CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE SAILING-PUNT. 



" The boat goes tilting on the waves, 



The waves go tilting by : 

 There dips the duck, her back she laves ; 

 O'er head the sea-gulls fly. 



H. G. DANA, 



THE advantages of the sailing-punt for the purposes of wild-fowl 

 shooting are peculiar. If all the punters in any particular locality 

 used sailing-punts, the wild-fowl would become very shy of them ; 

 and it would be easier to approach them in a rowing-punt, which is, 

 to all intents and purposes, the more eligible boat. But as rowing- 

 punts abound in every wild-fowl locality, and sailing-punts are so few 

 and far between, it often happens, as I can testify from personal ex- 

 perience, that more success is obtained by making up to birds under 

 sail than by paddling towards them. The birds becoming accus- 

 tomed to persecution from one particular form of craft, do not suspect 

 a novelty; and thus frequently a march is stolen upon them. 

 With a light wind and smooth water, the rapidity with which a 

 properly-rigged sailing-punt skims over the surface is astonishing ; 

 even whilst the birds are in the act of taking wing, the little craft 

 runs in many yards nearer upon them ; and thus a highly effective 

 shot is often made. 



The sailing-punt also obviates a great deal of hard work, and is 

 altogether a pleasant and satisfactory means of enjoying the sport of 

 wild-fowling, particularly in mild weather ; but in severe seasons the 

 punter will find no great difficulty in making up to wild-fowl by 

 means of a rowing-punt with paddles. 



The young wild-fowler, however, must observe that it is not every 

 punt which can be sailed ; indeed, a boat of peculiar and specific con- 

 struction is required for the purpose : for so surely as an inexperi- 



