271 



DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS OF THE 

 GUNNING-PUNT. 



I HAVE already stated my experience that during mild 

 winters, and under certain conditions of weather, wildfowl 

 are practically unobtainable, even with the complete 

 appliances of punt and stanchion-gun. I refer to the 

 ordinary type of gun as generally used on the coast. Of 

 course, if the size and weight of wildfowling weapons is to 

 be increased indefinitely, the case might be wholly altered ; 

 but surely there should be some limit in this direction. 

 Geese might, no doubt, be reached with shrapnell at many 

 hundred yards, for a season or two ; after that they would 

 leave this country for good. 



The unfavourable conditions referred to sometimes prevail 

 throughout the whole winter season, and perhaps not a score 

 of Geese will be killed by all the gunners of the coast, 

 though hundreds, or even thousands may daily be seen. 

 Yet there have been written books which profess to tell us 

 how to get them and to get them in numbers under any 

 condition whatever. Such conceits would, at any rate on 

 our bleak and shelterless N.E. coast, prove quite misleading, 

 and probably lead their would-be exponents into no small 

 personal danger. A moderately, if not entirely calm sea, is 

 an absolute essential in punt-gunning, and how seldom do 

 we have it in winter ? How often does a wildfowling diary 

 contain such entries as "Strong breeze from E. all day; 

 could not go afloat"; or else, " Blowing a whole gale this 

 morning; harbour one sheet of white water." Day after 

 day, perhaps a whole week, may be lost thus, and the fowler 

 can only wait, smoke, watch the glass, or (best of all) go 

 home. 



