GUNNING-PUNT ACCESSORIES 167 
fowl that may be likely to escape after a shot with the punt gun. 
Some punters frequently employ shoulder guns when out 
fowling to shoot at odd birds. This is a great mistake, if one 
desires ever to get a shot with the big gun. These sounds 
will travel miles over open flats, especially on calm days which 
are most suitable for punting. Where fowl are much harassed 
or scarce, it is customary with many shooters to carry a large 
shoulder gun aboard the punt, such as a 4-bore, in the hope 
of meeting with a couple or so of fowl. At such places a shot 
with a swivel gun is usually an exception to the ordinary run of 
things ; thus the punter may go out purposely to use shoulder 
arms, with his big gun ready if a shot presents itself. Of 
course, popping off with small guns will not benefit his chances 
in this direction, but I suppose at these places heavy shoulder 
guns are the order of the day, though with true punting it is 
a dead letter. It is not so much with regard to heavy shoulder 
guns that I here intend to refer, but more particularly to those 
guns used in the gunning-punt merely as ‘‘cripple-stoppers.” 
In the first place, we divide punt-shooting into two kinds, 
double-handed and single, merely for present reference. 
Widely different are the two kinds of swivel-gun shooting— 
not, of course, much in the main object, yet very much so in 
the working. This, I think, will be verified by all those who 
have experienced both single and double punting. 
In a double punt two ‘‘cripple-stoppers”’ are required, 
one for the gunner and the other for the puntsman. These 
are best if single guns, for then they are lighter and handier in 
every way, and do not seem nearly so cumbersome in the punt. 
This can only be appreciated after experience. Lots of in- 
experienced amateurs doubt this, and advance that double 
guns are quicker loaded and better in many respects. I leave 
time and practice to teach these people the contrary. Whatever 
advantages a double gun over a single may have, I do not 
hesitate to say that in the case of a double punt these are more 
