76 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 18, 1886. 



CRUISE OF THE COOT. 



xm. 



FOE tbe following two days no progress could be made. The wiud 

 was light and ahead and the tides did not serve. It would have 

 been useless to beat down the narrow and winding channel of the 

 river against both, so the lime was put in tinkering on various little 

 jobs and a visit to Bordentown for papers and mail. Toward the 

 evening: of the second day it fell a ilat calm and the temperature went 

 down rapidly, so that two wicks in the stove had to be lit. A threat- 

 ened cold wave made itself felt during the night Next morning the 

 river was covered w T ith thin ice. A tow comiug up from Philadelphia 

 and the steamer Major Key bold making her landings while plying 

 her regular trips, served to keep open a channel hroad enough for the 

 Coot to escape had there been a favorable breeze. But not a breath 

 disturbed the scene all day and with misgivings I saw the sun sink in 

 a clear frosty sky, reddening the horizon with a fiery glow of great 

 intensity. The thermometer fell rapidly into the twenties and ice 

 made so fast that an attempt to reach shore in the Orange Blossom 

 for water and oil was frustrated. Although the channel was nearly 

 clear when I shoved off from the yacht, the fresh waler of the river 

 solidified with such rapidity that while looking for a suitable spot to 

 laud the skiff was surrounded by newly made ice in all directions and 

 pulling through it became a hazardous matter in the light boat. 

 Realizing the impossibility of returning to tbe yacht after further 

 delay, the expedition had to be abandoned and only after some 

 trouble breaking through the ice, was it possible to force the skiff 

 once more alongside. At the time T did not dream that a severe trial 

 was about to begin, but thought that the morrow might bring a 

 change, as it was still so early in the season. 



But the cold wave was in dead earnest and I had no warning of its 

 intensity, having been unable to get late city papers containing the 

 weather forecast. Upon the following morning, the air was frigid, 

 the thermometer showing 21°. The river was closed up entirely and 

 the Coot lay fast in tbe winter's cold and dismal embrace. This was 

 the fourth day lost and disappointment increased accordingly. In 

 the afternoon the mercury had gone down to 18. All life on the river 

 had long ago ceased. In all the glassy expanse there was but 

 one little black speck, a iorlorn looking object with a fist to port, 

 standing out against the gray background of leafless trees and bushes 

 fringing the low western shore. Tbe tides were very low, and at 

 every ebb the Coot would ta ke tbe bottom and ease over on her bilge. 

 This was not of any consequence, however, as it did not interfere 

 with life on board. The ice soon became a source of danger. As the 

 water left it there w T as violent, cracking and grinding, great cakes 

 breaking loose from the rest frozen fast to the shore, and falling 

 with a sound like thunder as the supporting water flowed away un- 

 derneath. With the return of the flood these loose cakes would come 

 sailing up the river at top speed, often five and six deep, as they were 

 piled one above the other during their travels back and forth. Locally 

 these piles are known as "shove ice" and this shove ice was the worst 

 enemy I had to encounter. It was impossible to break through these 

 small icebergs, for they rapidly massed till some of them attained a 

 thickness of four or five feet. On the ebb they were not to be dreaded, 

 for most of them stranded. 



As the water fell others were content to mass themselves about 

 the Coot's quarters, slowly prying her up by the stern as piece after 

 piece was wedged into the ever growing piles t hrough the enormous 

 pressure of great fields in the rear. This pressure was irresistible, 

 representing tons upou tons, and no vessel can withstand the nip if 

 fast and subjected to the squeeze, least of all such a mite of a thing 

 as the Coot. Fortunately for her, the weather became intensely 

 cold, 8 s above zero, and the ice thickened so fast that it was hard 

 aground around the boat for three-fourths of the time. The shore 

 ice also froze fast beyond the control of the tides wherever it hap- 

 pened to he. This brought, peace, again while the cold lasted. In the 

 meantime oil and water had given out entirely aboard the yacht. 

 While the ice drove up and down the river and that inside was too 

 much cracked to offer support, all communication with the outer 

 world was cut off. If a thaw set in, matters would remain in statu quo 

 for several days. This made my imprisonment anything but reassur- 

 ing Ice could be melted for water, but there was not a drop of oil 

 for tbe stove. One day and nightw^ere passed in misery. Cold prov- 

 ender in cold weatheV is not calculated to Keep up one's courage. 

