THE SAILING-PUNT. 161 



The object of maintaining the floor as flat and long* as possible, is 

 not only for buoyancy and easy draught of water, but for stability 

 under sail. 



The forepart of the punt should be covered over with a thin, but 

 water-tight, scantling, very slightly arched, so that rain or spray 

 may not rest upon it. 



The depth of the punt amidships, and up to the cross-piece which 

 terminates the covered head, should be six inches ; and about two 

 inches of the scantling should be placed edgeways across the punt, 

 abaft the covered head, so as to screen the punter from view when 

 taking aim at the birds. 



Neither water-decks nor wash-streaks are required for the sailing- 

 punt, because no reasonable man would venture to set sail in so frail 

 a bark in rough water. 



The mast must be a shifting one, in order that it may be readily 

 shipped and unshipped at pleasure : a small light spar, about the size of 

 a mop-handle, and from four to five feet in height. The mast-stepping 

 may be made either through the scantling in front of the screen-piece 

 or just abaft it, and a little to the left of the punt, so as to be clear of 

 the balance-rest on which the punt-gun lies. Neither shrouds nor stays 

 should be fitted to the mast : either would make it dangerous ; 

 because, should a heavy squall strike the sail, it is better for the 

 little mast to go by the board, carrying all sail along with it, 

 than to capsize the boat ; which would be the result under such cir- 

 cumstances if the mast were confined. It is advisable, therefore, to 

 select a slender mast that has not sufficient substance to overturn 

 the punt. Never mind its bending in a strong breeze ; the carrying 

 away of a mast now and then is far less to be regarded than the upset- 

 ting of a punt. The punt's mast must be fitted at the top with a small 

 metal sheave for the halliards j the latter, after being led through the 

 sheave-hole, are attached to an iron or copper traveller, that slides 

 up and down the mast ; and a thumb-cleet being tacked on to the 

 lower part of the mast, just above the punt's deck, all is ready for 

 making fast the halliards whenever the sail is hoisted. The sail 

 must be of lateen* shape, and made of very light duck or white 

 calico. It is unnecessary to give the exact dimensions of the sail, as 

 that must be in suitable proportion to the stability of the punt ; but, as 

 a general rule, the lateen-yard for spreading the sail may be fifteen 



* A small sketch of a sailing-punt, fitted with lateen- sail, may be seen in the 

 engraving which faces page 141. 



