BEST IGNITION. 353 



fired it, was merely a rough block of elm, with a hole 

 for the swivel ; and on such uneven ground, that I fired 

 every shot in jeopardy, lest the gun should upset and 

 break the locks, not to say a word of breaking my bones. 



BEST MODE OF IGNITION FOR A PUNT- 

 GUN. 



With regard to flint or detonater, I have, till a few 

 years ago, used only the former with a swivel-gun ; but 

 they have both been tried by the men who constantly 

 use these guns, and the far greater proportion have de- 

 cided in favour of the flint. They say that the recoil 

 from a detonater is so sudden as to shake every thing 

 too much ; and also, that the birds, by night, set up 

 their heads at the flash of a priming, just enough to be 

 a much better target ; and, therefore, the detonater does 

 not kill so many. I merely give this report as I had it 

 from some of the best performers. And, as to rain a 

 lock-cover, of either patent leather and sailcloth, lined 

 with flannel, or the leg of an old water-boot (the east 

 Yarmouth fashion), will keep the lock as dry as when 

 in a house, if the shooter leaves it on, and either ac- 

 quires the knack of taking aim under his gun, or has 

 little elevated sights to project above the gun-cover. 



Since the fourth edition I have well tried the detonater 

 with the double swivel-gun, on the plan for which it 

 became necessary. It killed better than I expected, 

 though I was obliged to give up the copper cap to it as 

 not being safe. I, therefore, got Joe Manton to put 

 me a breeching for his copper PRIMERS, which for these 



A A 



