For the Benefit of City Nimrods 



Some years ago, two Micmac Indians, answering to the 

 names of Peter and Joe, were driving logs on the Mersey 

 River in Nova Scotia. A bad log jam occurred on the 

 falls just below Indian Gardens. When the drive boss 

 came along he ordered the two erstwhile sons of the 

 forest to " Get out on that there plug, break it up, and 

 make reputations for yerselves !" Old Pete took a look 

 at the boss and a look at the jam, and delivered himself 

 as follows: 



" Helluver reptashun we make, Boss-man. Little 

 piece in paper, 'bout inch long, jus' sayin' ( two Injuns 

 drowned on log jam ' !" 



The moral of the above story should be taken to 

 heart by all those seeking a too early reputation as 

 canoeists. 



If you are tempted to try your luck in a canoe without 

 the benefit of an instructor, do not make your first 

 attempt when the wind is blowing. Also, do not sit 

 on the stern seat or thwart, which will bring the bow 

 way out of water. The proper position is to kneel just 

 forward of the first thwart aft of the centre one, half 

 sitting and half leaning upon it, and use your paddle on 

 either side that seems most convenient. If you cannot 

 swim, it would be better to learn how before experi- 

 menting with a paddle. Never invite anyone to go out 

 in a canoe with you while you are learning, and, if 

 possible, avoid taking a passenger at any time that cannot 

 swim. 



Strange as it may seem, the most ludicrous perform- 

 ance I ever beheld was " put on " by a salt-water sailor 

 who held a captain's licence and had been all over the 

 world in sailing vessels. He was also a cracker-jack as a 

 yachtsman, and luckily was a good swimmer. We were 

 moose-hunting in Nova Scotia and had our tents pitched 

 on the " Screecher Carry," a narrow neck of land between 



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