96 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb. 23, 1888. 



anee. So pipes are lighted and we settle ourselves down to solid 

 enjoyment of the day and scene. With a strong ebb tide in our 

 favor and a good breeze we are just making things hum. 



The wind, being with the tide, only raises long, undulating 

 wa ves, which do not impede progress. Alcatraz looms up away 

 Off in a fog on the port how, and Angel Island more in the sun- 

 shine beyond. We inteud going through Raccoon Straits, be- 

 tween Angel Island and the Marin county shore, for by so doing 

 we shall carry the tide right through there and then have a 

 straight cut across Richardson's Bav to Saueelito, besides which, 

 we. want to give the boys at the Corinthian Y. C. house a rally as 

 we go by. _ Angel Island gets bigger and bigger, out seems to be 

 about as far off, especially when we get abreast of it, some two 

 miles off shore, but we notice the little headlands trundling bv in 

 good shape, and presently we enter the straits. We have come 

 seven miles in precisely one hour and ten minuies, which is quick 

 traveling. Scarcely had we got fairly inside than we are almost 

 becalmed, being under the lee of the island, which rises into 

 quite a mountain and effectually shuts off our tine southeast 

 breeze. However, what's the odds, the tide is in our favor and 

 the sun delightful. So drifting and now and then catching a 

 puff, we make good enough progress. When oft" the yacht c^ub 

 house the Mate exercises on the. horn, at which performance be 

 is unequaled, bat wc cannot make out any signs of life. We after- 

 ward heard that the buys saw the canoe and immediately got out 

 the barge, but that it took a long time to get her afloat, and that 

 .lust as they got fairly under way we struck the breeze, off Her- 

 shaws and disappeared round the point like a scared eel. 



Saueelito looks lovely as we come tearing across the bay. One 

 could scarcely believe it December, the sun is so warm and the 

 green lulls look so summer-like. Tne ships anchored off shore 

 are gaily decorated; one, the Kenilworth, is so pretty we sail 

 round her and cheer them. At the end of each vard is a Christ- 

 mas tree, and also on the trucks and bowsprit. The gangway is 

 fairly covered with evergreens, with a tine arch at the top. The 

 Flirt boasts similar, if mure modest display, having little bunches 

 at the mastheads and peaks. The ferry boat is just then seen 

 approaching, and round we go to give them a salute. Running 

 nght for her broadside, we go close alongside, and jibing, follow 

 mher wake, mounting die rollers she churns up into her paddles 

 and acknowledging the cheers of the passengers by an appropriate 

 ecstacy on the horn by Will'uni. 



By this time nature asserts herself, and emphatically says 

 lunch, and be it known the Skipper's partner in business has' a 

 bachelor household in one of those houses up on the hill, he has 

 been warned we should be on haud for dinner, why not also for 

 the lesser meal. Yea, verily, let us hence. Quickly running 

 along the shore past the ferry landing we reach Captain Johnson's 

 boat uouse, and tj ing up fore and aft where she can do herself no 

 harm, we are soon eu n.ute with hunger in one eye and determin- 

 ation betrayed in every lineament. 



It were needless to describe our doings on shore. Christ mas 

 gatherings are always jolly everywhere, and this one very much 

 so. During the afternoon the Flirt was again in requisition, sail- 

 ing the ladies up and down and around the shins. The wind had 

 gone right round to the nor'west; blew stiff off shore with every 

 indication of more to come. In the evening the canoe was hauled 

 out on to the float, everything being left in her ready for the start 

 next morning. The deck cover buttoned right aft and the rubber 

 blanket tied down over the remaining openiug in case of wet, and 

 putting sails under cover, with a last injunction to the friendly 

 boatman, we left her feeling assured she was all safe. 



