424 



FORESTS AND STREAM 



80 to 100, 87 from 100 to 150, 48 from 150 to 200, and 40 

 above 200, all exclusive of 282 steamers of various tonnages 

 from the launch up to the five and six hundred touners. But 

 what is of much more import, while almost every English 

 yacht, no matter what her size, represents a strongly built 

 fully rigged and decked vessel, filled out in a most complete 

 manner with navigation and cruising implements aboard, 

 too many of our craft are still under the influence of that 

 neglect and incompleteness arising from a want of intimate 

 knowledge with many of those phases of the sport which 

 afford much more health, pleasure and instruction than 

 merely trimming sheets or may be hauling down a reef and 

 bobbing jib. For these evils time is 1 the on'y euro. 



Rouge Croix to Corinthian.— Editor Forest and Stream. 

 Dec. 15 : "Corinthian " says I " evidently found a mare's 

 neat," in his letter of Oct. 25, as he was not speaking of 

 rigs but of types. His words were : "When the plucky 

 Ashbury brought his cutter yacht Cambria to these wateis, 

 etc." and if that is not accepted as meaning that Cambria 

 was cutter. rigged, all I can say is that every writer on yacht- 

 ing during the past thirty years has misused the term. 

 Schooner yacht, cutter yacht, yawl yacht, sloop yacht— all 

 these are terms which have never been used in any other 

 sense than as descriptions of rig , Corinthian should not 

 blame me for taking him at his word. Rough Croix. 



Our Winning List.— Says a yachtsman from the North ; 

 " I want to thank you for the valuable record of this sea- 

 son's racing. It is most creditable to your paper, and rills a 

 need long experienced. 



Steam Launch Wasted.— Parlies having 30ft. cabin 

 steam launch for sale at low price for cash may address 

 Yachting Editor, this office. 



THE COMING BOAT. 



Eositn, L. I., Dee. 10, 187S. 

 Editob Forest and Stream : 



1 am well aware that there is a deeply-rooted prejudice against 

 flat-bottomed boats, particularly among those would-be boatmen 

 who condemn everything concerning which they know nothing, 

 and who have not the capacity to investigate rationally for them- 

 selves. To such individuals I have nothing to say, except that it 

 won't interest them to read what follows. 



Being interested in the question of heavy draught versus shal- 

 low boats I have been led to make inquries concerning the Fair- 

 haven sharpie, and in the light of my own experience during years 

 long gone, also from facts kindly furnished by an old-time yacht- 

 ing friend, can say that I am convinced that for all the purpose 

 coast cruising, for seaworthiness, economy of construction and for 

 speed there is no boat of equal tonnage that can approach tin 

 Bharpie. 



I am to'd, and have every reason to believe, that "one of these 

 boats, thirty-two feet in length, ran ten knots off the wind on L. I. 

 Sound in thirty-four minutes;" that "last summer George Smith's 

 sharpie, of Milford Point, Conn., averaged sixtoon knots per hour 

 for three hours. 



Minot Smith, whom I well know to be one of the best boatmen 

 on our coast, says that " Many a time has he lain outside Montauk 

 in his sharpie, long after the deep kool smacks found it uncom- 

 fortable and unsafe to stay, their decks being covered with water, 

 while his decks woro dry." He also says that ho never saw the 

 time when he was forced to lie to, but that his sharpie would oat 

 to windward no matter how bad the sea. 



Another man, Mr. Boe, who had lived in and built these boats 

 for thirty years, says that a "thirty-five foot shai pie will drown out 

 any forty-five foot ordinary boat that sails, and will beat her in any 

 weather, either on or off the wind." Also, that " she will he at 

 anchor, easy and dry, when a sixty-ton sloop will plunge her bow 

 under every sea." Now, if these be facts, and I have every reason 

 to believe they are, I would ask where can we find the craft that 

 for cruising purposes combines more excellent qualities ? 



What do we want a cruising boat to do for us ? In the first place, 

 she must be able to carry us wherever we desire to go. 3uppoae, 

 for instance, we wish a few hours of coast fishing, or shooting, 

 well, our sharpie will take us just where both are to be found — 

 among the rocks, along the meadows, or up the creeks. 



In such places a keel-boat is but a nuisance and an incumbrance ; 

 even the centreboard sloop, drawing throe or four feet of water, 

 wdl often sorely try our patience by displaying amphibious pro- 

 clivities just when those tempting snipe-fiats heave in sight. 



Then look at the beautiful simplicity of our sharpie's rig. Two 

 gracefully-tapering masts, no standing rigging and but four lines, 

 with the same number of single blocks in her entire running gear. 



Just compare it with the cumbersome top-hamper which must go 

 with a boat of any other kind. 



