CHAPTER XI 



WEATHER AND EXPENSES, WITH A NOTE 

 ON PUNT CLOTHING 



As we have already said, a great saving in punt-removing, 

 if much shifting is done, can be effected by having a specially 

 constructed punt-wagon (this is not a punt-carriage), and, 

 moreover, the risk of damage to the boat is thereby eliminated. 

 Many vehicles supplied are wholly unsuitable to load a punt 

 up on. A flat-topped rully of good length, or a timber lurry 

 (well known in many places as a "pair of wheels," although 

 really there are two pairs of wheels to the vehicle), answers 

 second best to a proper punt-wagon. Naturally, one will 

 know that an article like a punt-wagon will be costly, and 

 would hardly pay itself in any way, unless much travelling 

 was done ; then it would prove of valuable service. A punt- 

 carriage is a fine tool, and one of great assistance in labour 

 saving when the punt is housed some distance from the water; 

 but a punt-wagon is an article possessed by few fowlers except 

 those who do a lot of travelling. 



Now to original cost of gear. This is a matter which 

 might be discussed almost beyond limit. In the first place, 

 we shall suppose a person who has the money wishes to take 

 up the sport of punting, and requires an estimate of a complete 

 and up-to-date new outfit. With some slight variation, accord- 

 ing to quality and size, we give the following sums : ;^I50 

 to ;^200. These figures are worked out as follows : — Double- 

 handed punt, complete with all fittings, oars, sculls, poles, 



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