Come to think of it that was a very gay evening. The wind 

 fairly howled outside, but with warmth and good fellowship 

 within, it would be a sorry canoeist indeed who could not dismiss 

 dull care and vote life a holiday. The Skipper, however, was one 

 of the first to retire, thinking it well to put in a fair night's sleep, 

 while the first mate drifted into their room sometime in the early 

 morning, and after exercising on that unconscious mariner's dex- 

 ter toe till he awoke, informed him that canoeing was the only 

 pastime lit for a gentleman, and Saueelito the only place to sail to 

 on the civil 1 zed globe, to which he of the bruised member gravely 

 assented, and turning over resumed his slumbers. 



At 7:30 the window was (lung open and one of our hosts 

 appeared, looking fresh as a daisy and wanting to know who it 

 was that had voted an early break: ast. Both were shortly on 

 deck, and after a frigid plunge did ample justice to a square 

 meal. It had rained during the night, and threatened lots more; 

 great clouds obscured Tamalpais and a stiff nor' wester made the 

 gum trees bend and squeak in the garden. None of the other 

 hoys were up, so after viewing the sleeping beauties we made 

 tracks for the boat house, thinking it we were going to catch it 

 we might as well start in at ouce. There she was all serene, with 

 a big pool of water m the rubber blanket and the deck cover as 

 tight as a drum. Whew: how the gusts came tearing along; it 

 was hard to keep one's foothold on the greasy planks, hut there 

 was very little work to be done. Sliding her into the water all 

 the heavier articles were packed well aft snug and tight, driver 

 dropped into the lazy jacks, maiusail hoisted and double reefed, 

 and everything being tied down she was ready for sea. The 

 Skipper had just designed and had made his new cruising main- 

 sail; it is a Mohican settee, about 00ft., with long spars, the reef- 

 ing battens being wide apart to make a large reef: the gaff goes 

 up at a very small angle to the upper batten, making a very small 

 sail when double reeied, by this means the driving power is all 

 low down, considerable sail being spread on account of the long 

 spars; the tail also goes forward of the mast, making a more e yen 

 balance when running. 



Well; all set; let her go; and away we rush. At first we strike 

 a lull, and in smooth water in the bay go very steadily. This 

 doesn't look so bad, so up goes a reefed driver anil then she begins 

 to move. We look up the hill and see signals from several houses, 

 to which we wave a cheery good-bye; but look out; here it comes, 

 and all alert we fly through the water. The squalls come thick 

 and fast, and off Raccoon Straits a nasty chop sea makes her pitch 

 and jump about in a lively manner. Now she rushes forward, 

 cocking her rudder out and nearly getting away: down comes 

 that driver, the Skipper has only to reach back and slip the cord 

 out of the snatch block and the deed is done. We are passing the 

 lighthouse on the west point of Angel Island, the other side from 

 the way we. came, and the Golden Gate opens before us and the 

 broad bay. The sea is now not to ba despised, and the little Flirt 

 begins shoving her bow under a bit when the squalls strike her, 

 and we congratulate ourselves on being so wed trimmed by the 

 stern; every now and then the wind will let up, only to come up 

 more viciously than ever. 



Looking back, a storm is seen coming down Tamalpais, and the 

 whitecaps in the bay denote its approach. We are running With 

 the wind dead aft and pointing for Goat Island, just eight miles 

 off by the chart, open water, with a strong ebb tide running 

 against us, and consequently also against the wind, making a 

 heavy sea. All goes well until wo have Alcatraz abeam and are 

 about half way across to Goat Island, our refuge, when the storm 

 breaks on us; the squalls, 'accompanied by rain, are terrific, 

 and last for several minutes at a time, and the waves get higher 

 every moneut, i ill the canoe is plunging nearly end for end. 

 "Whew! that was tight," gasps the Skipper, as the last puff is sur- 

 vived with about four close. ( aUs on jibing. "Royal sport," mur- 

 murs the Mate, "and worse to come," and sure enough it begins 

 to look serious. The great curling whitecaps break with a roar 

 all around, and occasionally the canoe will drop like a stone some 

 two or three feet, only to be flung off again in some other direction. 

