Mat IT, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



337 



FIXTURES. 



May. 



24. Toronto, Cruise. Mimico, 20-31. Eastern Division Cruising 

 24. Lindsav Camp, Sturgeon Pt. Meet, Connecticut River. 



30. Pittsburgh, Opening. 



Junk. 



9. Knickerbocker Annual. 23. Brooklyn, Annual. 



0. Ianthe, Spring. 30-July 5. PassaieRiver Meet. 



IS. New York, Annual. 



July. 



7-23. W. C. A. Meet, Ballast is. -. Northern Div. Meet, Lake 

 — , Atlantic Div. Meet. Couchiching. 

 17-23. Pequot Canap, Nor walk Island. 



August. 

 10-24. A.C.A. Meet, Lake George 



FLAG CIRCULAR. 



THE regatta committee of the A. C. A. have sent the following 

 circular to the secretaries of forty clubs, and hope by June 1 

 to get favorable answers from a majority of them. The pro- 

 gramme will be published in the Foriost and Stream, issue of 

 May 31. In the same issue will be given a list of clubs thatliave 

 guaranteed flags for prizes; 



Dear Sir: We propose this year to ask the canoe clubs of the 

 A. C. A. to provide the regatta prizes, and not depend as heretofore 

 oh the voluntary contributions of individual members. Can we 

 count on your club to provide one nag, the value of which is to be 

 not less than $5, of a design, material and size to be determined 

 upon later? Or, if you prefer it, will you send the chairman of 

 this committee $5, in the name of your club, by or before .Tunel, 

 so we can provide such prize, giving credit, for the same to your 

 club? Inclosed please find, postal card for reply. A month's 

 time is allowed, in order that the matter can be brought before 

 your club at a regular meeting. Trusting to get an early reply 

 from you, we remain, very truly yours, C. Bowyer Vaux, 

 chairman, 34 Cortlandt street, "New York; Paux. Butler, Lowell, 

 Mass.; VP". A. Leys. Toronto, Canada, Regatta Committee. 



The following clubs have been sent to: Amsterdam, N. Y., Ar- 

 lington, N. J., Bnyonnc, N. J., Broekville. Can., Brooklyn, N.Y., 

 Buffalo, N. Y.. Capital City, Harrisburg, Pa.; Deowanist'a, Rome, 

 N. Y.; Descionto, Can., Essex, Newark, N. J.; Harvard, Cam- 

 bridge, Mass.; Hartford, Conn., Ianthe. Newark, N. J.; Jabber- 

 wock, Ohio, Knickerbocker, N. Y, Lake St. Louis, Can., Mohican, 

 Albany, N. Y ; Ncwburgh, N. Y., Newton, Mass., New York, N.Y., 

 Oakland, Cal.. Oswego, N. Y., Ot tawa, Can., Paterson, N. J., Pe- 

 quot, Conn., Peterboro, Can., Philadelphia, Pa,, Pittsburgh, Pa., 

 Potomac, Washington, Quaker City, Pa., Rochester, N. Y., Ron- 

 dout, N. Y., Shatteiuuc, Sing Sing, N. Y.. South Boston, Mass., 

 Springfield. Mass., Toronto. Can., Trenton, N. J„ Vesper, Lowell, 

 Mass.; Washington, D. C, Watertown, N. Y., Yonkers, N. Y, 

 There will be about forty prizes needed, and as some of the above 

 clubs may not be heard from, contributions from others, not on 

 this list, will be gratefully received. 



THE MAN IN THE RAG CANOE IS COMING. 



ND^ pursuant to promise, he drops me a postal card as often 



who take a lively interest in adventurous cruising. Taking them 

 seriatum, they read as follows: 



i. 



Little Sarasota, Fla., April 3, '88.— My dear N. : On the way 

 at last,. Left Tarpon Springs last Monday in a S.W. gale, and 

 paddled to Yellow Bluff. Next day the weather moderated and 

 went to Rocky Pass. Tne day after sailed to Eiimont. Left there 

 yesterday a ud got here last night. Am feeling well. Shall go to 

 Casey's Pass to-day, and be in Charlotte Harbor to-morrow.— 

 Tarpon. 



ii. 



