24 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 



THE AM KRI C A CUP 

 TT5 ''in news columns it will be seen ilint the Challenge 

 -"-* Cup won Ivy the schooner America in 1851 from the 

 British in a match around the Isle ofWlgW has again been 

 m the custody of the New York Yacht Club. Not 

 long ago, ii will be remembered, the Club relumed the cup 

 tq the only surviving donor, Mr. Geo. L. Schuyler, with the 

 request that more specific rules be attached to the trophy for 

 ( lie £ oidance Of the Club in the future. These regulations will 

 be round in full on another page. Practically t hey are the same 

 which have always governed challenges from abroad, though 

 in one particular a modification has been made and in 

 another greater explicity will prevent misunderstanding and 

 doubtful proceeding. These changes, together with the new- 

 form in which the rest of the conditions have been drawn 

 up, will meel in tb,e main with the endorsement of all, 



The first modification consists of a clause excluding yachts 

 belonging to inland clubs not having their home port on tlie 

 sea or a branch of the sea. Nothing invidious was intended 

 in adding this clans?, but Mj". Schuyler wished simply to 

 give effect to the ideas governing the donors originally in 

 offering the Cup for international competition. These were 

 the furtherance of the construction of seaworihj r yachts and 

 the encouragement of sea sailing. The requirements of in- 

 land navigation are often so much less exigent than those of 

 the sea. that the advent of some shell of a machine trans- 

 ported by rail or steamer to race us on a fair day in emooth 

 water was a possibility against which it is only fair that pro- 

 vision should be made. To permit an extravaganza unfit 

 for the usual purposes of yachting to compete for the trophy 

 against bona fide vessels, would have placed honest yachts at 

 as discount, and with the natural inclination on ourpart 

 not to be beaten, our whole fleet might have suffered more 

 or les? from the insidious influences of a successful imported 

 machine, thereby bringing about consequences diametrically 

 opposed to the laudable aims of the donors. 



American yachts as a class are unfortunately none too good 

 as it is with repsct to ability and seaworthiness in general, 

 and any stimulant likely to aid in retrogression on our part 

 should be checked in every way possible. The least credit- 

 able points in American yachts are their flimsy build, in- 

 complete outfit and machine-like mould. For boats of an 

 inferior order the people have weakness enough even now, 

 and we are therefore glad to find Mr. Schuyler doing his 

 share to encourage a better state of things in prominently de- 

 claring in favor of seaworthy yachts by limiting competition 

 for the cup to clubs whose interests may be deemed as lying 

 in I he same direction. The clause in question debars no in- 

 dividual. Should any inland talent wish to gain fame by 

 capturing the historic piece Of British silverware, he may 

 transfer himself to the coast, there whittle and build to his 

 heart's content, and should he succeed in making a lucky hit, 

 an eligible club will no doubt be found anxious enough to 

 become the backer of the new wonder, take her under their 

 wings and give the required six months notice. 



