196 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 30, 1886. 



^ LIGHTS ON YACHTS.-YachtanvMi will he interested in the 

 following reply of Acting Secrctarr O. S. Ji^airclLild to a commnni- 

 cation from Cliicago inquirina- \v hetUcr the penalty of S2(K) pre- 

 scribed by section ■iliSi, Revised Statutes, can be enforced against 

 sailboats and other vessels of less Irjrden than five tons for failing 

 to carry the lights required by section i^m, Revised Statutes. Mr. 

 Fairchild says that by section 3, Re ised Statutes, everv species of 

 craft capable of being used for transportation on water is ;i "ves- 

 sel," and the penalty specified in section 4;a4, Revised Statutes, 

 applies to all sail vessels. It would seem, therefore, that sail boats 

 are bound to carry the lights mentioned in section 43S3, Rc-\dsed 

 Statutes. In support of this construction of the statute, it may be 

 remarked that section 16 of the act of June 19, 18S6, which abolishes 

 certain fees for official services, etc. (see circular of .Tune 21. 188(3), 

 exempts even row boats on the river St. Lawrence from observing 

 rule 12 of section 423.3, Revised Statutes, the implicaiion being that 

 sail boats even there, as well as elsewhere, must conform to the 

 reciuirements of that section. 



COMING MATCHES.— The racing this year continues later than 

 usual, and several matches yet remain to bo sailed besides 

 the one at Marblehead. Another important match has been 

 made between Messrs. MetcaK & Owens, of the new schooner 

 Sachem, and Mr. G. W. B. Hill, of the ]\Iiranda, to be sailed to-dav 

 off Newport. The course is 30 miles to Aviridward or leeward, \\-itli a 

 limit of 8 hours, under the N. y. Y. C. rules. The race will be n 

 sweepstakes and probably some other schooners will enter. At 

 Larchmont. on Saturday, two matches ^vill lue sailed, one between 

 Clara and ( 'iiiderella, and one between the slooi:i Santa Poguo and 

 tlie cutters Mona and Surf, and the rivalry between all the boats 

 will tend to make a most exciting contest. On Fridav, another 

 match will be sailed near Lftrdimout, the course heiiig 10 miles to 

 -windward or leeward from Sands Point, between thejiband main- 

 sail boats Lorna and Nahli. The stakes are §300 per side. 



A NEW AND IMPROVED ANCHOR.-Mr. Titos. Caplin was 

 intown on Monda:^ with models of his new anchor whicdi found 

 much acceptance among those who saw them. U is made of a 

 continuous bar of iron and is self-adjusting. There arc two mov- 

 able flukes which have great holding power. In hattliug up there 

 is no danger of the flukes coming in contact with the vessel , as 

 being movable they swing outward. They require no management 

 before dropping, are readily sto^^•ed away, and it is impossible for 

 a craft to sweep this anchor, as there is nothing that the mooring 

 or cables can hitch to. They have been used in the Provinces 

 among the fishermen with great success, and their merits over 

 all other anchors can be seen upon looking at tlie models. It is 

 probable that some parlies in this city will manufacture and in- 

 troduce them among our fishing fleet.— Cf /j'fi Ann Advertiser. 



BEVERLY Y. C. OPEN PIEGATT A PROTESTS.— The prote.sts 

 in the Beverly Y. 0. regatta, Sept. 4, at Ma i blebead, have been de- 

 cided as follows: First class centerhoards— Maggie vs. Violet, for 

 cutting off parr of course; protest allowed and tliird pri/,e awarded 

 to Maggie. Second class keels— lone vs. Lizzie F. Daly, protest 

 not allowed; prizes awarded as originally published. Third class 

 centerboards— Seabird vs. iJora; and fourth class keels. Vera vs. 

 Carmita and Vesper, both protests withdrawn; prizes awarded as 

 originally published. The fifth prize in class 4, centerboards, w'as 

 taken by \ era and not by Hard Times, as at first printed. 