St. JxUies, Pine Island, April 7.— Dear N.: Got here last night 

 safe and sound. Rag canoe all right. Well and hearty.— Tarpon. 

 m. 



NAPXiES, Fla., April 12.— This, '"a new town," I reached safely to- 

 day. Have had a very good trip so far. Met two professional 

 bird butchers yesterday. D— n 'em. By the way, did you ever 

 think what a. left-handed advertisement this trip' is to the canoe 

 builders? Home-made rag canoe.— Tarpon. (Well, perhaps, 

 yes. But there are some long open reaches to bo made on the 

 Atlantic coast , and suppose the rag canoe is caught in a blow off 

 shore. "Would she live, do you think?— N. I 



Big Marco, Fla., April 14.— AH correct. Few fish, no birds; 

 all well. Will write at length when 1 eet: a chance. The rag 

 canoe is still afloat.— Tarpon. 

 [7L, '.' V. 



April 22. —My dear >:.; Got past Shark River on the 10th. 

 Most forbidding looking place 1 ever saw. No landing whatever, 

 deep water up to the trees, and a confused tangle of roots, stumps, 

 tree tops, etc., with t he surf dashing in and out. There would be 

 no use for your little canoe there. Made Cape Sable all right on 

 the 20th. Took in water and started across the bay for Florida 

 Reef. This is a queer country. Mangroves, mud-flats, deep chan- 

 nels, sharks, stingrays, pelicans, etc. Am writing this at Twin 

 Keys, inside of Matticombe Island, and in sight of Alligator Reef 

 light. Shall mail the first chance, but post offices are few in this 

 region. Drop me a line to St. Augustine, to be kept till called for. 

 All well and hearty, and so along.— Tarpon. 



As this was dated sixteen days ago and I have not heard from 

 the writer since, I am fearful that the rag canoe has met disaster. 

 I am not usually reckoned up for a timid canoeist myself, but I 

 should hesitate to attempt a cruise of SCO miles down the GuH 

 coast, around the Florida capes and up the Atlantic coast to New 

 York in a canvas canoe 14ft. x28in., with mainsail and dandy to 

 manage, and with only the double-blade for board and ballast. 1 

 only want to add that it is the most daring canoe cruise I have 

 ever known, and one must be lucky as well as pluckv to succeed. 



Nessmuk. 



TIPPY C. C. NOTES. 



HPHE canoeing season has already been inaugurated in Chicago 

 JL waters. The Indians have been blessed with a spell of warm 

 weather recently, quite unlocked for at this stage of the game, 

 but which could only result in luring the true canoeist from his 

 lair. 



Mr. Kitehin was the first to put ou his war paint: following 

 whom, one after another of the tribe hav e made their appearance, 

 until now all the old boats of the club are in commission, and 

 bemg put into shape for the racing season to follow. 



A visit to the boat house of the clnb, however, only half dis- 

 closes the healthy condition of the sport in these waters, and is 

 properly supplemented by a glance into the shops of Douglas & 

 Co., at AVaukegan, a revelation to most of us, by the way. 



The only effect of the destructive fire of last fall seems to have 

 been a general enlargement of their vast establishment, until 

 now they have an elaborate plant, adapted, as they ha ve demon- 

 strated, for turning out anything in the boat line up to a 

 50ft. laonch or a 10-ton cutter, admirable in its completeness, 

 and which no boating enthusiast could see and fail to appre- 

 ciate. 



Passing by, however, the steam launches and other larger craft, 

 which stand on the stocks in various stages of completion, the 

 canoeist's unerring instinct guides him to another portion of the 

 establishment, taken up by alternate benches and stocks, where 

 a score of canoes of almost as many types are gradually assum- 

 ing shape. 



The mode of construction is essentially the same in all, a 

 modification of the old lap streak build— the planks being lapped 

 with a broad bevel and the projections fined down until a prac- 

 tically smooth skin is obtained— while the attention given 

 to details and general finish leaves little room for improve- 

 ment. 



The largest of this year's crop is a craft 17ft.x36in., designed by 

 Capt. Crane, of the T. C. C, for his own use; a fine weatberly boat, 

 intended for the open waters of Lake Michigan, but which is ex- 

 pected to give a good account of herself in the Class C races at 

 Ballast Island. 



