VARIOUS KINDS OF GUNNING-PUNTS 279 



details of importance in a gunning-punt that ordinary boat- 

 builders do not care to undertake the job of building one; and, 

 moreover, they detest being dictated to in an art in which they 

 profess to be practitioners, though, unfortunately, they profess 

 more than they can practise. 



The drawing of a sea-punt shown on page 275 is with- 

 out a gun aboard. I leave this out, allowing for special 

 selection by the sea-punter himself, after discussing some of 

 the many devices invented for taking up the recoil of big 

 guns. Although, personally, I am a great advocate of 

 the old-fashioned elevating crutch, stout rope breeching 

 from hole in stem of punt to trunnions on gun, and movable 



1, 1 ,1 I I 

 -MS—— (WCM — 





nioNT _ 



Sliding Rest for Punt-Gun 



rest, I quite think that if any of the ingenious contrivances 

 invented for quickly aligning the big gun, and taking up 

 the recoil, can claim to supersede the older style, it would 

 be an admirable plan to test them by taking shots at 

 wary fowl on rough water from a sea-punt. Sea-punts 

 which are clinker-built will "rattle" on rippling water. 

 In a choppy sea of "small lumps," as some fishermen 

 term them, the sea-punt, if head on to such a sea, will 

 "flop" or "spank" the water with her bows meanwhile, 

 making no little noise. Such a position for a shallow 

 punt, especially with a heavy gun aboard, would be very 

 dangerous, as with her sharp and shallow bow she would 

 be likely to plunge, or even dive. The noise made by a sea- 



