Dec. 6, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



397 



THE AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION. 



SECOND only in importance to the annual camp of the Ameri- 

 can Canoe Association is the meeting- of the executive com- 

 mittee in November, as it is then that the new commodore and 

 secretary-treasurer take office, the accounts for the year are 

 balanced, and, most important of all to the average member, the 

 location of the meet for the succeeding year is decided on, together 

 with the date. The meeting itself is always held on a Saturday, 

 and during its session, though there is no lack of lengthy discus- 

 sion and animated argument, a great deal of business is disposed 

 of in a comparatively short time; and that without any of the 

 participants being too much fatigued by mental labors or the 

 cares of office to be present at the dinner which always follows in 

 the evening, the hosts being the canoeists of the city -wherein the 

 meeting is held. 



The present meeting, the first ever held within the Northern 

 Division, was no exception to its predecessors, either in the suc- 

 cessful arrangement of the business of the Association, or in the 

 fun and jollity of the reunion which followed. Our report of the 

 business of the meeting, published two weeks since, was neces- 

 sarily quite brief, but we supplement it this week with the accom- 

 panying menu of the dinner, as well as with a more complete 

 report of the business transacted. It is hardly necessary to speak 

 of the kindness and hospitality of the hosts of the occasion, the 

 members of the Toronto C. C, as so many from the States have 

 had a taste of Canadian hospitality, either at the meet at Stony 

 Lake in '83 or on other occasions, but every effort was made to 

 entertain the visitors during their stay in Toronto. The hand- 

 some club house of the Toronto C. C, in which the meeting was 

 held, was decorated with flags and trophies from many camps 

 and meets. The dinner card, the work of Mr. Kelly, a talented 

 young member of the T. C. C, will be appreciated by the many 

 canoeists who were absent. The dinner, presided over by Com. 

 Kerr, of the T. C. C, was marked by more and better speeches 

 than usual, as well as by an amount of congregational singing, 

 which promises well for the entertainments about the campfires 

 of Sugar Island. The most amusing of the many songs was the 

 following, written for the occasion by the jolly vice-commodore 

 of the Northern Division, and sung by him in proposing the toast, 



"The Retiring Officers." 



Good comrades all, come bear a hand, I call on every mate 

 To cheer those worthy gentlemen whose names I will relate. 

 Gibson, the sailor-man, stands first, as head of our estate, 

 He's just that kind of sailor-man who's mighty hard to "bate." 

 Sing on, old grampus, heave ahead, we'll let 'em have it straight. 



The man who holds the cash comes next, they call him Freddy 

 Mix; 



Those smart Division pursers cannot play him any tricks, 

 For if they did, you bet your boots, he'd get them in a fix. 

 The men of the Regatta Board, they always act like bricks, 

 Although they're bothered by that chump, the man that always 

 kicks. 



(Now for the Divisions.) 



''Hello Central" first we call, in telephonic style; 

 "Our Commodore," the boys respond, "is a man who's free from 

 guile, 



"Our 'Rear' and our Committeeman are present all the while, 

 "And the Parser's time is occupied in adding to his pile; 

 "When members come to pay their dues, you should remark his 

 smile." 



The next Division is composed of wise men from the East; 

 We're sorry not to see more men of wisdom at this feast— 

 For Barney, Rice, and Davidson, and Snedd, arc not the least 

 Of all tne gallant ones by whom our numbers are increased. 

 We hope it may be many years before they are deceased. 



McGachen's presence is enough our dignity to raise, 

 MacKendrick, our Rear-Commcdore, has helped in many ways, 

 And Graham, the Committeeman, deserves a word of praise, 

 While Purser Sam, he is the man, whom everybody pays, 

 Let's drink to the Executive that never misses stays. 



Down where the wild Atlantic's vast resounding billows foam, 

 The infant of this family lives in its seagirt home; 

 But though of tender years, we see they're not afraid to roam. 

 Brave Stanton's name shall thunder down the ages in this 

 "pome," 



As long as whirls this earthly ball beneath the azure dome. 



Then drink to the Executive, canoeists great and small, 



For wisely their official craft they've steered thro 7 every squall 



In '88, both soon and late, they came at duty's call, 



We drink the Retiring Officers. Stand by, canoeists all. 



