182 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
— ee 
[Oor. 2, 1884. 
are unknown to canoeists; the risks are less than a man 
Tuns whose daily business is in a crowded city reached by a 
ride by boat or rail, and the chances are not worth consider- 
ing, while with bicycling, ball or shooting the list of minor 
injuries is a heavy one each year, . 
The only danger, then, is from drowning, and this may 
be minimized by proper care, The canoe, if of proper 
model, is a remarkably safe boat, its form follows that of 
the whale boats and surf boats, and resembles closely in the 
main features that wonderful little craft, the Sparrowhawk, 
one of the little vessels in which the Pilgrims crossed 
the Atlantic safely, the remains of which were dug up of 
late years. The flat floor, sheer, high buoyant ends with 
air compartments, coupled with the deck, make the canve a 
far safer craft than many boats of two or three times her 
size, Skillfully handled, she should live in very rough 
water, but here is a very important point, and to the neplect 
of it we may probably lay the late accident on Lake Brie, 
A canoe of 80 to 81 inches is usually a yery buoyant boat 
and requires, besides the weight of her crew, considerable 
weight, either of stores or ballast, to steady her, With it 
she sinks to a proper depth, has some hold on the water and 
carries sufficient way to make her easily controlled. With- 
out it she sits lightly on the top of the wave, is tossed hither 
and thither like a cork, and is blown about in a highly dan- 
gerous manner by the wind, all her bulk being out of water, 
A canoe,will live where many boats would instantly swamp, 
but these precautions are necessary in rough water not only 
to canoes but in a still greater degree to the ordinary row- 
boat, a knowledge of the management of the boat in a sea 
and a proper amount of ballast, In addition to these, a, 
canoé has an immense adyantage over a rowboat in being 
decked, but to utilize this she must have suitable hatches 
and apron that can be surely and quickly adjusted in rough 
water. These are seldom needed and so neglected, but to 
be efficient they must cover the well completely, must allow 
the canoeist to free himself instantly if capsized, and must 
be habitually carried within easy reach, as their use is always 
deferred until the last moment, by which time it may be im- 
possible to reach under decK for them. With them the 
danger is greatly lessened and trips are possible that would 
be foolhardy without them. 
The size and model of a canoe are most important consid- 
erations; a beam of 28 inches with flat floor is the least ad- 
missible for a beginner. There are to-day many canoes, 
most, but not all, of amateur build, that are utterly unfit 
for use at all, and many that are safe for experts, but that 
no beginner should be allowed in, and yet they are used by 
boys and children, A correspondent writes us as follows: 
“Yesterday while sailing up the river I saw a canoe, as I 
supposed, from the double paddles, but when it was near 
me it was the crankiest thing I ever saw—barrel hoops and 
sheeting waterproofed, and one could look through the 
thing. In it were a boy and girl; so if you read of a couple 
of canoeists being drowned here, you can make up your 
mind it is they.” But ashort time since a case came under 
our notice in which a gentleman was about to take outa 
lady, who could not swim and was not familiar with boats, 
in a 24inch racing canoe, the crankiest boat in the club. 
To go back to the case of Mr. Reed, his canoe was a 28-inch, 
of poor model, and described by her builders as ‘‘rather 
cranky,” a boat in which long cruises had been safely made 
and large sails carried by a former owner, but a boat that is 
dangerous, cranky, and utterly unfit for any but an experi- 
enced canoeist. 
Here is more of her history from a letter of a Springfield 
canoeist: ‘‘Two weeks ago I was sailing down the river, 
running before a strong north wind, with dandy set only, 
when I noticed a canoe put out from shore half a mile 
below with a large lug sail set, rolling badly, with two 
persons in her. From the way she rolled I knew she could 
not go far, and she did not. Over they went. I got there 
as soon as possible—about ten minutes—and with hard work 
got both ashore, one of them nearly drowned. The canoe was 
the sume one froin which Mr. Reed was drowned six days 
before.” Such occurrences as this do not deserve the name 
of “accidents,”.and it is unfair that canoeing should bear 
the blame for such ignorance and carelessness. Canoeists 
ean do a good work by condemning such boats whenever 
found and discouraging their use. 