 Add to this the absence of drink of any kind, no light for the long 

 evening and 18° in the cabin, and the measure is about full. Upon 

 awakening after the coldest night lever passed between blankets, I 

 was stiff and numb with chili and suffering for warm food and drink. 

 Everything in the cabin was frozen. The sides and top were covered 

 with frost, the interior having the semblance of a vault in the 



Something had to be done, and that quickly. Anxiously the tide 

 was watched . On the last of the ebb the ice neatly grounded. With 

 rubber boots and clad in all the clothing at command, tbe skiff was 

 launched off the after deck and headed in shore, with the two-gallon 

 oil can under tbe thwart. Cautiously at first, and then with more 

 confidence the boat was pushed out ahead and I followed with both 

 hands on the stern to distribute my weight. Some of the cakes gave 

 way at the cracks, and often I stumbled into holes as the packed ice 

 settled beneath the feat. But without serious mishap the shore was 

 reached by man and y loci. Then, almost an icicle, I trudged across 

 fields hard as rock, clambered clumsily over fences, got torn by wire 

 barbs, slipped Up on creeks and tripped up by wiry vines, until the 

 door of a little hut was approached. It was the dwelling of a ferry- 

 man, whose boats were hauled high and dry, and who himself had 

 decamped for more congenial climes long ago, leaving a huge 

 iron clasp and red lock to mock the poor wayfarer for his trouble. 

 With numb feet, very red nose and very blue in mind we tramped 

 along, the can and I, to another building, scarcely discernible through 

 a thick clump of trees. It proved to be a dilapidated shanty, property 

 of a farm hand, with little green bottle-glass panes to the tired look- 

 in^ windows, except where old paper and rags had made up for the ab- 

 sence of glass. Time had evidently been rough on the glass, for the 

 rags and paper stoppers had gained the ascendancy. The brick 

 Chimney had a strong inclination to lie down, and there was no mor- 

 tar to interfere. The front yard— a considerate ditch, prevented the 

 possibility of any yard in the rear— was a ragged, unkempt patch, 

 strewn with hones, ashes, bottles, feathers, and littered with house- 

 hold remnants in general. As I turned into this the prospects foroil 

 vanished at a bouud. Such people could not, wish to let light in upon 

 the scene any more than compelled to by the diurnal revolution of 

 mother earth. An apology for steps led up to a door, also tired look- 

 ing as it hung aw-av from the top hinge. The slattern inmate an- 

 swered my knock with two or three greasy, sickly urchins, staring 

 out of inflamed saucer eyes from the middle of the single room which 

 : all the duties of a family establishment. In a whining drawl 

 this dilapidated Venus of the heath imparted that she hadno ©il of no 

 kind. "Where was the store?" "Store 1 Well, let me see/' She 

 scratched her head. I backed off a step. "There was a store/ she 

 thought, "hadn't been there in so long couldn't say exactly where; 

 but you went up this road, and then you turned she didn't know- 

 where or how many times," etc. 



With these lucid directions and four miles to a hot stove, it looked 

 like freezing stiff, but for the welcome rays of the sun, now passing 

 its zenith. On a slow trot, more dead than alive, I wandered across 

 wide fields, through clumps of trees, from barn and outhouse to barn 

 and outhouse, which stood out like islands all round. Finally I struck 

 a well kept path and signs of civilization which led me up to a small 

 farmhouse, where the influences must have been awfully good, for 

 the dogs did not even bark. The worthy owner of the soil proceeded 

 to give voluminous directions as to the whereabouts of the store. 

 '••Stranger here? ' he asked in the middle of a sentence. Yes. Then 

 we entered a great tobacco barn from the cross spalls of which Imug 

 the material lor thousands of pure Havana cigars, "imported direct 

 by our own house." This barn was in Pennsylvania, but that circum- 

 stance could not be expected to affect the flavor of the cigars. From 

 a barrel my rustic filled my can, handing it over with the words 

 "always like to oblige a stranger." Of course, we talked tobacco, 

 nothing like "craps" with the farmers, so we parted excellent, friends. 

