©ec. 8, 1881] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



395 



A GROWL FROM A CRUISER. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Last spring:, after writing several lengthy open letters in the 

 FOREST and STREAM and getting no satisfactory answers, or 

 rather proof, to show that 1 was wrong and no sign from the A. 

 C. A. or the regatta committee, that they wanted to do anything 

 to favor the cruising canoe, I marie up my mind that in future I 

 would devote my spare time entirely to our Canadian Division. 



However, that letter of "Retaw" iu the last Canoeist stirred me 

 up again, and T thought I would give the thing another go and see 

 if I would be more successful, so here goes for another shot. I 

 wish I knew "Retaw" as I could grasp Tub hand as a man after 

 my own heart. As he says, it's poor fun tackling an editor in his 

 own columns, unless one has a strong ease, but it strikes me that 

 any cruising canoeist who has watched the A. C. A. cruising 

 canoes degenerate these last two years since the. A. C. A. cruise 

 has fallen from grace, has an argument that cannot be refuted. 

 The editor of the Canoeist immediately jumps on "Retaw" for 

 wanting to substitute an A. C. A. cruise for the regatta. T did 

 not read his epistle in that light. I think what he asked was, "If 

 the Canadian and English canoeists can have a cruise at their 

 meets, why can't we?" He did not wish to do away with the 

 racing, but simply asks why we cannot have a cruise. The C'avoe- 

 ist also says that cruising is hotter than racing, and yet is unwill- 

 ing to give us of that which is good, and as the editor warms up 

 to his work he stands on his tip toes, pounds the desk and wants 

 to know if the A. C. A. is not tor the benefit and pleasure of the 

 A. C. A. members who have the time and money to gather once a 

 year, whom it is for. 



"Well, I don't know. I suppose I must be wrong, but I always 

 thought it was for the cruising as well as the racing members of 

 the A. C. A. ldid not know that the constitution was changed so 

 that iL excluded the cruisers from the meet, and I ask, if they are 

 not excluded, why is not some entertainment provided for thcmV 

 Why has the catering been all for one class, i. c, the racers? And 

 it strikes me forcibly that they have made a mess of it, when a 

 member has to own a Pecowsic or somewhat similar craft to win 

 our highest and only sailing races. 



Last spring I endeavored to prove to Mr. Gibson, now our 

 worthy Commodore, that the cruising canoe had no show in our 

 races, and 1 asked that the 75ft. limit be done away with and a 

 race substituted for it that would give them one race at the meet. 

 He maintained that the 75ft. -limit race was given expressly for the 

 onc-rig cruising man, and that there was just as much need for it 

 now as there was when it was adopted. 



Well, that was a statement, but 1 did not see any facts or 

 records to prove it; and I am of the opinion that when an event is 

 given for the one-rig cruising man and is won by the racing man 

 with five rigs, I think it is about time to hunt up something that 

 will give him a better show. Some may say that this is not so, hut 

 I have the records in my favor. Since 1 last wrote on this subject 

 wo have had another meet and have gathered another batch of 

 evidence supporting what I then claimed, namely, that canoes of 

 the Pecowsic type were bound to scoop our 75ft.-hmit race every 

 time, as well as having as good, if not better, show in the unlim- 

 ited. 



Who won the 75ft.-Uni.it race (that was given for the cruiser) 

 this year? The records say Pecowsic. How many rigs has she, 

 and is she the class of canoe you want cruisers to build for the 

 only race said to be for them? 



However, 1 see 1 have wandered from "Rctaw's" letter, wherein 

 he wants an Association cruise. 1 think we have about 600 mem- 

 bers in the Association, and 1 am of the opinion that a t least 

 three-fourths of them are cruisers as well as racers, and I think 

 we should provide some entertainment for them at tli» meet. If 

 the regatta committee have not time, what is wrong with the 

 Commodore appointing a cruising committee of say three cruising 

 members, who would look after one or two cruises at the meet. 



