64 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



|Feb. 10, 1887. 



and Baxter fourth. 10. Six clay-pigeons— Ames first, McCoy and 

 Swift second, Wilson third. Snow and Stickuey fourth. 11. Six 

 clay-pigeons, no \ elt.y match— Stanton first, Lawson and Swift 

 second, Short third. Warren fourth. 12. Ten clay-pigeon? — Swi:t 

 first, Stanton second, Nye third. 13. Six clay-pigeons, straight- 

 away— Swift and S.uuton firs', Sanborn second, Wfl rdwell tuird. 

 14. Five clay-pigeons— Sanborn and Swift first, Nye second, 

 Brown third. 15. Six clay-pigeons— Swift first, Sanborn second, 

 Short and Stanton third. 



NRWARK, Feb, 5.-The monthly shoot of the Nimrod Olub 

 came off on tae Blcomfield avenue grounds this afternoon, and 

 the prize, a dog's-head pin in gold, was won by Warren Goble, who 

 broke 8 oat of JO clay birds. W.J. Beatty broke 7 out of 10. A 

 sweepstakes was shot afterward. The club will buy a lot and 

 build a house in a few months. 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Forest and 

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

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

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

 requested to forward to Forest and Stream their addresses, with 

 logs of cruises, maps, and information concerning their local 

 waters, drawings or desei iptions of boats and fittings, and all items 

 relating to the sport. ____ 



A SUMMER'S CRUISING. 



AFTER a pleasant stay at Grindstone Island duriug a part of 

 the meet of 1885, in the aiternc on of Aug. S 1 left the camp with 

 its manv pleasant recollections, and in company with Messrs. 

 Phil. WacKcrhagi'ii and Stanton, of the Mohicans, had a pleasant 

 cruise among the island*. Wc storped at Decker's Island for sup- 

 per, but did not stay long, as the mosquitoes were too thick. When 

 we lauded at Alexandria P. iv it was just getting dark and every- 

 thing was illuminated. We foraged around for supplies and 

 hauled our canoes upon a coal dock, where we camped for the 

 night. 



Aug. 9.— We had to get out early in the morning, as folks were 

 ratler astonished at the s'ght of the canoes set up on the dock, so 

 we pulled out and camped on au island close by. We stayed "at 

 home," and fixed up. as it rained most of the day. 



Aug. 10.— It was Stall raining, but cleared up early in the day, so 

 I bid'my companions good-bye with a hope that we would soon 

 meet again, and ctarted down the St. Lawrence with Messrs. 

 Stanton and Greenlcaf, of New York. We had a fine easy cruise, 

 as it. was not the kind of weaiher for hard work, stopped for thti 

 night at Brockville, a lively place, and it being a erne holiday 

 almost everybody seemed to be out and the river was full of all 

 kiuds of craft. We met Messrs. Baldwin and Richards at this 

 place. 



Aug. 11.— We left on gaod time, and the weather being fine, took it 

 very easy; got out of the islands and at last, reached Ogclcnsburg, 

 a tine place, where we packed up and parted. I sent my canoe to 

 Rouse'o Point, stayed over night, and took the steamer next day 

 to Montreal, making a short stay which was very interesting, but 

 soon became tired of cruising on land, so went oy rail to Rouse's 

 Point. 



Aug. 14.— I looked up my canoe and found it in a freight house 

 with about a car load of freight piled on top. I naturally expected 

 to find something smashed, but fortunately my canoe is built 

 specially strong and was al! right, but 1 gave the company a good 

 blessing for carelessness. The canoe was soon packed and suppl tea 

 iu shape, as I was anxious to get on the water again, so started in 

 the evening with quite a crowd to see mo off. Some of t he specta- 

 tors hud never seen a canoe and could not see how such a little 

 thing could sail, so I had to answer plenty of questions. The 

 weather was rather stormy, so I had to make camp early, but un- 

 luckily si rack a banti of tkin white clay. However, 1 managed 

 finally 1o get set! led. 



