78 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



ff EB. IS, 1886. 



with sails spread wing and wiui<, seemed to jump from the top of one 

 wave to the crest of another, as if playing leap-frog, the smaller 

 canoes often varying the sport by poking their noses under in the 

 most disagreeable way. 



Although the sailing was exciting and accidents seemed imminent 

 we managed to reach an island two miles above Brockville, where we 

 pitched our tents in gi eat glee at our good run and at having beaten 

 a rainstorm by about five minutes, 



Alter a good night's rest we paddled to Brockville, twelve miles 

 from Ogdensburg, which we wished to reach early in the afternoon 

 so as to take the train Co House's Point on Lake Ohamplain. The 

 wind being nearly dead ahead we continued paddling until within two 

 miles of Ogdensburg, when setting sail and keeping close-hauled 

 we made port without tacking, and an exciting time we had of it too, 

 one of the squadron preferring the paddle after getting out from 

 under the lee;of the shore. The wind having changed a little, blew 

 nearly across current and was altogether -'too fresh," being both cold 

 and strong and making a nasty sea of which the crews of the two 

 smaller canoes received full benefit, their- little craft being at times 

 almost lost in the cold spray. 



Landing in Ogdensburg we freighted the canoes and bought tickets 

 for Rouse's Point, after Friday, who claimed that he was too wet for 

 comfort, bad changed his clothing. Passing through the many 

 dangers of traveling on terra firma we reached Rouse's Point at 8 P. 

 M.; and stowing away the canoes in a freight house, proceeded to 

 enjoy the hospitalities of the Massachusetts House. 



"Come Friday and Wad, turn out, we have plenty of hard work 

 before us to-day," cried Hoc, the next morning at 7 A. M., but as a 

 prophet he was a failure, for the hardest work done that day was to 

 oversee the carting of the canoes from the freight house to rhe beach 

 of Lake Ctiamplain, As a strong head wind was blowing we decided 

 to remain in to >vn and enjoy ourselves in the mild dissipation of 

 having our photographs taken and reading novels. 



Starring next morning with our mainsails bellied out by a stiff 

 westerly breeze we had a lively time of it for a while, but after going 

 some three n.iles it was unanimously decided to set mizzens as main- 

 sails, and even then crossing the mouths of the numerous deep bays 

 was rather rough sailing, not rendered over-enjoyable by the cold, 

 cutting wind. As usual, however, the old cruiser soon had his oil- 

 skins on, and sarcastically asked if it wasn't a pretty good scheme to 

 have a canoe large ei.ough to accommodate a suit of waterproofs 

 besides the usual duffle for summer cruising. Camp was pitched 

 that night about thrte miles above Plat tsburg, after having made 

 nearly twenty-five miles under mizzens. 



Aftei breakfast the next day we launched our canoes into a short 

 angry sea from off a ledge of rocks upon which grew a small green 

 plant that made them so slippery it was almost impossible to stand, 

 to say nothing of wrestling with the canoes with the miniature break- 

 ers trying to knock us over. Paddling to Pla ttsburg against the. sea 

 and wind was sharp work while it lasted, and was the last "paddle" 

 of the cruise for poor Wad, whose vacation had expired. 



After making arrangements for the Nettie and seeing her safely 

 started on her journey, we enjoyed the kind hospitality of a friend 

 of Doc's. Partine with Wad on the pier with many mutual promises 

 to meet again at no distant date, the fleet, now reduced to Doc and 

 Friday, paddled away from Plattsburg. Stopping about three miles 

 from town. Doc put forth his ingenuity and successfully repaired one 

 of Friday's spars. Oontinuine to paddle for a couple of miles, camp 

 was pitched opposite Yalcour Light and supper eaten without certain 

 piscatorial additions which Doc had promised Friday, and which he 

 had vainly endeavored to obtain by trolling over some celebrated 

 fishing grounds. 



Next morning we paddled and sailed to Port Kent, where, as Doc 

 was in a hurry and Friday refused to cruise alone, arrangements 



were made to take the steamer Vermont for old Ticonderoga. As we 

 had some thirty-six hours to wait in Port Kent with nothing to do, it 

 was decided to visit the Ausable Chasm, at whose beauties and won- 

 ders we greatly marvelled. 



September 8^ at 8 A. M„ found us on the Vermont, which duly 

 landed us at Ticondeioga at 12:30 P M. Launching the canoes we 

 sailed up the creek to the village, where we in vain sought old 

 "Peanuts," who used to por L age canoes between Lakes George and 

 Ohamplain. Consoling ourselves with some dinner, we hired another 

 man and carried our craft over to Lake George, on whose waters we 

 were soon floating. 



After passing a cold night we broke camp and paddled and sailed 

 through a nasty chop sea to the Harbor Islands, wbei-j we camped 

 early in the afternoon, not caring to continue on against the cold 

 headwind and sea. For the second time during the cruise we camped 

 without pitching the tent, sleeping instead in a shanty we found on 

 one or the islands. 



The last day of the cruise was a beautiful one, not a breath of wind 

 ruffling the waters of the lake, the gale having completely blown 

 itself out. raddling onward, Doc showed Friday that pretty little 

 cove so well named Paradise Bay, and pointed out all the other places 

 of interest until Canoe Islands were reached. Here we nad our fare- 

 well dinner, and of course it was extra fine. After "washing up" for 

 the last time, the canoes were again started after being thoroughly 

 overhauled, and mementos of the cruise exchanged Paddling to 

 Hillview. we each found some mail, after reading which it was ar- 

 ranged that Doc should leave his canoe with a friend Living on the 

 shore of the lake, and walk around to Caldwell to meet Friday, who 

 should go on and ship his canoe home. The programme was carried 

 out in every respect. Doc accompanying Friday a short way on the 

 railroad journey, both agreeing before parting that they had had 

 "a first rate time all around." Friday. 