THE BOSTON SCHOOLS OF DESIGNING.-The two schools 

 of yacht designing in Boston will open very shortly with a full 

 roll of students. Mr. J. L. Frisbee will have charge of the one in 

 the old City Hall, Charlestown. The Hawes Fund school will be 

 held in the Lincoln school building in South Boston. This is a 

 great country, with many thousand miles of sea coast and water 

 courses, but we believe that these two small schools in Boston oflfcr 

 the only instruction that can be had in naTal architecture and 

 designing. 



SANDY BAY Y. C— The third race for the championship pennant 

 of the Sandy Bay Y. C. was sailed for on Sept. 3.5, the entries 

 being Silver Cloud, Petrel, and Louette. SHlver Cloud had sailed 

 from Gloucester before the race and was in such bad ti im tha t she 

 withdrew after starting. Louette split her stemhead and damaged 

 her bowsprit gear, so she also withdre\v. Petrel's time was oh. 

 "m. A pennant race for second class will be sailed to-day. 



THE AJSIERICAN Y. C. CLAMBAKE.-On Saturday a party 

 of 60 gentlemen left New York on board the steam yachts Tillie, 

 Lagonda, Viola, Nooya and Sphinx, and steamed to IMilton Har- 

 bor. Here they landed and were received by Mr, W. E, Connor, 

 at whose invitation they partook of a clambake prepared in the 

 pavilion. The party retui-ned to the city in the evening. 



DORCHESTER Y. C.-On Sept. 23 the 9Gth regatta of the Dor- 

 chester Y. C. was saUed off the club house, resulting in a drifting 

 match. Scamp, Frank Grav, won in fourth class, and Nora, I. B. 

 Dennie, in fifth. The judges v%-ere Louis M. Clark, H. S. Carruth, 

 Erastus Willard, A. J. Clark and Hertford Davenport. 



THE NEWPORT RACE.— The latest decision of the regatta 

 committee is that as Cinderella had no club member on hoard she 

 was ruled out, and Clara takes the prize in third class. The cups 

 awarded are as follows: For schooners, 8^00; for first class sloops, 

 S500; second class sloops, $350; third class sloops, $32.1. 



HURON.— The keel sloop Huron, belonging to the estate of the 

 late Wm. Gray, Jr., has been sold to Messrs. H. K. Bloodgood and 

 Edward Kelly, of New York. She -will lay up at once at the latter 

 port. 



CORINTHIAN Y. C— The last race of 1886 was sailed on Sept.;i5, 

 a sail off for the third class pennant between Vera and Peri, Tartar 

 not starting. Vera led by so much when half over the coui-se that 

 Peri withdrew. Mr. E. H. Tarbell was judge and timekeeper. 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Forest and 

 Stream their addresses, with name, membership, signal, etc., of 

 their clubs, and also notices in advance of meetings and races, and 

 report of the same. Canoeists and aU interested in canoeing are 

 requested to forward to Forest and Stream their addresses, with 

 logs of cruises, maps, and information concerning their local 

 waters, drawings or descrip tions of boats and fittings, and all items 

 relating to the sport. 



FIXTURES. 



October.' 



Q o J Hartford and Springfield I Fall Meet, 

 I New England Div. A. C. A. f Calla Shasta. 



A DAY'S CANOE CRUISE. 



XT was early May and the first warm breezes had called forth the 

 sweet violet and gay buttercup, and we were to take the long 

 talked of trip from NoblesviUe by river. Several ol the boys had 

 promised to accompany us, but had backed out at the last moment, 

 saying the trip was too long for one day. , , . 



La Belle and Nellie were packed Friday night and shipped 

 Saturdav by the 2 P. M. tivun to NoblesviUe, we following at 7. 



At a few minutes past 8 we were set down at our destination and 

 began searching for our canoes. After much worry we found an 

 official, who led us to a great barn-like depot, where we saw the 

 beauties in most excellent shape, being set on an even keel, witli 

 carpet around to keep them from getting scratched. Hunting 

 among the crowd that was standing about, Nellie's skipper i "und 

 a strong bov who Avas willing to help pack the canoe down to the 

 river whicli, until that time, we liad supposed to be about a liJock 

 from the railroad. But now we found it was at least hah! a jnilc 

 and no wagon to be found. So sliouldering our load we started ofl . 