As to the other clause now put into clear language admit- 

 ting but one interpretation, we feel sure it is most welcome 

 to fair-minded sportsmen and all gentlemen as well. We 

 allude to the paragraph definitely limiting competition to a 

 single yacht on our part, The thoroughly illogical cry raised 

 in some quarters that because the America sailed against a 

 (led. of ancient tubs a fraction of her size, with a couple of 

 bluff bowed old schooners thrown in, all challengers should 

 lie mot by the entire fleet of cracks the N. Y. Y. C. could 

 muster, has, fortunately for our reputation as a fair-minded 

 people, received Us death blow. Hereafter the stranger will 

 find himself opposed in a legitimate manner by a single yacht 

 only, and the match will be decided upon its merits without 

 any possibility of the sharp practice of some unscrupulous 

 person or the lubberly steamship of a skipper interfering with 

 the visiting craft while one of our own fleet is allowed to go 

 over the course free from interference. The late practice of 

 the club in this respect has by the new stipulations received 

 the indorsement we always felt sure it would at the hands of 

 the gentleman who again entrusts the Cup to its former 

 custodians. "Jockeying" is debarred by his commendable 

 decision on this vital point, and the views of Forest axd 

 Stream have again prevailed, 



The acceptability of the entire deed is, however, sadly 

 marred by the introduction of an unwarranted privilegs on 

 our part. Tire right to select a competitor on the morning 

 of the race, with the implied power of substituting a fresh 

 representative for every one of a series of race,, is a reservation 

 ; equity of which may well be called into question bythe 

 foreign world, to whom the deed is really issued. It is de- 

 ■ ■■ . of the challenging yacht a far greater display of 

 qualities for the capture of the Cup than need be p iss - < 

 by our own yachts for its retention, and for this to 

 expectation the new deed of gifVrailst sariously be ken to 

 task. It is like holding back all the trumps out of the pack 

 for our own special benefit. We insist that to win, a foreign 

 yacht must not only be faster than our best light weather 

 boat, but also faster than our best heavy weather boat: 

 that he should be ibli to noine iu a single vessel the dual- 

 ities only to be found distributed among a nunc ; 

 own. Though his boat may be superior to any one turnout 

 we maybe able to produce, lie can achieve no results Unless 

 his single boat can be shown superior to all of qui e j 

 ively. We regret that this view of the clause was not 

 brought to Mr. Schuyler's notice for he would hardly have 

 BSeuvatioh wbku is likely to keep 



foreign yachts further away from our shores than 

 ever, unless by private agreement a concession will 

 be made to the challenger as provided for in the 

 clause proceeding the one now referred to. But the mere 

 existence of an inequable provision is likely to do much harm, 

 for we cannot suppose the British yachtsmen will do other 

 than to take us by our words officially 7 expressed, and so un- 

 fair a proposition as matching a different yacht against a 

 stranger, according to the weather, or even reserving the 

 naming of the competitor until the weather of the day can be 

 ascertained, will, as may be supposed, strike the foreigner as 

 an attempt to overreach him at the outset. In some quarters 

 this unlucky reservation will be interpreted as a fear on our 

 part that we can no longer hold the Cup in open fight, and 

 hence we resort to chicanery in the hopes of staving off the 

 day of trial as long as possible. Those who know the tem- 

 per of the rJ, Y. Y. C, are well aware that such an impression 

 is perfectly unfounded, and that, no yachtsmen stand more 

 ready to give fair terms and no favors to both sides in a con- 

 test. It is all the more strange for that reason that a clause 

 so repugnant to sportsmanship and so chilling to the ardor 

 of those from whom a challenge might be expected, should 

 hate been allowed to appear in the revised edition of the 

 deed of gift. The club cannot be held responsible for the 

 actions of an individual, yet the whole subject was in reality 

 "engineered" by the club from first to last, and we did hope 

 that its indirect supervision would have been sufficient to 

 prevent just such a.f&wpas as we now have to lament, 



It is not at all likely that English yachtsmen will be rash 

 enough io fall into a trap, however innocently it may have 

 been set, so openly displayed. Tlie power to match a differ- 

 ent yacht for even- race according to wind and weather, or 

 the accidents that may befall our side, without according 

 similar privileges to the foreigner, will strike him as most 

 preposterous. We are sorry to believe that less importance 

 than ever before will now be attached to the America Cup, 

 and that its mere mention abroad is likely to produce a smile 

 at the verdancy which permits us to challenge the world and 

 at tlie same time openly retain the trumps in our hand. 



There is but one supposition under which the challenger 

 could obtain a really fair race. It is often difficult to fore- 

 tell the weather of the afternoon by the looks of the morning- 

 sky, and thus we may be caught in the trap of our own de- 

 vice. We doubt whether a foreign owner wovdd care 1o come 

 three thousand miles upon such desperate chances. For tlie 

 rest the rules will prove acceptable for all concerned, 

 especially the measures taken to prevent successive challenges 

 by the same yacht which lately threatened to become a 

 nuisance, and which upon a former occasion caused much 

 ill-feeling when a British yachtsman insisted upon represent- 

 ing a dozen or more clubs, and sailing that many matches 

 with the avowed intention of claiming the Cup if won in a 

 single one of the series of races. 



