34 SHOOTING THE DUCK 



If to carry a gun of not more than 100 Ibs., the 

 punt may be 2 inches less across decks, and i inch 

 less across floor, other dimensions remaining the same. 



This punt is propelled in deep water by an oar 

 sculled in an after starboard rowing-spur, the gunner 

 lying partly on the left side, and his arm passing 

 through a shutter space in the coaming, and in shal- 

 lows by means of a setting-pole, a short pole used to 

 push against the bottom. Sculling a punt when set- 

 ting up to fowl is not a favourite method with single- 

 handed punt-gunners who shoot on sheltered waters 

 indeed in various respects it falls short ot the system 

 of propulsion by paddles. When, however, the width 

 of the punt runs beyond a certain limit, the stretch is 

 too great for paddles to be used with effect, and scull- 

 ing becomes necessary. The gunner can either fire 

 with his left hand, or bring the handle of the oar 

 inboard and use both hands to the gun. The fol- 

 lowing are the dimensions given for a punt of the 

 same class in which it is only wished to carry a gun 

 of from 70 Ibs. to 80 Ibs. : 



