Sept. 10, 1885.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



133 



suffloieuf: for all puin>oses, provided upon trial they should prove to 

 give grxK] ( ra Jectory aud siifficienL accuracy for our use; one advant- 

 age won Id iic'in the shells, beiag or the satne shape and size as at 



preaoDt in use. 



Whellipv lliere arc any points in lliij above of advanlafre or worthy 

 of cnQf]rl!M-;uion In- roii in this (rial of iiunling rifles, I shall be fjlad 

 to h-nvv to voii to sar. Tiiey arc principaUv thouglil.s brought to my 

 mind bv experimeiits made at odd times, aud I write them here for 

 what tlicy are worth. A. B. Dodge. 



Manoukster, N. IT. 



Editor Forest end mn-cim: . ^. 



Kotiiina- conbi be more coujuieutlalile lhaii .\ our dctiM-uunatiou to 

 tcpt llie trajectory of huutine: ritlos. It is certain that the results of 

 such tests will be hitrhlv estocme.l by riflemen of tbo Urn ted States 

 and (ittraet w ides], re ad atlention throughout the world. Now, as you 

 aslv for susn-eNtioiiP, I avail myst if of your invitation and offer a few. 

 laprpe with the exeellent remarks made by your corre'pondent, Mr. 

 Leo'ijold. in almo.st cTPi'vrhina- he has said; but I tbujk it a mistake 

 aud a step byckw:u-d if m ii^ijicloiiders are allowed a place in thecom- 

 pelitioii, [Hit thronel] auv fear that they will make a good showing, 

 but hecan.ge valuable tinie shouhi not ho wosted iu tostinR obsolete 

 weapon? which have [jraetiL-illy passed out of use, We want hunting 

 rifles of to-dav, not of tlie past! 



.-i gain, if a' cloth patch is used, as suggested by Mr, Leopold, the 

 barrel is wiped after each shot, aud cleaning shou'd then be permitted 

 In Other rifles. The weigfit of the guns should also be considered, 

 and 1 think a limit ought^to be arranged in this respect, as no one 

 wants to carr y a columbiad to shoot small game. 



The weight'of the rilit- will maKc a difTerence in the trajectory even 

 wbcu clamped in a vise, and while the t' lggcr pull will nor. the trigger 

 pub materially atfircts the accuracy when the shooting is done off- 

 hand, and to some oxteuMyticn shot from a rest. The shooting in 

 yoru tests should be from the shoulder with a. muzzle rest. 



In order to make yo\u- tests practieall.y valualile your readers should 

 be able to determine which l ilte will rnrnish the fia tte-st trajectory 

 and whieh is the most, accurate when used ris a hunting rifle. If a 40 

 pound rifle sliows a rtat tra.iecfory. how are they to know that a 10- 

 pound or an Hi^ouud rifle of the same make avIII do the same thing? 

 It eertandv would be unfair to test a very light rifle in competil ion 

 witli a very heavy one, Gims shordd be gradid. Suppose, for in- 

 stance, that a ride is made for the express purpose of furnishing a 

 low trajectory, it may 1)6 a suooeas iu ttot witfi byt stiU only be efli- 

 cicnt as a squirrel ride, ' ' W. I. C. 



SvRAorsE, N, Y 



Editor Forest <i,nd Stream: ^ .„ ^ . . ^ 



I wish to make a point against a test of rifles for trajectory with 

 fixed guns. Now, I do not shoot a rifle, have bad but little experi 

 ence with them, and have no favorites, but have experimented eon 

 siderably with shotguns bv shooting for pattern and penetration. 

 Tor penetration I used cards obtained at the prmter's of about same 

 thickness as postal cards. L'sing same charge of powder and size of 

 shot the heavier gun always gave the greater penetration. Now-, 

 greater penetration reipiires kigher velocity, and higher velocity 

 gives flatter traj^clory. 