 Now that I had oil, the weather, of course, relented. That same 

 evening there was a sudden change, the wind jumping round to the 

 southeast, and the trouble began. As the ice broke up, each tide 

 swept a constantly increasing mass of rubbish up and down stream. 

 The thaw was only partial and the drift ice retained its hardness and 

 sharp edges. For two days it came down upon the Coot, four times 

 a day, striking hard at the bow. The big floes twisted round and 

 seemed to be sucked right back to tbe boat, ramming her a second 

 time amidships and then scraping along the sides with such pressure 

 that the Coot rose bodily out of water. One floe, held momentarily 

 iu check by the boat or her cables, would cause the following cakes 1 o 

 rile above find beneath, the tide carrying those below swiftly on, till 

 they punched and scratched and cut the boat in a terrible way. With 

 oar and boathook I was posted on the bow forward of the mast and 

 sought to part, break or drown the ice as best I could. 



In such a. contest one man's labor went for just naught, and after 

 spending a sleepless uigot fighting the relentless foe, exhausted and 

 disgusted, I gave up to conditions beyond control. Twenty-five 

 fathoms of cable were veered to each auohor in four feet of water and 

 good holding ground. Yet the Coot was carried half a mile up and 

 half a mile down stream at each tide, the strain on the cables being 

 something enormous. To pass forty-eight hours in momentary ex- 

 pectation of finding the boat cut through and sinking, was au agony 

 of mind intensely aggravated by the knowledge of being powerless 

 to interfere. Canal boats moored to wharves had been cut through 

 and sunk in my sight, then how could the Coot outlive the infliction f 

 She did: but how she did on this and another occasion is a mystery 

 to this day. Perhaps the shape of her body was a protection against 



a regular squeeze. She was terribly punished, and in some places 

 the plank was almost chafed through from the constant rubbing of 

 the flinty ice .driving by packed several feet deep. Not a vestige of 

 paint was left on the boat's bottom. About the. loadline she suffered 

 most. In spots she was punched nearly through the plank. A six- 

 inch band of splinters decorated the entrance from the stem to the 

 greatest beam like a bristling beard. My own position was critical. 

 The water was icy. Escape would have been impossible bv the skiff 

 or by swimming, and no one on shore could have rendered practical 

 assistance in time. Looking back upon the scene it has lost some of 

 its terrors, though I remember very clearly that at the time the 

 chances for boat and man were so hopeless that I thought nothing 

 short of a miracle could preserve either one or the other. Sleep in 

 the cabin was impossible. The ice sweeping round the bottom made 

 a roar below which was disagreeably suggestive, and every blow the 

 yacht received was like a stall to oneself 



Tbe safest plan when caught in drift ice is to lift or cut the anchors 

 and drive about in the floe. It secures immunity from being cut. 

 But such a proceeding could not be entertained in a narrow' river full 

 of bars and projecting points. The boat would have been stranded 

 upon one of these, and tho "shove ice" would have become a source 

 of even greater danger, as any one who has seen au ice gorge 

 can well understand. The Coot would have been beached, but tbe 

 ice, which clung to the shore like a fringe and upon which the pack 

 had been heaped, left no loophole for escape. So there was nothing 

 for her to do but to ride it out and abide by the consequences. When 

 finally the river partially cleared, the yacht was at once got out into 

 open water. Thus the third day after the break up was passed. The 

 worst night of all was the last. The increasing warmth had thawed 

 the ice loose in the Upper Delaware aud all this came down stream in 

 a ceaseless procession. It was eight inches thick and very hard. The 

 Coot suffered afresh, and it looked as though this must prove the 

 last straw on the camel's back. Luckily a huge cake of an acre or 

 more fouled the cables, and, owing to its shape and a ridge of fast- 

 frozen shove ice along the upper edge, served for along time as a 

 fend off to the other ice descending. The rest of the drive was parted 

 by this cake, and most of it eped harmlessly by, several feet clear of 

 the Coot's side. This good fortune probably saved the yacht from 

 destruction. 



