372 Appendix B 



sixty pounds and would carry a ton of cargo with ease — 

 and also take it safely where the same cargo distributed 

 among two or three native thirty or thirty-five foot 

 canoes would be lost. The native canoes weigh from 

 about nine hundred to two thousand five hundred pounds 

 and more. 



In view of the above facts the explorer-traveller is 

 advised to take with him the North American canoe if 

 he intends serious work. Two canoes would be a good 

 arrangement for from five to seven men, with at least one 

 steersman and two paddlers to each canoe. The canoes 

 can be purchased in two sizes and nested for transporta- 

 tion, an arrangement which would have considerable 

 expense in freight bills. At least six paddles should be 

 packed with each boat, in length four and one half, four 

 and three fourths, and five feet. Other paddles from six 

 and one half feet to eight and one half feet should be 

 provided for steering oars. The native paddler, after he 

 has used the light Canadian paddle, prefers it to the best 

 native make. My own paddlers lost or broke all of their 

 own paddles so as to get the North American ones, which 

 they marked with their initials and used most carefully. 



To each canoe it would be well to have two copper 

 air tanks, one fore, one aft, a hand-hole in each with a 

 water-tight screw cover on hatch. In these tanks could 

 be kept a small supply of matches, the chronometer or 

 watch which is used for position, and the scientific 

 records and diary. Of course, the fact should be kept in 

 mind that these are air tanks, not to be used so as to 

 appreciably diminish their buoyancy. Each canoe should 

 also carry a small repair kit attached to one of the 