Wo are supposed to have seen a place where we camp for two 

 weeks, and yet some of us have seen an much of the beauties of ( hi 

 Thousand Islands as the chap who said he had seen the Pyramid 

 of Egypt when he had seen a corner of rock taken from one of them. 

 What we want to do is to offer prizes (flags or otherwise) for the 

 best canoe kit, best canoe and shore tent, best cruising sails (that 

 you do not require to run ashore to lower) best cruising eauoe, etc. 



This would stimulate cruisers to show up at our meets, as it is 

 they are ashamed to bring cruising canoes around for fear the 

 boys will laugh at them for expecting to wiu a race in them. Give 

 them somethiug to come for and tliev will come by the dozens. 

 At first some of the kits will be awful to look at, but after they 

 have all scon one another's kits just wait for the improvements at 

 the next, year's meet. Just notice the di (Terence that there will be 

 iu cruising sails, canoe tents, and everything for which prizes are 

 offered, and when you get them at the meet let them have a 

 couple 'of short, cruises, of a day each or longer if suitable, and 

 you will gather men at your meet who would no more think of 

 •^o: ns to them now than they would think of going to a rooster 

 light. 



I hold that canoe racing has now reached that point in the A. 

 C. A. where il doss not need so much fostering, it has reached the 

 poiut where it does not require all the energies of the management 

 to look after it, and where we have more cruisers than racers in 

 the A. C. A. I ask not as a favor but as a right that the majority 

 have something for which they can compete at our meets. 



Now, though some of these remarks are a little strong, I hope 

 they will be taken as good naturedly as they are sent, and that the 

 management: will take to heart some of the facts that are pre- 

 sented to them. Will G. MacKendrick. 



Toronto, Dec. 2. 



THE DEFINITION OF AN AMATEUR. 



WE have received in the form of a very neatly printed pamph- 

 let, the minutes of the sixteenth annual meeting of the 

 National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, with the report of the 

 executive committee for the year ending August, 1887. The report 

 deals wi h the question of defining an amateur iu a most compre- 

 hensive manner, and represents the la test phase of this important 

 issue. Fortunately it has not yet assumed any great importance 

 in canoeing, but it may come up at any time, and canoeists are 

 directly concerned in the action of similar bodies iu the 

 matter. 



We quote from it as follows: "At the annual meeting of the 

 Canadian Association of Amateur Oarsmen, held in Toronto, 

 there was discussed, and finally adopted an amendment to the 

 amateur law intended to exclude any oarsman 'who shall abandon 

 or leave his daily avocation (for more than two weeks) for the 

 purpose of training, and who has no visible legitimate means of 

 support while training during a longer period, but rows for some 

 real or anticipated profit.' 



"It seems difficult to phrase any rule which will be effective in 

 reaching the objectionable element, without encroaching upon 

 personal liberty, or to fairly fix any period of time beyond which 

 it shall be unlawful for an oarsman to absent himself from his 

 offico or shop. An enthusiastic sculler who is a man of means 

 may devote a mouth to training and yet be an unquestiona ble 

 amateur, while another may be away from his business no more 

 than a week under such circumstances as would justify a regatta 

 committee in refusing his entry. 



"We recommend as a rule proper to adopt, an amendment, 

 stating that the Association considers an amateur to be one 'who 

 rows only for pleasure or recreation, and during his leisure hours, 

 and does not abandon his usual business or occupation for the 

 purpose of training.' Recognizing as wc do that it is for the 

 Association to make laws, and the duty of its executive com- 

 mittee merely to enforce them, we propose submitting to the 

 clubs, to be considered at the annual meeting a year hence, an 

 amendment to your constitution embodying these, restrictions, 

 and we shall request the several clubs to instruct their delegates 

 as to the feasibility and wisdom of such a provision, No formal 

 action has been taken by your committee with reference to a pro- 

 posed narrowing of the lines which bound the qualifications of an 

 amateur, and, while we do not feel that the time has arrived for 

 making any recommendation, it is proper that we note the 

 progress of the movement alluded to in our last annual report. 



