384 EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 



head them for a cross shot. As the gun, when on one 

 tack, is in the way of the jib, you must have the man 

 who attends the jib-sheets always in readiness to haul 

 the weather one to windward ; but this must be done 

 only just before you want to fire, or you deaden the 

 boat's way. Take care also to let the sheet be under 

 the barrel of the gun, in order that your line of aim may 

 be clear of every thing. In this pursuit, when the more 

 wind sometimes the more sport, never go with less than 

 three good hands ; and be careful, in squally weather, 

 not to make too fast the mamsheet, as nine-tenths of the 

 misfortunes that we hear of have occurred from this very 

 circumstance. 



While on this subject, it may be useful information 

 to many gentlemen, and it is but doing justice to an 

 ingenious man to say, that, for building a boat, yacht, 

 &c. I have never yet met with any one who could beat 

 Mr. Thomas Inman, of Lymington. As a much better 

 recommendation than my book, I need only say that 

 he has been chosen by Joseph Weld, Esq. for building 

 his yachts. Mr. Inman removed to Lymington from 

 Hastings. 



I will now conclude here with explaining the ap- 

 parent inconsistencies of the plate by a dialogue, a la 

 Walton : 



Critic. Why put all your wounded geese swimming 

 one way? 



Author. Because geese, directly they are wounded, 

 always make for the heaviest sea. 



Critic. Admit that : but why have you made birds 

 falling where no gun is fired ? 



Author. Because, in wildfowl shooting, one third of 



