sizes larger than your feet 

 and pack up with wool, using an ankle-strap, above mentioned, 

 to prevent movement. Our remarks refer to leather boots. 



Besides the accessories for gunning-punts already noted, a 

 few very useful ordinary things might be drawn attention to. 

 A baling pot, which should be of thin copper, is indispensable. 

 A small bucket, with a couple of fathoms of i:^in. rope spliced 

 to the handle, is an ever-handy tool at the punt-house or 

 beaching quarters of a punt. Equally so is a small mop. 

 This latter is most needed to wash off accumulated mud on the 

 punt's decks, and may be found of use for several other pur- 

 poses, such as a swill-down, etc. It would be well here to 

 remember that a plug fitted in the bottom of a punt, although 