Another is a Class B boat, 15ft. 6in.X30Min., for Mr. "Wood, while 

 near it are sister boats, 16x30, for Messrs. Keogh and Lee. These 

 three, like the first mentioned, were designed by Capt. Crane, 

 ehieOy with reference to open-water sailing, but wOl probably 

 swell the list of entries at Ballast. Island. 



A fifth boat, from the same designing board, is a paddling craft, 

 16X29, for Mr. Dunham and wife, while Commodore Latham's new 

 flagship, Schehcrezade, brings the number of new boats for the 

 "Tippys" up to an even half dozen. This craft was designed by 

 Mr. Nixon, and a feature both novel and striking will be a deck of 

 birdseye maple with partner pieces of mahogany. 



In addition to these flyers the fleet will include a club boat— a 

 Class D oanoe— donated to the ctub by Mr. Nixon. The Jiber, for 



such she has been christened. Is a staunch little boa.t, 5ft.x8ft. 

 (square stern), fitted with cat rig and centerboard, and in type is 

 strictly mi veneris. Rumor had if. that she woidd fly the broad 

 pennant of the W. C. A. this season, but it looks now as if the 

 Jiber would be supplanted by a more comely rival, and be devoted 

 principally to fishing, setting out buoys, etc. 



Tlie regatta course opposite the club house wiU be laid off 

 shortly, and weekly regattas will he the regular order of things 

 during the summer months. 



BRITISH CANOEING.— The new rules of the Royal C. C. limit 

 the sail area to 112ft., with mainsail not to exceed three-fourths 

 of total area, spinakers not measured. This limits the mainsail 

 to 84ft. The deck position is being generally adopted, with little 

 ballast. Mr. Baden-Powell lias sold the '87 Nautilus and i'r build- 

 ing a new cruising canoe, 10x30 a.nd llin. deep, to be fitted for 

 single or tandem crew. She will have two bilge drop keels or 

 boards, an idea with which Mi'. PoweU is now experimenting, 

 the trunks being placed in each bilge, leaving room, of course, for 

 the canoeist to sit between them, while the entire middle of the 

 boat, from end to end, is unobstructed. In sailing the leeward 

 board is lowered, projecting almost at right angles from the 

 bilge. Mr. Powell will race this season on the Thames in a canoe- 

 shaped boat 19x1ft. Gin., 2ft. (iin. deep inside, and lft. draft, also 

 fitted with the bilge keels. She will enter against the Thames 

 gigs and other small craft in the uo-river clubs. 



A. C. A. AMENDMENT TO CONSTITUTION. -New York, 

 May 8.— Editor Forest and Stream: The Executive Committee 

 have given a majority of votes in favor of the amendments to the 

 constitution, as published in the Forest and Stream April 5. 

 except that the last woid but one in the amendments as then pub- 

 lisher!, should he "his" instead of "their," referring to the du- 

 ties of Vice-Commodore and not to the duties of the Committees. 

 Com, Gibson has referred to the Executive Committee the question 

 of his late change, of residence, asking whether they considered it 

 necessary to take any action upon it, which the committee decid- 

 ed was not necessary. 



HARR1SBURG, C. C.-Oftleers, 1888: Com., Chas. S. Snyder: 

 Pres., Ed. R. Dasher; Vice-Corn., Geo. G. McFarland; Sec, Mart. 

 W. Pager; Treas., W. Frank YVitinan. Tne boat house is under- 

 going some extensive repairs and will be more comfortable for 

 the entertainment of visiting canoeists of which we have five 

 different clubs represented on our log-book of last summer. Any 

 information about the Susquehanna will be willingly and cheer- 

 fully given by corresnendence. 



NEW BURGH CANOE AND BOATING ASSOOIATION.- 

 This club has moved into its handsome new quarters on the Hud- 

 son at Ne wburgh. a two-story building S0x30ft., with a balcony 

 extending across the river front. Below is the boat-room, the full 

 size of the building, with dressing and reception rooms in the sec- 

 ond story. The club has now 59 members. 