 After a weury trip up one street, down another and across a com- 

 mon, I at last brought up at the landing. Here 1 found a spring 

 clear and cold, which, overflowing its rocky basiu, sought refuge 

 in the river below with a musical, silvery tiniUe. La Belle was 

 nowhere to be seen. , ^ 



The young moon had about set and threw a light o\'er toe world 

 that made evervthing look weird and mid. Wliile studying the 

 landscape I heard from up stream a cry from the missing lioat, 

 and it was not long before she came alongside and explained her 

 delay. The negro who assisted in carrying her aowu was drunk 

 as a fool, as La Belle expressed it, and it was Avitli great diflKmlty 

 that he was kept from spilling the eauoe and contents into tlie 

 street. The boat was safely hi nded u])on tlie rj \-(:-r lia n l< , liow e ver; 

 the darkv was paid, and her skipper tried to hamel i lier. lie lound 

 the place" to be a ford, and ifc was necessary to w:ide out souie dis- 

 tance before enough water could bo foutul to float her. 1 Ins was 

 done without accident, but with a pair of wet feet. It Avas our 

 intention to drop some distance below town to make camp, but 

 we were scared off by the description of a bridge a. short distance 

 down, and contented ourselves with simply croHsmg the river and 

 camping just opposite to an old pork house. Ihe night was 



threatening, and as we were tired no fire was lit, but we ttimed in 



at oncfj, and after a pipe we slept soundly. 



Earl? mcrniug found us astir, and such a morning. The -wind 

 was cold and damp, the sky overcast, and we kncsv we were going 

 to lie caught in a atorni. After a liasty breakfast we launched our 

 canoes and started. Almost iiuinediately hehjw our caiup was the 

 bridge the boy bad described, and we were glad we had not 

 attempted to get through at night. The piles were dri\^en close 

 together and it was with great difficulty that we got through even 

 then. The bridge was washed entirely away by a flood two weeks 

 later. Soon we came to the island where wc had intended to camp, 

 and a good iilace it was, but the channel to it was barred bv a shal- 

 low ripple that we would never have been able to get through in 

 the tmcertain light of the moon. We liad estimated that the trip 

 was fifty miles, and with a s-tart at 5 o'clock we thought bv hard 

 paddling to reach the boat house by 6 o'clock in the evening. But 

 the wind was dead up stream. ITo matter which yvay the river 

 turned the wind was always ahead. The scenery was becoming 

 beautiful— almost grand. High banks upon one side. co\-ered to 

 the water's edge with a heavy growth of timber. :■- u-' r-i 1 liottom 

 lands stretching far away on the other. Here ib • n-nedto 

 the cast, and reaching the railroad doubled o. - . ! )<is we 

 knew was the "Horse Shoe Bend." Just below this wc I'diiie to our 

 tirst rapid. The river ran between high precipitous banks, which 

 confine its waters to a narrow channel, and through which they 

 run like a mill race. Great rocks raised their heads auaiust the 

 mighty current, and their resistance threw the w.atcr in a boiling, 

 foaming mass. Here and there the presence of rocks below the 

 siirtace was marked by peculiar semi-whirlpools. 



The water was rolling and breaking in great billowy waves, re- 

 minding us of the surf of the ocean. As we neared the rapids, we 

 braced ourselves, grasped the paddles ^^ ith a firmer grip and were 

 ready for the fray. Nellie was first, and reaching the crest, she 

 darted into the roaring current like an arrow shot by powerful 

 firms. The water boiled and thundered about her bows and the 

 decks were eomplctcly deluged. Here we rushed past a gi'cat 

 boulder; there we just grazed a sunken rock that we had ftiiled to 

 notice until almost upon it; now we dash between two large rocks 

 and just ahead is another, standing like a demon to give us a 

 crushing blow. But we ai'e not going to be "blowed," and with a 

 powerful stroke we turn the little craft (so susceptible to the 

 springy spruce \vhen properly handled) a point to the right and 

 sweep by it like lightning. Every sense was on the alert, "the 

 blood tingled in our veins, our eyes gleamed witli excitement, our 

 muscles were tempered like steel, from the use of the paddle" in 

 avoiding the dangers that beset us. The rapid was a full quarter 

 mile long and during the passage we hardly drew a breath. When 

 in the quiet pool below we turned to look back, we wished it was 

 to do over again. But time was short and wc reluctantly started 

 on. 



