DOUBLE AND SINGLE PUNTS. 339 



of a possible cruise seaward, is, of course, a dif- 

 ferent matter. 



A moderate-sized double punt, say what you 

 may about its extra breadth and length, will 

 always, if well managed, approach as near, and 

 often nearer, to fowl than a narrow single one ; the 

 reason of this being the lowness in the water its 

 well-flared sides and breadth permit. A narrow 

 side-paddling punt can never be as good a sea- 

 boat as one that is sculled. The former cannot 

 have the sides flared out more than a couple of 

 inches at either side, as the floor must be as wide 

 as we can get it ; and were it then flared out 

 to any extent no man could reach over the 

 bulwarks to work his paddles. Were the sides 

 flared out to make a buoyant craft of her, and 

 yet left so narrow on the top that a side-paddler 

 could work his paddles, the floor would be too 

 narrow by far for safety, and the stability would 

 be but little. The more, in reason, the sides of 

 a punt are flared out the better will she keep 

 water from coming aboard, and the lower she will 

 show, and of course be, in the water, and the better 

 for getting up to fowl. To the wary fowl, when 

 pointed straight towards them, it presents a lower 

 and more confused appearance with the land or 

 water than a small high-sided punt could possibly 

 exhibit. A single punt must of necessity be built 

 high in proportion to her size, or she would 

 swamp in a slight sea. Contrast a small high 

 bowl with a low shallow one on the water. 



It may naturally be remarked that the high 

 bowl would be safest. So it would if both were 



z 2 



