SS6 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 15, 1888. 



DUCK SHOOTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 



3 writer, in company wtthWalter, taviiy 

 n a duck shooting trip to the farlamed black mk gaoutms 

 ;uac, Northumberland <ounty,N._B., on Monnay, eepu. 



THE \ 

 on i 

 of Negna^, ,. 



the following is an account or our expei leu 



l£ 



yacht « 

 ready 

 the \ 

 Onf 

 some 1 



ainiohi 

 on business 

 himu] 

 Our 

 8in 

 cutter 

 15ft. Oh ., 



cockpit ihat maj 



«omewbafc similar to the Windward, to tu» 

 for sleeping, i.e., two on transom- -' 

 side of the mast. 



late four persons 



t wo in hammocks, one each 



We started from Newcastle about 4 P. M., wind light from 

 west dving awav as we n eared Cuatham. five miles from N. Here 

 wesiglited" the steamer upon which W. was supposed to be, and 

 ran tor her, at least as fast as the wind would allow us, it now 

 having almost calmed off. Making £gna_to_ Iter we got her to 



alter her course to meet us. W. was profuse in his apologies for 

 not being on hand, but said he would join us at midnight at Black 



strong up 



ing all sails set, no wind. 



After supper, the warm part supplied by our coal oil stove, the 

 crew and George indulged in a game of cards. Still no wind, but 

 about 8 P. Ms on going on deck I imagined 1 could feel a light 

 breath of air from up river, and we also imagined the tide was 

 about full; so we ordered all hands to up anchor, determining to 

 keep our part of the bargain and try and reach Black Brook. . It 

 turned out to be a long, tiresome sail, or rather drift, for the tide 

 could not have commenced to run out for an hour alter starting, 

 and the wind was just strong enough to stem it. We arrived off 

 our anchorage about midnight, 3% hours tor about i miles. We 

 had to use oars to get near enough shore to anchor. Turned m 



Tuesday, Sept. 25.— Shortly after turning out at 6 A. M. Walter 

 came along in his carriage, saying ho had put in the night troin 1 

 P.M. on a couch in the office of a livery siable at Chatham, not 

 wanting to go to a hotel forfearhe might not get out early enough 

 in the morning, and knowing how calm it had been, was afraid 

 we might be at anchor somewhere, between there and Chatham, 

 where ne would miss us in the dark, having forgotten that our 

 signal for him would bealantern at the masthead. After breakfast, 

 7:30 A. M., we set sail and weighed anchor for down river, Neguac 

 being about twenty-two miles below Black Brook. The wind was 

 light S.W. and the weather foggy, in fact we had to steer part of 

 the time by compass below Sheldrake Island. Three miles below 

 Black Brook we ran up our No. 2 topsail and spinaker, which 

 helped ns along a good deal faster. We skirted the north shore 

 of the. bay Miramichi, which, at Oak Point, about 9 miles below 

 Black Brook, opens up to about 7 to 10 miles broad, keeping out 

 from shore about 1 mile. The trip was delightful so far, warm 

 for the time of year, hut the wind was very light, especially oil 

 Burnt Church, about 8 miles below Oak Point. Here the sails 

 merely kept, full, but as we n eared Hay Island, about 4 miles be- 

 low Burnt Church, it freshened up considerably. After passing 

 the island, having to change our course for Adams Neguac, it 

 necessitated taking down our spinaker for the run in over Neguac 

 Bay, about 2 miles, arriving at the wharf at 1:30 1'. M, 



Our purpose in calling here was to get a guide for the Black 

 Lands, where we proposed going for ducks, but our man dis- 

 appointed us, having left for the grounds, expecting to meet us 

 there. This was quite a disappointment, for after getting down 

 to our anchorage there was a great possibility of us missing him; 

 however, we got under way again, having about three miles more 

 of a sail this time down Neguac Bay, three or four miles broad 

 just here, and not more than 10 or lift. deep. As we approached 

 the lower end it shallowed very gradually, till ive were, brought 

 up all standing in about 4M£t. of water. The bay is formed by a 

 sandy beach or island and the mainland. Outside of the former, 

 which is onlv 80 to 100yds. wide, is the Lower Miramichi Bay, or 

 more properly speaking, the Atlantic Ocean. 