SINGLE AND DOUBLE BLADE. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your correspondent "boreas" claims that the double blade has 

 proved superior to the single blade for spped, which I deny, as the 

 races of the Association do not prove it. In 1880, at the first meet, 

 the user of a single blade distanced all the others, and a list of the 

 races since will, I think, show that the majority of paddling races 

 wei-e won with a single paddle. 



Notwithstanding the difference in their boats, the two paddlers 

 with the single blades pushed Mr. Johnson sharply last year at times. 

 For cruising purposes the single blade is also superior, as it is lighter 

 and more easily handled in a wind, dees not tire the arms so much, 

 and is used in a ;more graceful manner than the awkward windmill 

 swing of the double. For work in rapids and currents it is also 

 superior, as the canoe is under more perfect control. Perhaps 

 "Boreas," like others who condemn it, has never tried a light, elastic 

 and well-shaped Single Blade. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In the huut after novelties and improvements for sailing, such as 

 drop rudders, reefing gear, centerboards and similar fittings, the 

 canoeist's first and best friend, the paddle, is apt to oe overlooked 

 and be relegated to a back seat. Some improvements have been 

 made in increasing the length, which has grown from 7 to lift.-, the 

 average being perhaps 9)4ft, and also in the raised seat now used; 

 but there is little doubt that we have not yet learned all about the 

 paddle and its use. Mr. Farnham has made a new departure in his 

 life, paddle with fin. blades, which is worth trying thoroughly, be- 

 sides which the proper position of seat (its distance from the bow) 

 and the best height are yet undecided. There is still a targe field un- 



explored in this direction. Why do not some of the clubs which are 

 situated on small streams, and consequently do little sailine, take up 

 the question in the same manner that the Mohican and New York 

 clubs have done with sails and rigs. The tests should be made with 

 a aoin.hoat, as the size mostly used. Different lengths might be 

 tested by making a handle about 3ft. long, with a ferrule joint in each 

 end. Blades of various sizes and shapes could be fitted in this handle, 

 makhig the length to vary from 7 to 12ft. Two Canadian single 

 blades could be fitted, as Mr. Farnham did, and spoon blades, narrow 

 and wide blades, short or long, could easily be tried. Seats of various 

 heights could also be used, as the best heights for racing and cruising 

 are yet undetermined. The average prizes will stimulate the interest 

 in paddling, but this is not enough, as the growth and prosperity of 

 canoeing lies in the double-bladed paddle. Rsx. 



AN AMERICAN CANOEIST ABROAD -In a letter from Berlin 

 Prussia, dated Jan. 11, Mr. M. C. Smith, Commodore of the Irriwadd 

 C. C, writes: "The capital of Prussia is not the home of canoeists, 

 although the River Spree, with its many branches, offers many in- 

 ducements to the lovers of the paddle. * * * I have paddled, with 

 Mrs. Smith's assistance, on the Thames from Oxford to Caver- 

 sham, on the beautiful Moselle from Trier to K;>blenz. 150 miles, and 

 on the Neckar from Eberbaeh to Heidelberg, besides short spurts on 

 English and Scotch lakes. While in England I saw no canoe superior 

 to our American make, and the cost was about the same. In fact I 

 was surprised to find numerous Canadian canoes in British waters." 



A SPRING MEET IN CANADA.-The success of the local meets of 

 last year has brought them into general notice, and now Canada is 

 falling into line. A meeting of the Ottawa C. C. was held on Jan. 27 

 to discuss the question of building a new club house, and also that of 

 a local meet in May or June, in the vicinity of Ottawa. A committee 

 was appointed to procure plans and estimates for a house. Dechene 

 Lake was suggested as a camp site, and the Toronto, Peterboro and 

 other Canadian canoe clubs will be invited to cooperate. Such a 

 camp will undoubtedly tend to unite Canadian canoeists, and to bring 

 in many new converts. 



FLORIDA.— Mr. and Mrs. Munroe are now located at Arlington, 

 five miles below Jacksonville, and Psyche is running regularly as 

 mail boat to Jacksonville and back every afternoon, conveying letters 

 and supplies for the settlement. Dot arrived on Feb. 2. 



SPRINGFIELD C. C— Com. Foote has ordered a new canoe, St. 

 Lawrence model, and Messrs. Nickerson and bhedd will orcier new 

 boats soon. Mr. Joyner has been at Springfield and will build a new 

 craft for one of the club. 



SAN FRANCISCO.— The canoeists at Oakland are enjoying their 

 season, cruising, sailing and camping out. Their numbers are in- 

 creasing, and canoeing promises to become as much a fixture on the 

 Pacific as it is in the East. 



A CRUISING COMPANION WANTET).— Mr. E. G. Rand, Mohican 

 C. C, wishes a companion for a cruise among the Berrrudas about 

 March 15. His address is 175 Tremont street, Boston, Mass. 



WARREN C. C— This club are discussing a meet in May or June 

 at Lake Chatauqua, in connection with Buffalo, Rochester and Pitts- 

 burgh. 



CANOE FOR SALE.— We call attention to the canoe advertised for 

 sale in another column, by Mr. C. W. Shedd. 



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TO FLORIDA ANGLERS. 



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Pearl Florida Spinners, Mottled Pearl Spoons, Pearl Squids, Pearl Mullet, Florida 



Bass Flies, Tackle for Channel Bass, Red Snappers, Sheepshead, Salt Water 



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