Seven days had been lost. The eighth brought no wind, but toler- 

 ably clear water and the ebb at early dawn. A chance to escape 

 down river was at hand at last. Before the lights on shore had 

 flickered their last, sail was made on the boat and her anchors got 

 after much hard pulling and breaking. As the blackness of night 

 faded into gray, the ebb floated the Coot dowm river for a short dis- 

 tance before the dawn sufficiently revealed a heavy bank of fog 

 rapidly advancing from the southeast. The air suddenly grew damp 

 and chilly. In ten minutes more all the country round about had 

 melted from sight. Everything was shrouded in an impenetrable 

 gloom. The fog lay heavy upon the river. As tbe navigation around 

 and below Newbolt's Island is not easy, even to one familiar with the 

 river, it would have been unwise to drift on more or less helplessly 

 through the fog, with the chance of colliding with the tows and 

 steamers about due. So with the long sweep" the Coot was sculled 

 close to the island and anchored. Another disappointment, but not 

 the last yet. In an hour the fog lifted, a strong wind from the north- 

 west sending it flying out to sea, whence it originally came. The sun 

 shone out brightly and added his smiling beams to the scene now so 

 propitious for progress down the river. The anchor was quickly got 

 aboard and the boat payel round to the new wind. 



There was still plenty of ice knocking about the river. With the 

 ebb more had come down and the old enemy began to show his head 

 once more. For a while everything went well. Then sailing into a 

 passage between two large floes, the yacht had to be headea across 

 channel to get through. When ready to come round again, there was 

 a slight shock f eh through the tiller in my hand. It required only a 

 glance astern to see that the rudder had unshipped, most likely by 

 striking some sunken ice. It could not be turned either way. With 

 a bound I was on the counter and sought to ship the pintle in its 

 proper place, but without success. Then into the cockpit again, ease 

 away sheet, spring forward to the halliards and lower away all, 

 only to seethe Coot gently slide her. nose high upon the mud and re- 

 maiu in spite of all efforts to drag her free. A fine day and a fine 

 breeze lost through an accident w-hieh ought never to have happened 

 with a little more foresight from those who were responsible for the 

 Coot as I fouud her. It was difficult to keep an even temper chafing 

 at such needless delay, heaped upon the days already lost, while the 

 season was advancing and the risk of being frozen up for the winter 

 increasing. C. P. K. 



THE CRUISE OF THE PILGRIM. -VIII. 



BY PR. W. H. WINSLOW. 



IT was blowing a gale from the north when we turned out and was 

 clear and very cold. Wejclose reefed the mainsail and jib after 

 breakfast, and got underway without trying to land, as there was 

 quite a heavy sea running. It did not "take long to get out of the 

 pretty harbor, to cross Broad Sound, pass the buoys off Stave and 

 Sand islands and to recognize Hope Island east of us, where my chart- 

 left a gap. I Uad made a rough sketch of islands, ledges, buoys, and 

 compasf. course from Hope Island to Hog Island from the printed 

 sailing directions, which I intended to follow aud trust to luck to get 

 to Portland. Luck favored us. Off Sand Island a smart fishing 

 sloop with all sail set passed us bound in. We shook out our reefs 

 and chased her, and she led us through the intricate winding by Great 

 Chebeag, Cow Island, etc., all the way into Portland, where we 

 anchored in our old place about 1 o'clock P. M. The afternoon was 

 spent ashore and we went to bed early to be ready for an early start 

 in the morning. 



It was very provoking to find that tbe wind was very light from 

 the southwest when we awoke, but we made sail, towed around the 

 point and got fairly outside by 8 o'clock. The sea was comfortable 

 and the wind variable all the morning. I enjoyed a survey of the 

 shores which had been passed on our outward voyage in storm and 

 darkness. Peak's and Bang's islands and the shores of the mainland 

 were covered with prety cottages, villas and hotels, for the most 

 part, deserted by their summer occupants. 1 counted twenty houses 

 along the rough rocky bluffs between Portland Head and Cape 

 Elizabeth. We passed through quite a fleet of dories, each contain- 

 ing one or two weather heaten fishermen, dressed in oil-skins, and 

 busy with their lines. We ran close enough to talk to them and they 

 said the fish were not biting much. From what I saw, I concluded I 

 would sooner pound cobble-stones, than pull and sail a dory away out 

 there in all weathers and seas, though a dory is said to be a fine sea- 

 boat. 



