Feb. 3, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



SB 



TORONTO, Jan. 27.— It is 16 years since a. few thorough sports- 

 men met together and organized the Toronto Gun Cluh. From 

 the first the enthusiasm was so great that the success of t he organ- 

 ization was assured, but of lato years the cluh has made grout, 

 strides, and in spite of the oi'ganization of two or three other cluhs 

 in this city, the lather of them all has gone onward and upward, 

 until to-dav it numbers no loss than 150 active members. To-night 

 the annual meeting of the Toronto Gun Club was held in the club 

 rooms on King street. There were between 50 and IJO members 

 present. The president, S. W. Downey, being in the chair. Busi- 

 ness of a domestic nature occupied the club for two hours, during 

 Mitch reports were presented, showing the institution to be very 

 flourishing, both in membership and financially. Tiien the elec- 

 tion of officers took place with the following result: President, G. 

 Pearsall; Vice- President, J. Wightman Millar; Secretary, J, K. 

 Keswick; Treasurer, R. J. Kidd; Executive Committee, F. Martin, 

 G. H. Briggs, A. Elliott, and J. Wordehj Auditors, J. C. Forma n 

 and J. "VV right. Votes of thanks to Mr. Downey, wno had occupied 

 the presidential chair for three years, and other retiring officers 

 closed the proceedings. 



ON DIT.— A match is get down between L. B. Campbell, of Little 

 Silver, N. J„ and W. W. Leves, of Elizabeth, to shoot at 85 live 

 birds each man, at Duuellen, Feb. 8, 2 P. M., for $100 a side: birds 

 to he furnished by Campbell. 80yds. rise, 5 trans, die to be thrown 

 previous to each shot, one barrel, gun below elbow until bird, is on 

 the Wing! boundary, hack t he club grounds as shown by the line of 

 stakes; In all other cases the boundary is to be lvd. from fence. 

 £50 forfeit ha* been placed in the hands of Alfred Heritage. W. 

 C. Budd and Wm. Graham, we arc informed, are both entered for 

 the big sweep for |100 per man at the tournament of the Middlesex 

 Club, at Duuellen, Fob. 22, and a return match between these 

 redoubtable shots similar to last match, is positively asserted. 

 The match to take place on the grounds of the .Jersey City 

 Heights Gun Club at Marion, some, time during the month. Also 

 a match is being arranged between the Coney Island Rod and Ghtl 

 Club and J. C. H., 15 or 20 men each club, 10 birds each; for the 

 birds, glory and a good time.— Jaoobstaff. 



WELLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 2D— The Wellington Gun Cluh held 

 its regulnr weekly shoot this afternoon, a goodly number of gun- 

 ners being present to participate in the sport. In the medal 

 match Shumway won in Class A, Wardwoll in Class B, and Wilson 

 in Class C. Following is the result of the other events; 1. Six blue 

 rocks— Stanton and Moore first, Shumway, Snow and Schaefer 

 second. Warren and Brown third, Sanborn and Wardwell fourth. 

 2. Six clay-pigeons— Shumway flrst, Warren and Mooro second) 

 Snow third, Wardwell and Short fourth. 3. Six clay-pigeons— 

 Snow first, Sanborn second, Kimball third, Shu. nway fourth, 4. 

 Six blue rocks— Shumway, Stanton and Sanborn first", Moore and 

 Snow second, Wilson third, Sehaeter fourth. 5. Six blue rocks- 

 Swift and Moore first, Shninway and Ames second, Wardwell and 

 Schaefer third, Warren fourth. 6. Six blue rocks— Stanton first, 

 Snow second, Shu .mway third, Schaefer fourth. 7. Ten olay- 

 pigcons— Swift first, Stanton second, McCoy and Wardwell third, 

 V. ilson fourth. 



FITCHBURG, Mass.— The Fitchburg Rifle and Gun Club will 

 hold a shooting tournament on its grounds Wednesday, Feb. 16. 

