212 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 31, 1887. 



The Vice-Coininodore, skipper of the Mermaid, and the "boys" 

 occupied one largo tent, the skipper of the Iola slept solus in that 

 craft under a pretty hoat tent that was as comfortable as it was 

 picturesque: and the crew of the Iola, with Corporal Hatch and 

 the Commodore, occupied a second marquee tent. No watch was 

 set, but occasionally one or other of the party got up and replen- 

 ished the fire, ■ • 



Before, sunrise the party was up and stirring, and while the 

 cooks prepared the breakfast the captain and crew ol the Iola, 

 after some calisthenic performances to get the stiffness out ot 

 their joints, stripped and took a plunge into the river, and the 

 Petrel's crew saluted the rising sun with their heavy artillery- 

 How invigorating and freshening the atmosphere was in the 

 early morning. How delightful the cO fresco breakfast eaten In 

 the midst of fresh green woods, where the air was laden with the 

 perfume of the dogwood blossoms and melodious with the ; carol- 

 ing of the birds. Our breakfast menu was simple: Fried beef, 

 hard-boiled eggs, pilot bread, cheese, coffee and tea; and this dis- 

 posed of the party set to work with eagerness at the preparations 

 to get under way and toke advantage of a fresh breeze. , 



The glorious freedom of it all, unhampered by the restraints pt 

 city life, and nnflecked by care for the day or morrow, not only 



siHiii iy ringing, xuia ia lucjuauui , "i . i., ~v»»«^ 



night's camping, and in its general features is the story ot every 

 succeeding day and night of the cruise, for the abandon of the 

 partv grew as the davs passed, as the appetites increased, and their 

 lungs filled with the ozone of the woods. 



Tuesday, May 14. 1886. -About 7 A. M., the fleet got off. Destina- 

 tion, Mount Vernon. Wind southwest. Tide fair. Bright sun- 

 shiny morning and the sky flecked with fleecy clouds which had 

 the promise of plent y of wind in thorn. The Petrel took about a 

 half mile start, followed by the Iola, with Meteor and Morma'd 

 standing out close together about five minutes later. The Mer- 

 maid demonstrated her superiority as a sailer from the outset by 

 standing down almost in the eye of t he wind, while the others were 

 compelled to tack back and forth across the river. The Iola de- 

 veloped a particular crankiness, refusing to hold up into the wind 

 on the starboard tack, making distance at the expense of speed, 

 her captain being obliged to hold her up in the wind until she 

 would almost lose steerage way. The Commodore sailed the 

 Meteor quite close, but could not do as well as the Mermaid. The 

 Petrel sailed but little better than the Tola, but her jib helped her 

 to come about so that she beat the other in running off on a new 

 tack. 



The fleet under sail made a pretty picture, and as the little 

 boats darted along hither and thither, careening gayly over the 

 roughening water, past crafts of all sorts that throng this river, 

 we could see people come to the sides of those vessels to gaze at 

 and speculate about us, and we often got a hail from them, fre- 

 quently with remonstrances against, our foolhardiness in ventur- 

 ing out in such shells. They did not know the sea-going qualities 

 of canoes. 



Presently those qualities were put to the test, for the breeze 

 soon increased to half a gale and blew directly up the stream and, 

 meeting an ebb tide, rapidly raised a commotion on the surface of 

 the water. From far down the stream, the white horses came 

 racing up to meet our little, craft, and as they broke over bow or 

 gunwale to drench us with spray, still we rode merrily on, now 

 plunging into the trough of the sea, and now rising lightly to its 

 crest and shaking the bright water from the bow as a mettled 

 horse would shake his mane. 



As we passed Port Washington the waters looked angry, and 

 such of the canoes as sailed close to the shore could see scores of 

 people watching our progress, interestedly— many of them doubt- 

 less, in the expectation of soeing us blown out of the water or 

 overturned. But we kept on without accident and reached Mount 

 Vernon at 10:30 A. M., after three hours and a half of pretty sail- 

 ing, just exciting enough to keep the nerves at an exhilarating 

 tension. 