We had light and fitful breezes all day and had the spinnaker set 

 most of the time. While we went loafing along rather close in, we 

 had an excellent opportunity of studying the shore and the distinctive 

 land marks at the entrances of harbors, so that I made up my miud 

 I would not be afraid to run into Richmond Island, Wood's Island or 

 Cape Porpoise, if there should ever be any necessity for it, When 

 darkness fell, the red light of Cape Neddick was upon the starboard 

 beam and Boon Island upon the port, and we gave up all hope of 

 spending the night at Portsmouth. The compass and small lantern 

 were brought upon deck, and a eourse laid out that would take us 

 outside the Sisters and inside York Ledge and the Triangles. This 

 was southwest by south. We were off Portsmouth at 11 o'clock, and 

 decided it would be a waste of valuable time to run in for the night. 

 The wind had hauled around northeast and freshened and we were 

 just flying to the southward. The course was change;! to S. S. W. 

 till we bad passed Isles of Shoals light, then we hauled to south by 

 east for Thatcher's Island. 



For two hours I kept the helm and enjoyed the sport. The yacht 

 had the wind free and it was just, as much as she could stagger under; 

 tbe sky was overcast and the northeast full of black ragged scud; 

 the sea. was making fast; the cutter jumped, rolled and sent long 

 wings of phosphorescent foam to leeward. We rejoiced at the favor- 

 ing wind, thought it a little rude, took in tbe gaff topsail, and looked 

 at the ligbt upon the lee bow in hopes of soon rounding it and head- 

 ing for Boston. We would see occasionally a lead colored sail, a 

 reckless schooner carrying no lights, would come between us and 

 the near horizon and then disappear. We showed our light many 

 limes hastily to prevent them running us down. There ought to be 

 a more stringent, Jaw against such disregard of safety upon the high 

 seas. We talked of the pleasure of night sailing, and Williams said 

 he would like to have some of the carpers at cutters out there to 

 show them what: real yachting was. We knew we had passed to 

 windward of the Salvage's, but the two lights upon Thatcher's Island 

 were so bright and apparently so near, we feared the Londoner. It 

 is so difficult at night either by view of land or light to determine 

 one's distance from the shore. It seemed as if we were half a mile 

 away, when we were really five miles, as we found later to our 



It was now heavy weather for a little craft. The sea was so heavy 

 off the cape that we did not dare to stop and reef, but the whole 

 mafesail -was too much for her; she rolled and plunged and jumped 

 about rapidly, turning everything below topsy-turvey and making us 

 hold on for our lives, but she did not ship more than two or three 

 buckets of water at a time the whole night. We rouuded the Lon- 

 doner at last— five miles off shore— and then appreciated the tremen- 

 dous sea and violence of the gale. We had considered the blow a 

 joke and rather enjoyed it at first. Now it dawned upon us that we 

 were in a bad scrape and in imminent danger. 



We could carry the mainsail no longer, and the jib threatened 

 every moment to go out of the boltropes. We lowered the mainsail 

 and passed a gasket around it, came to on the starboard tack, payed 

 off the jib sheet and headed to go up under the land to lessen the 



wind and the seas that threatened to engulf us. They came upon 

 the starboard quarter, lifted the cutter high up, rolled 'her down un- 

 til the port rail was buried a foot, went under her and she would 

 right and roll to windward, only to go through the same movement 

 again. But scudding under the jib kept the craft ahead of the 

 combers and not a sea boarded us, though a little water would slop 

 up over the quarter, and our little tender would occassionally bang 

 up against the stern or shoot the length of her painter as far as tbe 

 waist. 



Mack was shrouded in an enormous pilot coat and held on to the 

 cockpit seat and tiller, keeping a sharp lookout upon the seas, the 

 lib and the distant lights. Williams stood in the gangway devoting 

 his whole attention to the vessels that were all around us, and show- 

 ing our lights occasionally when it seemed as if some craft with a 

 red and a green eye was sweeping right down upon us. Dozens of 

 fishing vessels were scudding for port to get in out of the gale, and 

 we were certainly in great danger of being run down several times 

 during that dreadful night, I was below watching the chart, the 

 compass and the lanterns, and occasionally passing up the large 

 lanterns to show to some vessel that seemed bearing Down upon us. 