THE CUP FUNDS.— We have received from the Brooklyn C. C. 

 the following subscription to the fund for the purchase of two 

 extra cups for the A. C. A.: Win. Whitlock, {S5; Reginald S. Blake, 

 $3; T. G. Budington, 352; Chas. P. Weekes, $2: John Johnson, »2; 

 Robt. Liptrott, ?2{ Robt. J. Wilkin, $2; M. V. Brokaw, $2; F. L. 

 Bunnell, S2; total, 821. Total to date, S83.50. 



A. C. A. MEMBERSHIP— W. Scott, Ottawa; M. J. Herbert, G. 

 G. Brown, R. H. Booth, Thos. World, G. S. Jaquith. T. H. Robin- 

 sou, H. Lloyd, J. W. Slavin, Ed. C. Moore, A. W. Murton, H. 

 Cook. Orillia.— S. Britton, Purser N. D. of A. C. A. 



PEQUOT C. C.-This club, organized in 1886, has now 26 mem- 

 bers, the officers being: Com., R. P. Wakeman: Viee-Com., F. P. 

 Sherwood: Sec.-Treas y F. P. Lewis: Mcas., E. C. Bogert; Captains, 

 .T. H. Rowland, J. H. Demarest. The club will camp from Jnly 17 

 to 23 at Norwalk Island. 



LINDSAY C. C.-The officers for 1888 are: Cant., J. Britton: 

 Mate, J. G. Edwards; Pnrser, J.G.Montgomery; Treas., R. H. 

 Hopkins. A challenge cup has been presented to the club. The 

 spring meet wiU be held at Sturgeon Point, on May 24. 



BAYONNE C. C— This club has purchased the large floating 

 house of the Hudson Boat Club, and it is now moored in Newark 

 Bay at Bayonne. 



KNICKERBOCKER C. C— The regatta of the Knickerbocker 

 C. C. wiU take place on June 9, at the foot of 155th street, North 

 River. 



Jjlnmvers to {^arre$pandent$. 



t#"f(o Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



F, 'G.. Boston, Mass.— Kindly give the usual interpretation of 

 the following points under National trap shooting rules. 1. 

 A sportsman belonging to clubs in two or more cities, is the 

 "home club" necessarily the one where domiciled or is it the. one 

 first joined? 2. Can honorary members of over a month standing 

 shoot, on their club team in competitive matches. Ana. 1, Club 

 where domiciled. 2. If not prohibited by conditions. 



Hunting Companions Wanted.— Fort Worth, Texas, May 9. 

 Can you put me in communication with a party that would like 

 to make, a hunting tour through the West, starting about the 1st 

 of August and remaining, say, two or three mouths? I desire to 

 connect myself with a body of hunters to make a fall huntiui 

 trip through the best hunting regions of Colorado. Wyoming anu 

 Montana. If you will kindly publish this in Forest and Stre4.it 

 it mav find a response.— Celt. 



<ffew $H>nblimtion§. 