The Mermaid reached a landing an hour ahead of the rest of the 

 fleet, the others coming in close together. The Iola had dropped 

 two or three miles astern near the start, it being found necessary 

 to run her in shore to fasten the peak of her mainsail, and when 

 in to wait a quarter hour or more while the mate labored to get 

 an eccentric pipe in working order, but to the freshening breeze 

 she had gradually worked up to the others by going clear over to 

 the other shore on her starboard tack, so as to get a good head 

 down the stream and then making exceedingly long legs down the 

 river. She overhauled the Petrel, which had been outsailed by 

 the Mermaid and Meteor, and sailed past her on the last tack 

 across the river for Mount Veruon, and, had there been another 

 mile to go. would undoubtedly have caught up with the Meteor, 

 which landed about five minutes ahead of her. 



At Mount Vernon we had lunch, the Vice-Commodore officiating 

 as cook and doling out to us steaming hot Boston baked beans, 

 with plenty of hard tack, pilot bread with cheese, and coffee. 

 Note was made of the fact that the crew of the Iola, who had no 

 appetite when leaving Washington, disposed of four plates of 

 beans, and in view of this tendency to devour the supplies, the 

 commissariat department concluded to add to their stores, and 

 laid in four dozen eggs, some potatoes, and in addition had their 

 minds relieved by the present of two monstrous fresh-caught 

 shad, from the ex- Vice Commodore of the club, who came down 

 to meet the fleet at Mount Vernon. 



About 2 P. M. the fleet again put out, and now the novice of the 

 pa rtv got his first experience of what canoe sailing really was. He 

 also," as he afterward confessed to his skipper, first learned on this 

 sail the full force of the phrase "Look out for squalls." When we 

 left Mount Vernon the wind was still southwest but "puffv," with 

 a head wind, tide and heavy sea. The skipper of the Iola cautioned 

 his crew to look out for squalls, whose approach could be noted by 

 the flattening out ol* the waves off to windward. The crew kept a 

 lookout. He so soon became impressed with the necessity of 

 "keeping an eye to windward," another nautical phrase the appli- 

 cation of which he realized after a while. Truth to tell, he soon 

 found abundant occupation for his "weather eye." He kept it 

 open to windward, as well as the drifting spray would permit him, 

 but due regard for truth compels the historian of the cruise to say 

 that that was not much more than half the time. His signal of 

 "squall coming" became very monotonous after a while, for the 

 squalls came thick and fast until finally they settled down into a 

 hard blow that sent the whitecaps tearing fast in an exciting race. 



The Petrel had an early start and kept in advance for a long 

 time: the Mermaid did not leave until the rest of the fleet had 

 been standing off and on forhalf an hour; then the solitary cruiser 

 pulled up anchor and mounted the deck of his vessel, and sailing 

 right up almost in the eye of the wind, passed the other boats in 

 quick succession. He went flying almost past every sailing vessel 

 on the river. The Iola, second at the start, soon dropped to the 

 rear, and the crew of that perverse beauty had an excellent oppor- 

 tunity to watch the maneuvers of the rest of the fleet. The 

 Meteor behaved splendidly on this trip, being second only to the 

 Mermaid. The skipper of the Iola, sailor-like, cast around for 

 some Jonah on whom to fix the blame of the natural perversity of 

 his craft, and bit upon the cranky pipe carried by the crew, and 

 once this idea was adopted be quickly spread distrust of the un- 

 fortunate pipe among all the cruisers. There was no question but 

 the Iola behaved badly. She would sail only on one tack and con- 

 stantly fell off on that. The climax was reached when abreast of 

 Pohick Creek. For an hour her skipper tried in vain to weather 

 the northerly jaws of the creek's mouth. Tack after tack was 

 tried, but no progress; time after time the angry looking waste of 

 waters was crossed to starboard and to port, but the Iola invari- 

 ably fell short of crossing what seemed to be a "dead line." Now 

 she would run off on the starboard tack, dipping her nose under 

 wave after wave, tossing the spray back on her crew, and giving 

 him a succession of cold shower baths at intervals of fifteen 

 seconds, with growing promise all the time of an immediate 

 plunge bath, until the leeward shore was reached, when she 

 would come about and head off to windward, and wallow in the 

 trough of one sea after another, all the time shipping water until 

 her cockpit was ankle deep. Then when she had twice crossed 

 the river it would be found that she was not more than ten yards 

 below her starting point. At length her skipper became disgusted, 

 and finding that she was making water and that the rest of the 

 fleet were out of sight down the river, ran in to shore and pre- 

 pared to make camp. 



