120 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



makes a good invisible colour for a punt intended for night-work. 

 No varnish or shining material should be used in the paint, but the 

 duller and deader the colour (though snowy white) the better. The 

 interior of the punt may be a light buff, or straw colour, or any other 

 which suits the fancy, so long as it be not gay or attractive. But, 

 after all, a great deal of the good or ill success attending the sport 

 depends not so much on the punt as the skill of the punter. 



The form and build of the gunning-punt differs slightly at almost 

 every county round the coast. 



The Hampshire punts have round sterns, and are short and narrow ; 

 the usual length being but fourteen feet, and the breadth at gunwales 

 from two feet six inches to two feet eight inches, according to the 

 size and strength of the punter. The recoil of the gun in the Hamp- 

 shire punt is received by a rope breeching, rove through a strong 

 wooden knee, firmly fixed across the bottom planks of the punt, a 

 little in advance of the gun's balance ; and this method is also 

 adopted in other counties, as the strongest place in the punt on which 

 to throw the force of the recoil, though it may well be doubted 

 whether the stem is not the best place through which to reeve the 

 breechings, and receive the strain. 



The Essex gunning-punts have attained considerable notoriety ; 

 particularly those in the neighbourhood of Maldon, the form of 

 which is much in favour with those who resort to the pursuit of punt- 

 ing in winter as a means of subsistence ; and a very precarious one it 

 must be in mild winters. 



The form of the Maldon gunning*-punt is very similar to a coffin, 

 and is simply flat-bottomed, with sides nearly upright, formed of two 

 broad streaks. The usual length is sixteen and a-half to seventeen 

 feet, and the breadth two feet eight inches to two feet ten inches. 

 They are very handy for setting to birds, because of the narrowness 

 of their form enabling the punter to use his arms freely, and, by 

 means of the paddles, with considerable effect ; but they are easily 

 upset, and require very great care on the part of the occupant in all 

 his movements. They have strong gunwales and cross-piece, and are 

 the least costly of any gunning-punt that can be built. When 

 intended for an extra large gun, they are built in proportion longer 

 and wider as may be required. 



In loading the gun whilst afloat in one of these punts, it is usual 

 to row ashore, or lash the punt alongside a larger vessel. 



