228 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



of the boat directly under the gunwales amidships, inside, in such a 

 manner as to hang down, and form, at all times, a protection from wet 

 to the shoulder-guns, which, when not in actual use, should be 

 placed beneath it. A covering of this kind should be tacked on 

 the sides of all shooting-boats, whether used for rowing, punting, or 

 sailing. 



Probably no better form of boat could be invented for traversing 

 the shallow waters of inland bays and rivers, the resort of wild- 

 fowl, than the American centre-board. Such a craft would carry 

 the stanchion-gun well. The keel might be lowered at pleasure, 

 or when beating up the channel of a river, or in deep water j whilst 

 the shallow form of the boat would enable the sportsman to go 

 over almost any ooze or sand-bank with facility, where there might 

 be a depth of one or two feet of water. There are several shooting- 

 vessels constructed upon this principle j those in which I have sailed 

 appear to answer remarkably well. 