The Iola, her cockpit ankle-deep with water and her stowed 

 cargo soaked through and through, was hauled ashore, bailed and 

 sponged out. Then her forward hatch was opened and found 

 full of water, and tho dunnage afloat. She was turned over, the 

 hatch emptied and dried, a fire was built and the wet blankets and 

 clothing hung up to dry. Then it was discovered that the camp 

 had been made on swampy ground. The crew also made a 

 discovery— that the Mermaid had carried off the shad presented 

 for dinner. The more the crew pondered over this the hungrier 

 they became. The spectacle of those shad, oooked in all their 

 juicy lusciousneRs, was projected upon the canvas of his imagina- 

 tion with exceeding great clearness, and as he pictured the other 

 fellows eating and enjoying them in his absence, his feelings be- 

 came too deep for speech. Finally, the breeze from down the 

 river seemed to waft to him from the camp, we supposed already 

 formed below, the odor of broiled shad. He stocd this as long as 

 he eould, but at; last suggested that he and the skipper 'up stakes' 

 again and paddle down to the other camp. Quickly the skipper 



whose mind harbored similar thoughts, agreed; the dunnage was 

 again stowed, the fire trodden out. the Iola launched and pro- 

 pelled by a "poplar bi'eeze," making headway down the stream. 

 It was slow work and the paddling against a flood tide seemed 

 hard work, but just as it was getting dark the camp-fire came in 

 sight and a halt hour later a "whoop-pee" notified the party on 

 shore of the approach of the Iola. A hearty welcome was ex- 

 tended to the belated ones, and to their eager inquiries, the re- 

 sponse came that the shad had not yet been cooked. 



This was Camp Silsbee, located on Holland's Point, and it was 

 the most delightful camping place of tho cruise, A low sandy 

 beach led from the water to a charming glade, backed by wooded 

 hills. The tents were already up and dinner was soon ready. It 

 consisted of fried shad, boiled eggs, bread and cheese, raisin loaf 

 and tea; enjoyed none the less by the skipper and crew of the 

 Iola because of the recollection of how near they came to missing 

 this camp-dinner. 



After dinner there was a pleasant hour about the camp-fire, 

 some of the party smoking, and the rest getting off a few fire- 

 works, and then all retired to their couches and to refreshing 

 slumber. 



PATENTS AND PATENT LAWS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The communications resulting from the claims recently made 

 upon the canoeists of this neighborhood tinder the G-riswold Reef- 

 ing Gear patent have suggested to mc that a few general remarks 

 on the subject of patents may be not only interesting to many of 

 the community which you represent, but also useful as clearing 

 away some of the misty ideas which prevail. 



In the first place a patent is not a bare monopoly, as is too often 

 assumed, but a simple contract between an inventor and the 

 Government, with a valuable consideration on each side. The in- 

 ventor gives tho public the benefit of his discoveries, and the 

 Government in return secures to him the sole use of the invention 

 for a certain limited period, at the expiration of which the com- 

 munity become possessed of the benefits. In order to obtain t his 

 contract the individual must meet some requirements, which are 

 best stated in the exact words as follows: 



"Sec. 4S8G. Any person who has invented or discovered any new 

 and useful art, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, 

 or any new and useful improvement thereof, not known or used 

 by others in this country, and not patented or described in any 

 printed publication in this or any foreign country, before his in- 

 vention thereof, and not in public use or on sale for more than two 

 years prior to his application * * may * * obtain a patent 

 therefor." 



