STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 339 



according to the one length and weight, or the 

 other. 



The smaller the bore is, in reason, the further you 

 can kill at a small number of birds ; but the larger 

 size of these two shoots the best and most regular 

 pattern. Any thing beyond that size seldom answers. 



It may, of course, be made on the same proportion 

 to any size ; but, although a gun much beyond this 

 size will kill more birds at a shot, I am inclined to 

 think, from what I saw of the one at Poole, that it 

 will not kill so far in proportion. (As some proof 

 that Singer was not very partial to this gun, I need 

 only state that, some months after I saw it fired, I 

 received a letter from him making an offer of it for 

 sale ; which, as he is a man of long experience in 

 the business, I conclude he would not have done, if 

 the gun had perfectly suited him). 



The barrel, in forging and filing, should be left 

 well filled up, and, in every part, substantial. 



NEW PLAN FOR FIRING TWO POUNDS OF 

 SHOT TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE; AND, 

 AT THE SAME TIME, EASING THE RE- 

 COIL OF A SWIVEL-GUN. 



As guns to carry a pound of shot at a time are 

 now to be constantly seen on almost every part of 

 the coast, as well as in most of the fen countries, the 

 very few men who formerly had them are now sur- 



7. 2 



