THE DANGERS OF PUNT-SHOOTING 139 
times. In steering up or down tortuous creeks with steep 
muddy sides, be careful to go with the current and keep head 
on. If the run of water is strong, and you get athwart the 
stream, the punt will instantly dip under sideways, fill with 
water, and throw you out. If the current is very strong you 
will do well to save your life, and lucky indeed if you save the 
punt also. A mishap of this kind is such an unexpected kind of 
a disaster that it takes one instantly, and generally before the 
calamity can be realised. Be careful to guard against it. 
An idea of how such an occurrence can take place may be 
experimentally gained by cutting a piece of cardboard the 
shape of a gunning-punt’s bottom. Hold it at each end with 
‘the finger and thumb and blow at it. You will instantly see 
that very little wind turns it flat to the pressure. This is 
exactly what the punt ‘does when in the stream and similarly 
fixed. Practised fowlers well know this, and work strong- 
running creeks very cautiously and carefully. Go with the 
stream and steer by opposing, not helping, the way of the 
craft. Do not hurry. There should never be any need to 
do so. 
When fowling new grounds, take a local hand with you. 
Failing this, engage someone with a small open boat to follow 
you. It is wisdom in the long run when punting from shore. 
If you are quartered afloat, then instruct a watch to be kept 
aboard your living craft. 
In going to fetch a stranded punt be wise and take a good 
seaworthy boat. Punts are useless for rescue work. 
We have not made reference to the danger of being caught in 
a fog out on open waters. Nothing in a case of this kind can 
be done except to exercise the most expedient methods to get 
free of the situation by making for the nearest land. A small 
pocket compass is at such a time of invaluable service. Where 
shipping occurs it is dangerous during foggy weather to be 
afloat in so tiny a craft as a gunning-punt. Punters who 
