SAILING CRAFT AND MOTOR-PUNTS 291 



carry two punts and a dinghy and a crew of six (including three 

 shooters) comfortably. Her size should not be so large as to 

 make her a craft unable to be manoeuvred in fairly shallow 

 water. About thirty tons, Y.M., is somewhere near the mark. 

 Her cabins should not be numerous and small, as they often 

 are, but as few and large as possible. A living and a sleeping 

 cabin, with the fo'castle for the crew, are quite enough, and 

 are likely to prove more comfortable than if twice the number 

 and uselessly small. Articles which are not of absolute utility, 

 such as pictures, etc., are best kept out of the cabins. A swing- 

 table and folding chairs are indispensable. The shooter should 

 strive to fit his craft with necessary articles only, and not the 

 useless impedimenta too often seen aboard summer pleasure 

 craft. 



The rig of a yawl for wildfowling may be under-sparred 

 or reduced somewhat. The topmast may be dispensed with. 

 A plain pole mast suits best. Our sketch shows our choice 

 of both rigs. These slight diversions assist ready and handy 

 working. So that the yacht will carry the punts, she should 

 be flush-decked, without cockpit or booby-hatch. Punts are 

 not recommended to be carried slung in davits. An endless 

 amount could be written about floating craft, and whether 

 further discussion would assist, we leave to others to decide, 

 and trust that we have fringed (as our subject will only permit) 

 the items which are of most importance and interest to the 

 fowler projecting a trip. Details of fitting up the cabins with 

 useful articles, like furnishing the hut ashore, must be left to 

 personal ideas ; but such things as an alarum clock, ther- 

 rriometer, barometer, compass, etc., should on no account 

 be omitted. 



As to craft propelled by motors, the same drawback occurs 

 as with steam vessels. Fuel, be it coal, petrol, or paraffin, 

 cannot be carried in large quantities aboard a ship which 

 has to be as small as possible in keeping with her require- 