Although aground, we were still about throe-quarters of a mile 

 from the mainland, the same from the beach, a>;d ahead of us it 

 was about one mile to the lower end of the bay, which is here nar- 

 rowed down by the mainland and beach coming together; the 

 mainland being the "Black Bands" before, spoken of, leaving a 

 narrow, shallow channel about 3-t. at high water, leading into 

 Tabusintac Bay, the noted brant and goose shooting resort of this 

 part of the country. This place is shoaler than Neguac Bay and 

 more inclosed, there being only this narrow entrance and another 

 narrow outlet called the Gully, having about Oft. of water on the 

 bar at low water, the beach and mainland joining at the lower 

 end of the bay. ' . .„. . . ' . , 



After running aground we were so tar from shore that we 

 thought, we should be able to Qnd better water, having been here 

 two years before. It seemed to us we had been closer, but on 

 getting out our smallboat and trying the water, the best we could 

 find was Bin. more, so we towed the yacht into it and anchored for 

 the night; not fearing, for the bottom was composed of long grass 

 and about 2ft. of soft mud, a very exposed place in a S.W. wind, 

 but we thought that between shallowness and eel grass there 

 would not bo much danger of a sea, and from an cast wind we 

 were apparently well sheltered by the beach. Being all pretty 

 tired alter the long night before and sail down the bay in the line 

 fresh air, we turned in early, having seen nothing of our friend 

 the guide. 



Wednesday, Sept. 24.— We were all up in good time this morn- 

 ing, having passed a quiet night, there, being no Wind. Tilings 

 looked blue for shooting, though, for our man had not yet turned 

 up at 8 A. M.; but just as we were about giving up hopes. four men 

 were seen walking Neguac-way along the shore. Waiter suggests 

 going after them, and if our man is not one of them to hire one; 

 for on these plains there is such a sameness and small, narrow 

 paths, many grown over, that a stranger would go astrav very 

 quickly and lose himself. W. came hack soon, having a man with 

 him, and on his arrival we found that on coming up with the men 

 and asking them if they knew where Charley Med . was, they said , 

 "Yes, this is be," pointing to him. He had, in company with the 

 others, passed the night near one of the ponds with the expecta- 

 tion of getting a shot at some geese; but they wore returning 

 empty-handed, having been out for two days a nd bringing back 

 but one duck, which did not augur well for our trip. He excused 

 himself to us for not hailing the boat by saying he supposed we 

 had engaged another man at Neguac on finding he was not on 

 hand. 



On getting ready for our walk inland Charley asked us if we 

 intended to stay on the plains for the moonlight shooting: as it 

 would be necessary to take a lantern and a little more grub, in 

 case we decided to stay. We provided ourselves accordingly and 

 started for the shore, tour of us in our little boat about Irfft.'iong. 

 I would not, I thought at the time, like the t rip if there was any 

 sea on. 



The first part of the walk was not too bad, the road leading 

 through a point of woods, but once through this we came out on 

 the plains, as they are called, having to walk single hie along a very 

 narrow, deep path; sometimes up to the ankles in soft mud and 

 water, making the walking extremely difficult. The, plain or 

 barren is covered with blueberry bushes and short scrubby bush 

 and on going out of the road a person sinks knee deep, and sonic 

 places the ground on walking on it springs up and ciown as if 

 afloat, leading a person to think that, if he "stood long enough he 

 would disappear entirely. Scattered upon these plains are num- 

 erous ponos, varying in size from 50 to 1 50ft. lonip, these are the 

 resort of black ducks, and geese. 



