470 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



2fin. ; coaming, forward, 3111. high ; aft, 2^in.; floor- 

 timbers, of oak, loin, apart, fin. square, a pair of 

 knees to each other one ^in. thick, of oak ; deck- 

 rafters, fin. square ; decks, ^in. thick, yellow pine ; 

 floor-planks, ^-in. pine, or of fin. elm ; sides, fin. 

 yellow pine or elm. 



When setting to fowl in this craft (Plate 13, page 

 467, fig. 2) the shooter lies face downwards, his chest 

 supported by the rowing cushion, or a smaller one 

 made for the purpose. He reaches his arms through 

 the parts of the coaming that fold down or lift out 

 for the purpose, and works the punt along with 

 the small paddles (shown inside punt in plan and at 

 page 432), which, keeping under water, he feathers 

 forward after each stroke (see Plate 12, page 358). 

 In shallows he pushes with them edgeways, like 

 sticks, if the ground be hard ; if soft, uses them as 

 in deep water. Within shot, and about to fire, he 

 drops the paddles, which are secured to the gunwale 

 by cords, or lays them on the side-decks. He can, 

 if fowl are tame, leave go of one paddle, and move 

 nearer in shot, or guide the punt with the other, one 

 hand being then at liberty to fire the gun in a 

 moment, or shift its elevation if necessary as he 

 draws in shot. At other times, the shooter may 

 pull his craft stern first, or also, with his pair of 

 sculls, push her stem first, as he kneels on the floor, 

 till he sees fowl, and lies down to approach them 

 with his small paddles, as above described. When 

 moving cautiously along shore or channels in search 

 of birds, he can ply a long single or double paddle 

 (see pages 432 and 433) as he sits on the after- 

 deck. 



