Intake exhaust heat

[Shoebox]

My '39 Merc aluminum intake has an exhaust heat port (was all filled with carbon) that ends at base of carb. I just got my wonderfully restored carb back from CharlieNY and it came with a paper base gasket (same as what was there to begin with) that has a very small hole over this hole which is roughly 1/4" in size. Is this as it should be? Would post pics 'cept I'm heading off to work.

Thanks!

Shoebox