We ran several other rapids, but none to equal this. Thus far 

 we had not seen a single habitation of man, but now we came to 

 one perched upon 1 he lull, and we tried to imagine itwas a frontier 

 fort. We were the "dusky savages" stealing past in the quiet 

 Sabbath morn to make way Avith the canoe — ^their only means of 

 communication with the outer world. 



The clouds wore now piling up in the west in a most ominous 

 manner— great banks tliat assumed odd shapes and weird forms. 

 Sometimes tlie pure white and the black would arrange them- 

 selves in alternate stripes, and again taking the form ol' a ast 

 mountains, with great yawning cliasms that seemed to open to 

 receive and gulp you down. We kncAv the storm was not far off, 

 so r;in into the bank under shelter of some l)ushes, put on our rub- 

 ber coats, tucked the rubber blanket close around us, and were 

 soon snug as possible. And none too soon either, for hardly had 

 we left our shelter when it began to rain, or rather pour. The 

 hai-der it rained the more we enjoyed it, and our merry shout and 

 laughter caused many a frightened bird to leave its shelter swid 

 seek refuge fm-ther from the bank. Of course we had not forgot- 

 ten our pipes, and now aad then the two canoes would come along- 

 side and for some minutes the heads of the skippers would come 

 close together, when suddenly through the rain-soaked air would 

 come a •'erack'" and a bhize, and then the pipes could be seen 

 smoking like ». T.vississippi River steamboat. 



On rounding a bend skipper Belle cried, ''There's AllisonviUe." 

 The other did not believe we were so far down but the skipper was 



Eositive. "Of couse it's Allison villc, don't you think I've Ijeen 

 ere enough to know it when I see ity Behns' is a bridge and below 

 that is a broad ripple. You'll see." And he was right. Here we 

 were at the first island in the lijiple, only 15 miles from home and 

 the hands of the watch only pointed to nine. This was such a. 

 surprise that we had to stop and celebrate it by another smoke. 

 The rain still came down in fitful showers and it was necessary to 

 seek the protection of the pavillion at the picnic grounds, 3 miles 

 below, in order to oat our diuner. "We're poAverful hungry,"' as 



the skipper remarked, and so ate at tliat early hour. D tried 



to make some cotEee over a boat's lantern but failed entirely. We 

 finished the cold lunch 'mid many a jest, and the sun having come 

 a little from behind the clouds, we again embarked, making the 

 portage round the locks, we were once more upon the placid 

 bosoid of the raging canal. 



The sun had now come out in earnest, and in the way of heat 

 tried his best to make up for time lost in the morning. The A\ind 

 was blowing a small gale dead against us— always against us. We 

 seemed doomed to face that wind as the Ancient Mariner was the 

 Albatros. Upon nearing the boat house we met one of the boys 

 who had backed out because he thought \xq could not make the trip 

 in a day. Our smiling faces tantalized him and he endeavored to 

 kick himself, but on account of the limited space in the canoe he 

 did not succeed. However, a few minutes later he capsized while 

 sailing and thus did he meet his just dues. We reached the boat 

 house at 3 o'clock, having made the trip in ton houj-s— nniekest 

 time on record. Unpacking our canoes, we assumed ihc garb of 

 civiliz.ation and were ready for the street. Anybody seeing us ten 

 minutes later would never lia\ c supposed that we had just com- 

 pleted a trip from NoblesTiUe in a canoe. C. A. NoE. 



THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITlJf IOTM. 



To the Members of the American Came Association: 



The follomng changes and amendments to the constitution and 

 by-laws of the A. C. A. were adopted at the last meeting of the 

 Executive Committee, held at Grindstone Island during the an- 

 nual encampment, August, 18S(i: 



( !ommencing with Article 5 ot the constitution, par. 3 now reads; 

 TiieVicc and Rear-(,'omniodores and Purser shall be elected by 

 members of their respeeti\ e Di-visLons at the Division Meet, or at 

 the general annual meet of the Association. „. . . 