Another source of danger, even with a good boat, is the 
ignorance and over-confidence of some canoeists. All navi- 
gation is attended with more or less risk; collision, rapids 
and dangerous waters, especially in the dark, and heavy 
seas. The first requires constant care, a sharp lookout, a 
good lamp at night, and an ample allowance for tides and 
leeway, in passing vessels or stationary objects. About 
docks and piers the tide is usually very swift, with many 
dangerous eddies, and beginners are safer in mid stream; 
buoys and vessels at anchor, and especially bridge piers 
should be avoided when the tide bears the boat down on 
them, anil with rapids and dams a careful examination 
should be made from the shore before attempting them. 
Heavy seas are more or less dangerous, and should be 
avoided unless one is well used to rough water. 
Judgment must also be exercised in reefing and carrying 
gail, especially in rough water. Noone should be ashamed 
to reef in good time, or 10 carry small sails if it seems advis- 
able, and the older canoeists can and should encourage cau- 
tion in beginners, rather than driving them by ridicule or 
jll-judged competition to dangerous risks, 
In some clubs the leaders and officers make it their busi- 
ness to see that the novices are coached as much as possible 
before they go out boldly alone, and this course should, in 
the interests of the club as well as canoeing, be followed by 
all, Many who would have made good canoeists have 
started out with absurd expectations, speedily ended by a 
capsize, and given up canoeing entirely, always afterward 
speaking against it, Canoe clubs should, in the first case, 
consider carefully the qualifications of candidates, and reject 
all who are too young or in any way unfit for the exertion, 
and, for their own sake, they may require that the candidate 
must be able to swim. 
On joining, if unused to boats, the older men should give 
the beginner plain and simple instructions in entering and 
leaving a canoe, handling under paddles, capsizing, righting 
and boarding the canoe, until the beginner has some confi- 
dence in his craft; then he should be taken out with small 
sails and their management explained and illustrated, setting 
sail, reefing, stowing, jibing and tacking, and, if the weather 
permits, a capsize under sail, The learner should be taught 
the importance of order and system with all gear, and above 
all, the necessity of keeping all lines in order, so they will 
not entangle him if capsized, and of haying hatch, apron and 
all gear so fitted that he can free himself instantly. In 
alranging races, much can be done to ayoid accident by a 
choice of a proper course, with a boat ready to render help if 
needed, and in rough and stormy weather the courses should 
be near shore, 
It also rests with the older members of the Association to 
discourage the idea of dangerous cruises merely for the sake 
of notoriety. No good can come of them, and they are 
directly opposed to the ideal canoeing—healthy and pleasant 
recreation afloat. 
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UntoN.—The second annual 
meeting of the A. O, U. is now in session at the American 
Museum of Natural History in this city, having come 
together Sept. 30. Among the members present on Tuesday 
were Prof, J. A, Allen, of Cambridge, Mass.; Dr. Coues and 
Mr. Ridgway, of the Smithsonian Institution; Dr. J. B. 
Holder and Eugene Bicknell, of New York; Dr. C. H, Mer- 
riam, of Locust Grove, N. Y.; John H. Sage, of Portland, 
Conn. ; Dr, Henry Sclater, of London, Eug.; T. 8. Roberts, 
of Minneapolis, and D. G. Elliott, of Staten Island. The 
meeting was called to order by President Allen, and Dr. 
Coues read the report of the Committee on Classification 
and Nomenclature, The report, the reading of which occu- 
pied about two hours, recommended a classification and 
nomenclature based on the Stricklandian code, which was 
adopted many years ago by the British Association for 
the Advancement of Science. The report was adopted. 