With the present meeting ends the eighth year of the American 

 Canoe Association, and it is interesting to look back at the many 

 changes that time has wrought. The first commodore, Mr. Aldeh, 

 is now in Rome as American Consul, whence he lately wrote 



proposing for honorary membership an Italian gentleman who, 

 as he puts it, "owns the only canoe in Italy; at least the only 

 Christian canoe, an Everson Shadow." Judge Longworth, the 

 second commodore, has not been seen at the meets for some year3 

 and, though still a canoeist, devotes much of his time to yacht- 

 ing. Mr. Edwards is still working just as hard for the A. C. A. 

 as ho did before such an organization was anything more than a 

 scheme, in which he and a few other enthusiasts were interested 

 by Mr. Bishop in 1879. Mr. Nickerson is still seen at the meets 

 and is just as popular as when he was elected commodore in 1883, 

 while no one would care to go to an A. C. A. meet at which Gen. 

 Oli ver would not be present. Mr. Rathbun was present at the 

 executive committee meeting and promises to be at the next meet, 

 now that it is near home: while Mr. Wilkin can always be counted 

 on to come early and stay until the last. Though no longer racing 

 Mr. Gibson has won a place in the councils of the Association 

 that will keep him in active service of some kind for a long time, 

 as it is to him perhaps more than to any other individual member 

 that the new constitution and many changes for the better are 

 due. The father of the Association, Mr. N. H. Bishop, is still 

 living in a beautiful nook on the. mountain side at Lake George, 

 whence he can overlook the battle ground of so many canoe 

 races. 



Of the nine meets already held, four have been at Lake George 

 and three on the St. Lawrence, and now for the fourth time the 

 A. C. A. goes back to the latter location, certainly one of the finest 

 in America for such a camp. This time, as in 1883, the meet will 

 be in Canadian waters, having come in due rotation to the North- 

 ern Division, but at the same time it is almost within call of the 

 old spot that is so dear to many of the older members. Many 

 changes have of course taken place in the personnel of the Asso- 

 ciation; while the total number of members from 1880 up to 

 date is very nearly 1.400, many have naturally dropped out, the 

 present membership being about 800, but fortunately death has 

 made very few inroads on the ranks, and nearly all of the older 

 and best known members manage to report from time to time at 

 a meet Or an annual meeting. No. 1 on the roll, a gentleinan who 

 has never taken part at a meet, has lately taken a new interest in 

 the sport, has joined a prominent club, and promises to be at the 

 next meet. The financial condition of the Association up to date 

 is shown in the following report of the Sec.-Treas., presented at 

 the annual meeting: 



A. C. A. Bai/Ance Sheet— October, 1887, to November, 1888. 

 Cr. 



Balance received from W. M, Carter $55.72 



Received from purser Central Division 177 . 45 



purser Atlantic Division 78.81 



purser Eastern Division 60.60 



purser Northern Division 58,40 



sale of lumber left in camp 72.00 



camp dues 119.00 



advertisements in Year Book 315.00 



C. A. Neide, dues. 1888 1.00 



Guy Baker, dues, 1888 1.00 



$996.98 



Dr. 



Stamps $12.81 



Stationery and printing 8.50 



A. C. A. sign at dock 2.50 



Telegram 50 



Incidentals — 



Express on box from W. M. Carter 1.10 



Year Books 1.70 



box to L,ake George and return 2.50 



Camp expenses, A. C. A. meet— 



lOOlbs. copperas 3.50 



Carrying mail 1 . 50 



Boards, labor and rowboat two weeks 12.65 



Wooden pail 30 



D. S. Santord for halt' of dock 75.00 



Com. Gib3on, incidental expenses, 1888 45.80 



Regatta committee, incidental expenses, 1888.... 125.44 



E. R. Bertine, rent of large tent 29.00 



M. G. Stoneman, rent of A. C. A. and See's tents. 28.50 

 S. Hemmenway, A. C. A. burgee 15.00 



S. R. Stoddard for maps in Year Book 65.00 



J. C. Rankin, Jr., printing Year Book, etc 421.53 • 



Expenses of secretary 60.00— $912.53 



Balance in treasury $84.45 



While the balance is but small it is a little more than last year, 

 and the prospect is that in the future the receipts will be increased 

 materially. The chief items are in connection with the Year Book, 

 which this year cost the Association about $100 above the receipts 

 the book being very much superior to anything previously at- 

 tempted, and with a fine map of Lake George included. For the 

 first time the plan of publishing advertisements in the book was 

 tried, the result being that a handsomer book was produced at a 

 smaller cost than usual, and for next year an offer has been made 

 to print aud mail the book free of cost to the Association for the 

 privilege of the advertisements. This offer, being accepted will re 

 move one serious item of expense, and not only the Year Rook but 

 the camp programme will be provided for free of cost. The plan 

 of a camp fee of $1.00, tried for the first time this year, has also 

 worked very well, the revenue from it being $150; while, as a re- 

 sult of the greatly increased local interest in the Association and 

 the meets which has followed the carrying out of the Division 

 scheme, the attendance at the A. O. A. meet promises to be greatly 

 increased in a year or two. 



