The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-03-30

nuisance in heavy weather. No shot
should be without supply of brass
cartridge cases. They can be charged
several times, do not stick or jam in
the gun and hit much harder than
cardboard cases.
Punts and shooting craft are an es-
fowler, as the best and most exciting
sport is enjoyed by the use of them.
Much nonsense is written and talked
upon this subject We shall not at
tempt to argue the point-in every
method of sport there must be wound
ed creatures; let us content ourselves
with saying, therefore, that In punt
cunning the chances are generally
against the shooter, and that FOWL may
surround him and yet never allow
shot All cunning punts are of neces-
sity flat bottomed, to allow of their
being safely stood upon and padded
or po1ed in pursuit of fowl. The well
appointed punt has swivel gun, either
breech or Misunderstanding. 1t may be
either single or double arrelled Into
the merits of these varying forms we
will not enter. We think the muzZle-
loader hits harder, and as only three
or four shots may be had in a day time
in loading is no object. A double bar
rel has the advantage of allowing one
shot at the birds when at rest or feed
ing, and a second sin the brown" as
they rise.
A DAY WITH DUCK
properly carried through is not only
an exciting but very arduous anuse-
ment OF course, it depends upon the
state of tide when the punt is taken
out. 1t should be at flood-that is,
when the tide is turning to run; never
at high tide or on the ebp, as It only
frightens them. After a good meal
and something in the punt to go on
with, a companion to propel the punt
is necessary, and in addition to the
long swivel, a good double barrel Grip
ple-stopper must go on board One
cannot wear too much flannel clothing.
consistently with freedom of move
ment as the northeastern in the estuary
is keen, and goes through thin cloth
ing like a knife. Birds are scattered
in all directions on the breast of the
heaving waters-sheldrake and pintail
shoveller and scaup; but brent. widg-
con and mallard are more in the mind.
A sweep of the field glasses reveals
several lunches of widgeon drifting to-
wards the flats and sand dunes, while
a gaggle of brent geese are calling as
they sweep in great circles over the
ooze, seeking a suitable place to pitch
Further on, too, are mallard in goodly
numbers, while the bean geese are
sweeping to the stubbly cornfields.
How to get at them is the rub! The
long cold paddle is only sustained by
the wrought-up excitement. The wind
is rising and knocking the punt about:
but this is all the better as far as the
fowl are concerned, as it tames them
The punt is pushed on, interposing
every object possible between the fowl
ers and the fowl. 1t is becoming dan
gerous enough for the punt, but the
gaggle of brent geese are huddled to-
gether on the ooze-they do not like
their feathers ruffled by that bitter
blast. Slowly the distance decreases
from one hundred and fifty to one
hundred and twenty yards, then to
one hundred. This is the exciting time,
as seventy yards is quite far enough
away with dancing punt on rolling
sea. The sentinels appear to be I'M
easy as the range lessons, and at
about seventy-five yards the flock raise