124 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



i. e., if the muzzle of - the gun be raised ever so little, the shot 

 will strike the water at too great a distance ; and probably the 

 effective shot will all strike out of range, whilst only a few loose 

 and weak grains will hit the object. On the other hand, if the 

 muzzle be ever so slightly depressed from the ascertained eleva- 

 tion, the shot will strike nearer the punt, killing only those birds 

 which are very near, whilst many others, which may be farther 

 off, but within range, will escape unhurt. And this alteration in 

 the elevation may arise from a very slight cause either from raising 

 the muzzle of the gun, or the breech, or, vice versa, from depressing 

 either; or it may arise from altering the trim of the punt i. ., by 

 putting heavier weight in the fore or aft part, such as changing the 

 position of the ammunition-box from its proper place in the stern to 

 the fore-part of the punt. Moving the position of the body a little 

 further forward or aft, will also alter the elevation ; or, if the punt 

 be leaky, the water which gets in will frequently disturb the equili- 

 brium : and, if the gun be drawn farther inboard, or pushed farther 

 out, the same consequences must obviously ensue. 



It will thus be seen that a very little will so far alter the trim of 

 the punt, and consequently the elevation of the gun, as to completely 

 disappoint the punter's expectations when* he shoots. It therefore 

 becomes highly important to see carefully to the correct bearings of 

 the gun; for sometimes an unconscious movement may do all the 

 mischief; and more especially if the punt be a light or small one. A 

 heavier or lighter one than that for which the gun is elevated will 

 generally incur the same result ; and it is too late to discover this 

 error when making up to birds, because of the difficulty of being able 

 to find the exact elevation at such a time, and the danger of disturb- 

 ing them by moving or exposing oneself in the punt. An experienced 

 punter knows whether his gun is in the right position or not the 

 moment he lies down and runs his eye along the barrel in line with 

 the water, which he always does if in a strange punt ; and generally 

 on all occasions before going in pursuit of wild-fowl. And if he finds 

 it not in correct position, he raises or lowers the muzzle until he ob- 

 tains the proper elevation. 



It has been my endeavour to explain the system of elevation, with 

 the cause and effect, as fully and clearly as I am able, though at the 

 risk of being considered tedious, because it is of great importance to a 

 tyro to make himself acquainted with those desiderata before attempt- 

 ing to use the punt-gun, Much of the difficulty, however, may be 



