in an ordinary, and even a stiff breeze. But the inexperienced are warned against the peril of carrying sail on a punt in any but smooth water. The effect of venturing into rough water with a long low craft, whilst pressing her ahead under sail, would be to drive her bows under water; and the weight of the gun on the head of the punt must tend to increase the danger. If the punter moves forward to lower the sail, his extra weight, thrown suddenly forward would, in such a case, inevitably send the punt under water head first; and, independently of such a glaring indiscretion, it is impossible to prevent the water from flying over the gunwales in a heavy sea. Therefore, the wild-fowler is cautioned not to venture into rough water with the sailing-punt, for a sportsman's life is supposed to be of more value than that of a duck. (1)

THE SLOOP-RIGGED SHOOTING-BOAT.

The sailing shooting-boat is used for wild-fowl shooting in large rivers and shallow bays, where the shooting-yacht is precluded from proceeding, because of drawing too much water. Thus the shooting-yacht and stanchion-gun are used for sea-going purposes, and the open sailing-boat, with gun of equal proportions, for inland waters and shallows.

A boat for this purpose should be about twenty feet in length by seven feet beam; a shallow craft, with powerful bearings.

Stability is a great desideratum in a boat required for this diversion. It is not desirable that the boat should list on her side too much when under sail, as it interferes with the management of the stanchion-gun. A narrow deck-way of ten or twelve inches may be formed on each side of the boat, which should have no bulwarks; but the deck-way should be upon a level with the gunwales. The fore and aft part of the boat may also be partly covered in by a flush-deck, but in other respects it should be entirely open.

A boat of this description will require several hundred

(1) See further and more fully in the 'Wild-Fowler' as to sailing punts, and mode of using them.

weight of iron ballast, which must be deposited with careful discretion beneath the platform.

The stanchion-gun should be fitted with chock and necessary recoiling apparatus upon the flush-deck at the bows; and must be placed so as to swing clear of the fore-stay, so that a shot may be fired from either bow.

The best form of rig for this boat is the 'sloop rig' (see engraving), by which the fore-stay, instead of being made fast to the stem, stands farther out to the extreme end of the standing bowsprit, thus giving more room for the sportsman to work the stanchion-gun clear of ropes, and enabling him to place it in a more advantageous position.

Probably no better form of boat could be invented for traversing the shallow waters of inland bays and rivers, the sorert of wild-fowl, than an American centre-board boat. (1) Such a craft would carry the stanchion-gun well. The keel might be lowered at pleasure, or when beating up the channel of a river or in deep water; whilst the shallow form of the boat would enable the sportsman to go over almost any ooze or sand-bank with facility where there might be a depth of one or two feet of water.

THE WILD-FOWL CANOE.

This is a small boat, about twelve feet in length by three and a half in breadth, and about fifteen inches deep in the fore part by ten inches in the aft. It is clench-built, in a similar manner to a skiff, and with a keelson, but as flat in the floor as it is possible to make it, because of the occasional necessity of going into shallow water. The canoe is intended to carry two persons and a dog; it is used for the purpose of going up creeks and under the banks of oozes at low water; also when the tide is sufficiently high to bring the top rim of the bows of the canoe upon a level with the surface of the ooze; when the sportsman may sometimes make a very successful shot.

The manner of using the wild-fowl canoe is as follows:When the sportsman has discovered wild-fowl feeding on the

(') See ante, page 86,

savannas, he places himself on his knees in the fore part of the canoe, rests the barrel of the gun on the bow of the boat, and in that position remains as motionless as possible, whilst his companion cautiously sculls the canoe, with one oar, towards the birds. For this purpose a sculling rowlock is fitted to the centre of the stern piece, through which the oar is thrust; and the bows of the boat being higher than the stern, the movements of both men are concealed from view, and effective shots are sometimes made, particularly on moonlight nights.

When not actually approaching wild-fowl, one person sits facing the prow, to look out for sport and give directions to the other, who rows the boat with a pair of sculls, up creeks and rills, or wherever there may be a prospect of sport.

SHIPS' BOATS, ETC.

ALL large vessels are required by Act of Parliament to carry a certain number of boats. A first-rate man-of-war has six boats attached; but in merchantmen and other trading vessels the number of boats is regulated according to tonnage. Ships' boats are classed under the heads-pinnaces, launches, gigs, barges, quarter-boats, jolly-boats, cutters, and long-boats.

The Pinnace, which is the largest of all, is generally from twenty to thirty feet in length, with proportionate breadth of beam. These are often fast-sailing, powerful boats, and are enabled to carry a great number of hands. There is no definite rig for the pinnace: two lug-sails are those most generally used. The sliding-gunter (1) is also a rig frequently used for the pinnace. The masts of all ships' boats are made to strike, for convenience of stowage. The pinnace is rowed with ten or twelve oars, doubled-banked. Vessels going very long voyages carry decked pinnaces. When stowed away on deck, the pinnace is usually turned bottom upwards, and laid over the barge.

(1) Ante, page 68.

Quarter-Boat.

The Barge. Ships-of-war carry a large boat of easy draught of water, called a barge; it is generally very strongly built, and capable of accommodating a large company. The barge is occasionally sailed, but, being broad and heavy, is not usually so fast as other boats belonging to the ship.

The Launch.-This is a strongly-built boat, with very considerable breadth of beam, and very flat floor. It is used chiefly for carrying on board the ship's provisions, water, &c., for convenience of which several of the thwarts amidships are fitted in such a manner as to be readily shifted, shipped, and unshipped. A lug-sail is used when required. The launch, when belonging to vessels-of-war, is occasionally halfdecked, and equipped with a large gun at the bows, and with other arms.

Quarter-Boat.-Large vessels generally carry two quarterboats, which are suspended one on each side, over the ship's quarters, by davits. They are used by the officers and crew, and are well-built and useful boats; sometimes they are called first and second cutters. A common rig for a quarter-boat is two lug-sails, viz. main-lug and mizzen-lug, as shown in the above engraving.

The Jolly-Boat is strong, short, and clumsy-looking; used

by the crew for running out the kedge, working the vessel in narrow waters, taking the sailors ashore, and other rough purposes. It is pulled with four oars.

The Long Boat is generally hauled up on deck, and laid bottom upwards, for use in cases of emergency, danger, or shipwreck; it is long and capacious, and belongs chiefly to trading vessels not requiring so large a boat as the pinnace.

Gig.-A boat of superior form, in shape resembling a wellbuilt skiff, but longer and larger; an exceedingly smart-looking craft, varying in length from sixteen to twenty feet and upwards, and from three to six feet in breadth. It has a sharp bow and graceful proportions. Every large vessel. carries (amongst others) a boat of this description, called the captain's gig (see engraving), which is sometimes very tastefully decorated with brass mountings, gildings, mahogany backboard and fittings. The captain of a large vessel is generally very particular as to his gig, which is always the fastest and handsomest boat belonging to the ship; the sails are kept in