This Ethics 0-E Boxing and Mandy Sport, by John Boyle 

 O'Reilly (Boston, Ticknor & Co., $1.50.) is a title calculated' to 

 strike some very estimable people with a suspicion of incongru- 

 ity. Other writers ha ve written on the manly art of self-defense, 

 but writing under tne consciousness that the aid, they sought to 

 glorify was stigmatized by the popular verdict, as brutal and 

 degrading, they addressed themselves only to the habitues of the 

 prize ring and the young bloods who might be relied on to gloat 

 over their forbidden pages in secret; but John Boyle O'Reilly is a 

 writer of quite another calibre, a man capaple of forming his 

 own opinion of boxing as of any other subject, unbiassed by popu- 

 lar opinion or prejudice, and baring reached the conclusion that 

 boxing severed from the degrading associations of the prize ring is 

 elevating in its tendency and conducive to the culture of forti- 

 tude, self-reliance and other noble qualities, fulfils Emerson's 

 definition of genius by displaying the courage of his convictions 

 and daring to believe that what is trne for him in his private 

 heart is true for all men. And our author is right. He is rigid 

 when he tells us "that the very fact that, professionals and gam- 

 blers fasten on a sport is the highest proof of its value to the 

 people;" and no less right when he asks: "Where else in one 

 compressed hour can be witnessed the supreme test and tension 

 of such precious living qualities as courage, temper, endurance, 

 bodily strength, clear-minded ness in excited action, and above 

 all that, heroic spirit that puts aside the cloak of defeat though it 

 fall anew a hundred and a thousand times, and in the end reaches 

 out and grasps the silvered mantle of success." In fact our 

 author regards valor as an essential attribute of true manhood, 

 and pleads for boxing as one of the most important of those 

 manly sports so conducive to the development of a sound mind 

 in a sound body. The author gives a review of the art as 

 practiced in Greece and Rome, notices the most conspicuous 

 of modern heroes of the ring in Englaud and America 

 gives the rules of the ring, with a very careful review of the 

 effects of training and overtraining, the exercises necessary to the 

 development of the physical powers, dietetic rules, etc., etc. The 

 latter half of the volume has no necessary connection -with the 

 former half. There are some very interesting chapters on the 

 ancient weapons and games of Ireland, followed by narratives of 

 canoeing adventure on the Connecticut, the. Susquehanna and'the 

 Delaware, written in a charming style worthy of a man who has 

 already achieved renown as a poet. There are few men in our 

 author's position who would ha4 r e imperiled their reputation in 

 defense of a sport so generally condemned; but O'Reilly's "Ethics 

 of Boxing" is safe to be one of the successful books of the season. 

 There is a heroism higher than that displayed by Tom Sayers 

 when, with his arm broken, he stood up resolutely for two hours 

 before the giant Heenan, but the world knows little of it. j Our 

 author glorifies a species of heroism to which aU men, and, for 

 that matter, all women too, do in their inmost hearts yield rever- 

 ence. It wanted only O'KeiUv's book to comnel judgment on the 

 courage displayed in the prize ring, aparf from the brutality 

 which is too frequently, but not necessarily, associated with it. 



fachting. 



FIXTURES. 



Mat. 



19. Monatiquot, Club, Inside. 30. Oswego Opening Cruise. 



24. Miramichi, Spring Cruise. 30. Wizard-Vivid Match, Larch- 



26. Cape Cod, Club, Orleans. mont. 



27. YorkviJle Annual. 30. New Haven, Opening Sail. 



29. Quincy, Open. 30. Pavonia, Opening Sail. 



30. Atlantic Opening. 30. Cedar Point, Open. 

 30. Great Head Trophy. 30. Fall River, Open. 



30. South Boston Open. 30. Quaker City Opening. 

 30. Jersey City, Opening. 



June. 



2. Savin Hill, Club. 21. New York, N. Y. Annual. 



5. Southern Annual, N.Orleans. 21. Oswego, Ladies' Dav. 



7. Miramichi, Cup. 22. Great Head Moonlight Sail. 



9. Larchmoui Spring Pen. 22. Bay View Moonlight, Sail. 



9. Buffalo Club. 23.:Savin Hill. 



9. Great Head Open. 22. Rhode Island, Ladies' Day. 



11. Shaekamaxon. Spring. 23. Sea.wanhaka Annual. 



12. Atlantic Annual. 23. Hull, Hull Pennant. 



13. Columbia. Animal N. Y. 27. Pleon, Club. 



13. Jersey City, Annual. 27. Cape Ann, Gloucester Cup. 



14. Rhode Island Opening. 27. Yorkville. 



10. Quincy, Pen. 28. Eastern Annual. 



10. Monatiquot, First Pen. 28. Eastern Annual, "Marble- 



16. South Boston Club. head. 



10. Cor. Marblehead Pennant. 29. Quincy, 1st Cham. 



10. Portland Annual Challenge. 30. Cor. Marblehead, 1st Cham. 



16. Savin Hill, Open. 30. Great Head Pennant. 



10. Cape Ann. Gloucester Pen. 30. Monatiquot, Club, Fort Pt. 



17. Chelsea, Dorchester Bay. 30. Dorchester Club. 



15. Bay View, Club. 30. Savin Hill, Club. 



18. Quaker City Annual. 30-July 2. Quaker Citv, Cruise 

 18. Dorchester, Open. Up River. 



18. West Lynn, Annual. 30-July 4. Portland Cruise. 



19. New Jersey Annual. 



July. 



