STANCHION GUN. 3(J3 



dark nights, the little prop on which the gun rests 

 should be made so as to rise and hx the gun precisely 

 to water level i and then, if your boat is properly 

 trimmed, you cannot fire under, or over, the birds in 

 the dark. About seven inches and a half from the 

 water is in general the best elevation. 



This punt may be safely used with a sail, in going 

 over the flooded mud at spring tides, and will set and 

 row as well as any boat that can possibly be made to 

 carry two hands with ease, comfort, and safety. 



The method of shooting wildfowl which I have 

 last described is the best calculated for the amuse- 

 ment of a gentleman, as he may go out between 

 breakfast and dinner ; and, in frosty weather, per- 

 haps kill his twenty or thirty couple in a day, followed 

 by his companions, who may keep at a distance, to 

 enjoy a sight of the sport ; and afterwards join in the 

 ' cripple chase" [vide plate]. 



So far superior is this diversion to what people are 

 aware of, that I have never yet met with a solitary 

 instance of one sportsman, who had seen it in per- 

 fection, but what was quite elated ; and preferred 

 t'ren a sight of it to the best day's game shooting in 

 the kingdom. It is therefore condemned as an oc- 

 cupation for rustics only by those who know nothing 

 whatever about it. 



Let those, who fancy punt-shooting such a danger- 

 ous amusement, compare the accidents that happen 

 in it, with those in fox-hunting, battii shooting, or 

 any other sport, and see in which they most fre- 