The N. Y. Y. C. had the good sense not to demand, and 

 Mr. Schuyler was clear-headed enough not to delegate the 

 right to the custodians to refuse entertaining a challenge at 

 their option. A Stipulation of that nature would at once 

 have robbed the trophy of all its value for international com- 

 petition. A proposition of this sort was urged in some of 

 our contemporaries, but the validity of the stand taken by 

 Forest axd Stream in this regard lias likewise been borne 

 out by tlie action taken. 



The new "deed of gift" has now gone forth to I he world. 

 It is a pity that in some respects wiser counsel did not pre- 

 vail in its conception. In place of promoting international 

 racing it will keep us safe from invasion until the ill-advised 

 privileges bestowed upon ourselves are withdrawn, and even 

 then it may take many years to efface the false impressions 

 likely to be produced. 



hackle proves to be an irresistible enticement, for it is ; 

 the monster. There is material on the end of that line for a 

 first-class skirmish. "Whew ! a skirmish, is it? It looks as 

 though it were going to be a regular pitched battle. Up he 

 comes like a shaft of light, and away he goes with the im- 

 petuosity of an Indian after a scalp. Two minutes later and 

 the battle is over. A slackening of your line and the Bsh 

 has gone. How did he do it ? I don't know. You struck 

 him on the instant of sight, played him as skillfully as yon 

 struck him, judging with nicety the strain your rod was 

 bearing, the resonant reel paying out line to meet the demand 

 upon its resources and receiving it again with a quick turn 

 when the rush came the other way. Yet. he escaped, and a 

 search -warrant will not produce him again this day. 



Losing a well-played trout through no fault of your own 

 rises to the dignity of a calamity; but never mind. 



"I know we hare within qui' realm 

 Five hundred good as he." 



There are no doubt extenuating circumstances; and that 

 trout knows what they are; but as he will never tell, we must 

 let the loss pass into the category of unsolvable problems, and 

 wade along as we must do to fish i his stream right, The 

 more slippery rocks one meets increasing his chances- for an 

 involuntary bath, the more windfalls he encounters aug- 

 menting the probabilities of having his clothes torn off him, 

 the more deep pools for him to step in, only add to the at- 

 tractions of a mountain stream. This is the charm. It over- 

 laps the three drops of constitution water as it comes tickling 

 the soles of your feet and curling around your legs, as you 

 brace yourself in the middle of an eddy to make a cast into a 

 trout hole thirty feet away ; and if you get up to your neck 

 unexpectedly, it's little alarm you need feel, for up at the 

 shanty you have a complete change, of clothing hanging on a 

 couple of pegs and perhaps a "wee drop" of medicinal 

 whisky, which on such occasions comes in just right. 



Little consolation does the stream offer for lost fish or wet 

 jackets, as it runs along darting here and there under tlie 

 banks and then out against a huge rock that stubbornly holds 

 its place, despite the full rush of the water, which grows 

 white as it settles back against itself and then like a sensible 

 stream gives up the idea of butting that rook and goes around 

 it, taking a breathing spell in the long stretch of quiet between 

 the alders. A good rest it proves, for again it awakens end 

 rushes in a whirlpool of disorder on its downward course. 



Let hjm, who would not. jump out. of the feather bed of 

 civilization and go with us down the stream, stay at home 

 and hobble like a gouty grandfather twenty-five years before 

 his time. But you, good partner, come along and bring your 

 rod with you. If coming on such a trip is a weakness, it is 

 a laudable one; and you will find the experience exhilarating 

 and health giving. Mim,.u;n. 



DOWN THE STREAM. 



A THOUSAND ripples played and chased each other in 

 ■^*- the sunshine a.nd sang their happy song, then ran 

 swiftly between two large rocks, divided around one still 

 larger, and quietly settled into a deep, dark pool a few rods 

 below. Only settled for a little while, for this stream is like 

 an impatient schoolboy longing for recess too anxiously to be 

 Very quiet, for at the next, turn, circling in a blinding whirl. 

 turbulent and unruly, it boiled and bubbled as though Nep- 

 tune were preparing a wash-day dinner. 



