352 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



always be shipped for a sailing vessel at every port. 

 When making a passage in a steamer, if overtaken 

 by heavy weather, you may be in great danger of 

 swamping ; for they are bad sea-boats, unless large 

 and costly ; whereas a stout cutter, though a third 

 less in size, is perfectly safe. If a steamer be 

 especially built to take the ground, as all proper 

 fowling crafts should be, they roll dangerously and 

 are unsteady. 



Shooting from an inn or cottage on the coast can 

 sometimes be done fairly well, but from few houses 

 can launching or landing be effected at all times of 

 tide ; and near these few the birds are wild and wary, 

 as in such convenient spots they are well persecuted. 

 But should you elect to try from land, above all use 

 a specially-built light carriage to transport punt and 

 gun from one place to another. Country carts soon 

 strain and ruin a punt, however carefully she may 

 be packed or built. There is no misery or mar- 

 sport like unstopable leaks. Though plenty of 

 water outside, let us have none aboard a duck-punt, 

 as, being flat-bottomed, a small quantity wets the 

 shooter through, and heaven knows he has enough 

 hardship and cold to undergo without this unplea- 

 sant addition. 



Fowl are never so well placed for a shot from a 

 heavy gun as when on their first or last legs. On 

 their first legs they can just feel the mud or ground 

 as it is being uncovered by the ebb. After a long 

 rest they will search and cluster over the shallows 

 in greedy expectancy. At such times, if the punt 

 can float within shot (often as not out of the 

 question), you will do great execution, and though 



