38 SHOOTING THE DUCK 



but objections on the score of weight and performance, 

 however sound at one time, are no longer important ; 

 the modern breech-loader weighs but a trifle more 

 than the muzzle-loader, and is fully equal to it in 

 penetration. The claim that, as it makes no practical 

 difference whether a punt-gun can be loaded in five 

 seconds or five minutes, the breech-loader is only 

 equal to the muzzle-loader is valid in a broad view of 

 the fact that there are long intervals between shots on 

 the water. But the broad view does not embrace 

 the question of convenience. Every wild-fowler who 

 has used a muzzle-loading swivel-gun knows what 

 this means ; the sponging-out process and its dirt, the 

 drizzle interfering with everything, the difficulties set 

 up by wind or swell. Then there is the drawing 

 and changing of the shot-charge when, let us say, 

 the gunner, about to launch a forlorn hope at brent, 

 happens to descry a heavy bunch of teal lighting near 

 at hand : the breech-loader possesses the very great 

 advantage that when any kind of fowl are sighted the 

 gunner can immediately and with no inconvenience 

 insert a cartridge containing shot of a suitable size 

 for use on that particular kind of fowl. Further, the 

 ammunition of the breech-loader cannot be affected 

 by wet, and its ignition under all circumstances is 

 certain. By no sound reasoning can it now be main- 