2. Miramichi, Club Cruise. 19. Miramichi, Cup. 



4. Larchmont Annual. 20. Savin Hill, Moonlight Sail. 



4. Buffalo Annual. 20. Great Head Moonlight, Sail. 



4. Beverly. Mon. Beach Cham. 20. Bay View Moonlight Sail. 



4. Quaker City. Ccr. Reaatta. 20. Monatiquot Moonlight Sail. 



7. Beverly, Swampsectr. Cham. 21. American, Steam. 



7. Cor. Marblehead, Club. 21. Quaker City, Club Day. 



7. Hull. Club Cruise. 21. South Boston Clnb. 



7. South Boston Club. 21. Cor. Marblehead. 2u Cham. 



10. Southern Cruise, N. Orleans. 21. Beverly, Mon. Beach 3d Open 



U. Pleon, First Cham. 21. Cape Ann, Gloucester Cup. 



13. Monatitmot, First Cham. 23. Rhode Island Cruise. 



14. Great Head 1st Cham. 2*. Pleon. Club. 



14. Beverly, Marblehead, Open 28. Cor. Marblehead, Ladies' 



Sweep, 1st and 2d. Race. 



14. Hull, Hull 1st Cham. 28. Hull, Hull Regatta. 



14. Chelsea, Dorchester Bay. 28. Beverly, Mon. Beach Cham. 



14. Savin Hill, Open. 2«. Great Head Club. 



14. West Lvnn, Cham. 28. Bay View Club. 



14. Cape Cod, Club, Brewster. 28. West Lynn, Club. 



10. Quinev, Ladies' Day, Review 28. Cape Cod Club, Cape Ann. 



16. Rhode island, f'hafn. 30. Quincy, 2d Cham. 



17. Monatiquot, 2d Pen., Inside. 31. Monatiquot. Third Pen. 



18. Bay View, Ladies' Day. 31. Dorchester Club. 



August. 



— Larchmont Oyster Boat. 18. South Boston Club. 



1. Hull, Hull Ladies' Day. 18. Cor. Marblehead. Cup Race. 



4. Hull, Hull 2d Championship. 20. Great Head Moonlight Sail. 



4. Beverly, Nahant, 2d Cham. 20. Miramichi, Cup. 



8. Picon, Second Che 

 11. Savin Hill, Club. 

 11. West Lynn, Club. 



22. Pieon, Third Cham. 

 22. Cape Ann, Open. 

 25. Savin Hill, Club. 



11. Beverly, Mon. Beach Cham. 25. West Lynn, Ladies" Race. 

 11. Cor. Marblehead, Open. 25. Beverly, Marblehead, Open. 



11-20. Buffalo Cruise. 25-Sepl. 8. Quaker City Cruise 



11. Quincy. Open. 

 15 (treat, Head 2d Cham. 

 15. Monatitmot. Ladies' Day. 

 15. Pleon, Open. 

 1', Bay Y iew Moonligb t, Bail, 

 is. Bay View Annual Cruise 



to New London. 

 27. Rhode Island, Open. 



27. Quincy, 3d Cham. 



28. Dorchester Club. 



29. Bay View Club. 

 2!). Great Head Club. 



18. Monatiquot,. 2d Cham, Ft. Pi. 29. Monatiquot, Open Sweep. 

 September. 



1. Cape Ann, Gloucester Cup. 8. Quincy Sail-off. 



1. Savin Hill, Open. 12. Great Head (Tub. 



1. Hull, Hull Open Race 12. Pleon, Sweepstakes. 



1. Larchmont Fall. 15. Buffalo Club. 



3. Newark Fall. 15. Beverly, Mon. Beach, Open 



3. South Boston Open. Sweep. 



3. Beverly, Marblehead Cham. 15. Dorchester ( Hub. 



3. Cor. Marblehead Cham. 15. Savin Rill. Club. 



3. Cape Ann Cruise. 18. Chelsea, Dorchester Bay. 



5. Pleon. Sail Off. 20. Savin Hill, Moonlight Sail. 



8. Cor. Marblehead, Sail Off. — . Miramichi, Cup, Final. 



8, West Lynn, Sweepstakes. 22. West Lynn, Cham. Sail-off 



8. Hull Cham. Sail-Off. 29. Quaker City Cruise, Review. 



A NOVEL SINGLEHANDER. 



