160 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



ledges that other punts used to pass him,* yet he introduces this 

 craft to his readers as the model of perfection, and a pattern for the 

 whole fraternity of punters ; giving" a highly finished illustration of 

 the unwieldly fabric, which he states cost thirty-five pounds that is, 

 punt alone ; the gun is quite another item. Let us hope no tyro has 

 been induced to build a punt from such a model, when with a thirty- 

 five-shilling punt he may have ten times the sport, and twenty times 

 the success. 



The sailing-punt I recommend is of far more useful form and 

 construction ; and I do not hesitate to say it is as great an improve- 

 ment upon Colonel Hawker's plan as the percussion gun-lock is upon 

 the flint and pan. It may be used for either purpose of rowing, pad- 

 dling, or sailing; and with nearly equal facility to an ordinary 

 rowing punt. But it must be built by a boat-builder who under- 

 stands his business, or the result may be that the sportsman will 

 find his craft sluggish and heavy ; and have the mortification 

 to be behind-hand when rowing or paddling side by side with other 

 punters. 



The length of the sailing-punt, from stem to stern, should not ex- 

 ceed eighteen feet (if it be intended both for rowing and paddling) 

 and the extreme breadth amidships three feet three inches, gradually 

 tapering from the midship section towards the stern, and finishing 

 with a perpendicular stern-piece ; the forepart of the punt should also 

 taper gradually from the midship section to an upright stem-piece. 

 The depth forward should be four-and-a-half to five inches, and aft 

 eight inches. It must be built with a keelson extending about 

 three inches below the floor at the stern, and gradually lessening to 

 one inch at the bows, so as to answer the purpose of a keel. This, 

 and all the floor streaks, should be of elm ; all the others of red 

 pine. The form of the floor must be as flat as it is possible to build 

 a keel-bottomed boat, and as near like that of a whale-boat as can be, 

 with stem and stern-post alike, sharp at each end. The bow should 

 be fine at the entrance, though by no means hollow, but maintaining 

 the full flat floor, as far as consistent, towards the stem, because of 

 the pressure upon it from the weight of the gun. The sides of the 

 punt should be carefully formed, rounding gracefully as a whale- 

 boat ; and the quarter full and burthensome, though tapering to a 

 stern of similar form to the stem. 



* Vide " Instructions to Young Sportsmen ;" by Col. Hawker. 



