144 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



the strong 1 shot would be thrown under water in the one case, whilst, 

 in the other, almost every shot in the barrel would be thrown directly 

 at the objects : that is to say, birds would be killed, sitting upon the 

 water within line of the shot, from sixty yards to one hundred and 

 twenty and upwards. A little experience and practice, which are always 

 the best instructors, will enable the young punter to understand this 

 a very important secret of success in the art of killing large numbers 

 of wild-fowl at a shot : and he must remember, that large shot kill 

 at farther distances than small. But for very long ranges, cartridges are 

 particularly recommended ; and they may now be had to fit any punt- 

 gun. Cartridges are not desirable for night-punting ; but for day- 

 light sport, both for stanchion and punt-guns, they are very effective. 



It is necessary that a punter should be a good oarsman ; for if he 

 is ardent in the pursuit, he will frequently have to row many miles 

 during the day, and often against wind and tide, which will try his 

 strength and courage as well as his skill : if not accustomed to small 

 rowing-boats, he ought not to venture in a gunning-punt. 



Strength of arm is indispensable for punting : nothing tries the 

 muscles of the wrist and arm so severely ; and the longer the punter's 

 arms the more useful they will be found for the purpose, and the less 

 will be the exertion required. 



The tyro will find that those punters who pursue the sport as a 

 precarious means of subsistence are very reluctant to instruct a novice ; 

 and he may be assured the " old hands" will not impart their best 

 tactics, though paid ever so liberally. There are many boatmen who 

 profess to understand the sport, but in reality know next to nothing- 

 about it ; and this is the case in every wild-fowling district. Men 

 who have punts and guns, go out daily without success, though pro- 

 bably firing away as much, or more, powder and shot as the most 

 successful : their guns not being properly placed, or their method of 

 punting being erroneous, is the cause of their ill-success. 



Every punter should carry a small shoulder-gun in his boat ; and 

 if a double-barrelled one, so much the better : it will be found an 

 almost indispensable part of the equipment of a gunning-punt ; 

 not only for the purpose of despatching strong wounded birds, 

 but in a variety of ways; for instance suppose a pair, or three 

 birds, are seen swimming on the water at no great distance, and 

 offering, apparently, a fair chance to the punter, he will scarcely think 

 it worth while to discharge his punt-gun at any less number than 

 two or three pair ; although it may be truly said, that the smaller 