The session will probably last through the week, 
THAT GRANDFATHER Bass AcGAry.—Who can estimate 
aright the influence of a 284 pound black bass on the angling 
community? Just the bare mention of its weight is sufficient 
to stimulate the fancy of ‘‘true” anglers, Here is a case in 
point. The Newark Call editor, having read of the big bass 
head in its glass case, now to be seen in this office, was 
thereby stirred to take a hand in helping the Florida man 
who caught it relate the capture. He gives some particu- 
lars we have not heard before; for instance, he says, ‘‘When 
this bass was brought to land an old darky woman said: ‘Ef 
da’s enny moah fish like ’um in dis ribbah, I’se goin’ to mobe 
right away, S’pose one of ’em chillun wuz to fall in, fish 
jike ‘um ‘ud eat him up, suah,’” This shows that when an 
angler catches a very big fish he should enlist the services of 
his friends to adequately describe the contest. If we ever 
catch that monster we lost last June, we sball ask the 
editor of the Qall and all the other editors we know to help 
us cut on the ‘‘fish story.” 
ENGLISHMEN, and for that matter Frenchmen and Ger- 
mans, entertain the most extravagant notions of the abun- 
dance of game in America, Every now and then in some 
of our English exchanges we find highly-flavored communi- 
cations setting forth that if the Briton will only Jand on our 
shores he will find himself at once confronted by deer, 
moose, grouse and wild turkeys. It is a great pity that 
some of the writers who know where all this game is to be 
found cannot be induced to come over here and show us. 
Trapr Hunting 1m Virarnr4.—The menagerie wild beasts 
have made their regular annual escape, and, as usual, are 
ranging the woods and farms, seeking whom they may 
devour. This time, according to the telegraphic dispatches, 
it is a pair of “‘black tigers, the only black ones in the coun- 
try;’ and they are raising Ned in Norfolk county, Virginia, 
The law on black tigers being off, the ‘‘true sportsmen® of 
that vicinity are out in pursuit with shotguns and Gatling 
puns. : 
Tum “Sarry Gamp,” the famous little canoe in which 
‘Nessmuk” cruised in the Adirondacks, has been boxed up 
and shipped to New Orleans, where she will excite the won- 
dering admiration of the visitors to the Cotton Centennial. 
App A word about the game, when renewing your sub- 
scription. 
The Sportsman Canrist. 
PODGERS’S INLAND CRUISE. 
I.—LOOKING FOR THE SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE. 
WA ERE to go to have good shooting and fishing com- 
bined is a conundrum often asked and seldoin 
answered satisfactorily. The places named are too far away 
or too expensive for those of modest means; and often when 
following the advice of some enthusiastic friend one makes 
the trip and meets with disappointment. He arrives too 
early or too late, generally hitting the unhappy period when 
fish and birds have either all left, or have not come yet. 
“You should have come last week, sir. Me and Ben went 
out a week ago last Saturday and caught ——.” Then fol- 
lows a_fish story that would tax the credulity of any sane 
man. With the birds it is generally: ‘‘The fall flight has 
not commenced yet; about the 15th you can expect good 
sport.” And so it goes; always a failure and a disappoint- 
ment, i 
In the many cruises [ have made this summer in quest of 
fresh-water fishing I have met with nothing that has been so 
satisfactory as a recent excursion to the source of the St. 
Lawrence. This isnot new ground to the sportsman, so 
far as relates to the St. Lawrence as generally understood; 
from time immemorial has that noted river been the pleasant 
waters for the fisherman. The Forest AND STREAM has 
teemed with accounts of catches in the vicinity of Alexandria 
Bay and the islands of the St. Lawrence; but I have never 
seen any allusion to the fishing and shooting just at the out~ 
let of Ontario, where the St. Lawrence takes up its begin- 
ning and duty asa noble river. The great tide of travel 
strikes it at Clayton and rushes down the river, Alexandria 
Bay-ward, few turning west toward Cape Vincent, in the 
vicinity of which the best bass fishing can be found that the 
entire river affords. Cape Vincent itself has great attrac- 
tions as a pleasant little village on the border of the river, 
which is of such a width as really to be an arm of the lake, 
It has already some reputation as a summering place, and 
gains some importance from the fact that it is quite a place 
of resort for officers of the army and their families. It is 
patronized by General Sheridan, and is the birthplace and 
summer home of General Sackett—glory enough for one 
small town, in the estimation of the people, who are enthu- 
siastic admirers of both the gentlemen. 
