DOUBLE-HANDED PUNT. 341 



For the matter of that, an empty whale-boat, if 

 painted white, would, I feel sure, on certain occa- 

 sions drift nearer fowl feeding than the lowest of 

 punts badly worked. It is the imperceptible and 

 well-nigh motionless approach of a good fowler 

 that will bring him within shot where others 

 fail who take less care. A very important ad- 

 vantage that a double punt possesses is that of 

 being able to swim in about half the water 

 the smaller one requires, by reason of her 

 greater displacement. Besides this power enabling 

 her to get nearer birds in shallows, she is twice 

 as roomy and comfortable, and the shooter can 

 keep warm by moving about at odd times, which 

 in a small craft he cannot do. In a double-handed 

 punt an immense advantage is afforded by the 

 free use of both hands when taking the shot, and 

 all your attention can be devoted to the gun 

 when nearing birds ; so that, whether they spring, 

 or sit, they should never escape when once within 

 range. In a small punt, alone and unaided, the 

 shooter is forced to paddle, steer, and shoot at the 

 same moment. I intend to describe later on a 

 light punt that can be used by one or two men 

 as circumstances require. 



It is amusing to hear fowlers condemning the 

 double-handed punt. In the waters that suit it, 

 it will beat any single-handed punt hollow. On 

 the other hand, in places that are adapted to the 

 single, a double could not be worked with the 

 same success, except by most practised hands. 

 Half the single-handed punters have never used, 

 or even seen, a properly fitted and well-managed 



