THE DANGERS OF PUNT-SHOOTING 137 
lessness in wildfowling is to be compared with nothing else 
than madness. The careless puntsman is always a dangerous 
being, and one upon whom an eye should be kept; for as 
sure as guns are made to fire, he will sooner or later run 
himself (if not others) into some terrible fix. Too much 
daring is unwise. There is nothing brave in drowning one- 
self. 
It should be almost needless to mention the care one 
should take with all guns. Every gunner should make it 
a rule never to point a gun at anything he does not intend to 
shoot. Be careful where a loaded gun points. Never load 
‘‘cripple-stoppers’”’ until required to shoot. It is unsafe to 
keep them loaded aboard a punt. A hammer may be easily 
caught accidentally and the gun exploded. The charge will 
blow a hole in the punt, to say nothing of anything else it may 
hit. There is no great advantage derived from keeping the 
shoulder guns loaded. 
In working a punt along-shore in shallow, rough water 
(it need not be very rough for a punt), with the big gun 
mounted, keep her head on to the seas. In deep water the 
gun must be brought in, or the punt may dive if kept head to 
the weather. If only a short distance is to be rowed, the gun 
may remain mounted, and the punt kept side on to the “‘lipper.”’ 
A little water will come inboard, but there will be no danger 
of the punt diving. Of course, side on for a long time would 
mean swamping the punt. 
When sailing a punt at a good speed, never neglect to 
draw in the punt-gun, for, unless this is done, she may take 
a “header.” It is not really wise to take long trips out on 
deep water without a following-boat a reasonable distance off 
in your wake. One can never say for certain how suddenly 
a squall may come on. Although we are all apt to venture 
out when the weather is fine—and, personally, we have gone 
as far as eight milés out and eight back on deep water in 
