378 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



her, that is not light and weak to the touch. One 

 or two men, if they could use their strength fairly, 

 would do the work of what sometimes takes three 

 or four. A couple of stretchers to carry her on, 

 and always aboard, are invaluable. To cast off or 

 make fast a punt to following boat is often a matter 

 of minutes : cold fingers and tight-drawn knots 

 cannot be overcome as easily as wished. It should 

 be the work of a moment, as it is often required 

 to be done in a hurry, when delay is dangerous, 

 or fatal to sport. I give a sketch of a Spring-hook 



SPRING-HOOK. 

 Length about 5in. Material, wrought copper, ^in. to fin. thick. 



which I have found most convenient for the pur- 

 pose. The elastic ring is not affected by water as 

 is a steel spring (which latter gives very soon), and 

 will stand near the whole winter without renewal, 

 and when requisite that is a small matter. With 

 this a punt can be shackled or let go in an instant, 

 and held with safety at all times. 



Mud-boards are in some parts a necessity where- 

 with to obtain the cripples on soft ooze. I saw some 

 patent ones the other day in a London shop as com- 

 plicated as a modern skate, made of transverse bars 

 of wood screwed together with open space between, 

 gridiron fashion a regular ooze-sucking invention. 