Another point in the sharpie's favor is that owing to her form, 

 every square inch in her can be made available. She is also so 

 light, from her peculiar construction, that if she should by aDy 

 chance sink she will (to speak in Irish) float. 



The first attempt I ever made at yachting was in a sharpie, forty 

 feet over all, drawing ten inches of water. At that time 1 knew 

 but little about sailing anything beyond a cat boat of small size, 

 and the result proved that I was fortunately experimenting with a 

 craft that could take care of hersolf, for just to the eastward or 

 Faulkner Island we encountered a gale. Not knowing what else 

 to do, and being headed for old Long Island, I just lowered my 

 mainsail and '' so she drove." Well, we found some land just to 

 the westward of Plum Gut. Not seeing the wished-for haven I pat 

 her full tilt for the beach, throngh the breakers. She tried to climb 

 over into Orient Harbor, but only succeeded in running two 'thirds 

 of her longth out on dry land. Could any boat do more ? T. C. 



A DISSENTING VIEW. 



Boston, Dec. 30, 181& 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



la your isauo of Dec. 121 noticed the heading "Two Boston 

 Cracks." As I question then merit I doubt the application. 



1 have had the pleasure of a sail in the Enterprise on one of her 

 severest trials and though it was a very heavy sea and strong breeze 

 it must be nothing to what some of the English cutters have had 



to undergo, from the accounts banded down to posterity, for 

 stance, " coming up to blow" occasionally, or passing through a 

 breeze, when Borne one " will havo to hold your hair on." 



I also question " Neptune's" opinion that the Viking is the best 

 boat of the two to windward. 



I think ' ' Neptune" is wide of the mark in observing the super! 

 ority of [Enterprise over Madeap, and more so in assuming tha 

 Viking can go to windward better than Enterprise ; that really 

 makes Viking the best of the three, which is certainly not gener- 

 ally conceded. 



From my 'own observation of the 9th of October regatta I fee 

 certain that Viking could have dono nothing with Shadow had the 

 proper canvas been carried on her. And, strange to believe, I 

 have lots of company (men who thoroughly understand yachting 

 who believe Shadow could discount the Viking in any weather. 



In rough water especially the fair lines of Shadow would tell 

 amazingly on Viking's irregularities. That Viking has power no 

 one will deny, that she is roomy and comfortable is also true ; that 

 she is fast remains to be proved. 



When she piles up the admirable record of Shadow, or wins the 

 most races from her we will admit her superiority, without being 

 prejudiced. 



I think Viking has got hard lines to straighten with boats 'of 

 her own class bofore her aspirations tempt her from her sphere. 

 To speak bluntly and honestly, the modols of both Enterprise 

 and Viking are objeotB of criticism and comment, and they make 

 friends very slowly. Though the over-doing of square bilges and 

 keels is evidont to me, I do not wish to influence others to my way 

 of thinking, but advise thorn to profit by observation and careful 

 investigation. 



There is a great deal of talk this way about scientific figuring in 

 boats' models, but I fad to see the science displayed when the 

 model does not sit in the water to a scientific load line, I also 

 fail to see the science displayed in balancing sail when, after re- 

 peated trials, the forward or after sails have to be altered to make 

 them steer easy, as circumstances require. I should like to see 

 Enterprise rigged as an Amerioan vessel. I think she would de- 

 velop more speed, and be just as comfortable. Although any 

 narrow vessel makes a better rough water boat if she is provided 

 with sufficient depth to steady her, I doubt the practical use of 

 them as oruisera — you forfeit too much for weatherliness I.claini 

 youcanmako a yacht more seaworthy with 38ft. length, 16ft. 

 beam, Oft. draught, than you>an one of S8it. length, 8ft. beam, 

 8ft. draught. 



We have a veritable cutter here, 42x8x7, and I can produce 

 a number of small centreboard craft that can go right away from 

 her to windward in a rough time, and her only show is a free wind 

 and a very light one, then she skims like a bird. She was import- 

 ed from England. 



We are to be treated again to the subject of marine insanity, 

 but although I should not like to go through the undertaking my 

 self, I cannot help admiring courage and wishing success to the 

 individual in question. 



Mr. Herbert Burrell, a man about 35 years of ago. a native of 

 Cape Cod, by occupation a painter, now working at Melton, Mass., 

 is to make the southern passago of the Atlantic around the Hope 

 across the Indian Ocean to far Australia. When one stops to 

 think of days and hours and months of solitary confinement on 

 board a miniature life-boat, we shudder to think what humanity 

 undergoes for filthy lucre and unsatisfied ambitiou. Mr. Burrel 

 selected Messrs. Hatchings & Fryer as the ones to give liim the 

 most satisfactory craft for hia perilous adventure, and from obsei- 

 vation I should say she was>omplete. She is 19ft. over all, 18ft. 