 At one moment we will be looking up hill at a mountainous wave, 

 and the next, after poising on the top, rush down with a speed 

 that makes the bead swim, running our bow into the next roller 

 as far aft as the cockpit. They are no longer waves, but great 

 billows. The canoe seems mad the way she races along, flung 

 hither and thither, the water coming along her deck in a continu- 

 ous stream. Once while right on the summit of a big fellow, the 

 boat settled down in its thin, curling top and the. water rushed 

 into the cockpit on both sides. William bravely tried to keep it 

 out with his arms, but a second more and we are through and 

 beyond it. "Roval sport, but hot," suggests the Skipper in a lull. 

 "You bet. and more to come, but we'll pull through," answers the 

 redoutable Will'um. 



We are now about off the Blossom Rock Buoy, and in about the 

 worst place we shall have, the squalls coming up stronger than 

 ever. It begins to look pretty bad, our only chance is Goat Island, 

 that is certain; the city (San Francisco) is about the same distance, 

 but more difficult; the island is about three miles off and once 

 under its lee we shall be safe. The rudder is continually out of 

 water in the plunges, but the speed is such that it is in again 

 before she can begin to get round at all. "Gad, I believe we have 

 to risk it and try to heave her to; she can't stand much more of 

 this," but a glance shows it would be folly to attempt it; once in 

 the trough of that sea and it would be all up with Joseph. No, 

 straight on is the only course, and one consolation is that every 

 rush is so much nearer. . 



Here comes a schooner, booming along under reeled mainsail 

 and jib, and knocking the water over her bow in fine style. Give 

 her a rally boys just to show we don't mind, and from the salute 

 she received it might be supposed we were having a summer sail 

 on a garden lake, and caused infinite astonishment to the crew, 

 who gather at the rail and give the little boat a cheer as she flies 

 by. F 'Think I'd better not talk to you now," says the Mate as the 

 Skipper squirms like lightning from one side to the other, twenty 

 times in a minute, "Is o, better not," and on we rush, getting a 



breathing spell every now and then and each time being sure we 

 can't catch any more as bad as that, only to be undeceived. 

 Well, everything has an end, and finally the canoe goes tearing 

 round the outermost rocks and into comparatively smooth water 

 off the south shore of the island; the crew silently shake hands 

 as the Skipper jibes her over and finds the arm with which he 

 held the sheet is almost pulled out of joint. "Royal sport," again 

 murmurs the Mate. 



What a peculiarly friendly look has old Goat Island. We never 

 saw him look so well. There he rears himself between us and 

 danger as if conscious that the canoe boys love him dearer than 

 any other soul in California, except, perhaps, the railroad, which 

 would like to grab him, grind him down and cover him with un- 

 sightly wharves and warehouses. Running close along shore, we 

 give her the whole driver and salute the lighthouse and passing 

 ferry steamer. Presently we are out beyond again, hut still 

 pretty well sheltered. When half way over we again strike some 

 heavy squalls, but do not mind them much here and keep her at 

 it, finally entering the mouth of the estuary in just twelve min- 

 utes less than the. two hours from Saueelito. This knocks the 

 record, and was made in a heavy sea against tide, under a double- 

 reefed mainsail. The three miles down the estuary are knocked 

 out in fine style to musical accompaniments, and presently we are 

 shaking ourselves in the O. C. C. boat house float. 



Christmas is over, and how happily spent. We would not ex- 

 change our outing for any to be named; and if the Skipper is so 

 stiff after his aerobatics in that two hours' run that he can't walk 

 up-stairs. and if Will'um does have a bald spot on the back of his 

 head, where the sheet took it, wha t of it? Nay, the happier we. 

 And the little Flirt in her corner is by no means the least satisfied 

 of the three, for has she not nobly filled her part and added her 

 quota of proof to the ever growing verdict, that for the promo- 

 tion of health, good fellowship, manliness, joy and true sport 

 there is nothing to equal our "dear little light canoes?" 