 The principal event of the tournament will be the tenth compe- 

 tition for the climax diamond badge, now held by H. W. Eager, of 

 Marlboro, a member of the "Worc ester Sportsman's Club. The 

 events will he at artificial targets. All the principal shots of New 

 England are expected to participate in the tournament.— G, W. 

 WiiVMOi.'Tii, Sec'y- 



M ASSACHUSETTS RIFLE ASSOCIATION.-The third eompe- 

 titirm for the elegant gold badge in the Macomher badge shoot, 

 will be held at Walnut Hill range, Wednesday, Feb. P, at 10 o'clock, 

 A. M.- .1. E. Leach, Sec'y. 



Extract from letter received by the U. S. Cartridge Co.. Lowell. 

 MaSS., from Mr. Frank Hart, of J. Heart <Sr Co., bankers, Doyles- 

 tewn. Pa., dated Jan.. 2-1, 1887: "1 have about como to the conclu- 

 sion that your .22 short rim-fire carl ridges aro the most reliable 

 in the market, and they are beginning to be appreciated by those 

 who know where a bullet ought to go when thev pull the trigger." 

 —Adv. 



THE REGATTA PROGRAMME. 



Editor Forest and Stream; 



As the Regatta Committee have published their programme for 

 the 1887 meet and have requested comment on same before its final 

 adoption, I would inquire why they still keep the triangular course 

 for all sailing events. It is admitted by all that the test of a boat's 

 sailing qualities lies in windward work; but canyon get wiudwa.rd 

 "work at all times with a triangular course ? Take the trophy race 

 at the 1886 meet as an example, the only windward work was one 

 long leg and a short one: not enough by any means to test the sail- 

 ing qualities of a canoe. Why not make the course 2 miles to 

 windward or leeward and return ? The starting line is stated to 

 he 50ft. in length. This, I think is entirely too short, and to at- 

 tempt to start 40 or more canoes across a lino of this length would 

 he an utter impossibility without numerous fouls, and even then 

 the foremost bout to cross the line would be 100 a nd probal >1 v 801 lyde 

 ahead of tho hindmost. As the first leg is to the windward the 

 starting line could just as well be 500 as 50ft. and give all the canoes 

 a more even start. A canoe starting from any"point on the line 

 would have exactly tho same distance to travel to roach the wind- 

 ward buoy. This starting the canoes to windward, if the course is 

 a true windward one, is a good move on the part of the com- 

 mittee, as it does away with jockeying for position and blanketing 

 to a very great extent. 



Our club expects to have a very good delegation at the next 

 meet, even if we do have to travel 1,200 miles to reach it, and we 

 are solid for a windward course and a starting line broad enough 

 for all to get somewhere near an even start. Madeleine. 



Jacksonville, Fla. 



CANOE VS. SAILING BOATS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Certain editorial remarks in your paper of Dec. 80, under the 

 heading of "Canoes vs. Sailing Boats,' 1 are calculated to place me 

 at least, in a false position, and therefore I am forced to state 

 that, while fully agreeing with you in regard to the excellence of 

 square stern sailboats, sneakboxes and counter stern sharpies for 

 various purposes, I do not now advise, nor have I ever advised, 

 that anything but a canoe, as defined in t e first sentence of Rule 

 1 in the Sailing Regulations of the A. C. A., should be admitted to 

 the privileges of the Association. 



My proposition was, and is, that a new class of canoes be ad- 

 mitted of sufficient beam to render them safe and comfortable 

 under sail, and when managed by inexperienced persons who 

 really take their lives in their hands every time thev go sailing in 

 a canoe 15ft. in length by say 28 to 81m. beam. 



In other words, I insist that a canoe of the Association "must 

 be sharp at both ends, with no counter stern or transom, and must 

 be capable of being efficiently paddled bv one man." 



Now, I can efficiently paddle a canoe 48in. in width, but some 

 men may not be able to do so. Therefore my Suggestion was, and 

 is, that a limit of beam in the proposed new' class be, fixed some- 

 where between 36in. and 48in., on a limit for say 15ft. 