 Sin. water line, 5ft. beam, and 2ft. 2in. depth of hold ; sho is 

 framed of best Now Hampshire oak, and planked with picked 

 cypress; is timbered and planked heavy on bottom, with lighter 

 top ; has excessive crown of deck, without rait or any obstruction 

 to prevent tho water from running off; two masts will be stepped, 

 one permanent,4ft. from tho bow, on which is a boom leg-of-mutton 

 sail, 10ft. hoist, 8ft. 6in. boom. A headstay is carried to stem of 

 boat, on which a for estaysail will be set. On one side of the stem 

 an iron strap will bo rigged to push out a j ibboom for fight weather 

 to set a balloon-jib on. The boom of leg-of-mutton Bail will be 

 rigged with studding-sail irons, to increase the size of sail in light 

 weather. Twelve feet from tho bow is a small cockpit, 2ft.x20in., 

 the Boat aft of which forma a cover to after part of the boat ; aft 

 the standing room or cockpit. Her keel, including an iron shoo 

 of 1501ba., will be 7X'n. in depth, and the boat, loaded, will draw 

 about 3ft . to 8ft. of water aft. The floor.of the stand room is con- 

 cave, and the scupper is in the centre, leading down perpendicu- 

 larly, coming out on bottom one Bide of keel. About 3ft. from 

 sternpost a temporary mast 7i't. Oin. high will be stepped to carry 

 a dandy or jigger sail. The boat will be provided with two rodders 

 in case of accident, 'two drags for laying to, and all necessary 

 navigating instruments ; snitable cans for stowiug will hold the 

 water, in all about two barrels. One of the modern kerosene oil 

 stoves will do the eookiug. I neglected to say that the boat's 

 model is sharp at both ends, and somewhat of the pinckey style. 



When you stop to think of a human being going so many miles 

 in such a wee thing, and alone, you must say his courage is stout. 

 The boat is to be placed on exhibition, The start will take place 

 from the wharf of the builder. December 25, if everything can be 

 got in readiness. Mr. Barrell formerly followed the sea for 

 a living, having occupied the position of mate for seven years, If 

 ho suoceeds in his perilous undertaking, he intends putting the 

 boat on exhibition on reaching his destination. Keiigu. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun. 

 CANOEING ON LAKE SUPERIOR IN 

 1840.— No. 3. 



August 3, Two Heart Mver.—We intended to sail early this 

 morning for the Grande Morais, but the wind rose in the night so 

 much that we find ourselves "degrade," as Pierre calls it, and 

 compelled to remain for the present. I took my rod, and followed 

 the little river up to tho rapids, where the trout rose well, and 

 I had killed half a dozen when my foot length and flies were car- 

 ried off by a heavy fish. I had been so engaged in the sport that 

 I had not noticed the attack of the sand flies, which Btung me to 

 such a degree as to swell my heat! to the size of a pumpkin. 



Their sting is poisonous to me, and creates a fever, which is dis- 

 agreeable enough. I mention this annoyance the more as it is the 

 only drawback to the pleasure of our journey. Tho voyageurs say 

 that nothing but a wet blanket will keep off the "brntons," as 

 they call them. 



August i. — Last night a heavy northwester came up, accompa- 

 nied with thunder and rain, which nearly blew away our tent, and 

 raised such a sea that we could not make a start this morning. I 

 amused myself with making Bome trout flies. 



August 8.— Still at Two Heart River. For the last six days the 

 wind has blown with so much violence from the northwest that we 

 have not dared to embark. We were encamped upon a narrow 

 beach of sand and pebbles, which separated tho river from the 

 lake, and during the violence of the storm one night the ground 

 actually trembled. We afterward removed our camp across the 

 river, and found the site of an old Indian lodge, where we paeBed 

 the time with more comfort. Near the river's mouth there is a 

 pioketed inclosure containing the graves of five Frenchmen who were 

 drowned in trying to make the mouth of the river in a loaded canoe. 

 The tall and gloomy pines and firs form an appropriate canopy 

 for these poor fellows, taking their long repose after their weary 

 life toils. We have amused ourselves during this detention by 

 hunting and fishing. I have caught a good many trout, some of 

 tliam up to two pounds weight, and my companions have killed 

 pigeons and ruffed grouse— there seems to be no large game on 

 the lake shore. 