After an hour's hard tramp we came to the first ponds. W. wa s 

 stationed at one (nearly every one has a small blind for shooting 

 from), Tom at another,;myself and Charley going further on to 

 two others; agreeing to meet for our dinner at our pond, and if 

 nothing came to us in the way of birds we were to take up our 

 march further into the plains. I had. a dreary watch for an hour 

 or two, nothing coming near me. There were a great many 

 geese flying; but oh, so high; a dock coming over me but so tar up 

 I knew it was useless; however, 1 tired. Charley said 1 struck 

 one, that he could bear the shot; 1 must be hard of hearing for I 

 heard nothing; having been told tiie same thing before and not 

 hearing 1 put tittle faith being able to hear shot strike a bird ai 

 70 or 80yds. 



At noon the party came together for dinuer, all with the same 

 story "no birds." After our lunch it was decided that the ponds 

 about one and a half mile further on were the ponds: those that 

 we were at were more frequented by geeso, but not at 'this season, 

 Alter a smoke we took up our dreary march again, reaching our 



goal at last pretty tired, the ground getting more soft than evei, 

 mv210lbR. miring every step. I noticed that o tithe branches where 

 I sat in the blind the water appeared in each footprint. 



We. were doomed to disappointment here also: not a bird came 

 round or near us; as is always the case, the weather was said to he 

 too fine and the wind not in the righ t. quarter. The only shot 1 got 

 was at a diver that appeared to me in the middle of the pond 1 was 

 stationed at. How he got there I could not tell, although they are 

 hard to shoot T managed to kill him. 



At 4 •'. M. we had to make a start for the first lakes spoken of, 

 as it was there we were to stop for the night. As the moon did 

 not rise till 11 o'clock and the wind did not come round we decided, 

 in case the sky became so cloud v that we could not he able to find 

 our boat if we stopped, to go straight for the shore and go aboard 

 as soon as possible; which turned out to be a wise conclusion, as 

 the sequel will show. Arrived at the first ponds we were all thor- 

 oughly tired out with our tramp, but after a, short rest, we pushed 

 on and got nut to shore about 5.30 P. M. There was a little wash 

 on from the east wind, and I proposed that the others should go 

 out and Charley come back for me, but they persuaded me to get 

 aboard, and it "turned out not so bad as I thought, but got just 

 rough enough as we neared the yacht, which was}£ or % nine from 

 shore, the wind having risen a little. 



Having the appearance of a rough night we set to work while 

 supper was preparing to make the yacht more shipshape, hous- 

 ing the topmast, veering out more anchor chain to both anchors, 

 lashing down the boom to prevent, swaying off its support in case 

 we had some rolling to do. I also reefed the foresail. I forgot to 

 state in my description of the yacht that her sails, except the 

 mainsail, all ptowa*vay in bags in a sail locker under the cockpit, 

 entered from under one of steps going down companion way; the 

 water tank, holding 15 gallons, being under that again. 



Had 1 done what Air. Kunhardt did on his cruise m the Coot, 

 when 1 anchored in an exposed place— reefed everything down 

 close, 1 would perhaps have had a better chance to have worked 

 out of the scrape we got into later on. I have done so before, but 

 it never struck mo as being necessary this time, supposing our 

 best shelter was from an east wind, and thinking that the shoal 



ater and eel grass would prevent any sea from getting up. 



After supper it was blowing quite lively, so much so that it 

 would then have been impossible to have got out more than two 

 at a t into i n the vawl. About dark it, began to look bad, especially 

 when the shores began to disappear in the darkness. W. and Tom 

 wanted me to turn m, so long as everything was all right, and try 

 and get some rest, in case we had to turn out during the latter 

 part of the. night. 1 said I would if everything was all right at 9 

 o'clock. C. and Tom got out the hammocks and turned in, Char- 

 ley and self smoking and waiting events. I had put the leadline 

 over the side and anxiously waited to see if the slack line would 

 be taken up to show if she was dragging any. The wind seemed 

 to have readied its height at 11 o'clock and everything was holding 

 all right, so I thought 1 would lie down, everything on, ready for 

 work, spreading a blanket over me, leaving word for Charles to 

 call me if anything went wrong, and to do so any way at 12 

 o'clock, and I would take a watch, cautioning him try the lead 

 often to note if she dragged any, also the depth of water. The 

 latter bothered me a good deal, as 1 knew there was only about six 

 ncbes to spare if the tide fell much. 