"Among the amateur oarsmen of the State of Virginia a rule 

 prevailed excluding from their open regattas all who are 

 mechanics or artisans, but admitting farmers and the tillers of 

 the soil. The rules of your Association have, since been adopted 

 there, and nowhere else in this country has there been put in 

 force any definition which is more stringent than the National 

 law. We learn, however, that in the Northwest, and in several 

 clubs on the eastern seaboard, some of the pioneers and active 

 promoters of amateur sport are. strongly advocating the division 

 of; amateur oarsmen into two classes, placing in the one those 

 whose occupations involve direct manual labor, and consequent 

 muscular development, and confining the other to brain-workers, 

 such as merchants, professional men, tradesmen and clerks, 

 whose vocations do not tend to an improvement of the physique. 



The gentlemen actively interested in the promulgation of these 

 ideas (none of whom are connected with your Executive Commit- 

 tee) have as yet taken no concerted action, but a limited corres- 

 pondence has convinced them that the movement has unexpected 

 strength. Nevertheless we are inclined to the opinion that the 

 supporters of such a charge are at present in a decided minority. 

 Your committee believe that it wall be found very difficult, if not 



well nigh impossible, to draft any definition which will not injure 

 many innocent athletes, and create hardships alike unintentional 

 and unjustifiable. One amendment recently suggested would 

 debar farmers, surveyors, many civil and mining engineers, and 

 not a few architects and other professional men, who, during the 

 years of early manhood, with a view of fitting themselves for 

 their calling, have labored as artisans or mechanics; while it 

 would not exclude garablors, poolroom attaches and professional 

 idlers. 



"Your committee are firmly convinced that any radical change 

 in the amateur definition can be successfully enforced only when 

 supported by tin enlightened public opinion, and this popular senti- 

 ment will not follow, hut must precede any amendment to the 

 National laws. No one pretends that a classing of oarsmen on any 

 basis which would even socm to savor of caste distinction is now 

 demanded by the great body of the rowing fraternity. In some 

 sections it may be found practicable and desirable to draw a divid- 

 ing line between the mechanic' and the clerk. If so it rests with 

 the provincial associations to inaugurate, the innovation, and to 

 give such an experiment a fair trial; hut for the National Asso- 

 ciation to make such an attempt at the present time we feci would 

 be almost suicidal, and calculated to retard rather than advance 

 tlie best interests of amateur rowing. Your committee concludes, 

 therefore, after a careful and thoughtful consideration of the 

 matter in all its bearings, that some time must elapse before a 

 rule enforcing class distinctions can be engrafted on the national 

 rules with any hope of success." 



CLUBS AND THE A- C. A. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I wish to suggest to the consideration of A. C. A. members, the 

 question whether the time has not arrived for the A. C. A. to 

 recognize the numerous clubs or such of them as wish for more 

 int imate relations with the larger body. Having divider! the A , 

 C. A. into divisions, it would seem the most natural step to sub- 

 divide the divisions, and at the present moment, when it appears 

 more than probable that a new division will be formed, is certainly 

 an opportune one for such a course. 1 should therefore suggest 

 that the new division, when applying to the. A. C. A. for recogni- 

 tion, ask permission to admit, under suitable conditions, the 

 clubs within its limits desiring membership. The principal ob- 

 jections to such permission being granted, will probably be on the 

 grounds of representation, finance and club rights or independ- 

 ence, but these can, I believe, be overcome. To take each objec- 

 tion separately. 



lieprcscnt<ition.— The division will primarily consist of individ- 

 ual members. To all these give representation in proportion to 

 their numbers. As clubs are admitted, give them representation 

 in similar proportion to the number of active members in each. 

