FOLLOWING BOATS. 377 



great unsheltered estuaries in the S.W. of Ireland, in 

 all weather, winter and summer. No boat can skim 

 before the wind so fast, and with a centre-board 

 they will sail respectably at all times, quite enough 

 to assist. They cost about $ ios., as supplied to 

 fishermen, pilots, and oyster-dredgers, but a superior 

 one might run up to j, if built with life-boat 

 partitions, centre-board, lockers, etc., and copper- 

 fastened, when she is good for many years. In 

 Wexford, an open shallow harbour, very similar 

 crafts are in use for fishing purposes, but too 

 lightly built for following boats when fowling. The 

 gondola can be dragged over rocks and stones, or 

 up and down the beach, and will stand any rough 

 work it is put to, such as would very shortly place 

 an ordinary boat hors de combat. One man can 

 scull, sail, or push a gondola in fair weather any- 

 where, whilst the punt and its crew of one or two 

 shooters are in search of fowl, and be ready to appear 

 on the scene at once after the shot is fired, to pick 

 up the dead. With two men, or a full crew of three, 

 she is most powerful, and will tow a large punt and 

 gun as if it were a cockle-shell. She should have 

 light bottom boards laid fore and aft to save her 

 floor. (For plans and dimensions of gondola, as 

 well as of light-draught boat, see pages 474 to 477.) 

 When running a punt up or down a beach, the 

 fellows who may assist will lay hold of the most 

 fragile parts by which to pull or push her, perhaps 

 doing considerable damage. The breeching ropes 

 are liable to cut if used as helpers, and you want 

 above all to keep them sound for their proper work. 

 There is very little to take a punt by when shifting 



