374 Unexplored Spain 



The Sta\cheon-Gun in Si'ain 



In contrast with tlie success of the cahresto system, the 

 stancheon-gun proved a failure. So admirably adapted for punt- 

 gunning appeared those great shallow marismas, that in 1888 

 we sent out the entire outfit and artillery for wildfowling afloat — 

 a 22-foot double-handed gunning-punt and an 80-lb. gun to throw 

 16 oz. of shot. 



The little craft reached the Guadalquivir in September, but 

 unforeseen difficulties arose. The Spanish custom-house took 

 alarm. True, the smart little gun-boat was an entire novelty — 

 even in the Millwall docks she had created surprise ; here she 

 was incomprehensible. No such vessel had ever floated on 

 Spanish waters, and the official mind needed time to consider. 

 That oracle, after weeks of cogitation, ordered the removal of 

 the suspicious craft from the obscure port of Bonanza to the 

 fuller light that plays on the custom-house at Seville. There, 

 after more weeks of delay, it was decided that the white-painted 

 six-foot barrel was "an arm of war," that "the combination of 

 boat and gun savoured of the mechanism of war," and, finally, 

 that " the boat could not be permitted to pass the customs until 

 it had been registered at the Admiralty." Thus our Boadicea 

 joined the Imperial Navy of Spain. 



Seven months elapsed whilst these difficulties were in process 

 of solution, and ere they were smoothed away (as difficulties in 

 Spain, or elsewhere, do dissolve under prudent treatment), and 

 the Boadicea set free to navio-ate the marismas, the season had 

 passed and the migrant fowl had returned to the north. 



The following autumn, however, it at once became apparent 

 that the venture was a failure. No wildfowl would tolerate her 

 presence within half-a-mile. No sooner had her low snake-like 

 form crept clear of fringing covert than the broad lucio in front 

 was in seething tumult, every duck within sight had sprung on 

 wing. Naturally we tried every known plan, but all in vain. 

 A system that is eff"ective on the harassed and hard-shot estuaries 

 of England utterly broke down on the desolate marismas of 

 Spain. The apparent explanation is that whereas fowl at home 

 are accustomed to see passing craft of many kinds, and perhaps 

 mistake the low-lying gunboat for a larger vessel far away ; here 

 no craft of any sort navigate the marisma, or should the box- 