THE ATLANTIC DIVISION MEET.— Editor forest and Stream: 

 I would suggest that the meet be held on the Delaware at the 

 Rancocas Creek, where about two acres can be procured free, it 

 is well shaded, sandy beach, spring water, and a station on the 

 Amboy Division of the West .Jersey R. R., within 500yds. of the 

 ground, and the steamboats plying between Trenton and Phila- 

 delphia stop at Delanco, about % mile bolow. It is in a cove 

 Where a t riangular course of 3 miles could be sailed with ease, 

 'there are about 50 canoeists who would come to such a meet 

 from Philadelphia alone if it were held in the third week of 

 July.— R. Ridnib (Philadelphia, Pa.). 



YONKERS C. C— Editor Forest and Stream: On Feb. 7 the 

 Yonkers C. C. elected the following officers: Com., Gabriel Reevs; 

 Vice-Corn.. Talboat Simpson; See.-Treas., Paul Rossier, 229 Wood- 

 worth avenue; Purser, J. W. Simpson. A committee was ap- 

 pointed to secure a club house at Glenwood (Yonkers) for coming 

 season. The club now numbers twenty-five members and 

 eighteen canoes. The club totem is a red dolphin on mainsail. 

 Two or three regattas will be held this season, the rest of the time 

 will be devoted to club cruises.— Paul B. Rossieh, Sec.-Treas. 



MOOSEHEAD LAKE AND NORTHERN MAINE.— A corres- 

 pondent asks for information as to a canoe trip from Fredericton, 

 N. B., to Moosehead Lake, Maine, whether such a trip is practic- 

 able, and whether any reliable maps of the locality are to be pro- 

 cured. 



LEANDER CLUB, OF HAMILTON.— The Leander Rowing 

 Club has united with the Hamilton C. C. and will hereafter be 

 known by the above name. The membership is nearly 200. 



lacJiting. 



Small Yachts. By C. P. Kunnardt. Price $7. Steam Yaclits and 

 Launches. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price $3. Yachts, Boats and 

 Canoes. By C. SlamlicM-Hichs. Price $3.50. Steam Machinery. By 

 Donaldson. Price $1.50. 



FIXTURES. 



Mat. 



30. South Boston Open. 



JUNE. 



Larchmont Spring Pen. 21. New York, N. Y. Annual. 



Buffalo Club. 23. Great Head Moonlight Sail. 



Great Head Open. 23, Hull, Hull Pennant. 



Atlantic Annual. 30. Cor. Marblehcad, 1st Cham. 



South Boston Club. 30. Great Head Pennant. 

 Cor. Marblehead Pennant. 



July. 



Larchmont Annual. 14. Hull, Hull 1st Cham. 



Buffalo Annual. 20. Great Head Moonlight Sail. 



Beverly, Mon. Beach Cham. 21. South Boston Club. 



Beverly, Swampseott Cham. 21. Cor, Marblehead, 2d Cham. 



Cor. Marblebead, Club. 21. Beverly, Mon. Beach 3d Open 



Hull. Club Cruise. 28. Cor. Marblehead, Ladies' 

 South Boston Club. Race. 



Great Head 1st Cham. 28. Hull, HuU Regatta. 



Beverly, Marblehead, Open 28. Beverly, Mon. Beach Cham. 



Sweep. 28. Great Head Club. 

 August. 



Larchmont Oyster Boat. 15, Great Head 2d Cham. 



Hull, Hull Ladies' Day. 18, South Boston Club. 



Hull, Hull 3d Championship. 18. Cor. Marblebead, Cup Race. 



Beverly, Nahant, 3d Cham. 20. Great Head Moonlight Sail. 



Beverlv, Mon. Beach Cham. 25. Beverly, Marblehead, Open. 



Cor. Marblehead, Open. 29. Great Head Club. 

 .20. Buffalo Cruise. 



Hull, Hull Open Race. 8. Cor. Marblehead, Sail Off. 



Larchmont Fall. 8. Hull Cham. Sail-Off. 



Newark Fall. 12. Great Head Club. 



South Boston Open. 15. Buffalo Club. 



Beverly, Marblehead Cham. 15. Beverly, Mob. Beach, Open 



Cor. Marblehead (mam. Sweep. 



