GUNNING-PUNT. 369 



comfortable, and less likely to lose the " traps" in, than 

 rushes or straw. (For this great improvement in timbers 

 I believe we have to thank the Americans.) 



The sides, " amidships," on this plan, being so very 

 low, may be " flammed" out as much as you please; 

 because they are not more than two or three inches 

 above the water; and the rising deck looks just like 

 the water itself. Thus all that the birds can see " end 

 on" is the bulwarks, which appear much less than even 

 the smallest launching-punt. 



About 7 A inches above the surface of the water is 

 the best height for the gun, in dark nights, or in a dead 

 calm ; but in rough water, the higher the gun is fixed, 

 the more birds you will kill. 



The staunchion should be " shipped" into a block of 

 elm, which ought to be fixed to nothing but the centre 

 plank, and this plank, just where the bolts go through, 

 should be left two inches thick. (The block and centre 

 plank of the punt that I built are carved in one solid 

 piece; but for this I was forced to cut down a fine elm 

 tree on purpose.) The gun should be fixed a little on 

 one side. To do this nicely, put your punt afloat, lie 

 down to your gun, and see that all is " in trim" every 

 way, before you bore the holes for the bolts. By this 

 means of fixing the knee, or block, the jar of the gun 

 is all thrown on one strong point, and every thing else 

 is carried back with it ; and therefore the sides, and 

 every other part of the boat, may be quite as light as 

 those of one which is only required for a shoulder gun. 



Every thing should be slightly tacked together, and 

 balanced afloat, with the gun " shipped," and the 

 gunners on board, before the deck is put on, or the 

 knee fixed ; otherwise when the shooter lies down, to 



B B 