Around projecting points and overhanging ledge,, i i 

 iu the grooves it has channeled in the fbckg, every angle is a 

 surprise and a revelation. Now it "singeth a quiet tune," 

 and stealing in murmurs from yon hillside, a crystal stream 

 adds its mite to the rest and races with it between great moss- 

 covered boulders, loiters with it. through a succession of Ian 

 guid currents, and then helter-skelter, white-flecked with 

 foam, they hurry on again. 



Abdve is the blue sky, checkered here and there with light 

 fleecy clouds, which look like phantom ships sailing over the 

 distant hilltops, and the forest of evergreens climbing up 

 their sides, while all around us the birds with (heir joyous 

 ripple of song are as prodigal of their notes as ,-o tnany 

 spendthrifts. 



Drop your Hies in yonder pool, "If is no, as deep as a 

 well nor as wide as a church door," but it has jewel 

 dent.jewelsih.it maybe had for the careful' seek n e 

 careful it must be, eke they will never rise to your deceits. 

 Well placed. Now draw them diagonally across ii, , ■; 

 to the end of that log. 



A swell iu the water, a raiubow Hash, and thai brown 



BYE-WAYS OF THE NORTH- 



TWELFTH PAPER, 



HPWELVE miles from Walla Walla is the now almost 

 -*- deserted town of Wallula, and from ibis point a branch 

 of the N. P. R, R. takes us. south to Ainsworth on Snake 

 River. It is a hopeless, straggling little town of a dozi h or 

 twenty houses, set in the midst of a dreary sage brush plain, 

 unutterably monotonous and uninteresting. All day ami all 

 night the wind blows a steady, persistent force, carrying 

 with it the sand of the. plain, which it piles up here and there 

 in great dunes, which are constantly shifting and being 

 borne backward and forward as restless and inconstant as 

 the sands of the seashore. Often it is piled up so high 

 cover the sparse vegetation. Here we were only obliged, 

 fortunately, to spend one day, and the next morning . lefl 

 for Spokan Falls, carrying with us only our blankets and. 

 bags, since, as we proposed to cross the .Range by a trail practi- 

 cable only for packs, all heavy baggage must, be left behind. 

 For 59 miles beyond South Ainsworth the road follows up a 

 wide eoidie, and then passing the Summit enters another, 

 which it follows until the timber is approached. Until the 

 Summit is reached there is nothing especially attractive about 

 the country. No streams or lakes are seen along the line of 

 the road, and all water must be obtained from wells. Back 

 from the track, however, there is plenty of water. All this 

 section will, in my opinion, ultimately be a great grazing 

 country. The feed is of excellent quality and grows thick 

 and rank, much more so than in most of the celebrated c 

 ranges east of the mountains. The prairie is rolling, with 

 ional wails and piles of disintegrated granite. The 

 winters are usually very mild, and we were told thai □ 

 rarely remained on the ground longer than twenty-four 

 hours. Some distance beyond Summit we pass Big Lake, 

 and here we enter a territory about the excellence of which 

 as a farming district there can be no question. The count] , 

 is well watered, the grass thick and high, and the many 

 farms have an air of prosperity very pleasant to behold. The 

 extensive hay fields were dotted with stacks and the en 

 and outbuildings were substantial and well kept; in the : 

 were herds of horses and cattle, all of them fat and in good 

 condition. Big Lake is 9 miles long and from one-half to a 

 mile wide. We saw thousands of geese, ducks, coots and 

 grebes swimming on its surface, and among the latter r< 

 mzed Poa '.■ gulls, probably t. e awa/i 



were abundant. Soon after passing Big Lake the tin 

 comes into view, and adds much to the pieturesqileness of 

 the landscape. We pass a number of beautiful little lakes 

 surrounded by pine timber, and often enclosed by I 