Further than this, I believe that no sailing canoe should be 

 allowed in a race of the A. C. A., if her hull, including center- 

 board, weighs more than HOlbs., and no ballast should be used 

 Any canoe, of necessity, becomes a "sailing canoe" the moment a 

 sail is hoisted over her. 



Now, fellow members of the A. C. A., I beg of you to weigh this 

 ma tter carefully, banishing from your minds mere personal feel- 

 ing, and see if it would not be for the best interests of our Associa- 

 tion to give us a new class with a little more beam. 



Thirty-six inches would be a great gam in the direction of safety. 

 Thirty-eight inches beam would insure us a fine comfori t> hie l ift le 

 cruiser under sail, and an efficient paddler as well. Nobody desire^ 

 to force you to give up your narrow boats, but we. the minorltv, 

 would like to enjoy our kind of sailing without being regarded as 

 outside the fence. Think it over, gentlemen, 



Roslyn, N. Y. Thomas Clapham. 



A LIGHT CANADIAN CANOE, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Inquiries have appeared in some of your late issues respecting 

 the value of canvas canoes for tramping and portaging. As one 

 having considerable experience in such matters, allow me to place 

 the result before our brethren of camp and rod. I have tried the 

 cam as boat, and find it fairly light and easy to portage; but It re- 

 quires too much care in the water for real comfort. Running 

 rapids with it is ont of the question, as a snag might be fatal to it; 

 and on a long trip the canvas is apt to wear, to become soaked and 

 heavy, and lose its paint and waterproof properties. Pretty much 

 the same objections apply to a birch bark, though it is easier to 

 mend, but is not quite so easy to carry. I have also tried a light 

 skiff, BOIbs. weight, to carry and be carried by two; but for rough 

 portaging it is very awkward, especially where tho ground is rocky 

 or mucn second growth prevails. 



I heard great things of a composite canoe; wooden planks with 

 canvas hinges, but it seems to have been more or less a disappoint- 

 ment. So last spring found me still searching for the desideratum, 

 a craft light and handy enough to make portages a pleasure, and 

 still enough to permit of casting a fly or landing a maskalonge^ 

 with strength enough to stand occasional rocks or snags and the 

 wear and fear of protracted cruising. 1 write this for the bench 

 of brother campers, in the full belief that my search ih ended sue 

 eessfully. 



The Kyd, the present companion of my tramps, was built to 

 order for me by the Ontario Canoe Company, of Peterborough. 

 She is HUft. lone;, 28in. wide over all, and built of tongued and 

 grooved cedar strips, lin. wide and 3-10in. thick. She is decked in 

 Si-sift, bow and 3ft. stern, and has a 2in. coaming around tho well 

 Toe decking is of very thin cedar, the coaming of hard wood 

 With two tin air tanks 2ft. long in euohend, she only weighs SOU 

 and is easy to portage either on (he bead or by slings around the 

 shoulder. Hor Btrength is immense, and owing to her peculiar 

 construction she has never leaked a drop, and will not short of 

 actual smash of the sides. Her width aud flat bottom render he 

 very steady, and she has proved herself quite equal to the sweil 

 on Lake Ontario. One word more in her favor, she was choapjt 

 big matter when connected with success In other particulars. By 

 using oiled linen decking and omitting the air tanks, her weight 

 might be still further reduced, 



1 t rust that this may be the means of robbing the portage of its 

 terrors for many an outer, and of making it, as it ought to be, a 

 pleasant change from the far niente of the camp. Old Rpg. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am in favor of wide canoes. I am building one. It will be 12ft 

 long, 96in. beam, perfectly fiat flottom, perpendicular sides, 3in 

 deep amidships, 9 at bow and 7 at stern. She will bo fitted with 

 the Novelty Folding Centerboard (a new thing) , 7sq. ft. immersed 

 area, and will carry for cruising 150sq. ft. of sail. She will he an 

 able paddler. True, she will be rather slow, but by running a 

 plank out over the bow to sit astride of (ballast the stern to trim) 

 and paddle a ia Grant Edgar and sneakbox. she will go. She mil 

 fee named the Stiletto, qmi. 



A CANVAS CANOE. 