At the time I laid down, and all the evening, in fact, I could see 

 no great difference; it always kept at about 7ft. I felt that if the 

 tide fell any in the sea, which had now grown considerable, the 

 yacht would pound very hard, but had hopes the strong easterly 

 wind would keap the tide up, which it generally does in the river. 

 I gave Charley mv watch and told him to keep a sharp lookout, 

 and laid down, but could not close my eyes, as the wind, which 

 for a while bad kept about the same, commenced to blow harder, 

 accompanied by squalls of rain, in one of these, about 10:30 P. M., 

 Charley came down for shelter, and I came up to join him in a 

 smoke and have a talk over the situation, for by this time she was 

 pitching up and down at the most lively rate 1 ever saw her, and 

 the wind had increased to a regular gale; one that did a great deal 

 of damage all along the cost from Maine north. 



As wc sat chatting and smoking we experienced a different sen- 

 sation quite suddenly, that was a roll along with the pitching. 

 Charley shouts "She's broken her hold." 1 thought at first the 

 wind had hauled suddenly to southard. We both rushed up to 

 find that the lead line was taut, she was going astern and her 

 head had also paid off, making it lively work scrambling about 

 her iu the dark, for it was as dark as Egypt, raining, and how it 

 did howl. 



I got the lads out of their hammocks pretty quickly, and we all 

 groped our way forward and commenced to get the anchors in 

 and cleared and out again. They were hardly to be seen for grass 

 and mud. It was no small job when we were all on her bow; 

 sometimes she went bowsprit under, and spray and water broke 

 quite over us. She held pretty well for a time, hut I think the 

 trouble was that being so little water to spare every time she took 

 i\. plunge her heel went, down in the mud, so that when she yawed 

 a little the stern did not give way, bringing her broadside to the 

 wind and making it very hard for the anchors to hold. 



By keeping a man with the lead line over the side we were ad- 

 vised of tiow she was holding. For perhaps half an hour the word 

 was favorable, "she's holding all right," then "she's gone astern 

 about a foot," increasing every time from three to four feet, 

 till at last we hauled up one again that seemed to have the 

 least hold. About this time I began to think it was time we were 

 making up our minds what was the best thing to do under the 

 circumstances. She was plunging bow under, and the stern 

 would go down about even with the water. Our position was about 

 thus, having two alternatives; first to try and get sail enough on 

 her to weather a point lined with boulders and run across Neguac 

 Bay, and try and come to anchor above Neguac Wharf, risking 

 the chance of being driven on to the point, crossing the rough bay 

 if successful, and ending up with the doubt of whether the 

 anchors would hold any better af ter we got there. We had two 

 lights which we could steer by when they were not obscured by 

 the driving rain, but I was afraid that they would not serve much 

 purpose in 'clearing the point, as while drifting and clearing the 

 auchors wc had driven a good deal shoreward, and not having 

 any landmark behind or N. E. of us being obscured in darkness, 

 1 was afraid I was not able to judge of the positiou of Hay Island 

 light near enough to clear the point. 



the second alternative was to get sail enough on to head her 

 for the shore, at a place Charles assured me was soft bottom and 

 f t ea from boulders. After a hurried consultation my mind was 

 made up to avoid the risk of anything happening in trying to 

 locate the point, the run across the bay, and t he chance of anchors 

 breaking, and to up anchors, put the foresail on her and head her 

 for the shore. The anchors came up hard, and when her head 

 fell off the sea broached clean over us. Getting the foresail on 

 was no small undertaking with a reef in it. 1 supposed for the 

 distance we had to run it could be held without the aid of the 

 sheet by W. and Tom. It turned out they had their hands full, 

 but they managed to hold on. 



