THE ART OF CAMPING 
From the Utilitarian Standpoint 
BY CHARLES A. BRAMBLE 
(Copyright, 1906, by Charlés A. Bramble) 
VIII.—CANOES 
OST campers get to 
“| their ground by means 
of a_ canoe, 
either by themselves or, 
| more usually, by a 
4 hired guide. In such a 
case, if the man is ex- 
perienced, it is better to 
leave the selection of 
the craft to him, as well 
as the main part of the 
management; but if the 
adventurer feels capable of taking charge 
himself, the following hints may. prove 
useful: 
Of all models, the open, so-called Cana- 
dian canoe is to be preferred; it will carry 
more load and in turn is capable of itself 
being carried more easily than is any other 
craft. But do not imagine that all canoes 
will do equally good work or be equally safe. 
Far from it, some are utterly useless for 
wilderness work. Most models are better 
fitted for sheltered waters than for rough 
lakes, and if you expect to have much open 
water to cross you must be careful to choose 
a very deep canoe. For a river, a canoe 16 
feet long by 31 inches wide and 12 inches 
deep will carry two men and some hundred 
pounds of dunnage. One 193 feet long, with 
a beam of 4o inches and 16 inches deep, may 
possibly carry 850 pounds in all, especially 
if you have a canvas cover to lace on, with 
no openings but a circular hole where each 
man of the crew is to sit. If your canoe is 
too small or even too shallow, many days 
may be lost, and it is no joke to be wind- 
bound when the grub is running short or 
one wants to get out before the final 
freeze-up. 

handled. 
For special purposes, the following canoes 
may be recommended: A light cruising 
canoe, 15 feet long, 28 inches beam and 11 
inches deep, weighing 50 pounds and capa- 
ble of carrying in all 400 pounds. For ordi- 
nary camping service in smooth, sheltered 
waters, the 16-foot canoe already de- 
scribed. For a large party where rough 
lakes have to be crossed, a canoe 18 feet 
long, 37 inches beam, 15 inches deep and 
weighing go pounds. 
The birchbark in the hands of an Indian 
or a trained white man is the best of all 
crait, but it is not every one who can bring 
out its good qualities. The canvas-covered 
canoe is undoubtedly next in rank, but not- 
withstanding that the number in use is in- 
creasing very rapidly, and probably this type 
will eventually become the dominant one, 
for exploration and rough, long journeys 
experienced men give the preference to 
those made of basswood. Cedar is lighter, 
but will not ‘stand the hard knocks that 
scarcely hurt basswood. 
In the South and West the dugout, or 
pirogue, is, perforce, a favorite craft, and in 
a few of the shallow, rocky, New Brunswick 
rivers dugouts are also in demand, because 
they will stand the dragging and bumping 
they must inevitably receive, but in all other 
respects they are dismal craft, and for all- 
around use of little account. Two men can 
make a small one in a couple of days with 
an axe, an augur and an adze, but any one 
unfamiliar with the eccentricities of these 
craft had better part his hair in the center, 
and sit very still, unless he has no objection 
to getting moist. A wink will set most of 
them rolling dangerously, and an incautious 
sneeze invite disaster, 
4 