Editor Fore*! and Stream: 



Some time ago I saw in the columns of your entertaining paper 

 an inquiry relative to canvas canoe*. Having built one several 

 years since aud used it continually from the time it was finished 

 until the present, the following may benefit the inquirer and 

 others: 



If 1 remember rightly I gleaned my information as to model and 

 details ot building from an article written bv Mr. Stephens in th 

 sn, HiiHc American) at least it was in the winter of 1880-81 that th 

 boat was built, and launched about May 1, lstl. The size of the 

 boat was kJMjft.xSOin., 12in. deep amidships and 18in. at stem and 

 stern, and it. was built as follows: The keel was a piece of white 

 oak lin. square by lift, long, fastened by screws to the stem and 

 stern pieces ot hackmatack, cut so as to be lin, thick where they 

 were fastened to the keel, and shaved to less than a quarter of an 

 inch where they cut the water and above, and curved so as to 

 make just 12ft. length of boat over all. A single mould SGin. long, 

 12ln. deep, set crosswise in the center of the keel and fastened 

 securely, served to give the proper sheer plan and shape, to whicl 

 was tacked the middle of two strips of white oak. lxj^iu., the ends 

 of the latter being then bent around to the stem and stern pieces, 

 which had, of course, also been securely braced after beingscrewed 

 in place aud made plumb. Of these thin oak strips i had providi 

 a dozen, six for eac h side, and they were fastened to the ends In- 

 small brass screws below the waterline. and iron above. After 

 the first two were on, however, running trom the top of the mould 

 in the center to tin; top of stem and stern, and making a beautiful 

 sheer, i placed in tho ribs. 



These were made from somo rock elm, two nieces of which I 

 bought from a wagon maker for fifty cents, ihey being, when 1 

 bought them, Oft. long, %in. thick and Sin. wide. With a rip saw 

 I cut them into nine or ten pieces, each wide, '4in. thick and 

 6f t. long. 1 t lieu marked out on a large sheet of white blotting 

 paper, about 2ft, square, used on office desks, the shape of what I 

 considered the rib should be, beginning at the center ribs and 

 making tho ribs aft and forward of the mould in the center alike. 

 After they were marked out on the paper I cut them out with a 

 pair of shears, laid them on a wide board, drew the plan of them 

 on that, and then drove nails Sin. apart down the line on the board, 

 one on each side, from the top to bottom of the lib plan. Then 

 having steamed the elm strips in a wooden box or trough lin. 

 square and 6ft. long, made for the purpose, into which I inserted 

 the spout of a common tea kettle through a hole bored in the 

 center of the bottom, when resting on the backs of t wo chairs i 

 bent the elm nicely around between the projecting nails along the 

 line or plan of the rib drawn on the board, making a pair of each, 

 each rib reaching from gunwale to gunwale, all ih one piece. 



Itben mortised holes through the keel (voir, one side to the other 

 M by Mm. wide, just large enough to allow the rib to go through, 

 tight lit. and Gin, apart. Through these holes I inserted the ribs, 

 each in its place, fastening the same in the center, through the 

 keel with a brass screw %m. long, and at the sides to the gunwale 

 by an iron screw Min. long, ribs outside of gunwale. I now ran 

 another oak strip from stem to stern, outside of ribs, fastenini 

 that to inside wale by copper wire running through each anu 

 around the end of each rib, so as to bind all together firmly. One 

 foot trom each end I put in a pine bulkhead, made of J^in. stuff, 

 flush with the ribs. Having fastened everything securely I now 

 took the. frames from off the stocks, leaving the mould in frame, 

 however, in the center, and turned it over, bracing it in the 

 center and at the ends, and put on the balance of mv oak strips, 

 spacing thera aoout 4in. apart, running from stem to stern and 

 each screwed to the ribs where they crossed each other. 