The reader can imagine the writer's sensation when lie was 

 steering for the shore, expecting to hear and feel the final thump, 

 it came at last, but not only one. 1 think it was a good idea put- 

 ting on the sail, for it carried her into shoal water much quicker 

 and out of the larger breakers than would have been the case 

 otherwise. As soon as she seemed to stop moving forward the 

 depth of water was tried and 4ft. found, and as well as we could 

 see we were about 80yds. from the shore. Before she got much 

 list we went to work and got up the spinaker boom as a shore to 

 try and keep her on as even keel as possible. By lashing blocks 

 and tackle to head of boom, other end fast to the mast, hauling 

 taut, we got her up quite a bit, and then we lashed the boom 

 itself to the mast, which, along with the tackle, did a good deal 

 of good. We did this also with our topsail yards, and having done 

 everything we could think of, we retired below about 5:30 A. M., 

 having commenced to drag anchor about 11:30 P. M. 



She still kept lifting and pounding hard enough, in fact, too 

 much so to be safe or comfortable, but she made no water. Hav- 

 ing drawn the hatch and companion door no spray came down, 

 and so, as long as she kept tight we were not too badly off. The 

 wind, fortunately, seemed by this time to have blown itself out, 

 and, wet as we were, it was not long before we had dropped off to 

 sleep. I know it was broad daylight, about 7 A. M., before I woke. 

 [to be concluded]. 



THE 40FT. CLASS. 



THE indications thus far are that the chief feature of the rac- 

 ing next year will be 40ft. and 30ft. classes. The former class 

 especially has been greatly in favor this year, both about New 

 York and Boston, and it is certain now that half a dozen new 

 yachts will be added before the season of 1889 begins, thus making 

 the largest racing class ever seen in America. The Weld chal- 

 lenge, cup, offered this year by Com. Weld, of the Eastern Y. C, 

 is a,pt to provide plenty of sport in Eastern waters, and in New 

 York one club at least will give special, attention to the smaller 

 classes, from 40ft, downward. The Corinthian Y.C., of New York, 

 has wisely decided to throw all its efforts toward encouraging 

 racing into the 40ft. and 30ft. classes, in which some good may be 

 done. TJocre is every prospect for good sport in these boats, and 

 if three or four good matches can bo arranged during the season 

 the result is likely to be far more satisfactory to the club than if it 



MORE LONG STERNS.— At Bay Ridge Mr. Mumm has been 

 busy lately with the work of lengthening the sterns of several 

 yachts. The sloop Ilderan has had her counter spun out, and as 

 the boat is as wide and flat as a pancake the effect is verv curi- 

 ous, Originally a very shoal South Bay boat she has been al- 

 tered several times in the effort to make a yacht of her, being 

 built up some 15in. amidships and 8 at the ends two years since. 

 Athlon is on the ways for a new and longer counter, and Mr. 

 Mumm has put in some, very good work, the lines being carried 

 out, fairly, while the construction is strong and light. Lagonda, 

 steam yacht, is also on the ways, her stern being rebuilt and im- 

 proved, while her bulwarks, stanchions and rail will be renewed. 



THE NEW 53ft. YAWL. — The contract for the new yawl de- 

 signed by Mr, A, Gary Smith has been awarded to Mr, Pieograss, 

 who will begin work at once at City Island, The yacht will be of 

 steel. 



to make sport in the larger classes, in the spring regatta there 

 was no competition in either the 90ft. or 70ft. singlestick class, 

 while the, fall regatta of the New York Y. C. was confessedly a 

 failure. The conditions of the Weld cup are as follows, I he cup 

 itself, designed by the donor and made by the Whiting Manufac- 

 turing Co. of New York, being a silver tankard or rather a loving 

 cup, having throe handles and standing 8iu. high, measuring lOin. 

 in diameter, including handles. Two of the spaces between the 

 handles are engraved, one having inscribed on it, "1888, Eastern 

 Yacht Club challenge cup for 40-footers." On the other is a 

 representation of two sailors pulling a tope. The third space is 

 left vacant for the names of the winners of the cup. The cup has 

 already been won once by Chiquita. 