Article 6. There sJiall be annually elected in each Division at 

 the meet thereof, or at the gcnei-at annual meeting of the As- 

 sociation, one active member for every thirty (30) members of each 

 Division in good standing present. The members so elected, etc. 



Art. 7. It shall be the duty of the Commodore to preside at the 

 annual meetings of the Association and Executn e Committee, 

 and to visit, it practicable, each of the Division nR-els during the 

 vear, and to see that all rules and regidaf ions are properly en- 

 foreed, to pass on qualification of names submitted tor member- 

 ship bv the secretarv and to appoint within thirty (30) days alter 

 his elcV tiou a Regatta (Joinmittee of three (3) active members for 

 the annual meeting of the Association. 



Art. 8. The Vice-Commodores shall organize and preside over tte 



Commodores the Rear-t 'omniodores will act in their stead. 

 Division officers present at the general meeting ot the Association, 

 or at; the meetings of the Kxecutive (Jommittee, will act in t^Ueir 

 officia l capacity, those in whose Division the meeting is held taking 

 prceedcnet! as to rank. , . , , 



.^rt 10. A quorum for the transaction of business at the annual 

 meets of the Association orDinsions shall consist of twenty (30) 

 active members. 



BY-LAWS. 



Art. 3. There shall be an annual meeting of thp Association, and 



if praeticable, of each Divi.sion, for businessj camping and racing, 

 ftie dates and places to be fixed by the Division officers, subject to 

 the apiu-oval of the Commodore. 



7\rt it It shall be.thedutv of each Regatta Committee to prepare 

 and pnlilish not later than June 1, an order of races for their 

 rest'Ci-tive n^gattua, to superintend the laying out and buoying ot 

 co; rsi's,i(j provide the prizes, to api)Oint judges, sl^artcrs and time- 

 k.-eij,'!-^^ and to decide all protests. They shall post the cmrse 

 and conditions of each race in some prominent place at least one 

 hour l)ef<n-e the race is called, and shall liavo entire contrrd of tlic 

 races of their respective meetings. ChAS. A. Neide, 



SCHirvLERvrLLE, N. y., Sept. 30. See'y A. C. A. 



PALL MKKT AT CALLA SHASTA. -The Hartford and 

 Siiringlield Canoe Clubs will hold a two-days meet at Calla .Shasta 

 on Fridav and .Satuixlay, Oct. 8 and 9, to sail for prizes given 

 for spring meel. but not sailed for then on accotint ol there bcmg 

 no wind.- The nwcs to be sailed are as follows: First, sailing (no 

 limit), two prize flags; second, sailing (limited area), two prize flags, 

 third, sailing (open), two prize ilags; tourth, sailing (consolation), 

 one or ice flag. The New England Dnnsion of the A. C. A. will 

 hold their fall meet at same place and on the same days, 



NOTES ON PRACTICAL CANOEING. 



PLANKING. 



OUR articles on the practical pfirt of canoeing, onhnodel build- 

 ing, hoards, etc., have met ^-itlt the general approval of 

 canoeists, and we. shall continue ' b.-n ^- i' h .■similar talks on sails 



and fittings. The design is not s i ' . /Lipart specific informa- 



tion as to set men to thinking l ij I ■ li.ii;.: for the improvement 

 of canoes, and to call the atteniii.n of all lo the great importance 

 of these many small details. We should be glad to have the value 

 of the work still further increased by a criticism of our ^iews by 

 canoeists, as the discussion of these subjecis cannot fail fo be most 

 prohtahle. With this in \iew ^ve are glad to publish the following, 

 though not written for publication, as it brings out some imjjort- 

 ant. points. Concerning our notice of his method of planking Mi-. 

