A GREAT AMERICAN FISHING GROUND 



almost more than human, of the species 

 which frequent the St. Lawrence. 



The Thousand Islands without the 

 Thousand Island boat would be some- 

 thing like the play of Hamlet with 

 Hamlet omitted. The boat builders of 

 the St. Lawrence have a deserved rep- 

 utation for putting together craft 

 which can be easily rowed or paddled, 

 are so staunch that they require a stiff 

 gust to knock them over and are also 

 speedy. The typical St. Lawrence boat 

 ranges between 18 and 22 feet in 

 length. It is so modeled that it lies flat 

 on the water amid-ships, although its 

 length makes the lines excedingly 

 graceful. They are careful to build 

 them of thoroughly seasoned wood, 

 with plenty of ribs to strengthen the 

 hull. A boat 20 feet long will easily 

 hold a half dozen, and with its arm- 

 chairs, cushions and carpets, makes 

 boating a luxury as well as a comfort. 

 It is astonishing what a spread of can- 

 vas one will carry. The mast is stepped 



well forward, one of the seats being 

 used as a brace. The sprit or leg-of- 

 mutton sail is generally preferred, be- 

 cause it is so easy to furl and unfurl. If 

 you do not care to handle it with a rud- 

 der, the model of the boat is such, that 

 in an ordinary breeze it can easily be 

 steered by merely bending the body for- 

 ward or sidewise, and it is remarkable 

 how closely they will run to the wind, 

 even without a leeboard. In summer 

 one can see literally thousands of them 

 among the islands. 



As the boat drifts along, you come to 

 Thousand Island Park, the summer 

 city where 30,000 church people go 

 every season, to find rest and recrea- 

 tion, and at the same time to praise 

 their Maker for giving them such a 

 sylvan retreat for their devotions. Not 

 far away is Grindstone Island, and 

 when the American Canoe Association 

 meets here there can be seen row after 

 row of tents, like the encampment of an 

 army. On the island are the dots of 



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