SINGLE-HANDED PUNT. 343 



to the class of punt in use, whether single or double. 

 Besides this, no apparatus of the kind could act the 

 part of scull or paddle which give both impetus and 

 direction with one movement. 



As already observed, what suits one place will 

 not do so well for another. A large punt in small 

 creeks, strong tides, and overshot but safe harbours, 

 where to see a score of fowl together is an unusual 

 sight, is not at its best. Your powerful gun would 

 have no adequate work. It could not so quickly 

 be shoved up to fowl pitched as could a little light 

 craft. On the other hand, in wild open waters, where 

 greater numbers of birds abound, the small punt 

 would be only fit for a lunatic. The fowler could 

 neither follow the birds into the open, nor pick them 

 up unaided, should he by chance knock some forty 

 or fifty down, without losing half. He must per- 

 petually keep his windward eye on the weather, and 

 would run many risks calculated to spoil his plea- 

 sure. His bag would be as empty, in comparison 

 to that of the skilful double-handed workers, who, 

 from extra help and consciousness of safety, could 

 outwit him in every way. I have heard amateur 

 fowlers boast that they prefer single punting because 

 they like to do all the work themselves. This is 

 absurd. There is nothing clever in pulling your 

 arms off in a punt. The art of the sport is shown 

 in taking the shot, and the knowledge of how to 

 direct, rather than the actual labour of the approach. 



The great art required in swivel-gun shooting 

 is, perhaps, its chief charm : the many different 

 belongings that must each be in perfect order, and 

 yet act smoothly as a whole ; the knowledge of 