 B . Joyner writes as follows; "I notice in your comments on canoe 



buO ding that you do not fuUy understand my method of making 

 the joints in siding, and to make it plain I enclose two samnles of 

 the plank from Mr. L. <). .lones's new racing canoe. The inner edge 



of each plank is not ta.nered t 

 scitiare shoulder inside to Ivold i 

 port the fastenings as well. I 1 

 laj.istreak woi-k for four yea 

 heavy varnish or a mixture 



.I'll'; 



is left ^rith a 

 ■i'ld to sup- 

 i 11 all my 

 with a 

 id lead in the 



joint; and when thorougldy dried it is the strongest and tightest 

 joint possible. The scarfs are made in the same manner as tiie 

 laps, at least Sin. long. The ribs are }^in. wide and spaced 3in. 

 centers, with no nails between. 



"Now in regard to wide -^s. narrow planks, in all fairness allow 

 me to differ w ith yon as to getting a tight, h.ght, fair hull, as free 

 from the defects you mcntioji as is possible. 1 have studied this 

 matter caret uJly and have come to the conclusion that b\- using 

 narrow planks, say 21-^in. in the clear between the garboard an(l 

 upper strake, 1 can get far finer lines, especially over the bilge, 

 at least in my own models, in whieli 1 liold to straight water- 

 lines for as far frcmr the keel as possible. It would be verv diffi- 

 cult to work sides of three strakes and hold the lines fair, as the 

 Avide strakes must be twisted from tlieir natural .shape and sprtmg 

 at the same time and unless very cleverly done vnU leiwe an 

 uneven surface. .Soaking and steaming may gat them on fair but 

 w-hen they get dry will they retain their shape, and again will 

 a wide strake shrink and swell more perceptibly than if three 

 strakes were used, springing on more evenly and" lying closer to 

 the moulds and thus a\'oid any buckling or distortion." 



It is impossible to give a general reason wiiy one method is bet- 

 ter or worse than the other in all eases, as much depends on the 

 circumstances of t he case, and the builder must use his judgment. 

 As a general rule the few'er joints the better, hence as wide plank 

 as possible shoidd be used. If two seams on a .side, besides the gar- 

 board, will answer, certainly it is better than to have four or five. 

 On the other hand the narrow- plank will shrink and swell less and 

 on some models can bo laid fairer. We have seen some canoes in 

 which the garboard was veiT wide, Sin. or o\'er at center and more 

 at the ends, while the upper streak extended from waterline to 

 gimwale. Between the two was a narrow bilge streak, in some 

 cases only extending over two-thirds the length of the boat. If the 

 material is well seasoned a skillful workman should be able to lay 

 these two wide planks on any ordinary model, and to close in be- 

 tween them with one or two narrow ones, according to the curve 

 of the bilge. The timbers should be not over ^ or (iin. apart and 

 the planking must be nailed to them very closely, the nads lieing 

 not over 2in. apart on each timber. A little warm wafer w ill aid 

 such work, but no soaking nor steaming should be used. If firmly 

 fastened the planks will not shrink or swell, and are little Uable 

 to split or check. This makes a very fine surface and few seams. 

 On the other hand some very good work is done with narrow 

 plank and ery close ribs, and each mode has its advantages. For 

 an ordinary l"«o0 lapstreak canoe fi^e idanks are enough, but 

 many such boats could be planked, as we have indicated, with 

 three or ftmr. Perhaps some of our readers can give their experi- 

 ence in the matter as well. The cut shows a full size section of 

 Mr. Joyiier's joint. We .supposed that it was the ordinary ".ship 

 lap" with the feather edge inside, but it seems we were in error. 

 The method shown is a better one and certainly makes a very good 

 joint. The question of planking is one of the leading ones just 

 now in canoeing, and a number of amateurs are studying it very 

 closely. 



BIRCH BARKS. 



Editor Fnrt'fft nud Stream: 



I notice in your latest issue that a correspondent ■wishes the 

 address of a birch bark canoe maker. I have a canvas canoe built 

 by a Maine guide like a birch, and I presume be would build a 

 birch equally weU. His name is Hilbert Colson, Great Pond, Han- 

 cock county. Me. Having at \ ariouB times received valuable in- 

 formation from your paper, 1 am glad to ofl'er my mite. 



