CHAPTER XII 



HINTS ON PUNTING TO FOWL, AND THE 

 ACTUAL USE OF PUNT-GUNS 



We must first describe the many ways and means by which 

 gunning-punts are worked to fowl. Also, it will be necessary 

 to define punting here as of two kinds, viz. single-handed and 

 double-handed. In single-handed punting, a favourite means 

 of nearing fowl is by using two short hand-paddles. The 

 punter lies flat on his chest and works a paddle over each side 

 of his craft, propelling and steering his punt at the same time. 

 In the larger types of single-handed punts a scull is used out 

 of the stern, through a crutch or spur, if in a sufficient depth of 

 water. In shallows, the punt is propelled by what is known as 

 the setting-pole. This is worked through the same spur as the 

 puntsman uses to scull through. The pole is shod with a brass 

 or iron shoe, and weighted with lead, so that it sinks and 

 enables the fowler to push on the ground when the pole end 

 reaches the bottom. If the pole were not weighted, the punts- 

 man lying prone in his craft would not be able to touch bottom 

 with it. 



The ways employed to work double-handed punts to fowl 

 are exactly similar to those already described for the larger 

 single-handed punts, except, of course, that in a double punt 

 one man (the puntsman) has all the propelling power of the 

 boat to look after, while the other attends to the gun. One 

 other way of going to fowl in a double punt, is by paddling. 

 The puntsman lies on his back, and, facing ahead, paddles 



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