Aug. 15. — t he day turned out bright and clear, and for a wonder 

 the wind was in my favcr, as it generally seems to blow from the 

 south during the season as stated by natives. 1 had to reef, bat at 

 last made PliltfesbUrgh, The wind was strong around Cumberland 

 Head, so I went rapidly. Stopping at Port Kent 1 had a look 

 through Au Sable Chasm, which no one should miss going through, 

 and then pushed on and st ruck a fine camp about five miles further 

 on. I felt much better after a good warm supper. 



Aug. 10.— The weather was still fine, bright and clear, and I 

 cruised through beautiful scenery and a nne. country, making 

 camp iu Sight of Split Rock Light, one of the finest points on the 

 lake. 



Aug. 17.— This day was clear hut windy, blowing tho wrong way 

 and making hard work paddling, ending in a regular gale. I am 

 satisfied that a canoe properly made will stand almost am thing 

 under paddle with proper care. I stopped at Port Henry, got sup- 

 plies, made camp near fort, and after a hearty supper turned in, 

 as I had had a hard da.\ 's work. 1 stopped at Crown Point and 

 Fort Ticondoroga, toe trip through the lake was fine with its 

 many points of historical interest. 



Aug. 18.— The weataer was bright and clear, and I managed to 

 find my way up the creek to Ticonderoga and stowed canoe for (he 

 night. 



Aug. 19.— I found old Jack Sardine and got him to transfer the 

 canoe to ^akc George, where I found more head winds and beauti- 

 ful scenery. As I was ge.ting ready for camp three jolly canoeists 

 passed along. 1 hailed tac-m and w e all made camp tcget. er. The 

 hoys were, roughing it, had nouie-made canvas canoes, one blanket 

 and an old tent for shelter at night, and seemed to prefer the soft 

 side of a rock for a bed, although cedar boughs were plenty. I 

 male quite a contrast wit a a solid cedar canoe, Mohican tent, 

 rubber bid, plenty of blankets and grub-box well filled. I gave 

 the boys what information I could, for they had the canoeing 

 spirit, a ud this season they will come out with five canoes and 



pecting to ^nd some member, but instead iouiid a very pleasant 

 party. One of the ladies had been told of the signal and con- 

 cluded to tiy it and found it correct, 



Aug. 20.— This day was calm and pleasant; the boys got up a 

 huckleberry dinner and wc passed tne night on the Canoe Island. 

 The ooys camp;! in Or. Neide's cabin. 



Aug. 21.— The wea; her was threatening, hut I got to Caldwell 

 safely, f nated to leave the lake with its beautiful scenery, but 

 at last packed up and shipped my canoe to Albany. My acquain- 

 tances wont as far as Fort Edward, where they took the canal and 

 Hudson River home, i have heard since they were all spilled out 

 in fxjil ; b ;t >ro gjtting to Troy. 



Aug. 2:2.— I reached Albany aud hunted up Commodore Oliver, 

 having hard work to find him as there was a str'ke at his estab- 

 lishment, and I was collared by strikers as they thought I was 

 after a job. I managed to explain things and the men apologized 

 for their mistake. of course I received splendid treatment from 

 the Mohicans which 1 will never forget. 



Aug. 21. I shipped the canoe to" Pittsburgh, and thought I 

 would cruise on laud a while, so visited at Saratoga, New York, 

 and vicinity, and Boston. I also stopped at Philadelphia on the 

 way to meet my canoe, 



Sept. 1.— In Pittsburgh I could not find any canoeists at home, 

 most of them were still cruising. I left Pittsburgh on September 

 2, with the ri ,er at a good stage, and made thirty -five miles in 

 half a day. 



Sept. 3.— Made a e top at East Liverpool, and the people at the 

 potteries offered mo lots of specimens, bat I had to decline them 

 as I had no room for stowing. Made a short stop at Steubenville 

 Found plenty of good camping places on the river. 



