150 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
the punter’s magazine. Paint the magazine inside and out 
with red-lead paint—three coats. 
We might have detailed a sketch of a small box made to fit 
snugly under the after deck and in the stern of a gunning-punt. 
In this part of the boat a small box is out of the way and 
occupies space that otherwise could not be utilised. Such a 
box serves the purposes of an after locker. In it may be 
stowed rowing crutches, gun hangers, baling pot, etc., when 
notin use. It need not have the care bestowed on its construc- 
tion that is necessary with the cartridge magazine. A leather 
strap should be attached to this to facilitate drawing it out 
from under the deck. 
Seats in the gunning-punt are, no doubt, necessary articles, 
if comfort is desired. We might add, however, that fowling 
craft are not things wherein to expect fireside comforts. The 
reverse of comfort is generally the case. Many ways and 
means of rigging up seats in punts might be illustrated ; 
but, as the whole matter includes so many contrary methods 
employed by different fowlers, a mere reference must suffice. 
One of the simplest plans is to rig a board across the punt so 
that the ends rest on blocks fixed to the inside of the boat’s 
side planks in such a manner that it can be shipped or un- 
shipped. Personally, we use 1-inch boards of elm, about 
16 in. by 9 in., mounted on oak strips 1 in. thick, making the 
seat, so far, 2 in. high. On these boards we place oilskin 
cushions about 3 in. thick. The cushions are stuffed with 
oakum. The seat, when complete, is about 44 in. high. The 
cushions serve to rest elbows on when laid low in the punt, 
setting or sculling to fowl. There is also a folding seat for a 
punt. This is of a well-known type. It is plain and simple. 
Unlike others of its kind, it has no detached parts. Articles 
consisting of separable pieces are likely to get asunder or mis- 
placed in the punt, and cause much inconvenience when 
required. 
