434 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



undergo. As they cannot fail to be roughly used 

 out fowling, if unprotected they soon get ragged at 

 the ends. Be sure, therefore, they are well bound 

 with a broad strip of copper, not lightly tacked on 

 as is usual, but carefully riveted through with short 

 stout copper nails and washers of the same material. 

 The Ammunition-box is no unimportant article 

 among your belongings. It should be as waterproof 

 and damp-resisting as possible. It ought almost to 

 bear immersion without leaking, could it be so made, 

 as it may at times, as it lies on the floor of the punt, 

 nearly undergo such a severe trial. It can be 

 lined with sheet copper (tin soon rusts), made of 

 half-inch oak, or better, three-quarter-inch, and with 

 partitions to neatly take the description of ammuni- 

 tion used by the shooter. If a round cork-stuffed life- 

 saving cushion is carried to sit on when pulling, the 

 lower the box can be made the better, paying respect 

 to what it has to hold. It need then be no higher 

 than to take a powder tin or cartridge, laid flat, and 

 it will, though broad and long, be very portable, and 

 have no high bulk to take up space. Should you 

 want as much room as possible, especially in a small 

 punt, and do not carry a cushion, the ammunition- 

 box may be used as a rowing seat ; it can then be 

 made square and the height that is most suitable for 

 pulling. Whatever kind it is, the lid should overlap 

 at least an inch. This is best made without hinges, 

 and is more waterproof when fitted over loose, as 

 a rain-protecting ledge can then be continued all 

 round it. It is a handy plan, as the charges can be 

 got at under the side or deck of the punt, where 

 the lid could not be raised. It may be fastened by 