30. Great Head Trophy. 



ENGLISH MISINFORMATION. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Please note in your columns, for the special benefit of English- 

 men in general and the enlightenment of the London Field in 

 particular, that Mr. Burgess, over his own signature, writes in the 

 new book, "American and English Yachts," as follows: "As for 

 the comparative merits of centerboard and keel, the question is, 

 I think, more one of convenience and safety than of speed. For 

 the smaUer classes, where sufficient draft of water can be given, 

 the keel boat has some advantages, but in large boats, where the 

 draft must be limited, the centerboard is a most desirable addi- 

 tion." 



This opinion from Mr. Burgess coincides exactly with the utter- 

 ances in your columns, and will be accepted by all competent 

 judges on this side of the Atlantic. But the London Weld, in con- 

 nection with Mr. Beavor-Webb and poorly-informed English con- 

 tributors to the Field, has seen fit to attribute the defeat of their 

 cutters in the international races solely to the centerboard of the 

 American vessels, a conclusion not at all justified by the general 

 records of yacht racing in America, and diametrically opposed to 

 the opinion expressed by Mr. Burgess and the Forest and Stream 

 through many long years. Mr. Burgess says the keel is just as 

 good as the board for speed, and the use of the board rests solely 

 upon convenience. Now, will the London field please disabuse 

 the English public of the false notions it has recently put into 

 circulation? Thistle was so notoriously deficient in lateral re- 

 sistance that her fault in this respect did not escape eveu tyros in 

 the business. Gencsta and Galatea suffered on the same score, 

 and not because they were keel boats. These three cutters are 

 the only prominent oues seen in American waters which failed to 

 point and fetch with American centerboard yachts. Other cut- 

 ters, designed by John Harvey and Mr. Burgess and American 

 amateurs, are distinguished for their close-winded and high- 

 fetching characteristics— facts sufficiently well known on this 

 side of the Atlantic, but studiously overlooked by the Field's 

 American correspondents, and kept from the British public 

 through the characteristic negligence of the British press to in- 

 form itself concerning developments outside of the tight little 

 island. If our English cousins allow themselves to be misled in 

 face of testimony from such a source as Mr. Burgess's pen, and 

 start a fresh era of bungling with the center board, in the absurd 

 belief that the board is in itself a faster contrivance than the 

 keel, they are. destined to meet with worse failures than ever, and 

 "Served 'em right" will be the verdict of an American. 



PACIFIC Y. C— Officers, 1888: Com., Philip Caduc; Pres., Stew- 

 art Menzies; Vice-Pres.: O. O'Connor; Treas., O. F. Willey; Sec, 

 N. D. Messer, 



THE NAVIGATION OF LAKE GEORGE. 



THE constantly increasing travel over Lake George, as well as 

 tbe interests of a large number who use pleasure craft of 

 various kinds, has called attention to the need for a thorough 

 survey of the lake and the setting out of buoys where ver required. 

 The matter has been taken up by Com. J. Buchanan Henry, of 

 the Lake George V. C, who wrote as follows last season: 

 Hon. Charles S. Fatrchild, Scercturu of the Treasury: 