Sept. i— Rainy part of day, had to keep waterproofs handy; 

 made a short stop at Wheeling, where the people thought I was 'a 

 curiosity and did not see why 1 was making the trip. 



Sept. 5.— A quiet day with few showers; the river was very 

 crooked and the water muddy. 



Sept. 0.— Weather cleared up finely. I stopped at Parkersburg 

 for supplies. As it wan Sunday I made au early camp, striking a 

 fine spot, everything calm and clear. It is a tine country to cruise 

 through, but one has to hunt the wells for drinking water. The 

 ri ver is too muddy and springs are scarce. 



Sept. 7.— I had a line trip thi ough a manufacturing country and 

 coup' enjoy it, as the weather was fine. I made short stops at some 

 of the towns. At Gallipolis the people wanted to know what I was 

 advertising aud would not believe I was traveling for pleasure. I 

 got to be quite familiar with the crews on large steamboats and 

 they would hail me regularly when we passed. 



Sept. 8.— I sot a little more rain, but it cleared up toward even- 

 ing, but wits still sultry and close. I camped for my first night iu 

 Kentucky, near Catbhslntrg. just on the edge of tne big tornado 

 which destroyed Washington Court House, Ohio. It was a grand 

 sight in the distance, tiie sky was inky black and I could see ter- 

 rific flashes of lightning. Above it was clear and bright. 1 was 

 ready and expected to he blown away during the irgut and felt 

 much relieved when morning came. Nest day I heard of ti e re- 

 sults. 



Sept. 9 and 10.— Quiet cruising, stopped at Ironton to mail letters 

 and get supplies; had quite a crowd of bovs following me and some 

 of them wauted to know when I would have a street parade, as 

 they took me for a traveling showman. Made a short stco at 

 Vaneeburg and met a young man that had the cn,noe fever badly, 

 so I had to explain my rig to liim. 



Sept. 11.— W eather fine, 1 stopped at Ripley to see some friends. 



Sept. 11.— Arrived at Cincinnati in tho morning and stowed my 

 canoe at a boat house, after which I hunted up some friends. I 

 called on Dr. Heighwayhnt could not find him at home; stopped 

 here a couple of days taking in sights. 1 unfortunately drink 

 some of their river water, which was very poor (I don't indulge in 

 anything stronger). I was under the weather for a while. 



Sept. 14.— I left Cincinnati at noon, clear aud pleasant, plenty 

 supplies, and made nearly forty miles and felt well enough to 

 again camp in canoe. 



Sept. 15.— A peifect day. Made a short stay at Madison. 



Sept. 10.— The weather was getting pretty warm. I got to Louis- 

 ville about noon, pulled up. and stowed things at the club house, 

 cruised on land for a few days, to the Mammoth Cave and to 

 Frankfort to see some friends. 



Sept. 23.— I was glad to get on the water again, weather pleasant. 

 1 had a lively trip over the falls, coveriug about five miles in little 

 over fifteen minutes. The water was rough and the wiud blowing 

 up stream. 



Sept. 24.— Quiet and clear. I stopped at Brandenburg, where I 

 found a couple of good live springs of water, which were very wel- 

 come, as I had only struck three good running springs the whole 

 length of the river. Passed a quiet, lazy day, cooked dinner in the 

 canoe while floating down stream. 



Sept. 25-20.— All quiet, and pleasant; made few stops and was 

 much amused at tho remarks made by the natives. Oue man 

 wanted tokuow how much I had bet on tne trip. 



Sept. 27.— I stopped at Evansville for supplies, and laid in a good 

 stock. Near here is the great bend in the river. Before evening 

 rain began; I had struck the beginning of the equinoctial storms, 

 which continued for four days and nights. It rained steadily day 

 and night, and I had to wear rubhers all the time. It was veiy 

 uisagreeaole, but I kept dry and got through all right to Cairo, 

 which was the end of the river. 



