SHOOTING THE DUCK AT SEA 37 



This is a very safe punt for the coast, but of 

 greater length and width of beam than are really neces- 

 sary on sheltered water. It has a fore-deck, and 

 coaming of ordinary height. Armed with a heavy 

 double gun, which lies ready in rests on the deck, 

 the wild-fowler may often do considerable execu- 

 tion. 



When looking for fowl, a punt may be propelled 

 either by oars or paddle or of course may be sailed 

 if the gunner cares for a sail and the wind allows. 

 Paddling is preferable to rowing except against the 

 current, as the position in the punt allows a constant 

 look-out to be kept. 



Not so very many years ago it was the almost 

 universal custom to decry breech-loading swivel- 

 guns. They were heavy, their shooting was not 

 equal to that of muzzle-loaders of equal bore and 

 length of barrel, there was no advantage in having a 

 gun which could be charged more quickly than the 

 muzzle-loader; they were very costly into the bargain, 

 and being complicated they might very easily go 

 wrong; whereas the muzzle-loader, simplicity itself, 

 could never fail its user and would last him a life- 

 time. All this is still urged by many professional 

 wild-fowlers. The breech-loading swivel-gun must 

 always be costly compared with the muzzle-loader, 