Dear Sir— By resolution of the Lake George Y. C. I have been 

 directed to communicate with you as ex-officio head of the Light- 

 house Board and TJ. S. Coast Survey, to ask your kind considera- 

 tion of the question whether under the laws of the United States 

 your department could attend to the buoying of Lake George and 

 the making of a hydrographic survey of its waters. We have 

 now a very large traffic on this lake, over forty steam craft of ail 

 sizes ply upon its waters, and over 10,000 passengers are now 

 annually transported over its dangerous channels, with no guides 

 for navigation except the small and imperfect buoys, 39 in all, 

 put down during the summer months by this club at its own ex- 



Eense. There are no lights.no other buoys, and no charts, and 

 ake _ George, as you may personally know, is a mass of ledges 

 and isolated rocks surrounded by deep water. Neither the 

 United states nor the State Government has ever done ani thing 

 to improve or render safe its navigation, nor has, I bePeve, any 

 application heretofore been made. Cbamplain and other near 

 lakes have been thus improved by charts, buoys find lights. Of 

 course 1 am aware that there maybe a question of legal authority 

 on the part of the Federal Government doing this for waters 

 wholly within a State, however desirable or necessary such work 

 may be. I trust, however, that you may be able to decide that it 

 can be legally done, and that the wishes of the club can be 

 granted. Com. lUnnd, U. S. N., and formerly in the Lighthouse 

 Board, while at the lake last summer, expressed the opinion that, 

 by the aid of a small steam launch (to be hired, out of the fashion- 

 able season, for $10 per day) and a few good men, the soundings 

 and survey for a chart could be made in a few weeks, and that 

 third-class spar buoys only would be needed, and that they could 

 be contracted for there at very low figures. If it is competent 

 for the United States to thus improve the navigation of this fine 

 lake this club could readily obtain a petition signed by all 

 residents on its shores, and boat owners, who so groatlv feel the 

 need of it. May I therefore express the hope, on behalf of the 

 club, that you will give their request your early consideration, so 

 that, if your decision should be favorable, the work of buoying 

 could be done at the opening of next season's navigation (May) 

 and the soundings and other work for a hydrographic survey and 

 chart be then begun. Yours very respectfully, 



J. Buchanan Henry, Com. Lake George Y. C. 

 New York, Nov. 15, 1887. 



The following answer has lately been received: 



Treasury Department, J 

 Office of the Secret -\ry, V 

 Washington, D. C, Jan. 20, 1888. \ 

 Mr. J. Buchanan Henry, Commmltrc Lake George Y. C: 



Sir— Referring to your letters of Nov. 15, 1887, and Jan. 15, 1888, 

 in regard to the necessity for placing buoys in Lake George, N, Y„ 

 etc., you are informed that the matter having been referred to 

 the Lighthouse Board, a report dated the 18th inst. has been re- 

 ceived in reply, in which it is stated that the subject has been 

 considered by the Board, and the conclusion reached that inas- 

 much as the powers of the Board in regard to buoyage were 

 confined to the navigable waters of the Unit ed States, and as Lake 

 George is an inland lake entirely within the jurisdiction of the 

 State of New York, the waters of which are not navigable waters 

 in the broad and legal sense of the term, the Board has no author- 

 ity to establish buoys therein. In regard to the portion of your 

 letter of Nov. 15 last relating to charts of the lake, etc., you are 

 informed that the matter has been referred to the Superintendent 

 of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and upon the receipt of 

 his reply you will be duly apprized of its contents. 



Respectfully yours, 



F. S. Fairchieb, Secretary. 



It thus appears that nothing can be done by the United States 

 in the matter of buoyage, but the subject seems to be of sufficient 

 importance to be undertaken by the State of New York. 



AN INLAND YACHT CRUISE. 



I HAVE always loved the water, so last summer decided to 

 spend my vacation in as much sailing as could be crowded 

 into three months. A vexatious delay caused by the stupidity of 

 a boat builder, prevented my starting by the middle of June as 

 intended, and indeed obliged me to give up the idea of naving a 

 boat, such as I desired, built in Baltimore at all; the builder vow- 

 ing that though Baltimore once built the fastest and best sailing 

 vessels afloat, she had now let boat building, like her sugar, coffee 

 and other industries, go to New York, and thai, he could not find 

 a white oak log 37ft. long to make a keel of in the whole city. As 

 every one knows, you can get anything you want iu New York— if 

 you wiU pay for it — so there I went for it, and in twelve hours 

 had, not just what I would have built, but a thoroughly staunch 

 centerboard sloop yacht. Right here 1 may say she proved satis- 

 factory in every respect, roomy, strong, fast and the best sea boat 

 I ever saw. She measured 41ft. over all, 13ft. beam, and drew 

 about 4ft. 6in.; was built in Kennebunkport, Maine, of oak inside 

 and out and was only one year old, so as good as new. 