If weight siguiiies in a shotgun will it not also cpialify in the ritlei' 

 Indeed, 1 cousidcc it one of rbe main features in a gun whether the 

 arm he for'sbol or baU. Fi.^ing the guns, as I understand it, does 

 away with 'weight, and in that respect reducing all guns to the same 

 level Now I would suggest that all guns be fh-ed from the shoulder, 

 allowing the gun to rest iightly at the extreme muzzle to secure ac- 

 curacy of aim, 



1 biVe not rhe least idea how you will proceed to make the tests. 

 No doubt it will be in the most approved way. The idea suggests it- 

 self That it could be satisfactorily done by using engineer's cross sec- 

 tion paper, ^rhich is ruled both ways \yith great accuracy. A foot is 

 divided on these papers inloienthsor inches; these are subdivided 

 into tenths or the inches may be divided uito eishths and sixteenths. 

 The division into decimals is the most convenient. To use this paper 

 let t'ranuss be erected at points where it is desired to have record of 

 tiip rifle ball. By using engineers' transit aud level the several papers 

 could he aligned and nVade'truly borizoatal, marking the frames for 

 subsequent use. Put sauiH target m exact center of first paper, and 

 have rest for gun so the center of the iiarrcl will be in line wuh cen- 

 ter of paper, rake caref id aim with butt against shoulder and muzzle 

 on rest and lire. Note where first paper is punctured, and so with 

 each paper in .succession. Here is your record which can be easily 

 taluilated and the trajectory deduced. 



For instance, suppose first paper is 35yds. from muzzle of gun, 

 second .5(lyds.. third r5yds. . etc . and ball passes .12ft. above horizontal 

 line in first paper: to make straight lino it would pass .34ft. above on 

 second )}apei-,'.."l(i on third paper, .48 on fourth, aud so on to the end 

 of ]-an."-c. Any deviation from ihis line will .'■how the curve made 

 by the'b.'jll. 



"Now, y.dlhout liaving had any experience in this matter, this is my 

 idea, and it is oifered for what it i.s worth. 



Your trials will be watched with great interest by lovers of the gun 

 geueraUy. and it is apprehended that lumters and sportsmen will 

 generally acquiesce in the result, in the firm belief that the trials will 

 be conducted after the most approved method. W. L. P. 



VtCKSBUKO, Miss_; 



RANGE AND GALLERY. 



O 



THE CREEDMOOR MEETING. 



N THE 16th of the present month the thirteenth annual fall meet- 

 ' ing of the National Ride Associaiion will open at the Oreedmoor 



range. The directors have provided a liberal iirogramnie of matches 

 with the necessary prizes attached, and ample time has been given 

 for rhe completion of aU the contests. This in itself is a new and well 

 directed step. Then the medal nuisance has been abolished, and a 

 flcMcious importance will not be eiveu the matches as in the old times 

 when $7 medals appeared as $30 trophies in the catalogue. Cash 

 prizes, many of chem two in each match, isnowthe rule, and the total 

 has run up to $i?,161, ydiich, considering the support which has been 

 given tb.- sport of recent years, i* a very respectable figure. 



As yet there has been no great showing of entries, though it is con- 

 fideutlT expected that the 'present week will be a busy one in and 

 about "the Association office. Several of the States will be repre- 

 sented in the interstate matches, Avhile in the learn matches the 

 small-bore men aud crack military shots promise to make a close 

 contest in evei\y case, ^ 



The programme for the meeting has already appeared in om* col- 

 umns. XI will be made complete up to date by the following from the 

 supplementary programme just issued: Pool shooting will begin 

 eacli morniug'at '"< and run one hour, and after that, as far as possi- 

 lile. pool targets will be kept open, In Match No, 4 the position is 

 stantling at 200yds- and any at 5IX) aud 600yds. In This matcJi the 

 term 'Tt S, Service Rifle'' is intended to cover the Springfield rifle as 

 issued by the (Jrd, Dept, TJ, S, A,, having a barrel 33,6in. long, cut 

 with rbree grooves. One turn in 9ain. and chambered for a shell 

 2 1-lOin, long. No alteration of above will be allowed. 



