320 CANOE SHOOTING. 



engraved, being ten feet, would, by holding a string 

 along the centre of the bottom (outside) prove convex 

 about two inches. If a little more, she would be 

 none the worse ; perhaps better ; provided that she 

 drew water enough to give a bearing to every part ; 

 otherwise the ends that were sprung would, by being 

 out of the water, " cluck" so much as to make birds 

 swim away in the night. In short, let your draught 

 of water be the chief guide to regulate the kam> 

 melling, or springing, of your punts and canoes. If 

 not required for rough work, or a fixed swivel-gun, I 

 should recommend all the planks to be not more 

 than three quarters of the thickness specified in the 

 plate ; as nothing, provided it be perfectly safe, can 

 be too light for getting to wild birds. It is the large 

 she of a boat, not the substance of the wood, that 

 makes her safe in a sea. If the builder puts some 

 oakum and tar round the heads of the principal nails, 

 before he drives them in, so much the better. Not- 

 withstanding all that the boat-builders have said, I 

 now find that copper nails are the best. For dress- 

 ing and painting, vide directions hereafter given. 



This kind of .canoe, although built for other pur- 

 poses, is, on the western coast, generally preferred, 

 for shooting, to one of any other kind. It answers 

 best, when used (no matter whether by day or night), 

 from low water to half, and sometimes to full, flood. 

 You manage it thus : 



Sit down, on some straw or rushes, with your gun 

 by your side, afid take with you a small Newfound- 



