410 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



indiarubber washers, but in hardness they are as wood compared to a 

 spiral spring, besides other serious drawbacks. The great advantage 

 of Colonel Hawker's spring is that the pressure of the recoil comes 

 fair and straight against the balance-pin which is in line with the 

 spring, and not, as many guns are now rigged, against a swivel below 

 the spring or line of recoil ; the very worst of plans, as then the 

 muzzle is thrown up on firing, and strength is sacrificed as well. If a 

 spring did snap a thing I but once knew of a quarter-inch washer 

 between the severance would set all right, and the act of breaking 

 could do no damage, as the spring is pressed in by recoil, not pulled 

 out. I give an adaption of this apparatus, with the addition of a 

 back spring, which will be found to check all reaction after firing. 



DIMENSIONS FOR A GUN SHOOTING A POUND OF SHOT. 



Total length of loop inside opening, I2^in. Breadth across, i$in. 



Fore or longest spring that takes, recoil when gun is fired, 6^ in. 

 long. This spring to be contracted a |in. when first placed in loop. 



After or short spring that checks back recoil after firing, 3! in. long. 



Diameter of fore spring outside, ifin. ; inside, |in. Thickness of 

 coils, ^in. 



Diameter of after spring outside, |j?in. ; inside, j^in. Thickness of 

 coils, T 3 6 in. This spring requires to be smaller than the other in 

 diameter, as if it did not fit close over its sliding-rod it would swerve 

 when left loose by the contraction of fore spring on firing the gun. 



Centre block, that fits accurately and slides inside loop fore and aft, 

 2^in. long by i^in. broad by i^in. high. 



Diameter of connecting-pin, that fits and works through hole in 

 centre block, fin. 



Length of fore sliding-rod when in position, 9in. ; of after one 

 ditto, 7^in. 



Diameter of both, ifin. 



Diameter of shoulder on fore sliding-rod, {fin., so as to fit fairly 

 tight inside spring. Its fore end to be rounded off a little. 



Length of shoulder, ifin. 



Diameter of round stem of swivel-pin, that drops into hole in wood- 

 block secured to floor of fowling-punt (or, if a sailing-boat, plate on 

 fore-deck), i^in. Its length or height over all, 8^ in. to 9|in. 



The jaws above shoulder of swivel-pin are exactly apart sufficient 

 to take centre block and loop between them, so that working parts 

 are kept in position, and cannot shift to one side or the other. At 

 base of this opening room must be left for play of loop, to enable the 

 gunstock to be dipped for a flying shot. The jaws fin. thick at 

 thinnest. The under part or bar of the loop being rounded, enables 

 the lower part of each jaw to be rounded also, thus giving strength 



