374 Unexplored Spain 
Tue STANCHEON-GUN IN SPAIN 
In contrast with the success of the cabresto system, the 
stancheon-gun proved a failure. So admirably adapted for punt- 
gunning appeared those great shallow marismas, that in 1888 
we sent out the entire outfit and artillery for wildfowling afloat— 
a 22-foot double-handed gunning-punt and an 80-Ib. gun to throw 
16 oz. of shot. 
The little craft reached the Guadalquivir in September, but 
unforeseen difficulties arose. The Spanish custom-house took 
alarm. ‘True, the smart little gun-boat was an entire novelty— 
even in the Millwall docks she had created surprise; here she 
was incomprehensible. No such vessel had ever floated on 
Spanish waters, and the official mind needed time to consider. 
That oracle, after weeks of cogitation, ordered the removal of 
the suspicious craft from the obscure port of Bonanza to the 
fuller light that plays on the custom-house at Seville. There, 
after more weeks of delay, it was decided that the white-painted 
six-foot barrel was “‘an arm of war,” that ‘‘the combination of 
boat and gun savoured of the mechanism of war,” and, finally, 
that ‘the boat could not be permitted to pass the customs until 
it had been registered at the Admiralty.” Thus our Boadicea 
joined the Imperial Navy of Spain. 
Seven months elapsed whilst these difficulties were in process 
of solution, and ere they were smoothed away (as difficulties in 
Spain, or elsewhere, do dissolve under prudent treatment), and 
the Boadicea set free to navigate the marismas, the season had 
passed and the migrant fowl had returned to the north. 
The following autumn, however, it at once became apparent 
that the venture was a failure. No wildfowl would tolerate her 
presence within half-a-mile. No sooner had her low snake-like 
form crept clear of fringing covert than the broad Juczo in front 
was in seething tumult, every duck within sight had sprung on 
wing. Naturally we tried every known plan, but all in vain. 
A system that is effective on the harassed and hard-shot estuaries 
of England utterly broke down on the desolate marismas of 
Spain. The apparent explanation is that whereas fowl at home 
are accustomed to see passing craft of many kinds, and perhaps 
mistake the low-lying gunboat for a larger vessel far away ; here 
no craft of any sort navigate the marisma, or should the box- 