Oct. 1.— 1 found lots of darkies, all pretty lazy, and I induced 

 one to help me pack up, and found out afterward when I had un- 

 packed that he had stolen one of my rubber blankets. I was 

 pretty well tanned by sun and from washing hi the muddy river 

 water, hut managed to clean up and struck steamboat the same 

 night for St. Louis, where I stayed a few days. There I mot Dr. 

 Neid6, and wo took a trip to Creve Occur Lake over Sunday, in 

 company with Mr. Andrews of the Petrel. I finally reached liomc 

 hut after a short stay packed up and went to St. Paul. I loft St. 

 Paul October 17, in the evening, and cruised a few miles until I 

 found a fine camp and good clear water* There were plenty of 

 fine springs, something I missed on the Ohio. 



Oct. 18.— The day opened bright, clear and frosty. I passed Red 

 Rock, a point where Indians used to have a grand pow-wow once 

 a year, and made a short stop at Red Wing aud Maiden Rock . Both 

 places have Indian names and some legend conuected. I camped 

 for the night near Lake City, which is situated nearly half way 

 down Lake Pepin. The lake is aoout twenty-five miles long and 

 three or four miles wide, and is very rough in storm v weather so 

 it is dreaded by boats that push large lumber rafts down the 

 stream, and many a raft has been smashed up by striking storms. 

 I struck head winds and rough water, hut worked through 

 safely. 



Oct. 19 was cold and frosty. I had breakfast ready and set up a 

 temporary table which tipped over and spilled everything. As it 

 was the last of the grub I had to go without breakfast. I made 

 good time until I filled up my box again, and the food seemed 

 much better after my mishap. It turned cold, rainy, and very 

 disagreeable, but 1 struck Winona about camp time and found a 

 good boat house where I stowed thi ngs and put up a t a hotel, which 

 I duly appreciated at times, as the rain turned to snow and ice. 



Oct. 20 — It looked very wintry with tho ground covered with 

 snow and still blowing. I fixed up in good shape and started out 

 in spite of bad weather, making a short stop at La Crosse. The 

 weather cleared up but it was still cold. 



Oct. 21.— Very cold but clear and bright with about half an inch 

 of ice on edge of river. I pulled out early as it was getting late in 

 the seascn and I had to make good time. I stopped with friends 

 at Lansing for a short time. The river was crooked and narrow. 

 I struck camp early each night, as the air was sharp and frosty 

 aud made one hunt up all extra bedding. 



Oct. 22. — The weather was getting milder, so I made a short stop 

 at McGregor with some friends. I wanted to make time, and my 

 bow-facing oars came in handy, as I made sixty-five miles in 

 about eight hours, i stayed iu camp with a party of Mends for 

 several days. There was not much hshii g, as the fishermen seine 

 everything. 



At last I finished my summer's trip -with nothing but pleasant 

 recollections and with regret that I could not continue. I made 

 several short cruises later on and made my last trip on Dec. 1, 

 with my log showing 2,500 miles to the credit of the Estella, No. 

 780. No. 780, A. C. A. 



CANOES VS. SAILING BOATS. 



HE "sloop-rigged clinker" mentioned by Mr. Shamp in his let- 

 ter of Jan. .'.'7 must have undergone some radical changes, as it 

 was certainly printed "cafboat" in his first letter. Mr. S. is in 

 eiTor when he thinks I own one of the fast skiffs on the river; but 

 if he wants to race and will kindly waive my ownership of the 

 skiff (or perhaps canoe) 1 sail, aud have the race open to no oue 

 else, and sail the boat mentioned in his article of Dec. 10, I will be 

 happy to accommodate him for fun or for a prize, provided it 

 becomes the personal property of the winner, as I have no skiff 

 wherewith to hold it. I do own a canoe, but what her speed and 

 ability are in comparison with his boat has nothing to do with the 

 case, as I am willing to freely admit that many of the skiffs can 

 beat her. and Mr. S.'s boat certainly ought to. Mention would uot 

 be made of her now but for fear of some future misunderstanding. 

