Canoeing in Swift Water 



the usual ring in the bow of the canoe. There being a 

 similar ring in the stern, I tied the painter of the second 

 canoe through that, and in turn tied the third canoe to 

 the stern ring of the second. This strung out the three 

 canoes tandem fashion, with about fifteen feet of rope 

 between them. 



The guides elected to ride in the motor-boat. As I 

 started from the dock, the water was smooth and the 

 canoes were pulled very nicely. After passing out of 

 the Narrows and into the big lake, we encountered a 

 heavy wind and sea, which we had to take broadside 

 while following the channel, before squaring away for 

 Shelburne River. 



The canoes started to pitch and yaw around in an 

 alarming manner. The second started off on a course 

 all her own, thus pulling the stern of the first canoe oft' 

 sideways and out of line with the towing strain. The 

 second canoe's bow was drawn under water, and she 

 tipped over. This put an impossible sideways pull on 

 the first canoe, and she swamped. Before I could stop 

 the motor-boat, the third canoe, which had been whipped 

 around like the tail of a kite, took in so much water that 

 she capsized. My guests estimated that one hundred 

 and fifty dollars' worth of fishing tackle was lost in the 

 lake. Most of the camp gear had been tied in by the 

 guides, otherwise it would have been difficult to recover. 



Right at this point I decided that it was a mistake to 

 leave valuables in a canoe when it was being towed by a 

 motor-boat, unless the owner would consent to remain in 

 the canoe and help handle her in rough water, or while 

 leaving or making a landing. After trying several 

 experiments in towing empty canoes, I found that they 

 could be towed with comparative success if partially 

 loaded in the stern when using the usual rings found in 

 the bow and stern of every canoe, as towing bits. 



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