This passage prescribes the elements on which a patent is 

 founded, and they must be all and severally present to insure its 

 integrity, for if a single one is wanting the claims of the inventor 

 fall to the ground, nud this is so whether tho absence of one of 

 these requisites is discovered during the preliminary proceedings 

 or after a patent has been issued for the supposed invention. 



As a preliminary to the issuing of a patent, the existence of the 

 above conditions is ascertained by the affidavit of the inventor 

 and thecxaminations of the Patent Office. But the averments of 

 the inventor freely subscribed to, often in complete ignorance of 

 their nature or contents, and, I regret to add, sometimes in wilful 

 ignorance, and such hasty examinations as are possible by the in- 

 adequate and underpaid force at the Patent Office often enables 

 improper and mischievous parents to slip through. This, how- 

 ever, is not the fault of the system, and when a patent has once 

 been issued— the contract entered into— it must be observed until 

 recoiled by proceedings equally as formal, equitable and strictly 

 observed as those which are supposed to govern its granting, and 

 these proceedings can be had only in a court of the United States. 



Among the different reasons for annulling a patent that of want 

 of novelty is by far the most, common, and is the one which is 

 put forward, and apparently on good grounds in the reefing gear 

 case: and if we examine the passage from the statute carefully 

 we find several ways indicated by which this defense maybe 

 established. We may show that the device was known or used by 

 others in this country, and before its alleged discovery or in- 

 vention. If it hud been used in this country the knowledge of it 

 would be concomitant. If it had been used in a foreign country 

 this fact would be no defense, by itself, but if knowledge of such 

 foreign use existed in this country, this knowledge is competent. 

 From this we see that the use by Mr. Stephens may have been 

 subsequent to Griswold's invention of the device, although prior 

 to his application for a patent. So with regard to the Chinese 

 sails this use is of no avail, but a comprehensive knowledge of the 

 use undoubtedly existed in this country before, the date of the in- 

 vention, of which date we are as yet in blissful ignorance. 



In the case of printed descriptions these will avail, if they were 

 published sufficiently early, without reference to place of pub- 

 lication. 



The defense of "public use or sale for more than two years prior 

 to application" is on the ground of abandonment, or want of 

 diligence in demanding a patent. 



Patents which are improperly issued are undoubtedly a source 

 of serious public inconvenience and expense, but the public is 

 itself largely to blame for their existence. Any plan for rcduciug 

 the expenses of the Patent Office has always been sure of popular 

 approval, and the result, is a force totally inadequate, both in 

 numbers and ability, for properly transacting the necessary busi- 

 ness of the office, and this in the face of the fact that this is one 

 of the very few departments of the Government which is not only- 

 self -supporting, but which turns in a large surplus each year to 

 the treasury. HOW many people know that the Patent Office has 

 —since it ceased to support the agricultural department— paid 

 into the treasury some three millions of dollars V 



Only allow the inventors to have the use of the money which 

 they themselves supply, and a larger part of the troubles arising 

 from improper patents will disappear. W. F. Hapgood. 



New Yobk City. 



NEW CANOE CLUBS. 



Editor Forest- and Stream: 



On Feb. 7 the Belleville Athletic Club elected the following 

 officers: Pres., H. V. Cole; Vice-Pres., G. W. Watson; Recording 

 Sec, C, L. Denison; Corresponding Sec, G. P. Douglass; Tresis., 

 B. H. Timpson; Executive Committee, G. VV. Watson, G. H. Case- 

 bolt, W. T. Clark. This club has a membership of thirty, and the 

 increased interest in canoeing is very marked, as only a year ago 

 there was not one, where now about one half of the members (as 

 well as all of the officers) are canoeing and boating men. Last 



River where, all canoeists are welcome. 



Gel). P. Douglass, Cor, Sec. B. A. C. 

 Belleville, N. J., Mareh rX 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



On March 19,1887, the Poughkeepsie C. C. was organized, with 

 constitution and by-laws similar to the New York C. C. The 

 officers are : Li. E. Buekout, Com.; M. G. Du Bois, Vice-Corn.; Dr. 

