CARE OF GUNS AND GEAR 233 



the sheave-pins, their ropes neatly coiled and tied up all together 

 and hung up. The sail (should there be one) must be well 

 dried and free from damp, before rolling and placing it in a dry 

 place for storage, or else it will fall to pieces in one season. 

 The ammunition chest or punter's magazine should be always 

 kept in a moderately dry place, though not necessarily a warm 

 one. The punt-carriage can be slung up where it will be 

 out of the way, after seeing it is in working order, and in 

 better safety than if left on the punt-house floor when put by 

 for the season. Rudders, and whatever elevating gear a punt 

 may be fitted with, should have attention before it is put 

 aside for any length of time. 



With such treatment as described in the foregoing para- 

 graphs, everything will take little harm and be in as good con- 

 dition as ever when the happy time of another season arrives. 



Always remember that paint is very important with regard to 

 a punt and many other parts of gear connected with it. It 

 doubles the life of the punt. Without paint she would soak with 

 water when in use, and become almost as heavy as lead, and 

 during her first season out of water she would begin to rot. 

 Punts should be painted a colour outside that will blend with 

 the nature of the surroundings where they are to be used. Dirty 

 white outside is very general. Paint inside and the bottom 

 (both sides) with two thin coats of red lead and boiled oil only, 

 each year. Give plenty of time to dry. Paint poles, oars, 

 gun-rest, and all ironwork (which should have been previously 

 galvanised) the same colour as the outside of the punt. When a 

 punt is old and her bottom planks lose their original firmness, 

 she may be coated on the outside of the bottom with Stockholm 

 tar three parts, pitch one part, mixed together. Do not use 

 coal-tar, which will search through the wood, blister off the 

 paint inside, and, as the wood is already old, will assist in 

 furthering decay in a marked manner, as though the wood 

 had been half burnt. 