In marches. Nos. 6, 11 and 13, cleaning will bo allowed between 

 shots for rifles other than military. 

 One new matcb has been added as follows: 



No. 19, Chambers Street Match.— Open to all comers, 500yds,, 7 

 shots each, p.j.sition an.y, auy rifla within the rules, no cleaning al- 

 lowed; military and special mditary rifles will be allowed one point 

 each score, the aggregate of two scores to count for each of thepilzes. 

 Entrance fee SI each or three for $3 if taken in one name at one 

 time. Cash prizes ac least SlOO, priz&s in kmd at least $30. Compet- 

 itors will have the choice ot jnuzes in the order of merit of their 



The sight protector of the front sight may be used as a shade 

 for the same on all military rifles, except in matches Nos. S, 9, 14, 

 15 and 16, . , , ^ , 



The matches will be Shot as nearly as possible upon the following 

 days, though the right is reserved after entries are made to change 

 the order of shooting: 



Wednesday, Sept. 16 Nos. 1, 2, 0, 7, 8, ll. 18, 19. 



Thursday,' Sept. 17, Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 18. 19. 



Friday, .-Sept. 18, Nos. 1, 6, 7. 8, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19. 



Saturday, Sept. 19, Nos. 1, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19. 



Jloudav, Sept. 21, Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7. 8,:n, 18, 19. 



Tuesday, Sept. No?, i, ;l. 1. 6, 7, 8, 11, 13. 18, 19. 



Wednesday, Sept 2.3, Nos. 1, (j, 7, 8, 11, 18. 19, 



Thursday, Sept. 24, Nos. 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 17, 18, 19. 



aAB,DNER, Mass., Sept. 4.— At the recent telegraph match between 

 the rifle club of Jamestown, N. Y.. and the Gardner Rifle Club, the 

 Creedmoor target was used by both. The following are the totals of 

 each : 



Oardner-tl. I\ Kllsworth 19, C. A. Hinds 4(1, W. C. Loveland 46. H. 

 C. TCnowhon ir^ V. 11. iMiowlton -If, S. U, flildretli 44, A, Mathews 43, 

 V E. Nichols 43, (\ O. Bent 40, O, O. Goodfile :t8; total m. 



Jameslown-S N. Ayres 45, II. V . I'ei'ry i:!, F, K, Dowler 42. R. H. 

 Burns 42, J. R, Moore 42, N. .1. li'eneer 41 , H. D. Delisle 41, H. Ahl- 

 Strom 41. A. C. .Fonea oS, .J, J). Cm tiss 36: total 411. 



The Heywood Guards, (kimpany K, Seoond ReRiinent Massachusetts 

 Volunteer Militia, went out t" the I fackmatack range of the Gardner 

 Rifle did) to-day for practice before going to (he annua) shnot of the 

 regiment on the State gromwls at South Framiugham. Each company 

 is to send a team of o men who have made IV ont of a poasihle -^5, dis- 

 tance 200yds, shooting to be off-hand. At the practice to-day the 

 following totals were made: Corporal Kindall 2,3, Private Carr y2, 

 Sergeant Block 30, Private Bishop 20. t'orporal Thocupson 19, Lieut. 

 Edgell 17, Private Thrasher 17. 



HAVERHILL, Mass.— Rifle Club, match at Riverside Eonge, Sept. 

