NOTES. 245 



round holes, as it is of great importance that the baits in 

 the well should have plenty of fresh, flowing water ; and 

 indeed, whenever possible, the punt should be left at 

 night where she can get a little trickle of water through 

 the well. Bleak die very quickly in stagnant punt-wells, 

 especially in hot weather. I have three large gratings to 

 my punt, one on each side of the well, and one in the 

 centre, so there is a thorough flow of fresh water. Min- 

 nows should be kept in the perforated zinc interior of the 

 bait-kettle, as they get through most gratings with ease. 

 The top of the well should have holes cut in it, to give 

 the baits light, and these holes should be large enough to 

 slip bleak through, as it is frequently very troublesome to 

 have the well open, or to raise the lid whenever a bait is 

 caught. The lid should not be attached to the well by 

 hinges, for these frequently break, rust away, or get 

 twisted. Two flat pieces of iron should be screwed to 

 the inner side of the lid, projecting an inch or more ; 

 these keep the well closed when the lid is locked down 

 at the other end. All the well-fittings, including the pad- 

 lock, should be strong, and the baits locked up when the 

 punt is left at night ; it is also advisable to lock the punt 

 to a ringbolt or other secure fastening. Punts must be 

 registered by their owners at the Thames Conservancy. 

 Like sculling, punting is very easy, when you know how 

 to do it ; the novice should practise in some shallow 

 place, where there is little or no current, and, particularly, 

 not near the top of a weir. It is best to get some one 

 who understands punting to go out with you, and give 

 advice during your first few trials ; if he will take a 

 paddle to keep the punt somewhat straight,, it will be of 

 great assistance, for the novice generally spins the punt 

 round and round in a way that puzzles him immensely, 

 and not infrequently gets overboard by clinging in- 

 stinctively to the pole when he has plunged it into the 

 mud or soft ground. A paddle or spare pole should 

 always be taken when learning to punt, or an accident 

 may happen through losing the pole and getting in the 

 way of a passing launch or barge, or over a weir. 



It is difficult to get a really good pole, as " made " 

 poles snap easily when heavy cross pressure is applied. 

 Natural larch poles, grown on chalky soil, are the very 

 best : a pole grown on chalky soil is tough and elastic, 