The directions then said to stretch on the canvas, to paint and 

 the noat is finished; but preferring strength to lightness I pro- 

 cured from the planing mill some light stuff they had stored awav 

 composed of butt ernut, pine and some walnut, not over J^in. thick; 

 this I fastened to the bottom in strips of about fin. wide, nar- 

 rowed at ends so as to fill the spaces between the oak strips, and 

 in such a way as to make a smooth bottom. Not water-tight, of 

 course, but smooth enough to act as a foundation for the canvas, 

 and extending about Sin. above waterline. This I then painted 

 with thick white lead, then took my canvas, two widths sewed 

 with double seam up the center, 13ft. long, being then wide 

 enough to reach round the bottom from gunwale to gunwale, 

 tacked the seam down the keel, drew the sides down to the gun- 

 wales (she was upside down), fastened them lightly, then drew 

 them out at stem and stern very tight, fastened" it there, turned 

 her over, drew up and fastened canvas over gunwales, and in such 

 a way that I got t he most perfect hollow waterliues you ever saw, 

 using small copper tacks; put bottom boards inside, decks from 

 stem and stern to bulkheads, rowlocks, etc., two coats of white, 

 lead outside, and she was done. Total cost $4.35. 



I have used the boat every week of every month during the 

 summer time since, and for two years every day almost without 

 exception during the summer months, and that, too, the very- 

 roughest kind of usage, around the city docks, up and down from 

 dock to water and over logs and raffs until I thought at times, she 

 was surely a goner, but to-day she is just as good as the da v she was 

 launched, with the exception of a few scars in the canvas where I 

 have tacked and painted over slits made by sharp sticks and nails. 

 She dra ws only 2in., light, has, of course, a very flat floor, sails well 

 only before the wind, runs like a zephyr with oars and works 

 beautifully with double paddle; but, more than all, will hold a 

 man upright without dumping him over one side when he happens 

 to look over the other side. 1 have again and again taken four, 

 five and six persons down the river to Saginaw Bay in her and 

 then had 6 and ?in. of f eeboard; and although wo could not travel 

 around her deck much, she was as steady as a church, weighs but 

 601bs., and the older she gets the tighter she becomes. I have been 

 induced by Mr. Bousfield, Of this city, who so beautifully carried 

 away the first honors last year at the A. C. A. meet for the highest 

 average record ot points in racing, to buv a canoe, and have now 

 building a smoothskin 15fl.x31^in. canoe by a local builder, but in 

 spite of the fact that I promise myself a good time in her, and lots 

 of sport and excitement at the meets, which I shall try and 

 attend, 1 am inclined to believe that when I want a good time and 

 desire to take a chum or two for a sail or fishing excursion, with- 

 out fear of capsizing, and wish to take comfort, that 1 shall have 

 to leave the new boat at home and fall back on my old canvas- 

 back. 



I must say that I heartily agree with Mr. Clapham in this mat- 

 ter and believe that instead of ballast and racing machines, a 

 wider, safer, more comfortable boat is far to be preferred 



Bay Cmy, Mi ch., Jan. 33. jf. c. Harttngh. 



CANOEING IN ILLINOIS-Peoria, 111., has several canoeists, 

 and a eluo will probably be organized in the spring. The Illinois 

 River offers good sailing, paddliug and camping, with plenty of 

 fish and game. 