 5. Creedmoor target. 200yds., off-hand; 



.1 F Brown .5445444545— M L W .Jackson 6544435444-^2 



J Busfleld 4454444446—48 F Merrill 444444444 4 - 4tl 



J FBI Green 5444444445—43 J Forbes .S42444B444-88 



FOLKLORE ON THE RANGE.— "Cuthbert Bede," in .Votes and 

 Queries^ states that when the Queen's prize was won at Wimbledon 

 on July 31, 188.-J, by Sergeant Butmer, Second Lincoln, his victory was 

 hailed'with the us'ual -'ovation." accompanied with the unusual cry, 

 '•Well done, yello\v belly," This was in allusion to his being a Lin- 

 colnshire man (Spaldiugj, and therefore supposed to possess a frog- 

 like nature, This is an old superstition of the Feus; but it is remark- 

 able lo see it crop u-p on such a special occasion in this year of grace, 

 thereby showing the vitality of folklore, TUe old monkish chroni- 

 cler.^ gravely asserted, as a proof of the wisdom of Providence in 

 adapting persons to their situations in life, that the Fen men were 

 created '.vitb yellow bellies aud web feet, in order that they might be 

 better fitted i'oi- their amphibious existence. Lord Macauiay, describ- 

 ing the Feumen of rhe latter part of the sixteenth century, 'says that 

 they were "a half-savago poptilation, known by the name of breed 

 lings," who '"led an amphibious life." 



THE TRAP. 



LIGHT GUNS FOR TRAP-SHOOTINC 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



At the meeting of the National Gun Association in New Orleans last 

 wunte.r the question of light guns was fully discussed, and it was 

 decided by a nia.j^'rity of (hose present that if a. man was willing to 

 use a 12-gauge of S pounds or less, against the heavy 10 bores com- 

 monly used, he should be entitled to two yards. It was then thought 

 that not many 12s of the above weight w-ould be used. It was pretty 

 well ventilated abouf a year ago Ihrongh the .s))ortsmen's papers, and 

 some Of the writers were very positive in declaring th.at the light 12 

 would have no chance on e^'ce terms w ith the heavy 10s, Some of 

 them .saying it had been trie, 1 aver arnl over again unsuccessfully. 

 The shooters in New England were nearly all of the same opinion, 

 and when I ordered my light gun they all said I w^as making a great 

 mistake and predicted that I would use it about half a day. aud then 

 go back to my 10, I think I have convinced a good msmy of them of 

 the capabilities of a light .eun, and some of our iiest shots have fol- 

 lowed my example. If. W, Eager, of the Worcester, Mass., Clul-i, was 

 a strong advocate of the b('av^' gun and published a lettei- say ing that 

 he thought a gun should -weigh about 12 pounds and have 34 or .10 

 inch barrels, as the weight of the gnu would tend fo steady the 

 shooter wdien facing the traps. Mr, I',ager now shoots a, gun of same 

 grade as mine, 12-gange, 7J.>j pounds weight, and has done much better 

 shooting than witfi the heavy one. 



Now, some of the lOboi-e men are "kicking" a..gainst the 2yds. 

 allowance. As far as I am concerned, I am willing to .stand on even 

 terms with them, excepting in special ma.tches. In such cases I 

 should stand up for tfie allowance. At nearly all the shooting 

 matches in New England all guns stand at the same distance, and it 

 is only in exceptioual instauces that the light guns ar..' allo-ved an.y 

 advantage. Now. there are a good many men -^vlio do not care to 

 own more than one gun, and such men usually prefer a No. 12, from 

 7 to 8 jiounds. A gun of this description, with riglit barrel modified 

 and left full choked, will answer for both Held and trat) work, and if 

 the owners of these guns could be encouraged to attend the tourna- 

 ments, the number of entries would be larger. As it now stands, 

 they do not care to compete upon even terras with the big guns. 

 There is no doubt in my mind but that a 12-gauge of the prescilbed 

 weight will do good work, although it requires closer holcbng, the 

 killing circle being smaller, but the tendency will be to make better 

 shots. C. M. Stark. 



DUKBARTON, N. H. 



WOODPIDE, L. I , Sept. a.— Regular monthly pigeon shoot of the 

 North Side Gun Club or Long Island. Match at 87yds. rise, Stocky 

 and Grau 34yds. : 



Winholz 1111111—7 Barlow 0011110—4 



Lyon 0110101—4 Stocky llOn 00—4 



Tapken 1011011—5 Grau.. ...OOlltOl— 4 



Manning 0111110-6 



Sweepstake matches were shot, 26yds.. 1 barrel, miss and out. 

 They were won as follows: Lyon first, Trask and Winholz divided 

 second, Bull winkle fourth, Winholz fifth. Bull winkle sisrth. 



