A HOARY ilAKilOT 



The northern type of the American woodchuck — a good example of protective coloration. 

 Photographed on mountain at head of Benjamin Creek 



the combers in the narrower channels, or 

 cross-currents, throw the waves a foot or 

 two higher than the stern of the boat, 

 seemed inviting catastrophe, had it not 

 been proven otherwise, seconded by the 

 fact that Tom had the reputation of be- 

 ing the most capable and experienced 

 riverman in the Kenai Valley. 



Grave concern was expressed, how- 

 ever, over the safety of otir canoe, and 

 so the feeling of distrust was mutual. 

 Tom said that he would rather take his 

 chances on a saw-log, "Because it never 

 took in water, and the part above the 

 surface was alwa)'s the top, no matter 

 how (jften it rolled over." So here was 

 a chance to try out the efficiency and 

 safety of each boat, running practically 

 side bv side. 



The explanation for this method of 

 handling such a skift soon became plain. 

 No ordinary boat can safely run a swift 

 and tortuous stream when floating at the 

 same speed as the current. It must go 

 cither faster or slower, in order to re- 

 s])()nd readily to the rudder or paddle 

 when steering. In a canoe the occupants 

 of course face ahead, while bv letliny the 



skitt run down stern first the oarsman, 

 and in this particular instance the steers- 

 man, also faced dovim the river, the full 

 advantages of which I learned later. 



Since the river was unknown to my 

 Michigan guide, who was to manage the 

 canoe, it was arranged that I should sit 

 in the stern of the skiff, facing upstream, 

 and, with the canoe keeping 50 yards 

 or more in the rear, I could signal the 

 character of the water at each bend and 

 which side the canoe should take when 

 necessar}'. 



The first proof that the different 

 methods were based upon the character 

 of the boats came a few minutes after 

 starting. On rounding a bend we found 

 in the middle of the stream, less than 30 

 )'ards away, an immense rock, over 

 which the water was breaking with great 

 force and against which we would have 

 drifted broadside, as the current divided. 

 Tom pulled vigorously to the left, quar- 

 tering tipstream, and although he could 

 n(it C|uitc stem the current the boat 

 slo\\ly worked inshore, with a good 

 margin to spare when we dropped past 

 the rock. Had the boat been going 



434 



