VARIOUS KINDS OF GUNNING-PUNTS 279 
details of importance in a gunning-punt that ordinary boat- 
builders do not care to undertake the job of building one; and, 
moreover, they detest being dictated to in an art in which they 
profess to be practitioners, though, unfortunately, they profess 
more than they can practise. 
The drawing of a sea-punt shown on page 275 is with- 
out a gun aboard. I leave this out, allowing for special 
selection by the sea-punter himself, after discussing some of 
the many devices invented for taking up the recoil of big 
guns. Although, personally, I am a great advocate of 
the old-fashioned elevating crutch, stout rope breeching 
from hole in stem of punt to trunnions on gun, and movable 
LEATHER 
OAK 
- ONE INCH 
—~ FRONT — = SIDE a, 
Sliding Rest for Punt-Gun 
rest, I quite think that if any of the ingenious contrivances 
invented for quickly aligning the big gun, and taking up 
the recoil, can claim to supersede the older style, it would 
be an admirable plan to test them by taking shots at 
wary fowl on rough water from a sea-punt. Sea-punts 
which are clinker-built will ‘‘rattle” on rippling water. 
In a choppy sea of ‘‘small lumps,” as some fishermen 
term them, the sea-punt, if head on to such a sea, will 
“flop” or ‘*spank” the water with her bows meanwhile, 
making no little noise. Such a position for a shallow 
punt, especially with a heavy gun aboard, would be very 
dangerous, as with her sharp and shallow bow she would 
be likely to plunge, or even dive. The noise made by a sea- 
