Not even that long ago in UK. I once knew an old guy who used to use one in
the 1920's and early 1930's. I saw his gun when I was young but cannot
remember the bore but it was at least 2" and carried a heavy charge of
shot. It was mounted more or less horizontally along the foredeck of a low
lying wooden canoe type boat known as a 'duck punt', always painted grey to
be less visible at night.. You loaded up and, lying flat in the punt, you
stealthily paddled yourself with your hands up to the mudflats where the
ducks were sleeping on the water. You aimed the punt, not the gun, and like
you said you only got one chance because there was no way of reloading. Not
sure of this, but I think you held your fire until they heard you and were
just lifting off.
If you made a noise you might get nothing but if all went according to plan
50/100 bag would not be unusual. Gun was fixed to the punt and the recoil
sent the whole lot backward. Not very sporting, but mighty effective.

"Maxprop" wrote in message
k.net...
ms

What one needs for repelling pirates are something like the "big guns"
that
hunters used to use to hunt waterfowl on the Chesapeake about 150 years
ago.
One shot might convince the pirates it's not worth the risk. One shot
used
to kill between 50 and 100 ducks or geese.

Max