JAM.4ICA PLAIN, Mass.— The Jamaica Plain Gun Club has elected 

 the following officers: D. A. Brown, President: S. D, Charles, Treas- 

 urer: C II. Oilley, Secretary. Match for a gold medal presented to 

 the cinb b.y II. W. Deans, 30 Peoria blacktiu-ds, 18yds., at 3 angles, 

 screened trap : 



n A Brown llOOlOlllnltmillOlOlfillOllll- 22 



S I) Charles ill 11101 OOOOOlllllOlOldOOOllOl -18 



J B McKay 110101 llOlllllllOanilllll 1111-24 



C H Cilley Oil llOOOllllllOlllC.inillllll 1-24 



Cilley 1111111— 7. McKay 1111110— 6. Ties on 24, miss and out: C. 

 H. Cilley won, McKay second, Brown thu-d.— C. 



CLEVELAND, O.— The East End Gtm Club will hold a tournament, 

 Sept. 17, open to all, for 23 prizes, ranging in value from ten to three 

 dollars each. The secretary is Mr. F. G. Hogen, care Forest City Oil 

 Company, Cleveland, O. 



Sept. 



Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sept. 

 Sep I , 

 Sept. 



FIXTURES. 



7, 9. 11— America Cup Races. 



12— Quincy Y. C, Third Championship Race. 

 1.3— Boston y. C, Fourth Club Race. 



13— Corinthian Y. C. Fall Matches. 



14— Newark Y. C, Open Regatta. 



15— N. Y. Y. 0., Bennett and Douglas Cups. 

 17— N. Y. Y. C, Brenton's Cup Race. 



19— Beverly Y. C, Nahaut. 



19— Hull Y. C, Champion Race. 



19— Pentucket Y. C Union Regatta. 



23— N. Y. Y. C, Cape May Cup Race. 



28— Pentucket Y. C. Championship Regatta. 



28— Newark Y. C, Open Sweepstakes. Newark Bay. 



30— Knickerbocker Y. C, Fall Regatta. 



YACHT RACING. 



PROBABLY no sailor, though he may love the sea, has a great re 

 gard for a ship that makes long and laboring passages between 

 port and port, and. as a matter of fact, among seamen, and British 

 seamen especially, a fast vessel under canvas has always been a 

 favorite, .but steam, more particularly since the screw i>ropel!er has 

 displaced the paddle, has compleiel.y separated fast sailing from 

 smart seamanship, and speed is gained, not so much from dexterity- 

 aloft as from hard, grimy work below in the tmpoetical stoke-hole. 

 About twenty years ago there were some fast and exciting ocean 

 races from China with the first of the season's teas, but the clays of 

 such famous clippers as the Spindrift and the Taeping were num- 

 bered with ihe opening of the Suez Canal, which required the use of 

 auxihary power between Alexandria and Aden, and this has been so 

 increased of late that steamis almost entirely relied upon throughout 

 the full voyage. Between the Clyde and the St. Lawrence till very 

 recently thea'e were keen contests between the vessels in the timber 

 trade, and it was not unusual for captains lo remain da.y and night 

 in their top-boots encouraging their crews in workin.g the ship by 

 wdtatis called "kedging," through long channels of ice, so as to nave 

 the proud honor of being first at Quebec. Steel and u-on being 

 chiefi,v used in ship-building, there is no great hunger after tixnber 

 cargoes, aud the interest in the annual satling of the fleet has been 

 allowed enterel.y to lapse. Early fruit from Spain is now also brought 

 by steamers, as is tiie first fish from the herrmg and cod fleets. The 

 old sailing spirit of our- forefathers is omy to be found on board the 

 boats of our white- winged fleet, more particularly those denominated 

 "racing yachts." 