 My only excuse for inflicting this matter on a suffering community 

 is to let those know, who consider the affair worthv of attention, 

 tnat there are men in Buffalo who think we have skiffs that can 

 beat any 15ft. Sin.xlOin. boat. I trust that no further recourse will 

 be had to these columns in this matter, as we are residents of the 

 same city. 



Did it ever occur to members of the A. C. A. that statements 

 like that of Guenn's (he is certainly prominent enough to voice 

 their sentiments) that boats outside the A. C. A. limits " have 

 nothing iu common" with canoes, might retard their progress in 

 increasing their membership. Chambers's American Encyclo- 

 pedia— a pret ty good authority— says canoes have been built large 

 enough to hold £0 or 80 hogsheads of sugar. In almost every club 

 there are men owning so-called "wide" canoes, or boats, if it will 

 please you better, but no £0-hogshead ones, I think. These "wide" 

 men are generally as energetic, companionable and fond of cruis- 

 ing as the average. They are perfectly willing you should stick 

 to your narrow craft, if you please, but they do think they are 

 worthy to be more than nominally admitted to the fraternity, 

 that all virtue does not lie in a 15X20, that in all but extremely 

 nanow or rapid streams they can hold their own, and do it wit h 

 more comfort and safety— those are the words— not speed, for 

 speed is not to he desired above everything cn a cruise; and that 

 the love of nature— the woods and waters, and their wonders, and 

 the similarity of tastes, and means of gratifying them, should be 

 more of a criterion than whether your boat is 31}£ or 40in. wide. 

 Does the A. C. A. gain anything by fighting these men, saying 

 they "have nothing in common?" Which do you suppose has the 

 most influence with the average cauoeist— the desire for the 

 society of the men with whom ho sails, camps, eats, sleeps, 

 smokes, chats around the cheery camp-tire; or that of an associa- 

 tion, few, perhaps none of the members of which he ever saw? 

 Will he be eager to join an association which says he "has noth- 

 ing in common" with his chums, and which bars them out? And 

 they wonder why the "wide" man doesn't attend the meet. He 

 would rather be cruising or camping with kindred spirits who 

 do not stop to ask the dimensions of his craft iu inches before ad- 

 mitting it to their circle, than in a hostile camp. Racing is not 

 his only joy. I have been a member for two years of a canoe club 

 that has races occasionally, and never even saw one sailed or 

 paddled, but I venture to say that, -with one exception, who took 

 a 300-mile trip last summer, no "true canoeist" in the club cruised 

 more or camped of tener in that time than Perch. 



Buffaeo, Feb. 14. 



A SPLIT IN THE I. C. A.-At the last regular meeting of the 

 1. C A., the admiral and the executive committee were both 

 absent, so there was no quorum. In this emergency two candi- 

 dates for membership who were present at once proceeded to 

 elect each other, the ballot in both eases being unanimous. They 

 then proceeded to impeach and remove the admiral and entire 

 board of officers, after which a new election was called, resulting 

 m the choice of Mr. E. W. Brown for Admiral. 



A NEW CANOE ANCHOR.— The patent stockless anchor made 

 by Mr. VVasteneys Smith, of England, is now made in sizes as 

 small as 81 bs., especially for canoe use. The anchor Eg of gunmetal, 

 and having no stock, lies flat and stows easily. • " 



SQUARE STERNS VS. COUNTERS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



While reading of the qualities of the various craft that have 

 been developed from the modern canoe, the Tomboy, Cassy, Viper, 

 Mersey canoes and canoe yawls, the question arises as to wherein 

 lies their superiority. 



That the long pointed stern is superior to the square stern I, of 

 course, can see; but is this long stern better in any Vay than the 

 ordinary sailboat, stern witn an overhang or counter? 



I have just ordered from Mr. Wickes, of Amityville, a boat simi- 

 lar to Mr. Martin's, 18ft.x5fl„ pointed bowand stern as in acanoe. 



The question as to tho advaucage of such a stern is now import- 

 ant to me, as I may alter the plans. 