 In this way a fair and even representation would be obtained, 

 while the A. C. A. would help the clubs by encouraging tho build- 

 ing up of strong, healthy bodies and would thereby itself be 

 helped. 



Finance.— I would suggest that non-club members pay dues (fl 

 each) as at present into the division treasury, and the clubs pay 

 the balance of the expenses for the year, each (dub contributing 

 in proportion to its representation, and no club being entitled to 

 representation or other privileges until such contribution be paid. 

 It might he necessary to establish rules to prevent excessive con- 

 tributions, made to secure unfair representation. 



Club Bights.— It would he desirable to guard against any loss of 

 independence by the individual clubs in the management of their 

 internal affairs, otherwise they would not be induced to join the 

 Association. The A. C. A. would gain nothing by controlling the 

 clubs, while the clubs would suffer by such control and would re- 

 fuse to join were such a course attempted. It would also be 

 necessary to allow any club to resign its membership if at the 

 commencement of a year it should disapprove of the proposed ex- 

 penditure of a division and the consequent proportion falling to 

 its share to pay. 



Under such a plan as that which I have outlined, the canoeing 

 int erests would be/united and work harmoniously together while 

 the present inconsistency by which the A. C. A. refuses to recog- 

 nize clubs directly, and yet indirectly does so would be abolished. 

 By offering inducements to clubs to join, the membership of the 

 A. C. A. would be doubled, and since the expenses would not 

 incrase proportionately, the contribution out of the club treasury 

 would be reduced to so small an item that the majority of clubs 

 could easily pay it without increasing their dues for the purpose. 

 Each year the A. C. A. Executive Committee would apply to each 

 division for its quota of the estimated expenses. The division 

 would in turn add this to its estimated expenses and call on the 

 clubs to contribute, and they would pay the amount out of their 

 treasuries and not add it to club dues as is now done by some 

 among them. The club would as now govern itself and by its 

 representatives in the division, and so ultimately in A. C. A." Ex- 

 ecutive Committee, would have a voice in the framing of law3 

 a ffecting the club, and would be bo»nd thereby instead of as at 

 present accepting such laws if agreeable to it to do so. 



I have simply attempted in these remarks to throw out a rather 

 full general plan, omitting the minor details, all of which could 

 be settled in committee. The fact that its adoption might neces- 

 sitate some amendments in the A. C. A. constitution is not very 

 serious, judging by the numerous changes in the past and the 

 ease with which they hare been effected. A Club Member. 



[The question here suggested has been frequently discussed by 

 A. C. A. men, and w r c believe that the general opinion is in favor 

 of a recognition of the clubs, but thus far no practical method of 

 admitting them has been suggested. It is evident that as the 

 number of clubs and the proportion of members increase, the 

 difficulties mentioned by our correspondent are lessened, and it 

 may be that the time has come when they can be surmounted in 

 the manner indicated. There can be no question but that it would 

 be to the advantage of all to have each canoe club firmly con- 

 nected with the A. C. A., and it is at least worth the time and 

 trouble to consider the scheme outlined above. As we understand 

 it, the representation would be somewhat on the plan of the 

 nominating committee, say one man from each club of not less 

 than six members, and an extra man for, say ten extra members; 

 while the non-members in a division would be allowed onemanfor 

 each six, ten, or fifteen, as might be fouud best; the numbers arc 

 merely by way of illustration. If the result would be to give too 

 many representatives to each division, making the main legislative 

 body too cumbersome, it would be practicable to hold a division 

 meeting, at which each club and the non-members should be rep- 

 resented iu this way, which meeting should nominate the division 

 representatives for the Executive Committee of the A.C.A. and per- 

 form other similar functions. This would secure a fair representa- 

 tional! division work of all mcmbers,both club and individual. As to 

 the financial part, the scheme is based on the supposition that the 

 cost of running a division, or indeed an association, of one hun- 

 dred members, is as great practically as for one of five hundred; 