 There was nothing for me to do upon deck, and my functions were 

 as important as any. However, T was head and shoulders up fine 

 gangway a great many rimes looking after things and estimating the 

 danger of collisions. Once a schooner swept clown upon us, per- 

 haps not seeing our light, and we thought of jumping for her rig- 

 ging if she struck us, as we knew our little iron -loaded craft would 

 be crushed like an egg-shell and go to th« bottom instanter. We held 

 our breath for a moment, as the great black body and jibboom hung 

 over us, but a little sheer, probably a, turn of one spoke in his wheel, 

 sent her across our stern and flashed the great red light in our faces. 

 We braced up with a good drink of whisky after that. Mack and 

 Williams seemed very comfortable, hut I confess that the long (lav's 

 work, the excitement and the cold and wet, acting upon a less hard- 

 ened constitution, had exhausted me, and during a lull I threw my- 

 self face downward upon the pile of clothing aud cushions to lee- 

 ward and slept with one eye open about ten minutes. I was 

 awakened by Williams asking down the gangway, 'Ts the light 

 upon Eastern Point red and fixed?" 



I was up in a moment and by reference to the Coast Pilot, 

 answered in the affirmative. There it was bright and cheerful, bear- 

 ing north, aud we had scudded under the jib and been swept bv the 

 sea all the way from Thatcher's. The gray daylight was faintly il- 

 luminating the land, the sea was a little diminished, aud the Bangor 

 steamer was just coming in from the eastward. It had been a, terri- 

 ble night for a little craft and we felt proud of ber. She had brought 

 us safely through a heavy gale aud fully demonstrated the merit of 

 cutters. All agreed that 'a light draft, pumpkin seed sloop under the 

 same circumstances would have foundered. 



The mainsail was close reefed and hoisted, we kept off for Baker's 

 Island lights, ran rapidly along shore past the Miseries and anchored 

 at 6 o'clock safe in Salem harbor, alongside of a large cutter that 

 had arrived the day before from Porlland. 



We started under close reefs again atcer breakfast, passed Marble- 

 head rock, and were soon riding upon the long, heavy seas towarrl 

 Boston. The seas rolled after us rapidly and the cutter plunged 

 down one slope and up another just fast enough to keep t he combers 

 from catching her, but we closed up t he gangway for precaution and 

 kept a firm grip upon the cockpit seat. It was a lively run in, and 

 we were, the only little craft outside. Off Deer Island a handsome 

 schooner yacht swept into the channel, but when she met the heavy 

 sea rolling inward, she turned back to the anchorage. When we had 

 reached Long Island, we shook out the reefs, cleared up the deck, 

 hoisted the ensign, the club and private signals, aud headed for City 

 Point. There were hundreds of yachts anchored off the club bouses, 

 but the shore seemed deserted. All the merry makers, the yachts- 

 men, tbe bands and the scenes of warm weather had vanished by 

 the mandates of King Frost. I thought we would have an ovation 

 of welcome, as we threaded our way along shore, but it was not till 

 we came abreast of Mr. Williams's yard that a little group of our 

 friends swung then- bats and cheered us. Then we jibed over, sailed 

 gracefully out to deep water, hauled down the jib and finished our 

 long adventurous cruise by letting go the heavy anchor. 



The daily papers reported that a heavy gale prevailed off the coast 

 and that the harbors of Provincetown, Gloucester and Salem were 

 filled with vessels that had been obliged to seek shelter. This was the 

 same night Che Genesta sailed from New York and caught the full 

 force of the blow— the memorable 9th of October. 



The little Pilgrim rests upon her cradle in Williams' yard at South 

 Boston, waiting for another yachting season, looking as innocent 

 and pretty as a new baby, and she and her doings are the topics of 

 conversation among the' boys very often this bleak and wintry 

 weather. 



BOSTON TO FALL RIVER, SAILING DIRECTIONS, 



Editor Forest arid Stream: 



"W." can get the most correct information by obtaining the coast 

 survey charts of the route mentioned, together with tho "Coast 

 Pilot," by Geo. W. Eldridge, and the tide tables, also by him. They 

 are to be found at Negus's navigation depot. New York. 



One should not attempt to go through Wood's Holl without some 

 one who knows the way, as the current is very rapid, except at slack 

 tide, and the channel narrow, ne should stop at a little harbor just 

 to the westward of the light, if he wishes to go through that way. 