Comparisons have frequently been made between yacht-racing and 

 modern coaching. Some people are ignorant enough to thinlc that 

 the former has been in stituterl for the purpose of keeping alive the 

 nautical tastes of our forefathers, just as the latter has been started 

 for the purpose of preserving to some extent the sensations which 

 were experienced in a drive on a maU coach. Long before the "steam 

 pot" hissed the "Tantivy team' - from off the road, yacht racing had 

 come into favor, and though the speed of the competing vessels 

 could not compare with that of the racing boats of the present time, 

 skillful seamanship was displayed, aud the enthusiasm wa? greater 

 even than ii is now. As early as tue year 1720, a club, now known as 

 the Royal Cork Yacht Club, was formed by the gentlemen who used 

 to cruise inside (.jjueenstow n Harbor; but it was not till about 1845 

 tnat some fift^' noblemen formed themselves into a club, which is now 

 identifiable as the Royal Yacht, Squadron, the most aristocrai ic yacht- 

 ing club of the world, and the only one m Great Britain the members 

 of which are entitled to fly on board their boats the white ensign of 



her Majesty's na.v.y. The early members of the squadron were those 

 who had been connected with the senior branch of the service, and 

 ready, of course, like all old naval officers, to oppose innovations. 

 Up till 1.S1.5 the (dbcers. of the navy had not added greatly to the pro- 

 gress of science, aud those of them who belonged to the newly formed 

 sailing club did not. attempt to improve upon the old-fashioned typos 

 of yachts, a.nd their bluff, cod like heads, and their lean, raackerel- 

 tail" like sterns. Fifty years ago a yacht's length was just three times 

 its brcadtli; hut about that time Wanbill, of Poole, began to lengthen 

 aud sharpeu the bow; and in the north, Fife, of Fairlie. on the Clyde, 

 father of the present noted yacht-builder, turned out a boat of 36 tons, 

 named the Wave, which was very sharp-bowed and high in the bilge, 

 the lu-eadth of wliich was iust one-tnird her length of keel. The 

 latter, afrer lieiug given a leaden keel a.nd ballast, beat older boats of 

 e.xactiy dtaihlo her size, and so the blulf bow was made more narro-\v 

 still, a'nd the mackerel hke tail lengthened out and made more full 

 and shapely. The Poole buildf r then began to seek stability, that is, 

 roughly stieaking, "•self-righting power," by depth, and boats have 

 been getting deeper and longer ever since. Leaden keels began to be 

 geueraiiy used, and the shifting of ballast was allowed; then, and 

 for many years afterward, each competing vessel having generally 

 five or six tons of shot. su(di as is used by sportsman, in bags to pile 

 up to windward as soon as the vessel changed her tack. In narrow 

 water ami a hea.dwind Ibis work was exceedingly heavy, for no sooner 

 w^n-s the last bag shifted .aver from the ee to the Weather si^le thew 

 the w^oru -'Heady about" svas given, and it was necessary to thro-w 

 the slrot back again to the side fi orn which it had just been taken. 

 Fortunately, in the true interests of the sport, the shifting of ballast 

 htts long been forbidden, .and the work of the crew is hmited to the 

 handling of the sails. 



In 18.23 the Royal Thames Yacht Club was founded for the en- 

 couragement of yacht sailing, and the formation of this club, which 

 now has the largest membership of any m the world, was followed 

 by the institution by a number of Plymouth gentlemen of tlie Royal 

 Western of England in 1827, as well as at Queeustown of the Royal 

 Western of Ireland, and about tlie same time, the Royal Northern of 

 Scotland. In 1838, the Koyal London, the second club of the 

 Thames, was established, and this was followed by the Royal St. 

