276 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



of shots from such a craft are, nine times out of ten, very long 

 ones, owing mainly to the greater "freeboard" of a boat 

 compared with that of even a very high punt. The special 

 features of the punt depicted are that it is a seaworthy craft, 

 low on the water compared to an open boat, is roomy inboard, 

 has a high round on decks, and is a punt that can stand a lot 

 of weather. It may be built with a less than 4 ft. 3 in. beam, if 

 speed is required, so as to compete with others ; but in no case 

 should the beam of a sea-punt be less than 3 ft. g in. In days 

 gone by I used a punt similar to the one here figured, for open 

 work, and can confidently say that she was as safe a craft as 

 ever put off, for her size. When it was too rough to launch 

 this punt, there were no open boats her length that dare 

 venture out, and this is saying a lot for a punt. Shooting 

 sea-ducks in competition with open boats, she invariably came 

 off top score. This was mainly due to her size compared with 

 a boat. Of course, she was more readily managed, picking 

 her birds up much quicker than possible with a heavy boat, to 

 say nothing of many other minor advantages. The punt I am 

 here referring to, it is only fair to note, was worse than useless 

 in shallows, though this was a class of fowling she was never 

 intended to follow. The sea-punt draws too much water by 

 twice for shallows. Our illustration of a double punt shows a 

 punt for more general purposes ; yet, when special circum- 

 stances are to be considered, she might need some modification 

 as the conditions require. 



Thus it is that every punter should really, to a certain 

 extent, be his own designer, according to the purposes the 

 punt is to be used for ; and I add that one should not hesitate 

 to devise or alter to his own taste or ideas anything he feels 

 sure will be found beneficial. However, I trust that from the 

 punts herewith described the intending punt-gunner may find 

 little difficulty in selecting one that will answer his purpose, or 

 which with some slight alterations may eventually suit him. 