"This cup is offered by Mr. William P. Weld, for competition 

 by sloops and cutters 35ft, and not over 40ft, in waterline length. 

 Five races in all are to be sailed, the yacht winning the greatest 

 number to own the cup. The first has been won by Chiquita, A. 

 Hemeuway owner. The other four will be sailed during the sum- 

 mer of 1880, in connection with the regattas of the Corinthian 

 Yacht Club. All the races are to be sailed off Mars lehcad, and 

 they will be managed by the regatta committee of the Corinthian 

 Yacht Club, in whose charge the cup will be placed. Yachts less 

 than 35ft, in length may be admitted at the discretion of the re- 

 gatta committee, and at a rating to be determined by the com- 

 mittee. 



"The courses will be alternately dead to windward or leeward 

 and return, and triangular. The first race having been dead to 

 windward and return, the second will be triangular, and so on. 

 In the courses dead to windward or leeward and return, the start 

 and finish will be made off Marble head Bock, unless in the opinion 

 of the judges it be necessary to finish at Halfway Rock in order 

 to obtain the proper course. The length of the windward and 

 leeward courses will he eight miles and return. 



"The triangular courses will be as follows: Triangular course 

 No. 1, from starting line, between Marblehead Rock and the 

 judges' boat, leaving Tom Moore's Rock, Tinker's Island and can 

 buoy on the outer breaker off Pig Rocks on the starboard, to and 

 around Egg Rock, leaving it on the port, to and around a mark 

 anchored miles southeast by east east of Egg Rock, and bear- 

 ing south by east % east from Marblehead Rock 7^ miles, leaving 

 mark on the port, to finish line, passing between the judges' boat 

 aud Marblehead Rock. Distauco, 20 miles. 



"Triangular course No. 3. The reverse of triangular course No. 

 1 , all marks being left on the opposite hand. 



"Necessary instructions will be issued by the judges to contest- 

 ants, and all points not covered by these instruction will be de- 

 cided by I ne regatta committee of the Corinthian Yacht Club in 

 accordance with the sailing regulations of the Eastern Yacht 

 Club." 



Beside, the 40-footers there is already quite a fleet of 30-footers. 

 Saracen, Mignon, Marguerite and Rosalind in Boston, the new 

 Tomboy, and several. will be built in New York. These two classes 

 seem to be very well adapted to present needs, and we regret to 

 see that already the effort is being made to bring the 40ft, 

 class into favor. The Boston Herald of Nov. 11 says under the 

 heading "The 45ft, Class:" 



"Said Gen. Paine a few days ago: 'The 45ft. boat ought to be a 

 very popular yacht. She is just about the right size, and one can 

 have better accommodations than in a 40.' 



"This opinion seems to be gaining ground among our prominent 

 yachtsmen, and the small difference in expense is amply made up 

 in size and accommodation. In a 45-footer a good-sized ladies' 

 stateroom can be built aft, also a fair-sized saloon, with many 

 other conveniences which cannot be put into a 40-footer. The 

 extra expense would be one man, so that practically the expense 

 of the two classes would be the same. Thus far this season two 

 45-footers are to be built from designs of Mr. Burgess, both being 

 ceiiterboards. They are being built to bo sailed in. other waters, 

 so that little of them will be seen here. The 45ft, class has some 

 excellent yachts now iu it, including the sloops Vixen, Fanita, 

 Scotch cutter Bayadere, and the new production, the keel sloop 

 Alga, the first sloop production of Mr. Burgess in this class. 



"•General Paiue's opinion carries gieat weight, and it would not 

 be surprising if the 45-footer, by spring, was the popular boat. 

 The expense of building would not be much greater, and, all 

 things considered, both for cruising and racing, she is the better 

 yacht." 