THE A. C. A. AND UN ATT A CURD CANOEISTS.-BelleviUe, 

 N. Y.-"Mac" asks in your issue of the 30th alt. whv onlv 10 per 

 cent, of the Passaic River canoeiHta are A. C. A. men, aud whv all 

 do not join, attend the meets and there urge a salt-water 

 meet. In the first place 1 believe only three of the above members 

 have ever attended any of the meets and the supposition is, if I he 

 whole number of canoeists should join, as few in proportion could 

 attend and they certainly would have no more influence in locat- 

 ing the meets than the members of the three large New York 

 clubs who are not twenty miles away. The trouble is the canoeists 

 cannot attend the distant meets and so do not care to join. We do 

 not ask to have flic principal meet here every year; simply to have 

 one near New York city, to warm up the luke-warm and'bring in 

 the outsiders aud then we will be better able to take care of our- 

 selves. There being no camp to attend within reach a great many 

 cannot make up their minds to start for a cruise with nowhere 

 definite to go to, aud never starting do not know how much they 

 miss. If they had something to start them they would probably 

 make good cruisers. Of course there are a- number of exceptions 

 to the above, some lake long cruises, notably one who cruised to 

 is Gwporf, R. L; one who cruised nearly the whole length of Long 

 Island Sound in a canoe built by himself; another who ran the 

 Delaware and a number who have gone to Sandy Hook. But even 

 to such the A. C. A. is of very little practical benefit. For instance 

 1 cruise whenever 1 have a chance and every vacation is spent that 

 way. I ha ve not been able to attend any of tho meets (aud 1 doubt 

 it I could this year, even if it was close at band), and although I 

 joined before my lirst. canoe was finished, some throe years ago, I 

 have never derived the least benefit, nor seen the least advantage 

 in being a member, with the exception of the satisfaction I have 

 bad in knowing 1 belonged to a firsl-ckiss organisation of good fel- 

 lows and (lying their flag and I he hope of some day attending a 

 meet and making the acquaintance of t hose whom, thanks to your 

 good paper, already seem like old friends. To me this is worth 

 the t-2, but the great majority do not look at it in that way and 

 don't liko to pay for what they have no hope of over getting. — 

 Idlemere. 



CANOE BUILDING AT CANTON.— Mr, Rushton has been 

 busy at his extensive shops t hroughout the winter preparing for a 

 large trade in the spring. He has sold few canoes, but several 

 sneak boxes and cruisers for the South. The new catalogue is 

 now partly completed, hut will not be ready until March. The 

 latest novelty in the way of canoes Is the new smooth lap, two 

 samples of Which, a Vesper and Bucktail, are now on exhibition at 

 Squires, in New York. The edges of the plank are each beveled, 

 so that the lap is flush inside and out. The new Vesper is a far 

 handsomer and fairer boat than any of the lapstreaks of the 

 same model, and both she and the Bucktail are no heavier than if 

 built in the usual way. A novelty that we cannot commend is a 

 sliding seat, a frame across the canoe on which slides a deck seat 

 on which the crew may sit far to windward. In brasswork Mr. 

 Rushton has lately got out a very handy little hook for a tent, 

 small and compactly made. The upper end is driven up under the 

 gunwale and tho lower is held by a single screw. Another neat 

 fitting is a snatch block of a new pattern. 



OAKLAND C. C.— The annual meeting was held on Jan. 15, the 

 officers elected being. Commodore, W. W. Blow: Vice-Corn., A. D. 

 Harrison; Secretary, E. R. Cooper; Treasurer, F. W. Tallant. The 

 lieet now numbers 22 active members and 18 canoes, with four 

 more building. On Jan. 1(1 a race was sailed for the Mayrisch gold 

 badge, seven boats starting. The wind was light and variable from 

 N. E. The summary was as follows: Sailing race, first class; 

 prize, Mayrisch gold challenge badge. Tide high at 8:15 P. M., 

 wind light easterly. Regular club course, three miles: 



Start. Turn. Finish. Time. Dif. 



Mystic 3:40 1 4:54 1:14 



Kcho 8:10 2 4:61:15 1:14:15 15s. 



Coney Island 3:40 4 4:57 1:17 3m. 



Zoe Mou 3:40 5 4:59 1:19 5m. 



Sampler 3:10 ti 5:00 1:20 Oni. 



Shadow 3:!0 3 5:04 1:24 10m. 



Flirt 3:10 Did not turn the stake. 



ARLINGTON C. C— Editor Forest and Stream: The first annual 

 meeting of the Arlington O. C, of Arlington, N. J., was held .Tan. 