 Oeorge's of Ireland, with its headquarters at Kingstown, Dublin 

 Bay, in 1842; the Royal Victoria at Ryde in 1844, and the Royal 

 Mersey at Liverpool, in the same year. Interest in the pastime by 

 the establishment ot these clubs was gradually dissemmated, and 

 the holdirig of annual regattas led to strong rivaU'y among crews 

 and bnilders, the Thames men do their best to beat those of the 

 Solent, and the Mersey men those of the Clyde or of Dublin Bay and 

 Queeustown. Stili up till 1851, beyond gradually making the bows 

 more w-edge-shaped, increasing the depth and length and narrowing 

 the beam, there was not much improvement made in yachts. In 

 1851, however, the celebrated America, schooner yacht, came over to 

 this coimtry and startled every one who took an interest in safling by 

 w inning easil,y a challenge cup which had been confldentl.y thrown 

 open to the world. Her hull was somewhat different in shape from 

 the British boats of that time, she being what is called ' stiaight 

 floored," i c without any taper in her bottom between waterline and 

 keel, while her run or aftei part was gradually extended to the stern 

 p.ost. Her bow, which was cut away sharp, was also supposed to have 

 a great, deal to tlo with her success, and this and the straight floor 

 form of her hull was actively copied. Soon, however, it was found 

 that her success la.y not in the hull at all, but in the sails which were 

 set almost as flat as cards. In the British boats they were baggy, the 

 after "leeches." or parts of the mainsaiis between the boom and the 

 point of the subtending gafl', alone being as round as -me-third ot the 

 circumference of an umbrella. So well was it set up ui the America, 

 that those on board watching vessels some distance in her wake could 

 not distinguish it tVom the mainmast. 



This improvementin sail making was the ©nljr great lesson the Amer- 

 ica's victory taught us, but yacht racing received a tremendous lift 

 from the rrieitals of her ))erformances, which were witnessed by im- 

 mense crowds, Cowes never having been so full of vi.sitors since. 

 More boats were built, more yacht clubs established, more prizes 

 sailed for, and yacht racing became a general sport all round the 

 British coast. From 1851 to 1800 numerous improvements were made 

 in yacht hulls, and exciting contests were witnessed between such 

 vessels as Mnscputo (known as Old Ironsides), the Surge, Aline, 

 Alarm. Cethona, the .Scvrige and others. In 1863 we were introduced 

 to that huge twin mainsail the spinnaker, which was first used in the 

 forty-ton cutter Niobe. This the wonder of onlookers at regattas, 

 soon superseded the square sail in running before the wind, and now 

 no yacht is without one. In 1865 Fife Iniilt the famous cutler Fiona, 

 the length of which was under five times her breadth, her draft of 

 water aft being 12ft.; and in the tvveniy years which have elapsed 

 since tber-i we have had more than half as man.y champions, no ves- 

 sel during the last eight years having beeu able to maintain her 

 supremacy for more than a single season, so strong is the compefci- 

 rion v.'hieti has set in among the naval builders aud architects. Cytera. 

