366 IMPROVED NEW PLAN FOR A 



IMPROVED NEW PLAN FOR A GUNNING- 

 PUNT. 



In 1822 I contrived, and in 1824 built, a punt which 

 I have been using, and improving on, ever since ; and 

 which is now, I believe, rendered as complete as any 

 thing yet invented, for the purpose of carrying the heavy 

 weight of a double swivel-gun, with two men, and gear ; 

 but which, by the way, like sportsmen, dogs, and every 

 thing else, is beginning to be worn out, just as it ap- 

 proaches perfection. Here, however, we have our model 

 to renew from, and perhaps to improve on ; not so with 

 ourselves ; for, after we have been all our lives making 

 the voyage of discovery, and are just arriving off the 

 land-mark of perfection, we are cast away on the rock 

 of declining years ; and thus it is that we are for ever 

 excluded from the port. But enough of the sentimental 

 and now for the punt : She must be decked over in 

 every part, except leaving just room enough for the 

 shooter to lie to his gun, and the man to work to the 

 birds ; in order to do which, without his hand being 

 shown too high, a part of the deck, on each side, must 

 be made to " ship and unship." The deck should be 

 formed of the lightest possible board, and covered all 

 over with strong canvas ; which helps to strengthen it, 

 and renders it doubly water-proof. The only parts of 

 the deck requiring strong support are the front, where 

 a man has to stand, if he loads the gun afloat ; and the 

 place where is fixed on the light metal thowls. The 

 space left open must be surrounded with bulwarks, 

 which continue rising, in proportion as the punt becomes 

 lower forward, to about four inches in height, and end- 