Editor FpKest and, Stream: 



It is recorded that our ancestors wove the cloths they wore 

 through the tedious medium of the hand looms; the world had 

 progressed slowly a.nd attained a good old age before the present, 

 excellent and more expeditious machinery was conceived. For 

 many years various nations, particularly the English and Ameri- 

 can, have made it a very serious study to produce fast and sea- 

 worthy yachts; the results have been quite gratifying, more so 

 than the general public is aware of. Hence these few lines to ex- 

 pound a new theory and invention. 



Your subscriber, a Calif ovnian, needing recreation and desiring 

 to see the beauties of the New England and Atlantic shores, pro- 

 posed last fall to go to New York to buy or build a boat adapted 

 for singlehanded cruising. To make a voyage from the coast of 

 Maine along the whole of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Carib- 

 bean shores to Colon; there to make a portage on the railroad to 

 Panama and then proceed to San Francisco, touching at all the 

 intermediate ports; following the sun north to Maine, south to 

 A spin wall, then north again to destination, and so find himself a 

 year in perpetual summer. 



Beiorc leaving San Francisco 1 had read in the Report of the 

 Commission of Navigation to the Secretary of the Treasury, and 

 in the Patent Office Reports, specifications of a recent invention 

 by Capt. F. L. Norton, to produce fast sailing vesse Is nncapsizable, 

 unsinkable, and ballasted with water acting upon air cushions. 

 Although well impressed with the matter I submitted the specifi- 

 cations to the editor of the Scientific Pm« there; who, to my great 

 chagrin, believed to have found an objection in the construction 

 of such a vessel, which would prejudice it for my purposes. How- 

 ever, upon reaching New York a working model of the invention 

 was shown me, the objection alluded to, that the water ballast, 

 would leave the ballast chambers when she reached her Deam 

 ends, overcome by the fact that it did not exist; and hearing what 

 had already been done with the system both here and in foreign 

 countries, I immediately ordered a boat, and consequently shall 

 have the pleasure of being the first in the field with a yacht built 

 on Capt. Norton's principles, all other boats, so far, baring been 

 built tor life-saving purposes ouly. 



The Alista will be yawl rigged, 30ft, loDg over all, 9ft. beam, 

 42in. in depth, and will draw with a 6in. false keel but Sfiin., en- 

 abling her to sail in very shallow waters, in which she iu likely to 

 find herself now and then iu her cruise of 7,000 miles. To demon- 

 strate her great stability and give her speed she will spread some 

 900 sq. ft. of canvas. The cabin will be 12ft. long, with all home 

 comforts and accommodations for a whist pariv. The cockpit 

 will be 6X7ft. 



A baft of the mainmast, to the center of the cockpit, along the. 

 bottom and on each side of t he keelson, are six water-ballasting 

 chambers between the floor beams, varying in size from amid- 

 ship fore and aft. A description of the midship chamber will 

 convey to the investigator an idea of the whole. The midship 

 water-ballasting chamber is 2ft. 9in. long, 3ft. 9in. wide from keel- 

 son to bilge, 10in. deep at the keelson, taking the bevel at the 

 bottom of the timbers and tapering to l^in. with the top of the 

 chamber, at the. bilge; whence the chamber ascends again some 

 lOin. and swells to Sin. across to form the air cushion. Upon 

 launching the wafer enters instantly through holes Oiu. in diam- 

 eter near the keel, in the bottom of the chambers and boat. A 

 pipe and valve connected with the chambers will permit suffi- 

 cient exit of air to allow the ballast water to reach a line along 

 the bilge; here it is checked by the remainder of air in the cham- 

 bers, extending somewhat above the water lino of the craft. 



When the vessel heels to one side, the direct pressure of the 

 sea, through the holes in her bottom and ballast chambers, 

 against the air cushions above the bilge line, and the dead weight 