Norwich, Conn., Sept. 19. Leonard B. Almt, M.D. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I noticed a request for the name of a maker of birch bark 

 canoes, 1 should give Sabattis Thay, Oldtown, Indian Island, 

 INiaine, as the best, his canoes always give satisfaction as to style 

 and w'orkmanship. A- C. A. members will remember the one I 

 had at the last meet, it is of his make and nine years old, I think 

 they will outwear a wooden canoe, though the uses are altogether 

 different. F. R. Kimball. 



Boston, Mass. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your correspondent inquiring for birch cimoes can get from the 

 Indians at Tower, Minn., as fine speeirnen, with two paddles, for 

 $12 as he could wisii for. 1 saw a eanoc at Duluth, Minn., that 

 came from Tower only last ^veek, and it was a beauty. Your cor- 

 respondent can get captain of steamer Dove, pl.ving between 

 Duluth and Two Hai-bors, Minn., which last named place is near 

 Tower, to make negotiations with some party to buy canoo, or if 

 he will write me I will try to help lum in the matter. C. M. C. 



Buffalo, N. Y. 



THE TORONTO SKIFF SAILING CLUB.— This young organi- 

 zation has just finished a very prosperous season of racing, and its 

 success is now fully assiiied. The officers for the year are: Com- 

 modore, .1. \A'alter'Dick; Vice-Commodore, J. B. Kil^our; Captain, 

 Percy A. Bath, and Secretary-Treasury, Hamilton S. Hall 

 (re-elected by acclamation). Tlie spring races this year were very 

 successful. Mr. Kilgour's Barb winning the first prize in both the 

 first and special class races. The second class race was won by Mr. 

 Howard's Ari-ow, a very line Itiff. ski If. An open race was sailed 

 in August, wiiitdi had to be sailed over three times before it could 

 be finished. The first t,imo one boat, Mr. Green's Water-Lily, 

 up.set, and two boats going to her rescue, of course, the rac-i^ had to 

 bo sailed over by them and the winner. The next Saturday there 

 was nothing but a drifting matcli, and the last day tli<: race was 

 finished as follows: Fir.st, Alliance, owned by A. R. Taylor; second, 

 Gladvs, oAvned bv Capt. P. A. Batb; third, Elsie, owned by J. 

 Ward. This year tlie club has had four new boats added to the 

 list Mr. Bath's (Gladys, Mr. Kilgour's Barb, Mr. Garrett's Ichi Ban 

 and l\lr. tJreen's Water-LUy, the first two being 18ft. Bin. skiffs and 



the Q. Y. C, so a good race is expected. The membership has 

 increased and everytliing is very prosperous. During the season 

 tlie club has had two or three "at homes," which have proved very" 

 enjoyable. 



rvRUrSERS AND THE BAliANCE LUG.-JStJito)' FnreH and 

 Strariif [wish to thank von fnr nlans of the Barnegat cruiser/ 

 I find file balance luK the Liest sail l or a small boat I ever handled, 

 It is close w inded and ^vorks to a, charm in all kinds of weather. 

 1 followed a trading sloop all of tOft. long for miles in quite a_sea 

 for an lift, waterline, both under single reef, and tlie cruiser 

 seenieii to me a wonder. 1 did not do it from choice but was 

 obliged to; it was under those circumstances I found out what the 

 cruiser was able to do. I sailed her Jammed on the wind With a- 

 reef 82 miles in t Inturs, which seems to be as fast as she can he 

 driven, for i could j,'ct only the same speed under full sail with all 

 the wind she ^vant.ed: I speak uf long runs of 30 and lO miles and 

 rough water, whi( h generally comes with the wind. The sail was 

 made in Boston from the FORE.ST AND Stiibam's saU plan, by the 

 ma.ker of the Huron's sails, whidi is a guarantee that it was made 

 according to the plan. 1 attribute the success of the cruiser to ray 

 not knowing more about it tlian your nautical editor. Most of my 

 experience in sailing boats was gained in Boston Bay, and 1 thinK 

 1 know when a boat is doing wbflt her length calls for.— II. R. 

 Smith (Fruitlands Fla.}. 