 But if he should continue on up the Sound to the westward some eight 

 miles, he then could enter Buzzard's Bay by way of Quick's Hod, 

 which is a passageway for the largest vessels. All the other parts 

 of the route are perfectly feasible, if he studies the charts, the (Joust, 

 Pilot and tide tables, and is, as a matter of course, a good boatmau. 



Anv other information that I can give him, or questions he may 

 wish'to asic, will command my attention. John Holmes. 



Vineyard Haven, Mass, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I made the passage from Boston to Fall "River two years ago, start- 

 ing from Boston on the 10th of April in a keel sloop 24tt. long, draft 

 4ft. 9in. I do not think the extra 3in. would bother you. 



We started on a pleasant day and got as far as Boston Light with a 

 southeaster blowing aud rain falling. Decided to put into Hull. 

 Started from there at 12 A, M., good moon, ran out to Boston Light 

 and then laid our course for Provincetown. 



Started from thereat 8:30 P. M., worked off Race Point about a 

 mile, and from there to Monomoy Point I do not think we varied one- 

 half mile from shore. There are no rocks. When we were off Chat- 

 ham Lights we struck some pretty rough waiter on account of its be- 

 ing shoal, I suppose, but we had plenty of water. The inside passage 

 between the point (Monomoy) and the shoal looks pretty small on the 

 chart, but there is plenty of water and room, and by going through 

 that way I should think it saved very nearly twenty miles. After 

 getting through the passage we laid a straight course for the next 

 'lightship and so on clear through the Sound. If bound tor the bend 

 of Buzzard's Bay, I should not advise any one who is not acquainted 

 to try to go through Wood's Holl, for it is a very bad place to get 

 through for a stranger even with a fair wind aud tide, but keep on up 

 the Sound and go through Quick's Holl, which is a good wide passage 

 with only three rocks In it which are well marked. 



If you are going to New Bedford or Newport it is not very much 

 further and a great deal safer. 



I should not advise anybody to do what I did in the month of April, 

 though, aud if 1 had not had a keel boat with a big iron shoe on her, 

 1 should not be writing this letter now. The one thing that made me 

 tremble was that there is not a harbor after you leave Provincetown 

 until you reach Chatham on the inside of the cape, and it is about as 

 bad to try to get there as it is to run to Vineyard Haven. H. B. C. 



Taunton, Mass. 



SOME HINTS ON TOWPATH SEAMANSHIP. 



Editor Forent and Stream: 



Mr. Kunhardt's mishaps in the Raritan Canal lead me to give a few 

 points on canal work which I believe will be useful to other yachts- 

 men who may venture upon these troublesome waters. The mode 

 and place of attaching the tow line is of the greatest importance, for 

 upon this the safety of the. yacht mainly depends. If, as is usual, the 

 line is made fast to the bits, it will be founa that the vessel's head is 

 constantly drawn toward the bank, and also, the power beiug applied 

 so near the bow. that the influence of the rudder is seriously inter- 

 fered with. Another objection to securing the line in this position is 

 that it cannot be cast off quickly in case of danger, and especially in 

 a single-hand craft like the Coot, where it is out of the skipper's con- 

 trol, as was finely illustrated by Mr. Kunhardt's experience. 



A plan which I have seen used obviates these difficulties, and is 

 well worth the attention of all canaling yachtsmen. Enough line is 

 paid out to the driver to allow the craft to be veere i freely hi the 

 canal, and the Inboard part is passed aft, inside of the rigging, and 

 made fast within easy reach of the helmsman, a few fathoms surplus 

 being retained for emergencies. The throat halliards are then uu- 

 hooked from the gaff, and a loose strap is put around the mast and 

 made fast to the lower block of the halliards; the block is now hooked 

 on to the bight of the tow line, and it is hoisted up clear of the deck. 

 Tbe advantages of this arrangement are: 1st, tbe side pull, or turning 

 force of the line acts at the mast, much nearer the cent er of lateral 

 resistance than the bitts, and the power of the helm is consequently 

 much more effective and quicker of action, 2d, the line can he cast 

 off instantly by the helmsman in cases of necessity, and sliding 

 through the hook of the halliard hiock, leaves the yacht entirely free, 

 if tbe shore end of the ltte'iS cast off it sinks under the hows and 



