354 LOADING. 



LARGE DUCK-GUNS answer better than any thing I 

 can describe; because THEY give the only possible 

 means of combining a SHORT COMMUNICATION with 

 PERFECT SAFETY. But, nevertheless, I agree with the 

 gunners that, if I had a single swivel-gun, it should 

 have a flint lock. 



NIGHT CARTRIDGES; 



AND 



Improved Method of Loading a Large Gun. 



The best method, among the old gunners, for loading 

 their punt-guns, was to unship them ; and, after wiping 

 them out, to put the powder in a wooden measure that 

 fitted into the caliber. [Why a wooden measure ? 

 Because if a metal one dropped overboard good b'ye to 

 it !] Then to place the gun perpendicular, leaving 

 the measure in the muzzle ; in order that the powder 

 may fall to the bottom of the breeching. Some used a 

 powder-cartridge, and pricked it through the touch-hole, 

 like a cannon ; but this could only be done with a 

 common breeching. They wadded with loose oakum ; 

 brown paper; pasteboard; or old hat; loaded with shot, 

 in precisely the same manner as with powder ; and 

 then added just enough oakum, or paper, to prevent the 

 charge from getting loose. But this plan always put 

 the shooter to the inconvenience of unshipping his gun; 

 and was, of course, rendered impracticable where the 

 gun was too heavy to be raised from the stanchion. 

 What was the consequence ? The powder and shot were 