 and this assumption is correct. The cost of camp site, wharf, 

 prizes, printing, and minor expenses are the same in one case as 

 the other, the main additional expense being postage; a small 

 item at most. Proceeding on this assumption, each additional 

 member must lessen the cost per head, and if this cost can be 

 properly distributed it maybe reduced even below the present low 

 sum, and indeed not even be felt by the man who pays it. The 

 non-member would pay then as now, 81. If the" meets be 

 arranged on one of the proposed plans alluded to last week, 

 of each division bearing the entire expense, whether it is merely 

 the division meet, or the combined A. C. A. and division 

 meet, the expense of a meet would not exceed §350 at most, 

 and the tax of SI per head for each man in camp would 

 defray a large part of the expenses. The remaining sum required 

 for the meet, as well as all minor expenses of the division and A. 

 C. A., could not well exceed $200 in any division. This would be 

 partly made up by tho dues of individuals, $1 each, and the bal- 

 ance would be divided pro rata among the clubs in the division. 

 It is evident that the most any man could be call ed on to pay would 

 he 81 Per year dues and jfl for camp expenses, as now, while the 

 expense to club members, with a fair number of clubs represented, 

 would be reduced to almost nothing, except the $1 for camp when 

 they attend. To carry out this scheme it would be necessary to 

 make an estimate of the amount to be paid for the coming year 

 by a division to the A. C. A., of the cost of the meet to be held in 

 the division, and then to deduct the number of individuals at 81 

 each, and the probable attendance at the meet also $1 each. The 

 balance would remain to bo raised by the clubs, and any club 

 entering the circle would agree to pay its proportionate share. 

 We believe this scheme can be successfully put in practice in the 

 new divisions, and so commend it to the attention of the prelimi- 

 nary meeting on Eriday night at 217 Fifth avenue, New York.i 



THE DELAWARE RIVER MEET.-Philadelphia, Dec. 2.~ 

 Edilor Forest and Stream; I wish to correct an error in Mr. Bind- 

 er's communication of last week concerning the Dela ware River 

 meet, in which he says, "The meet will be held under tho auspices 

 of the Keystone Club and not by individual persons as it was last 

 season." The meet was held under the auspices of the Quaker 

 City C. O. and not by individual persons. In justice to one indi- 

 vidual, Mr. J. A. Barten of the Q. C. C. C, the originator of the 

 Delaware River meet, I wish to say if it were not for his energy 

 and perseverance we would yet have long to wait for a canoe 

 meet on the Delaware River.— Fair Plat. 



OTTAWA CANOE CLUB. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The following is a report of the sailing races of the Ottawa C. C. 

 for the. past season: 



FORTNIGHTLY BBBIES SAIL/NO RACES. 



1st 2d 3d 4th 5th 6th 



Marabel, C. A. Thompson 1 1 1 1 



Irene, R. W. Baldwin 3 3 2 1 1 2 



lolanthe, W. McL. Maingy 2 5 *4 2 2 4 



Nixie, P. B. Symes 4 4 3 



Dolphin, P. A. Maingy 5 2 . . 3 3 



Aline, Henri Roy 6 . . 3 



♦lolanthe broke her rudder early in the race. 



Bosidos No. 4 race of the fortnightly series, which, also formed 

 one of our regatta races, and by winning which Mr. Baldwin 

 became the owner of the Rrough challenge cup, having won it 

 twice in succession, we have had tho following races: 



1. Upset race. -A. O. Wheeler 2m., R. W. Baldwin 4m., R. J. 

 Wickstcad did not finish. 



3. Bailing race.— This race was not concluded within the time 

 limit, and has not yet been sailed over again. 



3. A one mile with a turn, tandem paddling raee. — A. O.Wheeler 

 and O. G. Rogers, double blades, 10:32; W. H. Crunk and E. H. 

 Glahorne. double blades, 11:08; W. C. E. Stewart and B. Bell, single 

 blades, 11:10. 