The "cabin party" consisted of Mrs. L. and I, better known as 

 "Doctor," from having an appendage to my name, with Master 

 Yart, an all sufficient Skye terrier; while two men formed our 

 crew. I secured the services of Capt. F. and a man he recom- 

 mended and called George. Capt. F. proved a decided failure, he 

 had the boat in charge eleven days, with orders to put her in A 1 

 order; during this time he put a coat of copper paint ou her 

 bottom, painted her sides (black and very badly done), and "limed" 

 her sails, about three days' work in all, his charges were for 

 eleven days' work, three dollars per day. thirty-three dallars; two 

 men's assistance, two days, two dollars each per day; pamt ten 

 dollars; groceries eight dollars. He sailed ns up the Hudson to 

 Albany, that is, he steered a small part of the time, and George 

 did three-fourths the work. 



Starting from N. Y., July 3, at 3 A. M., we sailed to Poughkeep- 

 sie by sundown, and as we desired to see all the river we anchored 

 for the night, started again at 4 A. M. and with a fair wind were 

 soon booming up the river, enjoying the beautiful view. By 2 P. 

 M. we were at Hudson and here Capt, F., who had reported him- 

 self thoroughly acquainted with the river to Albany, announced 

 he didn't know it any further, and we would have to get a pilot; 

 any one could have brought the boat that far, for With ordinary 

 attention vou literally could not go wrong. Well, we did get the 

 pilot (charge $3) and arrived in Albany at 6 P. M„ making the run 

 from Hudson, thirtv-three miles in 2M> hours. Here we bade fare- 

 weU to Capt. F. and George, and right glad we weie to seethe 

 former go. George was a good worker and knew his place and 

 business well. 



The N, Y r . C. R. R. has a tug at Albany that takes boats from 

 the lower to the upper bridge without charge, and they towed us 

 into the basin and up to Davis's dry dock. The bridges on the 

 Erie Canal are too low to allow any boat with a spar in her to 

 pass, so we had ours hoisted out and laid on deck, charge S5. This 

 took about one hour, of course the sails had beea removed and 

 placed in the cabin previous to this. 



Jul v 6 we were towed up to the entrance of the canal at Troy, 

 that being considered a better point to enter, as by so doing you 

 escape the "lumber region;" tug charge from Albany to Troy, ?3 r 

 I engaged a man in Albany who had been a canal bcatman lor 

 eleven years, and "knew every snubbing post from Albany to 

 Buffalo;" he proved invaluable, a sober, holiest, hard working 

 man, alwavs willing to do his best, not a sailor, but a thorough 

 canalman, and a fair all-round cook. I parted with him with 

 genuine sorrow in September, His address is C. C. Diehl, 33 Moore 

 street, Brooklyn, E. D., N. Y. Auy one taking or sending a boat 

 through the canal will find it to their advantage to secure him or 

 some one as well acquainted with canal ways. 1 paid him $25 per 

 month, and he earned it. 



Immediately above Troy are sixteen locks very close together, 

 with the most impudent and unaccommodating set of lock t enders 

 on the canal; it is almost impossible to pass through here without 

 "scaling," i. e., tipping these men, a dime, or even a nickel at each 

 look will, however, pass you O. K. Perhaps as good a plan as any 

 is to invest in a box of cheap cigars and use them as "tips." the 

 one idea in the minds of these men seems to be that a yacht is 

 stored with whisky, cigars, and small coin for their special beue- 

 fit. It requires two men to work a boat through a lock, one to be 

 on the lock and "snub" her, the other to tend deck lines and steer, 

 a driver does nothing but look out for his own line. I pahl $1.50 

 for a second man's help to head of "Sixteen Locks," and $3.50 for 

 a horse that far. 



The Erie Canal and its branches are free; all you have to do Is 

 to clear at the Clearance House at each end. The lower Clearance 

 House is just above the "Sixteen Locks," and here we found 

 most polite and kind officials, who gave us our papers and helped 

 us in every way possible with their advice. At Cohoes, just 

 above this point, the drivers, seeing we were green, formed a 

 combination to extort an extrajprice for towing the boat to Os wego, 

 charging variously $60, $70 and $75 for the trip. Fortunately fo? 



