STANCHION, OR PUNT-GUN. 343 



can kill at a small number of birds ; but the larger size 

 of these two shoots the best, and most regular pattern. 

 Any thing beyond that size seldom answers. 



It may, of course, be made on the same proportion to 

 any size ; but, although a gun much beyond this size 

 will kill more birds at a shot, I am inclined to think, 

 from what I saw of the one at Poole, that it will not 

 kill so far in proportion. As some proof that Singer 

 was not very partial to this gun, I need only state that, 

 some months after I saw it fired, I received a letter 

 from him making an offer of it for sale ; which, as he 

 is a man of long experience in the business, I conclude 

 he would not have done, if the gun had perfectly suited 

 him. Not having been able to sell it, when I last saw 

 him, he had then had it lengthened. 



The barrel, in forging and filing, should be left well 

 filled up, and, in every part, substantial. 



NEW PLAN FOR FIRING TWO POUNDS (OR 

 TWO POUNDS AND A HALF) OF SHOT 

 TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE; AND, AT 

 THE SAME TIME, EASING THE RECOIL 

 OF A SWIVEL-GUN. 



As guns to carry a pound of shot at a time are now 

 to be constantly seen on almost every part of the coast, 

 as well as in most of the fen countries, the very few 

 men who formerly had them are now surrounded by 

 rivals; and therefore, in order still to keep the lead, 

 some of them have had recourse to using guns that 

 carry from one pound and a half to two pounds of shot. 

 The recoil, however, from these guns is so tremendous, 



