144 FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
be absolutely confined below, but should be fitted with a rope 
breeching, extending from the butt of the gun to the stem of 
the punt, where it is secured. The gun fired with such a 
breeching, will recoil as far as the rope will stretch, say one or 
two inches, and will then spring forward about a foot, unless 
checked by a notch in the stock, which should butt against the 
gunning bench. The butt of the piece should be well padded, 
to relieve the shoulder from the shock. Such a gun may be 
fired with two ounces of Curtis and Harvey’s best coarse pow¬ 
der, and a pound of shot; the best sized shot is from No 3 up 
to No. 1 , for Ducks—A or AA for Geese ; or cartridges of SSG 
for above a hundred yards. The best wadding is a tight- 
wound ball of the best picked oakum. Mercurial ointment is 
as good a thing as can be used, to prevent the rusting of guns 
from the effect of salt air, or salt water; but I am informed that 
Mr. Mullin, of Barclay street, has a varnish of his own invention, 
which is perfect. 
To fire these guns you must bear heavily with your shoulder 
against the upper part of the padded butt, taking care not to 
let your shoulder touch the butt, or your cheek the stock. All 
the fingers of the trigger hand must be kept before the guard. 
Your left hand should be placed over the butt, to regulate the 
line of aim, and your cheek should just graze the back of the 
hand. A little elevation must be given for the springing of 
birds at the flash, which they will perceive before the shot can 
reach them ; and a good deal of practice is necessary, particu¬ 
larly in firing long cross shots at flocks, where it is sometimes 
necessary to allow a yard elevation, and to shoot as much as 
ten yards a-head of a fast flying flock. 
The advantage of a stanchion gun over a common shoulder 
Duck gun, is much greater than that of the latter over a com¬ 
mon sporting gun. They are used universally on the coast of 
England. 
The punt, or canoe, must be as flat as possible, and as low 
in the water. The gunner lies flat on his breast in the bottom, 
when working up to birds, and paddles the vessel through two 