4. A one-mile with turn single paddling race, single blades only. 

 —A. O. Wheeler 12:17, W. H. Cronk 13:18. N. H. H. Lett 11:00. 



5. A 7-milo tandem paddling race.— J, S. Brough and C. W. 

 BadgelBy, double blades, 58:40; A. O. Wheeler and C. G.Rogers, 

 double blades, 59:35; N. H. H. Lett and K. Lett, single blades, 62:00; 

 J. D. Campbell and G. A. Davies, single blades, 63:15. 



In the account of the fortnightly series of paddling races it 

 should have been mentioned that by winning the fourth race of 

 the series (which also formod one of our regatta races), Mr. Bald- 

 win became the owner Of the Brough challenge cup, having won 

 it twice in succession, the previous occasion being in the regatta 

 of 1386. Francis H. Gisborne, Sec. Ottawa C. C. 



Jachting. 



Small Yachts. By C. P. Kunhardt. Price $7. Steam Yachts and 

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

 Canoes. By C. Stansfield-Hichs. Price $8.50. 



A NEW AMERICAN INDUSTRY-THE NAPHTHA 

 LAUNCH. 



IT is always pleasing to note the successful growth of a new in- 

 dustry, and when this growth is rapid and steady it argues 

 well for the sterling merit of the invention. When the difficulties 

 which besot the introduction of every invention out of the beaten 

 track are considered, tho success which tho naphtha launch has 

 attained in a very short time must be taken as very strong proof 

 of the inherent excellence of tho machine itself, as well as of the 

 skill and ability of the loaders and directors of the enterprise. 



It is less than two years since the first engines were built as an 

 experiment bv what is now the Gas Engine and Power Co., the 

 enterprise being commenced on a small scale, the first boats being 

 built for the company by outside builders. Though inferior in 

 many details to the present boats, these experimental craft were 

 successful from the first, and iu tho summer of 1886 the concern 

 secured a site on the Kills, at the junctiou with the Harlem River, 

 and not far from Port Morris, whore a boat shop and factory were 

 built, and the construction of the hulls as weJl as engines begun. 

 The demand grew so rapidly in the first season that the shops 

 were enlarged, but even with the present extensive facilities the 

 company have been unable to keep up with their orders this 

 season. 



The present factory is a large brick building, the lower floor 

 being devoted to the offices, engine room, machine shop and show 

 room. In the latter, a large and well lighted room, are kept 

 launches of all sizes, from 16 to 35ft., fitted up in different woods, 

 the boats being finished here prior to shipment. The floor above 

 is mainly used as a boat shop, the drawing-room, copper shop and 

 store rooms occupying one end. The boat shop is well equipped 

 with woodworking machinery, while on the stocks are boats of all 

 sizes from 16ft. to 40ft. The hulls are mostly carvel built, and are 

 entirely fastened with copper. The frame is of oak, with plank- 

 ing of cedar or mahogany. Inside the hulls are neatly finished 

 in hard wood, being decked over for 3 or 4ft. at each end, with 

 narrow water ways and coamings. The placing of engine and 

 boiler in the extreme after end of the boat leaves the interior 

 entirely free, so that a seat runs down each side for the passen- 

 gers, the 16ft. boat carrying six to eight persons. When a hull is 

 nearly completed the uaphtha tank of coppar, well stayed inside, is 

 placed in the bows ahead of the forward bulkhead, and a deck or 

 open grating laid over it. The after part of the boat, divided by a 

 half bulkhead, is lined inside with tin. and the engine and boiler 

 set in and the shaft connected. This floor is provided with a large 

 hoistway and powerful tackle, by which a 40ft. boat, the largest 

 yet built, is lowered readily. On the bulkhead in the rear of the 

 factory is the boat house, with a slip and an overhead railway 

 and differential blocks, by which the boats are easily launched or 

 lifted. The growing demand for the boats has proved too much 

 even for the present enlarged promises, and the company has 

 lately bought ground further up the Harlem River, near Morris 

 Dock, where the now buildings, covering oetween three and four . 

 acres, will be ready by next summer. 