The excursion rates of fare are now no inconsiderable in- 
ducement to the sportsman who seeks to combine in his va- 
cation as much salubrity of climate, as much good fishing 
and shooting as possible, The water privileges about Cape 
Vincent are unlimited, and no Jovelier place can be found for 
yachting than in the vicinity, and yet, alas! Cape Vincent 
cannot boast a respectable catboat. There seems never to 
have been any yachting spirit born of the people, who con- 
tinue to consider rowboats.as the sum total of any man’s 
wants who desires to go afloat, and the inquiry for a craft 
always results in the production of a clinker-built, good sort 
of a boat with the comfortable canc-bottomed chair minus 
its legs for a seat for the indolent fisherman, while the boat- 
man rows with a pair of long clumsily-built oars on a fixed 
iron pin through a slot in the oar, which renders it impossi- 
ble to feather when pulling against head winds, which, as 
everybody knows, deadens a boat’s way very perceptibly. 
In trolling for black bass, a favorite method of fishing in 
the St. Lawrence, a sailboat would be the proper thing for 
these waters, regulating the speed ad libitum by reduced or 
increased sail, 
‘The St. Lawrence is a river of magnificent distances, and 
a day’s fishing covers miles and miles of water. During 
the day there is nearly always a breeze, and when too much 
for fishing in one place the numerous points and islands form 
most excellent protection, and in some one of the innumer- 
able bays good fishing can be found under the lee of the 
land. The boats used are excellent sea boats, being about 
20 feet long, clinker built, sharp at both ends and are good 
pulling boats, but not having centerboards cannot go to 
windward with sail, and the majority of them have no sail. 
With centerboards and two leg of mutton sails and a few 
rocks for temporary ballast they would sail well on a wind 
if the breeze was not too heavy, and a small amount of sail 
would suffice to propel them quite fast enough for trolling; 
but what would be a better craft for all work would bea 
light-built catboat of the same length, with good beam and 
roomy cockpit, with boom to trice up against the mast by a 
“toppin lift” to reve through a block on masthead and one 
at foot of mast on deck. Then have rowlocks set well up on 
the gunwale to give oars a clearance from the combing, and 
in a calm the boatman standing weil forward on one side of 
the centerboard case with along double-handed sweep can 
walk such a boat along at nearly as good speed as the rather 
heavy narrow boats they now use, in which the fisherman 
must maintain his rather cramped position go many hours, 
with no chance to move around to relieve his limbs. ; 
A light-built buoyant catboat without ballast will pull 
easily, If a breeze springs up it is an easy matter to run in 
shore under the lee of one of the numerous islands and take 
aboard a few pieces of rock for ballast, and even with a dead 
ahead wind such a boat will beat to windward much faster 
than the other boat can be pulled. Then again sailing in a 
good breeze is so much more exhilarating than the monoton- 
ous rowing, which makes all hands drowsy and stupid. 
_ On abright, sunny, balmy morning recently I found myself 
landed from the train from New York on the wharf at Cape 
Vincent with no very definite idea what I should do next; but 
having been told that Wolt’s Island was a charming place 
for fishing and shooting I decided to investigate the question, 
and with that view set about ascertaining how to reach it. I 
found that there was no steamboat running on Sunday and 
that the only way to reach it was to charter a rowboat and 
thence by wagon across the island to the point I wanted to 
reach, 
After interviewing a man sitting on the dock with his feet 
hanging over its edge, sunning himself, he took my proposi- 
tion to row me over under consideration. ‘The chance to 
earn a dollar was not an every-day occurrence apparently, ~ 
but the labor seemed a serious matter and evidently weighed 
heavily on his mind; but after expectorating copiously into 
the lake for five minutes, cocking his dilapidated straw hat 
over first one eye, then the other, and taking out his knife 
and chipping away at the timber he sat on, he at last nerved 
himself to the effort, shut up his knife, put it in his pocket, 
and got himself onto his legs, saying, ‘‘Waal, I don’t know 
but I will pull ye over. Will see if I can get a boa I sat 
on my yalise waiting his appearance for nearly an hour, and _ 
had about given him up, when he appeared around a point 
close by pulling a boat. Transferring myself and traps inte 
it, we started. It was but a mile over to the island, but m_ 