To judge from the prevalence of the overhanging stern and the 

 rarity of the canoe stern I should infer that on the same outside 

 dimensions a better boat could be built with a keel 15 to 16ft. and 

 an overhanging stern 2 or 3ft. , giving a broader deck at stem. 



Will you, through your columns, kindly tell me and the many 

 others who would, I am sure, profit by the information, which of 

 the two examples above mentioned would mako the better boat 

 and why? 



Does the canoe stern leave the water more easily? Does it rise 

 more quickly to a following sea? Docs it add to sueed or to 

 safety? G. H. S. 



New York, Feb. 3. 



[If the question be put in the form of "what is the best boat oua 

 given wacerJine, say 10ft," it would bo easy to answer it by design- 

 ing one with a handsome little counter, adding to the deck room 

 and permitting a much fairer and better afterbody than with a 

 square-sterncd boat. The cost, however, would be considerably 

 greater than -with the latter. If, now, instead of the 16ft. boat 

 being cut off with a square stern she is- run out to 18ft. with a 

 double end, she is a larger and abler boat, the lines may be ended 

 better, and the extra cost is very small owing to the ease 

 and simplicity of the construction. This is the chief reason why 

 we have advocated the "canoe yawl" type, as a strong, staunch 

 and able boat may be had for much less than the orthodox counter- 

 stern yacht would cost,] 



THE RUCKAWAS. 



LESS than a year ago two enthusiastic young men agitated 

 canoeing in Dayton, Ohio, and could any old crnoer have sat 

 round the groaning board and listened to the flow of soul at their 

 camp-fire, Jan. 26, he would not have supposed the club was just 

 entering the second season of its existence. 



Si::teen sat round the table in the ordinary of the Beckel House. 

 They were all members of the W. C. A. Twelve were Uuckawas: 

 Captain Gaddis, Mate Woodruff, Purser Fowler, Fox, McKee, Van 

 Ausdal, Patterson, Btiustein, Daniels, Craighead, Crawford and 

 hidings. The guests were from the Cincinnati, Miami and Jab- 

 berwok clubs, Messrs. Crane, Stedman, Shiras and Warder. 



The club with a big R. lias enjoyed a limited membership of 15, 

 but iu view of the erection of a $300 boat house and several appli- 

 cations for membership, they have increased their limit to an es en 

 score. 



The table was perfect. Heaped high in the center was a bank 

 of flowers, the gift of Mrs. Gaddis, while the silver aud tinkling 

 candelabra were kindly furnished by Mrs. Fox. 



The menu was all that Senegambian-Freneh could deftly origin- 

 ate, the nock and Mumm incomparable, and the cigars "entirely 

 too good to be wasted upon such smoke consumers. 



In three hours the ontire party, including the new member 

 Crahghead, magnanimously forgave the unfeeling (?) A. C. A. her 

 past coldness, oitied her present vicissitudes and resolved to eat no 

 more humble pie for youthful indiscretions of the forefathers of 

 the W. C. A., but to pursue her even tenor, gladly welcoming the 

 new members and pointing with piide to the bulged appearance 

 of the treasurer's wallet. 



Uuckawa— running water! Could a more suitable title be se- 

 lected lor a club of enthusiastic actual cruisers? The paddle is 

 their totem, the rushing rapid the cadence of their name. Happy 

 indeed the stranger who finds himself mar the blue Miami, the 

 Ruckawas are the soul of hospitality, their hands and hearts are 

 ever open, the lacchstMng always out. Jabbebwook. 



QUAKER CITY C C.-The Q. C. C. C. held their first camp-fire 

 on Jan. 18, at their city headquarters on Sixth street. Tho subject, 

 "Oanoe Tents and Camp Beds," was freely discussed, begiuhir g 

 with the shelter tents aud continuing with the Mohican, "A" 

 tents, etc., for canoes; then the Clyde, marquee, wedge tents, etc. 

 The tents ha\ ing been discussed the next question was canoe beds. 

