184 NATURAL SCIENCE. March, 



exhibiting " style " and determining some facts relating to what may 

 be called the physiology of rowing. Fig. 3 shows a diagram actually 

 drawn 1 and the figures reduced from it. In this case only two strokes 

 were indicated. Fig. 4 consists of various other diagrams. The 

 two strokes in Fig. 3 will be seen to be very similar, and to differ 

 widely from any of the other diagrams, and generally it has been 

 found that the stroke-curve of any " oar " is fairly constant, while it 

 possesses a marked individuality. It is this fact that would make the 

 indicator of assistance to the rowing coach in observing how far a 

 pupil carries out his instructions, and what fault is most prominent. 

 Compare, for instance, nos. 11 and 13 (Fig. 4). 11 has a slow "be- 

 ginning," but rows his stroke firmly through, and achieves the very 

 unusual result of reaching the highest pressure near the end of 

 the stroke — suggestive of " pulling in with the arms " (of which, 



All the experiments were tried in a gig pair. 



* In the case of 15 and 16, two men were seated in the stern, in other cases only 

 one. 



t In 16, the instrument was completely closed during part of the stroke, so that 

 the work was really in excess of that indicated. 



indeed, he is independently known to be guilty). 13, on the other 

 hand, has a smarter " beginning," and very soon reaches a maximum 

 pressure, which, however, he is quite unable to carry through ; a fall 

 of pressure immediately follows, and the stroke continues at this 

 pressure till past the middle of the stroke. Here another fall occurs, 

 and the stroke finally terminates as it began, more firmly than that of 

 no. 11. These results suggest that the indicator could be of assist- 

 ance in choosing a crew, both with regard to strength and — so far as 

 " blade " is concerned — " style." 



These preliminary trials of the indicator have suggested many 

 other experiments which should afford interesting results. The 



1 Unless the rigger is very steady, the beginning and end of the stroke-curve 

 consist of dots instead of a continuous line. 