The motive power of these boats is sufficiently ingenious and 

 novel to merit a special description. The fuel is deodorized naph- 

 tha of 76°, and the vapor from it is also used in the cylinders in 

 place of steam, no water being required. The engine, very small 

 and compact, weighing but 2001bs., including boiler for two H. P., 

 is situated low down in the boat, the three single-acting cylinders 

 being contained in a cast-iron casing. The upper part of this cas- 

 ing forms the valve seats, the cylinders being suspended below it. 

 The three plain D valves are operated by one valve stem, operated 

 by gearing from the crank shaft. On top of the engine casing is 

 the boiler, two spiral coils of copper pipe, one within the other, 

 and a vortical cylinder within the inner coil. The coils and cyl- 

 inder are connected by piping, the whole being inclosed within a 

 brass casing, above which is the smokestack. The naphtha is car- 

 ried by a pipe outside the keel from the tank in the bow to the 

 inner coil of pipe, thence down and into the outer coil, and from 

 the top of the latter into the vertical cylinder. The heavier gases 

 pass directly to the engine, but the lighter gas is taken from the 

 cylinder by a pipe and carried to an injector, where it is mixed 

 with air, and then carried to the burner directly beneath the two 

 coils. Here it is ignited, the. flame surrrounding the coils and in- 

 terior cylinder. The portion of the naphtha vapor which passes 

 from the engines is condensed in a tube outside the keel in the usual 

 steam-yacht style, and then returns to the tank to be used again. 

 The only part expended is that burned beneath the coils. The 

 rate of consumption for a two H. P. engine is about three quarts 

 per hour. The tank being connected with the burner only by 

 tubes surrounded by water, there is very little possibility of an 

 explosion, as any flame would have to pass through a long tube of 

 small diameter and kept at a low temperature. 



It will be seen that the engine is very economical in its working, 

 •while the details of its construction are so arranged that there is 

 little possibility of a breakdown. The crankshaft is turned up in 

 one piece, of cast steel, the single valve stem or more properly 

 eccentric, that operates all the valves, is turned from solid stock, 

 so no slipping is possible; the pistons are very long while the rods 

 are attached to them by a simple ball and socket joint. The re- 

 versing is instantly done by a small hand wheel on the valve^stem. 

 The engine is easily started by applying a match, and may be run 

 within three minutes. No licensed engineer or fireman are re- 

 quired and the machinery is so simple that it may be run with 

 little practice by any intelligent person. There is no fuel to han- 

 dle, no ashes and cinders; no smoke; and the engine being aft the 

 products of combustion and the smell are of no annoyance. The 

 light weight and great convenience of these boats specially 

 recommends them for yacht use, and nearly all the schooners and 

 steam yachts may be seen with the small brass stack which indi- 

 cates the naphtha launch, in tho stern of at least one of their 

 light boats, while many sloops of moderate size carry one, or have 

 one as an attendant when in port. 



Within the short time that they have been in the market the 

 boats have made their way to all ports of the world, Norway, 

 Sweden, England, France, South America and even the Sandwich 

 Islands. The Indian Prince Thakore Sahib, lately in this country, 

 purchased two, while the Duke of Marlborough carried borne one. 

 A launch taken to England some time since by Mr. Kyrle Bellew 

 has attracted much attention there. Besides their use in con- 

 nection with yachts the launches are much used in Florida, 

 among the Thousand Islands, and in summer and winter resorts 

 where the steam launch in some form is a necessary adjunct to 

 every well appointed villa, and for this use their simplicity, 

 cleanliness and low cost of running specially fits them. The great 

 success they have met with thus far seems to be well deserved and 

 promises still further improvement as their manufacture extends. 



