SHOOTING WILD-FOWL. 343 



Gun proper for punt shooting. 



The best time for this shooting is the first or se- 

 cond day's thaw after a sharp frost, and when deep 

 snow has long covered the ground: the fowl are 

 then seen flying in every direction to dabble in the 

 fresh-water, which then appears all around invit- 

 ing them. Another favourable opportunity is at 

 the commencement of a frost, with the wind 

 strong at east, and a sleet or snow falling ; if the 

 guns can but be kept dry, there is no complaint 

 about the using them, and the fowl in such wea- 

 ther always fly lower than when the atmosphere 

 is clear. 



The gun proper for this amusement has no 

 occasion to be more than three feet eight inches 

 in the barrel, which should not weigh less than 

 twelve pounds; upon this scale the whole gun 

 will be about eighteen pounds weight; this quan- 

 tity of iron at the above length will be as capa- 

 ble or more so, of throwing shot sharp and dis- 

 tant, as a barrel two feet longer. Should this 

 heavy mass be objected to as cumbersome to 

 carry, let it be remembered that these guns are 

 not meant to lie upon the arm, or to be carried 

 about in the fields. The shooter is either seated 

 in a boat, or upon a marsh; in either situation 

 the gun does not fatigue him, since he has 

 nothing to do but elevate it as the wild-fowl fly 

 over his head; and after firing and charging, let 

 it again lie beside him until fresh objects require 

 its use, 2 



