3Uuncfntt& anti Canoe Quoting* 



HAMPSHIRE LAUNCHING-PUNT. 



A HAMPSHIRE punt is made so light and narrow, as 

 just to hold one person, with a gun of about seventy 

 pounds weight, and six feet in the barrel, fixed on a 

 swivel. This gun is so arranged, that it rests on the 

 bow, and may be raised, or turned a few inches, by a 

 mere stump, which some of the gunners here now have, 

 instead of a but, in order to take up less room in the 

 punt ; and to admit of their firing higher, in case the 

 birds should rise. 



They row with their backs to the gun till they see 

 the fowl, and then turn round on their faces ; lie down, 

 and either work along, with the leaded stick, A., or, if 

 the water be too deep for this, with two paddles, like B. 



On having arrived within shot, they relinquish the one 

 on their right side, which, in order to prevent its float- 

 ing away, is made fast to the gunwale with a piece of 

 string. They then keep straight the punt with the one 

 on the left, while with the right hand they regulate 

 their aim and pull the trigger. 



