88 WITH BOAT AND GUN IN THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 



Yard, length 



Boom, do. 



5 Bamboos in sail, moderate peak. 



Forward anchor (Chinese), from 60 to 65 lbs. 



Chain cable for same, 25 fathoms fe in. black chain. 



Aft anchor (Chinese), from 35 to 75 lbs. 



Chain cable for same, 12 fathoms i in. black chain. 



Leeboards, 6 ft. 4 in. long, 2 ft. in. wide at after end, and i ft. 2 in. at fore end. 



Large yuloh from pin outboard, 13 ft. 9 in. ; from pin inboard, 10 ft. 3 in. 



Small do. do. 9 ft. 4 in. ; do. 8 ft. oi in. 



5 pigs lead, as ballast, weighing about 865 lbs. 



The above (principal) dimensions should not be exceeded if the boat be intended to 

 convey her passengers to the best shooting grounds. The Ibis has proved an excellent 

 " all-round " craft, her cabin accommodation being ample and her speed under either sail, 

 yuloh or tracking rope good. Her shape may be styled modified Chinese, and her particular 

 model, introduced by Mr. F. A. Groom has been generally approved judging by the number 

 of times it has been copied. There are a number of very fine shooting craft in Shanghai 

 that have regular yacht-shaped bows, and without doubt these boats have some advantage 

 in a head wind whether sailing, yulohing or tracking ; for boats on the Groom model make 

 considerable noise and fuss under these conditions. Tlie sharp-bowed craft are smarter 

 in appearance also, but these advantages are by some conceded to be more than counter- 

 balanced by increased cost of construction and loss in useful stowage room and deck 

 space ; so, everything considered, the model as exemplified in the 7^/5 is recommended as 

 possibly the best to adopt. 



Materials. — Teak is by far the best material to construct shooting-boats of, no other wood 

 procurable in Shanghai can compare with it in point of durability and other good 

 qualities. 



An angle iron or steel frame is very suitable for a shooting-boat, provided due care 

 be taken with the fastenings. Some economy in weight and inside space is gained 

 by having a metal frame throughout. 



For planking the house, making bulkheads, partitions and for joiner-work 

 generally, Californian red cedar is capital stuff ; it is light and works admirably. 



Serviceable boats can be built of Chinese soft-wood by native builders at con- 

 siderably less cost than craft constructed of imported materials and under foreign 

 supervision, but the native-built vessel cannot be compared with the other in 'finish 

 and durability. 



Mast, Sail and Gear.— The mast, sail and gear should be kept as light as possible. A 

 heavy mast and sail are a nuisance when making long journeys where repeated 

 hoisting and lowering of both are necessary. The iron-plate mast tabernacle devised 

 by Mr. R. W. Shaw and fitted to the Curlew by Messrs. Boyd & Co. is recommended ; 

 it having been well tried and found to be a most excellent arrangement. 