 H. F. Parker, Sec. Treas. A club house is soon to be built, and 

 when finished a welcome will be extended to all canoeists. Every 

 member of the club is to be a member of the A. C. A., aud all 

 races arc to be held under their sailing rules. The club now 

 numbers eight active members. Although tardy in organizing 

 we hope to have some lively contests and cruises to report. Any 

 information in regard to navigable waters, hotels, etc., will be 

 cheerfully furnished. Dll. H. F. Pahker, See. -Treas. P. C. C. 



A meeting was held in Peterboro, at which was organized the 

 Otonabee 0. G, the name being given in honor of the stream 

 which flows through the town to Rice Lake. The officers are : 

 Com., John Miller; Vice-Corn., H. W. Stock; Sec, A. E. Dixon ; 

 Assistant Sec, A. E. Scott ; Treas., Gordon Smith; Managing 

 Committee, W. H. Darmon, A. E. Thompson, A. 11. Turner and 

 W. H. Mill. 



A NORTHERN DIVISION. 



COLLO WING out the new plan of reorganization by divisions 



com., coi. a, c. iiogers. rwtruuiu, u«i«i-vuiu., >^<i. <-.<. x*. 

 lough, Kingston; Purser, J. D. Collins, Peterboro; Executive Com- 

 mittee— D. B. Jaques, Toronto; A. D. F. MeGachen, Lindsay; Dr. 

 C. M. Douglas, Lakefield; Colin Eraser, Toronto; F. S. Rathbun, 

 Deseronto; Mr. Minus, Bobcaygeon. The following clubs were 

 represented at the meeting on March It* at Peterboro: Lindsay, 

 Lakefield, Gait, R. M. C. of Kingston, Bobcaygeon, Peterboro, 

 Ontonabee, Toronto, Brockville, Ubique. A meet will be held at 

 Stony Lake from Aug. 1 to Aug. 12. aud a special invitation is ex- 

 tended to canoeists from the United States. 



Inchting. 



FIXTURES. 



May. 



1. Newark Opening. 38-31. Portland, Cruise. 

 88. Oswego Cruise. 



June. 



6. Hudson River Annual. 18. Cor. Peon., Hull. 



9. N. Y., Annual, N. Y. 25. Hull Club, Marblehead. 



16. Portland, Annual. 25. Oswego, Ladies' Day. 



July. 



2. Beverly, Open. Mon. Beach. 16. Cor. Cham. Marblehead. 

 2. Hull, Penn.,Hull. 18-31. InterJake. Put-in-Bay. 

 4. Beverly, Cham., Mon. Beach. 20. Hull, Ladies' Day. 



9. Hull, Club Cruise. 23. Beverly, Cham,, Nahant. 



9, Beverly. Cham.. Marblehead. 30. Beverly, Cham., Mon. Beach, 

 16. Beverly, Sweep, Mon. Beach. 30. Hull. Cham., Hull. 

 16. Hull, Cham,, Hull. 30. Cor. Open, Marblehead. 



August. 



2. Sandy Bay, Annual. 20. Beverly, Open, Marblehead. 



0. Beverly, Cli am ..S wa m useot t . 27. Beverly. Open, Mon, Beach. 

 13. Beverly, Cham... Mon. Beach. 30. Hull, Cham., Hull. 

 13. Hull, Open, Hull. 30. Cor. Cham., Marblehead. 



15. Cor. Ladies' Race, Marble- 

 head. 



September. 



10. Beverly, Sweep., Mon. Beach. 17. Cor. Sweep., Marblehead, 

 10. Cor. Cham., Marblehead. 



A. C. A. MEMBERSHIP.— Trenton, N. J., March 5JB.- -Editor 

 Forest arid Stream: The following named gentlemen have applied 

 for membership in tho A. C. A.: H. C. Littlefield, J. T. Norton, 

 John F. Rath bone, G. Lundburg, C. V. Wiune, Dr. W. J. Nellis, 

 Albany, N. Y.; A. H. Forbush.C. H. Worcester, Boston, Mass.; 

 John V. L. Pierson, Bloomfield. N. J.; Irving E. Bigel ow, Worces- 

 ter, Mass.— WM. M. OARTKB, Sec'y A. C. A, 



THE SECOND CRUISE OF THE PILGRIM. 



paht in. 