How large the A.C.A. meet is likely to become, and how large 

 a meet is desirable, are hard questions to answer, but we may 

 safely assume that with good management a territory as large 

 as the ^Northern or Atlantic Divisions should in a few years give 

 an active membership of 400 canoeists. With the Division meets 

 well worked up, the average attendance at each should be not 

 less than 125, as the distance from any point in the Division can- 

 not be very great: and in the year when the Division meet is 

 merged in :the A.C.A. meet this attendance should run up to 

 at least 200 from the Division. Besides this the average attend- 

 ance from each of the other Divisions should be at least 10 per 

 cent, or 40 each, making a total of over 300 actual members besides 

 ladies and guests, at the Association meet. This would make 

 quite as large a camp as would be desirable, while the income 

 from it would be more than enough to cover all running expenses 

 of the meet, as these would be increased very slightly'if any for 

 a camp of twice the present size. The wharf, general tent, and 

 prizes are the same in either case, while at present an edition 

 of 1200 books is printed, so that even if the membership and at- 

 tendance at the meet were both doubled the running expenses of 

 the Association would be but little, if any, greater. For the 

 present at least the expenses of the Division meets will be less 

 than of an Association meet, and will be amply provided 

 for from the 70 per cent of the receipts retained by each 

 Division. As far as we can judge then, the prospects are that 

 with added experience and good management the expenses 

 of the Association should be diminished, rather than increased; 

 while on the other hand, the membership which is certain 

 to follow a vigorous and pushing policy in each Division, 

 with its influence on the attendance at the A. C. A. meet, is sure 

 to add largely to the receipts, both in the form of the initiation 

 fees, annual dues, and camp fee. To be sure, the expense is not 

 now very great, $1 for initiation, $1 per year dues, and $1 from 

 each member present at an Association meet, no camp fees being 

 charged for the Division meet. At the same time, the more this 

 expense can be reduced the better; and further, the more it can 



SOUP. 

 Ouster. 



©ingle. Blades VNre-you ready ? - Qo ! 



M&lifouC StevX, SAUCE Xo, /~\A0EIRK. 



Stewed Sweetbread.-;, au* cha.~pac~ e . (J j 



Cd.lj'f ile&d , RR/UFH SAUCE. (iw. Wo.*, <yj^ >U5ax. ev>*.) 

 SUXw-taL "kirtfVi a Amj f R.A 0/AVOLCa 



BOILED 



The Queen. 



'A PEWtCT WOMAN N0M.Y MANMtn* \*JtrtLn^rJA 



President 



'PeVudp. 

 Cb't*l<,er), $ PARAUt Sauce.. 



Cfatcfc^o suga.1-- Cured Hs,m, ckwhcm »a U cs. 



JOIHTS 



Prime Ribs Devot) ftecjv ft«w**Neo cotA-roKs . 



Duck. a??le ^auce. (S-Wu e-wl- & ajuJ**.') 

 toimst Turkey, , wh' kSUA<~4- . — </t£^ ^ju. . 



fh>w-~ % <y„~ . a . -tV *S~J " C/l Wi\ 

 tiB.£A6 SAUCE 



VEGETABLES 



Potatoes, a.la oaiNOVraKE. 



Qre«y> Peivi "oeas re unto you 



T0Ur>£ C&n'OiT'i 0. LA ST0NE.V lake. 



Stewed ToYn&voe.v alp, hoiue-svioe 

 En£h^li Pluvn puddino, m».ani>y sauce. 



I' /\\>|»le<i 



Peach Ta-v 

 DESEfVr 



A?soTi<d. Nub 



Cuba. O f tVp gas * ~LUa/- cvX^ /w«v~ ^r- ^f'" 



OUR GUESTS. 



CANOEISTS , A an Swelethl/\R^S . 



SI. 



•pm, Qa^Xjl cU _\L n ', French Ofj^ • (EtfRY t CHEISE^.Gop.C,; 



So U!e*ee. foast fbe- "toa^ u>"Ao 'cr -At JL vj/u-- 