 After a variety of sleeping l ags, quilts, rubber pouches, etc., were 

 discussed the camp-fire ended, every one being pleased with the 

 evening's entertainment. Jan. £3 being a warm day three mem- 

 bers launched canoes and paddled about for an hour. 



KNICKERBOCKER C. C— The annual dinner of the K. C. C 

 was held at Morelto's on Feb. 5, the club aud a number of invited 

 guests being present. Letters of regret from President Cleveland, 



H. R. H. the Prince of Wales; Governor Hill, Sergeant Billings, 

 Uncle Mike Lelauey, and many other prominent personages, were 

 read by the secretary. In the center of the table was a figure of a 

 sea orse, the club's totem, presented bv Messrs. Scavey and 

 Fowler, the handiwork of the former gentleman. Speeches -were 

 made and songs were sung, the evening passing oil \ erv pleasantly. 



A. C. A.— A special meeting of the Executive Committee of the 

 A. ( f. A. to consider the unfinished business left from the Novem- 

 ber meeting, has been called for Feb. 12, at New York. It is proba- 

 ble that several applications for new divisions will be made. 



BAYONNE C. C.-At the annual meeting of the Bayonne C. C, 

 the following officers were elected: Louis F. Burke, Commodore; 

 Fred. B. Collins, Vice-Commodore; William Rumble, Jr., Secretary 

 -Treasurer. 



Y ON KLRS C. C— At a meeting of the Yonkers C. C, held Feb. 



I, the following officers were elected: F. K. Shears, Commodore; 

 Talbot Simpson, Vice-Commodore; Louis Simpson, Secretary. 



puhting. 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Pith. Co. 



THE CLASSIFICATION OF RACING YACHTS. 



WITH a large number of small organizations engaged in the 

 same object, working for the same ends with the same 

 means, and With all interests in common, it would seem the most 

 natural thing possible for all to combine in a union that would 

 join them closely together, rather than that they should coutinue 

 to stumble along in a helpless independence of "each other, Tho 

 former course has been followed by many of the clubs couueeted 

 with outdoor sports in this country, such as the League of Ameri- 

 can Wheelmen, the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen, 

 aud the American Canoe Association, in allot these cases -with 

 the best results; but while the necessity for such union of yachts- 

 men is just as apparent, the many attempts w hich have been 

 made toward one have all resulted m failure. The reasons for 

 these failures it is not necessary to consider here, as we do not 

 propose now to inaugurate another attempt. The usual mode of 

 organizing, that followed successfully by the canoeists for in- 

 stance, is to call together a number of representatives, who will 

 elect officers, adopt a constitution, and enact laws which will be 

 ,'enerallv recognized by the followers of the sport; but this 

 method has been tried more than once in yachting, and always 

 without a show of success. 



The need of some sort of general legislation in regard to yacht- 

 ing is more apparent each year as the relations of the. clubs be- 

 come closer and each is concerned, to a certain extent, in the 

 doings of its neighbors. It is not so many years since not only 

 each locality but each separate club was a law unto itself, in- 

 dependent of others and caring little what they did. Not only did 

 the boats confine their racing to home waters, but inter-'club 

 racing was far less general. Now, however, all has changed. Not 

 only the larger yachts but many small ones are in the habit of 

 knocking about between Boston and New York, to Larchmont, 

 Marbk-head, Newport, New Bedford, wherever a prize is raced 

 for, while the races of each club are generally open to the yachts 

 of fellow clubs. This being the case, it is readily seen how great 

 the need is for some general direction of affairs, and for a certain 

 amount at least, of general legislation. 



As we have stated, the attempts to organize a national associa- 

 tion which should accomplish certain ends have all failed; what 

 we propose to show now is how some of these ends may be directly 

 attained, with the best possible effect on American yachting; 

 while this act ion in itself will he a great step toward the forma- 

 tion of an association when the proper time comes. Were such a 

 body in existence there arc many important questions involving 

 the future of American yachting that would demand its fullest 

 consideration, but the most important are those governing the 