THE weather cleared at last, the wind came out northwest, we 

 hauled into the club house and filled the wat er tank, and got 

 underway for the east. We ran up to Little Ohebeag, through 

 Chandler's Cove, across the inner end of Lnckse's and Broad 

 sounds, between Birch and Horse islands and Upper Flag Island 

 and Thrumbeap into Pott's Harbor. It was only 10 A. M., the 

 wind was light, the tide flood, and we kept on north of Flasket's 

 Island for Harpswell Sound. The passage around the lower end 

 of Harpswell Neck is narrow and beset with rocks. When we 

 arrived at the worst part of it the wind was not sufficient to drive 

 us against the strong flood tide that was setting to the westward 

 uorth of Haskel's, and we had to send the boat ahead and tow the 

 Pilgrim very hard, or she would have been swept upon the ledges 

 to the west of her. It was a close shave, and we were very anxious 

 till we reached the sound to the eastward of Bam Island buoy. 

 Here it fell flat calm and we let her drift to the northward, think- 

 ing of a ha ven at Harpswell, while we examined and admired the 

 pretty cottages and hotels along the neck. Haskel has a, high 

 wooded hook that projects toward the northeast and forms the 

 cutest, little harbor behind it. where several small boats wore 

 lying. A cottage stands among the trees, swept by the wind from 

 all sides, and the view must be magnificent. I coveted that little 

 paradise, contrary to the law, and wondered if the owner was a 

 stolid, unromantic fisherman, or one of nature's adorers. There 

 was not water enough in the cove for the Pilgrim, so I did not go 

 ashore to inquire the price, but sighed as the castle of my sudden 

 fancy faded in the misty blue. As the sun drove us into the 

 shadow of the mainsail, and a little steamer puffed past on her 

 way up the sound, for a moment I wished for steam power, then I 

 ba nished the idea as unworthy a true yachtsman and made myself 

 comfortable with a cigar. 



We had not long to wait for the cool zephyrs of the northwest . 

 They came and filled our sails, and soon we were dancing along 

 and around Jaquish island, in company with a heavily laden 

 sloop that had come through Mark Island passage, the regular 

 entrance to Broad Sound. We set the spinnker and had a lively 

 and enjoyable ruu to and inside of Fuller's Rock off Cape Small 

 Point, where t he spinakcr was taken in and the big sloop slowly 

 drew away from us. The wind freshened, the gafftopsail was 

 hauled down inside of Sequin, the Pilgrim had all she could carry, 

 and several large schooners bound up the Kennebec took in their 

 kites, but the dreaded river's mouth was passed in safety and with 

 only a moderate sea running. The Cuckolds were upon the beam, 

 Squirrel Island ahead, we were sure to make Townsend before 

 dark, and we did, though we had ebb tide, a choppy sea and a hard 

 headwind to beat against. I now have so mum confidence in the 

 Pilgrim's weatherly qualities on account of her behavior in just 

 such emergencies that I discount the pleasure of arrival long be- 

 fore her anchor is down in the harbor. In beating in we gave the 

 large schooner yacht Winniel considerable trouble to beat us, but 

 (.'barley's hat went overboard and 1 hove to and sent him after it, 

 as hats were rather scarce aboard. Heaving to with helm idee, 

 main sheet flat aft and staysail to windward, makes considerable 

 drift, and I often let all sheets fly to hold position better. The 

 Pilgrim was anchored close in toward the mouth af the creek, the 

 anchor light was hung out, and we treated ourselves to baked 

 beans and turkey for the line ten hours' run we had made. 



There was a breath of spruces out of the creek at 5 A. M. next 

 day, and we used it to waft us out of the harbor. A sloop hugged 

 the right shore and used an oar for miles: a large schooner hugged 

 the left shore and made no movement, while the Pilgrim went 

 right out in mid stream at a rate of a mile an hour, and we 

 laughed at the bad judgment of the natives. 



