222 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



But the complete shooting-yacht is a great comfort, more especially to 

 indolent sportsmen ; and, as such vessels are not to be met with every 

 day, it is purposed to give a description of one of modern construc- 

 tion, with its fittings and equipment. 



In the first place, it should be borne in mind that the shooting- 

 yacht must be adapted to sea-going purposes, because it is only 

 at sea that the sport of wild-goose shooting can be thoroughly 

 appreciated. 



The vessel itself should be from fifteen to twenty tons burthen 

 O.M. a fast-sailing, but stiff" and burthensome vessel under canvas. 

 It must be of easy draught of water, that the wild-fowler may be 

 enabled to pursue his sport in shallows, and close to the shore ; such 

 being favourite places of resort with the aquatic species. 



The yacht must be yawl-rigged, if the gun is to be worked from 

 the* cabin-hatchway, abaft the mast ; but it may be cutter-rigged, if 

 the gun be worked over the bows of the vessel ; which latter method 

 is the proper one. 



The cabins of a perfect shooting-yacht are in the reverse positions 

 to those of an ordinary pleasure-vessel ; the sailors' cabin being stern- 

 most, the state-cabin occupying all the fore-part of the craft, and the 

 sleeping-cabins the centre. There is also an open well, or fore- 

 hatchway, in which the sportsman stands and manages the gun, 

 which works on a pivot fitted directly in the centre of the fore-deck, 

 between the bows, so that it can be used over either side of the 

 vessel ; and there should always be plenty of room abaft the gun, for 

 the sportsman to move round and about it. The recoil-spring and 

 apparatus, with swivel, should be so fitted that he may take aim and 

 fire with equal effect from a broadside as across the bows of the 

 vessel. 



The skylights, hatchways, and other above-deck protuberances, 

 should be constructed with all the neatness of a racing-yacht, no- 

 thing rising above the level of the bulwarks ; and even they should 

 be no higher than absolutely necessary, that the vessel may show no 

 more of her hull, and present as small an appearance above-water, as 

 consistently may be. 



The bottom of the yacht should be cased with copper or other 

 metal, which should be of extra thickness at the bows, that it may 

 not be damaged by coming* in contact with ice, which most shooting- 

 yachts are liable to encounter at some time or other during severe 

 seasons. 