 4, 1887. C. V. Schuyler was elected Commodore; Kichard If. Mol- 

 loy, Vice-Commodore, and Irving V. Dorlanfl, Secretary-Treas- 

 urer for the ensuing year. The reports of Secretary and Treasurer 

 show a membership Of! nine, eight of whom own cauocs and are 

 active canoeists; a boat house built and paid for, and tho club out 

 of debt, which we think a good showing for our lirst year. — lit vim; 

 V. DohlAND, Sec.-Treas. 



HARTFORD C. C.-The annual meeting of tho Hartford C. C. 

 w as held on Jan. 18, the followiug officers being elected: Presi- 

 dent. Dr. Geo. L. Parmele; Commodore, L. Q. Jones; Treasurer, 

 W. B. Davidson; Secretary, John I). Parker; member of Executive 

 Committee, W. G. Abbott. The Treasurer's report showed a good 

 balance and it was voted to call in four of the houso bonds, 

 choosing them by lot. The first camp-fire will be held shortly. 



THE A. C. A. AND THE W. C. A— Albany, N. Y., Jan. 28.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: Your compositor in putting into print 

 my letter in last issue, made the words "rectification of errors'* 

 read "ratification of errors." There is a. slight difference between 

 these two expressions.— R. W. Gibson. 



KNICKERBOCKER C. C.-Tho officers of the K. C. C. elected 



fachtittg. 



Address att communications to the Forest and Stream Pub. Co. 



YACHTING AS A NATIONAL SPORT. 



AMONG all sports the foremost place has long been conceded 

 to yachting, as the one best calculated to develop a strong 

 and hardy people, and to encourage that, love of maritime pursuits 

 that is the most efficient safeguard of a nation. Situated as tho 

 United States is, with an ocean on each side and great bodies of 

 water to the north and south, to say nothing of the immense in- 

 land water courses; its maritime interests are of the most vital 

 importance. The part which a pleasure navy mav play in the de- 

 velopment and building up of a merchant, marine and of anational 

 navy is generally admitted, and yet it is beyond question that 

 American yachting, in spite of its many grand achievements, is 

 far from being thoroughly national in its character. However 

 successful its growth, it has been uneven and local, and the day is 

 yet distant when yachting, throughout the length and breadth of 

 the country, will be under an intelligent and competent governing 

 power that will direct its growth from a national point of view, in 

 place of the isolated and independent efforts of the various clubs. 

 England and America have thus far stood together as the two 

 great yachting nations, and this statement is true to a, great ex- 

 tent of both. In France yachting has never attained the popular- 

 ity that it has in the other two countries, and it is not surprising 

 that its condition is still more unsettled and chaotic. 



For some years past our contemporary, Le Yacht, has been doing 

 good work m the building up of a better spirit, and in furtherance 

 of the same effort it makes the following strong appeal, written 

 by a French yachtsman, which we translate from its columns. It 

 is interesting as showing tho efforts that a friendlv rival is making, 

 but still further it is of value in that it applies almost as directly 

 to American as to French yachtsmen. Its lesson is broad and 

 general, not limited nor local; learn from all, most of all from the 

 most dangerous rival, but. choose or reject intelligently and with- 

 out prejudice, keeping in full view the whole field of yachting 

 and not the temporary advancement of any one branch at the ex- 

 pense of the: general good. Foremost In this work must be the 

 creation of a national type, a vessel that oh all embody in the 

 highest degree tho three requisites of safety, speed and" accom- 

 modation, and that shall be suited to aU the requirements of 

 American waters and conditions. Not that any one vessel can 

 combine many contradictory qualities, but that the typical yacht 

 shall be based on sound and correct principles, its details of keel 

 or board, of depth and beam, being modified within safe limits to 

 the special conditions of each case. 



Unlike France, the United States has possessed a distinctively 

 national type of yacht, a type which we are glad to Bay has practi- 

 cally passed away, leaving a condition of affairs somewhat similar 

 to that in France, where the fleet is made up of all varieties, from, 

 the modern lead miue to the extreme skimming dish. It is this 

 state of affairs, the confusion and uncertainty that follows everv 

 revolution, that is responsible for the lack of 'entries in American 

 races to-day, as well as for the very small number of yachts build- 

 ing in spite of the strong and general interest in yachting that pre- 

 vails throughout the country. Not until tho present con- 

 tusion lias given war to a more settled condition can anygreatin. 

 crease In tho entries of existing boats be expected: nor can 

 yachtsmen set to work earnestly to replace the ancie ' racing 

 fleet by a newer and far better one, 