The Herald forgets that the present class is 46, and not 45ft, and 

 while (fen. Paine is correct that the boats have better accommo- 

 dations than the 40ft.. it is not proved above that the accommoda- 

 tions are increased in proportion to the cost. A well laid out 40- 

 footer can and should have a good ladies' cabin, a main cabin of 

 ample size, and a forecastle and pantries. As far as this argu- 

 ment goes it is used continuously from the. smallest sizes up; thus 

 a man will argue that a 35ft. yacht will cost little more than a 

 30ft. and that with a Corinthian owner the larger can be run 

 with one man, while the smaller caunot be run with less than a 

 man. So with the next size, a 40-footer is larger than a 35-footer, 

 gives more room, aud only needs two men in place of one, and so 

 on through each class. The main point is to confine the building 

 and racing to as few good classes as possible, and if the 35 and 

 46ft, classes w T ere now as firmly established as the 30 and 40ft. it 

 would be in order to consider which sizes are best worthy of en- 

 couragement. As the 40ft. class is however by far the" largest 

 and most promising, and as the 30ft. is as popular as the 35 aud 

 will go better with the 40; it will he far better to encourage the 

 racing iu these two ciasses, and not to force it in the others. The 

 following, from the Field of Nov. 3, puts very plainly the great 

 trouble that besets regatta committees here: 



"In America the interminable classification has had a most 

 disast rous effect on the sport, not only because clubs caunot find 

 the money to give proper prizes for so many classes, but also be- 

 cause the number of yachtsmen who are keen about yacht racing 

 are not sufficiently numerous to fill so many classes. This con- 

 dition of affairs is much the same as our own, although it is 

 more pronounced in America. The New York Club alone, 

 although its smaUest class is 46f f. on the waterline and under, 

 has as many as eleven distinct classes; and while some of these 

 classes have not filled at all, or have been ornamented by one 

 solitary entry, others have had two entries, four entries, etc., 

 much the same as the entries have been in this country. 



"There thus has been a dreadful lack of concentrated energy 

 in deploying yachts into so many classes; and we think the Amer- 

 icans would do well to reduce the number of their classes by at 

 least halt." 



The Field does not recognize the additional fact that the classi- 

 fications differ even yet in the various clubs, and have differed 

 still more. The number of classes seems to be a necessary evil, 

 as it would not be practicable to blot out entirely a class like the 

 old 45f t,, which numbered several fast boats. The classes must 

 tie retained and some prizes given for owners who desire to race 

 in them; but at the same time it is perfectly fair for the clubs to 

 determine which classes are most desirable, and to offer special 

 encouragement to them, so that in a few years they will be built 

 up into a strong and healthy series, while the intermediate classes 

 will disappear from the racing. A good series of classes, taking 

 the limits as they exist in the Eastern, Seawanhaka and New 

 York clubs, would be 30ft., 40ft., 53ft., 70ft, and over. There is no 

 special virtue in these sizes perhaps over the alternate classes, 35, 

 10,61 and 80, but the former classes are already established and 

 well tilled compared with the latter. This being the case, it is to 

 the interest of yacht racing that the prizes so far as possible 

 should be devoted to the enlarging of tne former classes rather 

 than to attempt the impossibility of building up a fleet of racers 

 in each of the many classes. From this point of view we should 

 be sorry to see the 46ft. class encouraged unless it is clearly- 

 proved that there is a real demand for if, and that it can be per- 

 manently maintained. Of the now boats thus far under way for 

 the 40ft. class, all three are from Mr. Burgess's designs, being for 

 Messrs. Morgan, Lawton and Belmont. Tne latter w ; e understand 

 is to be narrower and deeper than any of the others, another 

 string to the bow in case the Fife cutter Minerva should prove as 

 good as she looks. The owner of Ulidia is also willing to go down 

 into the 40ft. class, his yacht being about 42ft. l.w.l, 



UNQUOWA, Mr. Jenning's new steam yacht, will make a trial 

 trip this week, 



