144 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



be absolutely confined below, but should be fitted with a rope 

 breeching, extending from the butt of the gun to the stem of 

 the punt, where it is secured. The gun fired with such a 

 breeching, will recoil as far as the rope will stretch, say one or 

 two inches, and will then spring forward about a foot, unless 

 checked by a notch in the stock, which should butt against the 

 gunning bench. The butt of the piece should be well padded, 

 to relieve the shoulder from the shock. Such a gun may be 

 fired with two ounces of Curtis and Harvey's best coarse pow- 

 der, and a pound of shot ; the best sized shot is from No 3 up 

 to No. 1, for Ducks — A or AA for Geese ; or cartridges of SSGr 

 for above a hundred yards. The best wadding is a tight- 

 wound ball of the best picked oakum. Mercurial ointment is 

 as good a thing as can be used, to prevent the rusting of guns 

 from the effect of salt air, or salt water ; but I am informed that 

 Mr. Mullin, of Barclay street, has a varnish of his own invention, 

 which is perfect. 



To fire these guns you must bear heavily with your shoulder 

 against the upper part of the padded butt, taking care not to 

 let your shoulder touch the butt, or your cheek the stock. All 

 the fingers of the trigger hand must be kept before the guard. 

 Your left hand should be placed over the butt, to regulate the 

 line of aim, and your cheek should just graze the back of the 

 hand. A little elevation must be given for the springing of 

 birds at the flash, which they will perceive before the shot can 

 reach them ; and a good deal of practice is necessary, particu- 

 larly in firing long cross shots at flocks, where it is sometimes 

 necessary to allow a yard elevation, and to shoot as much as 

 ten yards a-head of a fast flying flock. 



The advantage of a stanchion gun over a common shoulder 

 Duck gun, is much greater than that of the latter over a com- 

 mon sporting gun. They are used universally on the coast of 

 England. 



The punt, or canoe, must be as flat as possible, and as low 

 in the water. The gunner lies flat on his breast in the bottom, 

 when working up to birds, and paddles the vessel through two 



