288 lewis's AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



FEET. INCHES. 



Width of the frames to which the canvas is 



tacked 2 1 



Width of boards F and G, each 8 



Width of canvas wing at the head 9 



The deck is not a perfect plane, but declines, or rather is graded 

 oflf, from the box on every side to the extent say of one inch. Thi.s 

 slope or dip of the deck permits the ripple to wash or play over 

 the platform the more securely, having a constant tendency to the 

 edges instead of the centre, where the box is placed, — the opposite 

 of which would be the case if the deck was a dead level. 



The entire edge of the box is slightly elevated above the surface 

 of the deck, — say an eighth to a quarter of an inch ; to this edge 

 the inner rim of sheet-lead is tacked, extending entirely around 

 the box, and, being very pliable, is raised up at an angle of forty- 

 five degrees just before launching the battery into its position on 

 the shooting-grounds, which precaution will prevent the ripple from 

 washing into the box. 



The outer rim of sheet-lead c, c, c, it will be observed, does not 

 extend entirely around the deck, that being totally unnecessary, 

 from the circumstance of the sea or ripple seldom or never being 

 sufficiently violent to break over the foot or sides so as to endanger 

 the comfort of the shooter; and when such should be the case it 

 is time for the ducker to decamp for more secure quarters. 



The head of the battery, it will be seen, has two eight-inch 

 boards. The inner one G, as explained above, is attached to the 

 deck by stout iron hinges i, i, made with projecting arms, so that 

 the whole head-wing may turn in upon the two side-wings, which 

 are first folded up when the box is about being removed from its 

 position. The other frame F is secured to G by strong leather 

 hinges, as well as the balance of the frame to which the canvas is 

 tacked. 



The head of the battery is always anchored to the breeze, and, 

 as a matter of course, is obliged to sustain the principal shock 

 from the wind and waves, and of necessity is made difi'erently as 

 well as much stronger than the foot, by the addition of the frame- 