Jack was beiow getting breakfast, and Charles looked clown the 

 little hatch forward and asked him what made so much blaze. 

 Ho answered the wicks, then he called me to come quickly. 1 ran 

 down and found a great blaze covering the stove, filling the box 

 and extending up to the deck. I looked a moment in dismay and 

 thought the boat; was doomed, then I grabbed a lot of wet towels 

 that lay by the mast and covered over the flames and stifled them. 

 It was a critical moment and 1 felt a little shaky after the danger 

 was passed, but upon reflection I concluded there was not so much 

 risk of explosion as of communicating fire to the surrounding 

 woodwork, because the stove is admirably adapted to prevent the 

 access of name to the oil tank in its base. 



Booth Bay never looked more beautiful than this morning in 

 August. It was clear along shore, pale blue ripples marked the 

 course of the gentle morning breeze in the channel, the ever- 

 greens of the right bank Were bright green in the morning sun. 

 and those on the left darkened and deepened the shadows of the 

 hillsides. Squirrel Island was still asleep, a, few chimneys in 

 Townsend were sending up feathery tufts of white and gray 

 smoke, and the distant islands were lifted by the mirage from 

 their watery beds into mists of soft, mellow tints of heavenly 

 blue. It was romantic, and our little craft with all sail set and 

 the rough old schooner gave that life which makes a pict ure com- 

 plete. While enjoying the balsamic air and the scene to the ut- 

 most, I began to sneeze, which reminded me that 1 had not had 

 my coffee— a most, important beverage before all great, and im- 

 portant undertakings— and Jack gave us a mugful and some 

 crackers to counteract the. dampness and the cold of the early 

 morning. 



The wind increased from t he northeast when off Linnekin's Bay, 

 and we went bowling along finely. I had seen a small schooner 

 pass inside a buoy ahead and concluded 1 would do likewise, so 

 over-confident had I become from my success in navigating 

 strange places. I hauled to and was steering to go inside the buoy, 

 when I saw the gleam of breakers from the buoy to the shore. 

 Then I found by the chart and a glimpse of another buoy ahead 

 that I was running for Card's Ledge, which would certainly have 

 picked us up aud battered us to pieces. I was not long changing 

 the course, gave Gangway Ledge a wider berth than usual, saluted 

 the light house upon Ram Island at 5 A. M,, and took breakfast in 

 the cockpit as we sped by Pemaquid Point within the swell and 

 roar of its monstrous breakers. 



It feU calm before we had sailed half way to Egg Rock, and the 

 wisdom of an early start was again emphasized. There was 

 nothing to do but to endure the pitching and slatting of sails, 

 watch the nearby boatmen hauling trawls, and examine the vessels 

 out to sea to notice how they had the wind. Catspaws were all 

 around us; one would come from the northwest and fill the sails 

 upon one side, and then one from the southeast and force ub to 

 trim over, and soon the boat would work in a glassy streak and 

 pitch and slat as before. We could see the vessels outside heeling 

 to a str ong southeast breeze some time before it reached us, but it 

 came at last; we passed Egg Rock and Davis's Straits aud headed 

 for Hooper's Island. One must go well ov er toward the shore of 

 this, as if going into Herring Gat— now more euphoiuansly called 

 Pride's Cove— before turning toward Mosquito Island to enter its 

 sound, as the reef at t he north end of Hart's Island exteuds very 

 far into the channel and has its extremity marked by a black 

 buoy. Once rounded, we swept gracefully past Marshall's Light, 

 through inside of Mosquito and out to sea again, and shaped the 

 course for the white rock with the little house and lighthouse 

 called Whitehead, which guides to Penobscot Bay, and is generally 

 dashed by thundering breakers. 



We were soon across, and Jack took the helm and guided the 

 Pilgrim past the head and up the Mussel Shoals channel. We saw 

 two battered, paintless, old-fashioned steamers hunting for por 

 gies, and numerous vessels around, one of which was a beaiitifu 



