Boats of Sheet-tin, covered with Pitched Canvas.—­These might be made at any of the outposts of civilization.  I am indebted to a correspondent, whose name I regret exceedingly to be unable to insert, having unfortunately mislaid it, for the following full description of his shooting-punt.  It will be obvious that his methods are applicable not only to their professed object, but also to tin boats of any shape whatever.

“Form the bottom, fig.  I., as follows:—­Select the thickest sheets of tin and solder them together by their narrowest sides, until as many lengths are made as, when laid side by side, will be sufficient for the whole length and breadth of the figure.  The soldering should be by a joint of this kind.”

[Sketch of join].

“These lengths must then be soldered side by side by a similar joint, and the whole sheet thus made, trimmed to the shape of fig.  I., care being taken that no two joints in the lengths should be exactly opposite each other.  Form two other sheets in a similar manner for the two sides, and of the shape of fig.  II.  The dotted lines a b c d e f, fig.  I., show the portions of the tin round the edges, 1 inch wide, which must be turned up at right angles with the bottom, and to which the sides are to be soldered on the inside; they should have triangular pieces clipped out of them, as shown in the fig., where the bends of the boat begin, to make them take the curve required.  The two extra pieces at the ends a d, e f, 2 inches wide, are for turning down over an iron rod, which is to pass round the gunwale, to give stiffness to the boat; g h, fig.  II., is a breadth of 2 inches of extra tin, for the same purpose of turning down over the iron rod.

“Each side is now to be soldered to the bottom piece, beginning with the centre, and working in to each end.

“The soldering of the turned-up edges to the bottom, on the outside, may then be done.  Separate slips of tin 2 inches wide should then be bent up longitudinally in halves, like angle-iron, and fitted along the joining of the bottom and sides, on the inside, and soldered; these slips may also be clipped on either side, when necessary, to make them take the curves.

“The measure round the gunwale may now be taken within the edge of the tin, and an iron rod 3/8 of an inch thick, to go round this gunwale, bent to the form of the outline of fig.  III., i b k c, which will now be that of the boat, and the ends welded at their meeting.  Sufficient iron rod must be taken to form eyes at i and k to receive rings of 3 or 4 inches diameter, through which a pole is to be passed, for carrying the boat, and for their welding at the meeting of the ends.

“The iron-rod gunwale may now be put in, and the 2 inches width of tin, allowed in excess on the sides and ends of the bottom, turned down closely over the rod, all round and soldered on the inside.  The side elevation of the boat will now be as w x y, fig.  IV.  “The boat should be proved as to being water-tight by filling it with water, any leak being stopped by more solder.