 Neva, Kriemhelda, VoI-au-Tent, of cutter; Egeria, Cetonia, Panto- 

 mine. Miranda, of schooners; and Florinda. JuUenar and Latona, of 

 yawls, all liave bad their day, aud it is very questionable whether 

 they would be able to make the semblance of a contest with the 

 vessels comprising the present racing fleet. It has been the same 

 among the minor classes. The Formosa, cutter, may be said to have 

 been the last ot the old squadron, and her day came much sooner 

 than was expected. Having beaten everything, the Prince of Wales 

 purchased her from the owner. Mr. Sloane Staley, in 1879, confidently 

 expecting that she would carry all before her in 1880, but in a Clyde 

 shipbuilding yard there was lyadled on the stocks a boat which. was 

 destined to cause as great a revolution in yacht building as the 

 America schooner had caused in saU-making. Thus was the celebrated 

 Vanduara, better known perhaps as "the steel cutter," designed by 

 IVIi". G. L. Watson for Mr. John Clark, of Paisely, with the view of 

 sweeping the seas, so far as yachting was concerned. With C3 tons 

 of lead run into that part of her which corresponds to the keel of a 

 wooden boat, and a large spread of canvas, she proved very fast, 

 more especially to winward; and in the opening race on the Tnames, 

 half an hour after starting, had ranged herself on the w'eather bow 

 of the Formosa, much to the surprise of all on boasd. On the Satur- 

 day following the Prince sailed on board of his own cutter, she com- 

 pletely proved that his Royal Highness had no chance of heading 

 the list of winning yacht owners, at any rate with the Formosa. In 

 the end of the season she met a worthy opponent in the cutter 

 Samoena, also a new boat, and now both are as much outclassed ap- 

 piirently as Fiona was by Formosa. Length on the waterline with 

 enormous lead keels below, and a tremendous spread of canvas, seem 

 to be what the naval architest, ^\ho has supplanted the rule-of- 

 thumb builders of other days, aims at, and comfort is in many cases 

 sacrificed to speed. The Wendur, Marjorie aud others are luxuri- 

 ously fitted up, and can in no sense be called racing machines, which 

 are boats specially built to win prizes, their holds not being appor- 

 tioned into cabios and berths in the usual style, but for the sake of 

 trim left to remain unfurnished as sail lockers. The owner who 

 wishes to race such a boat, must, if he has not a cruising or a steam 

 yacht of his own, make his way from regatta to regatta as best he 

 can, unless content to put up with the simplest of meals, and abed 

 on the top of some damp sails. The use of steel in yachtbuilding al- 

 lows of a larger vessel, and as in composite boats, the fixing of the 

 necessaiT badast as low down as possible— a matter of importance, 

 seeing that a vessel like Wendur carries 75 tons, Irex 65 tons (origin- 

 ally 73 tons) and Marjorie 50 tons, Genesta. Galatea and others hav- 

 about the same weight of metal under them. 



Though, however, the discomforts which formerly attended racing 

 have been removed, the great increase in the initial cost and the 

 heavy expense of keeping a racing yacht in commission deters many 

 keen sailors from joinmg m the pastime. Roughly estimated, a first- 

 class racing yacht of composite construction - that Is, steel frames 

 planked with wood and sheathed with copper— classsed twenty-one 

 years at Lloyds', and -without upholstering extravagances of any 

 kind, will cost, if of 20 tons yacht measurement, about £1,800, of 40 

 tons ,£3,500, of 90 tons £7,000. The suits of canvas which would be 

 mcluded in the above, but which might have to be renewed at the 

 commencement of the season, would cost for a 20-ton boat £200, 40- 

 ton boat £450. 90-ton boat £050. Toe cost of racing, inclusive of 

 fitting out and laying up, would be for a 20-ton boat £600, a 40-ton 

 boat £1,200, and a 90-t;on boat £2,000. Men's wages would run away 

 with a large proportion, the captain being paid £160 to £200, and 

 more according to ability, while allowed from 5 to 10 per cent, on the 

 winnings, whether in cups or money. The members of the crew get 

 .263. per week, and have, during the racing days, an unlluiitf-d supply 

 of beer, £l each for winning a prize, and 10s. for every time they 

 start but lose, as a reward for their hard tvork during the contest. 

 Two caps, two Guernsey frocks, one pair yachting shoes, one pair 

 of leather "go ashores," a suit of ducks, aud sometimes a suit of oil- 

 skins, are also nice little perquisites. Possibl.y the owner of a cruising 

 yacht, which is not raced, may think these wages high, but it has to 

 be kept in mind that it is not every Siilorthat makes a first-class 

 yachtsman; one may be a splendid hand on board of a square-rigged 

 ship, and equal to every emergency that rises therein, but to win 

 yacht races he must be expert in "beading" and ''unbending," which 

 means fixing and unfixing sails to topsail yards, the stowing of jib 

 topsails, the setting ot spinnakers, aud many other things which are 

 not prarticed in the navy or the ships of our mercantile fleets. Nor 

 do ordinary fisliermen become flrsr-class yachtsmen, as the Marquis 

 of Ailsu foimd out wdieu ho first raced his famous little cutter Fos- 

 houufl, of as tons, in the 40 ton class. Witti commendable patriotism 

 his lordship had his new boat manned bv ushermen from the httle 

 fishing village of Dunure, on his own estate on the A.yrsh)rc coast of 

 the Clyde. All were hardy seamen and splendid fellows in their own 

 htble boats, but they were of no use against the experienced men of 



