PUNT-GUNS. 125 



obviated by means of a small copper crutch or rest for the barrel of 

 the gun. The crutch should work with a male and female screw, so 

 as to be capable of being 1 raised or depressed at pleasure ; and this is 

 one of the best, the quickest, and most convenient means of adjusting 

 the elevation of the punt-grin. I have seen inexperienced hands 

 within fatal range of numbers of wild-fowl, and yet they have fired 

 without killing a bird, because of the gun not lying at proper eleva- 

 tion : and I have seen others fire at wild-geese successfully ; whilst 

 with the same gun, in the same position, they have fired at widgeon 

 without a shot touching them. It is because of the gun lying a little 

 too hig*h. The geese being' larger birds, sit higher on the water, and 

 receive the shot ; whilst the widgeon being so much smaller, and 

 consequently sitting lower on the surface, the strong shot all flies 

 over their heads. 



It is sometimes difficult to convince an ignorant man of the force of 

 this argument, he being so strongly impressed with the idea that, if 

 the gun lies in a right position for geese, it does so for widgeon, or 

 any other bird. Now a gun, when correctly elevated for ordinary 

 purposes, ought to be in such a position as to kill both geese 

 and widgeon with equal facility, sitting on the water ; but before 

 shooting at swans the muzzle should be slightly elevated : and the 

 same for waders such as herons and curlews, which stand on the 

 mud above the ordinary elevation of a punt-gun. 



The tyro sportsman is particularly recommended to pay due 

 attention to the highly important art of elevation. The punt- 

 gun should be placed a little to the right of the punt, that the 

 shooter may place his shoulder firmly to the stock on taking aim, 

 without having to shift his body on one side or the other, or alter 

 the trim of the punt in any way. 



Gun-breeching s and Recoil-springs. 



And now as to the means of checking the recoil of the punt-gun. 

 There are several different methods of accomplishing this operation, 

 the most ancient of which is by means of a strong* iron fulcrum, 

 fitting into a stout cross-piece of wood, the latter built into the punt 

 a little forward of the midships. The fulcrum is in the form of a 

 crutch at the upper part, in which to receive the gun ; the stem of 

 the crutch fitting into an iron socket, and there being a cross-bolt 

 or shifting pin run through the upper ends of the crutch and the 