August 9. — The wind having abated, we roso at daylight, and 

 after a good breakfast we prepared to leave the river; but on 

 reaching its mouth we found it so clogged up with sand that there 

 was barely water enough for the canoe, and that ran out like 

 a mill-race. Pierre stood up in the bow of the canoe with hia pole, 

 hia fine black eye gleaming with a vigilant excitement, yfe shot 

 over the rapid like a flash, and surmounted the breakers without 

 shipping much water. Had we struck, a hole must have been 

 torn in the aide of the bark, and we should probably have filled 

 and sunk. With a hearty cheer we bade adieu to Two Heart 

 Biver, and pulled lustily for the next point. When about half 

 way across the bay we thought we hoard a man calling*, from the 

 shore, and supposing it might be the party of surveyors whom we 

 had met, on their return with provisions for their men, and ex- 

 amining the shore with a glass, we thought we saw a boat with 

 men. We were about makiug for the shore when the cause 

 appeared in a loon, which popped up its head and saluted us with 

 screams of derision. " Voila V urpeidier /" said Pierre, and we 

 henceforth called these noiay birds "surveyors." Presently an 

 easterly breeze sprang up, and gaily hoisting our sail we ran on at 

 a And rate of speed to "Grand Marais," which is a small bay at 

 the outlet of a river of the same name. Beyond this bay com- 

 mence the " Grandes Sables," which are high and oonical hills of 

 sand, more or less bare. One of them is OBtimated by McKenney 

 to be 500ft. high, and they seem to be a continuation of the pic- 

 tured rooks in a state of abrasion. The country in the rear is 

 a sandy desert, interspersed with a scanty growth of evergreen*. 

 Several nudes back there is a beautiful little lake, to which the ex- 

 ploring party of Dr. Houghton gave the name of " The Diamond 

 of the Desert." We traveled until a late hour in hopes of reaching 

 "La Ohapelle," or the Doric Bock, as McKenny calls it; bat night 

 overtaking us, wo encamped about three miles from it. having 

 made forty miles this day. 



August 10. — Started at dawn for La Chapelle, and soon after 

 leaving camp the pictured rocks commenced, although at fir3t not 

 so elevated as. they are at the centre. For a couple of miles thoy 

 averaged 100ft. in height, of a friable Bandatone, and the storms 

 have excavated their lower faces into a thousand fantastic oaverns, 

 which resemble arches, vaulta and ovens, from which the dashing 

 water reverberates with a singular hollow sound. Above these 

 caverns, where the face of the rook is more level, it is stained with 

 various colors, from black to white, by the dripping of water from 

 above, where it is saturated with oxid of iron and other minerals, 

 and they assume various grotesque figures. The voyageurs 

 pointed out one which they called Manabouzho's portrait, aod 

 which certainly might well represent this Indian deity. Turning 

 a poiut, La Chapelle came into view. Thia mass of rooks is the 

 most curious freak of nature that I ever saw. Imagine,; an arched 

 slab of rock resting on pillars of the moat ponderous proportions, 

 and the whole fabric washed and rounded off by tho antion of the 

 waves into a general resemblance to the Doric order of architect- 

 ure. The regularity of its appearance at the distance of a few 

 hundred yards would almost make one believe that a race of Titans 

 had piled up these niassea as a temple of worship to some antedi- 

 iavian deity. Jutting over tha lake is a perfect pulpit of stone. 

 It is octagonal in shape, and springs from a pillar which supporta 

 it, and upon it lies a square block of stone, which represents the 

 Book. This singular structure is surrounded by a heavy growth 

 of evergreens, and from the roof and sides grow pines of large 

 size. Near it a small stream finds its way to tho lake, and on 

 a small piece of pebbly Leach at its mouth we encamped for break- 

 fast. We coasted along, admiring these manifestations of the 

 waves upon the friable rock, which extends an unbroken precipice 

 for nine miles, when it is interrupted by the entrance of the 

 Miner's Biver, which forms a break of half a mde. For this dis- 

 tance it is composed of sandstone, except in one spot, where there 

 is a substratum of conglomerate. It is not in a regular line from 

 east to west, but jutB out into points and recedes into bays, like 

 salient angles in a fortification. The whole length of the rock is 

 stained in streaks of black, brown, blue, red, white and green, 

 among which the brown predominates. At tho Miner's Biver we 

 stopped, and I went up to the rapids and caught enough trout far 

 our supper. Then along the continuation of the pictured rocks, 

 sirmlar to those described before, except that they are not so high. 

 From the point we made the traverse to Grand Island, which is 

 separated from the main by a channel about a mile in width. On 

 this island a man from Blinois, named Williams, has recently 

 settled, aod we assisted him in raising the frame of hia house. He 

 and his family suffered much from fever and ague in Fulton Co. , 

 where he lived, but have regained their health here. There is a 

 vast quantity of large and delicious raspberries here, which are 

 said to spring up wherever the ground is burned over. We set 

 our gill-net at night, and the next morning— August 11— we found 

 in it some twenty large suckers, which fish are very fine in these 

 cold, pure waters. 



August 13.— Wont about twenty miles against a head wind to 



