604 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 9, 1890. 



I.50O MILES IN AN ADIRONDACK BOAT. 



PART II. 



ERIE CANAL, Sept. 8, Monday.— t was out of bed at 6, to find 

 that the rain had ceased, but had left everything damp and 

 reeking, with a heavy fog that did not rise until 8:30. Packing 

 up, 1 launched and rowed one mile to the lock, where I bad 

 breakfast at the usual little store. They informed me that a bear 

 was killed hard by not long before. Putting off -again I rowed 

 through another one-mile level, beyond which came one fourteen 

 miles long. At the last locK. I met two interesting and interested 

 inhabitants, who gave me much information about the country. 

 Three mik-s further on f passed a small town, Auriesville: and, 

 shordv be\ ond, Fultom file, fifty-six miles from Albany. Oppo- 

 site here is t he town of Fonda, whence is a railroad to Glovers- 

 ville, ten miles distant. On this level the canal once more 

 crosses the Mohawk on a fine aqueduct, and three small streams 

 on lesser bridges. The next village was Yatesville, sixty-two 

 miles from Albany, and three miles beyond came, the lock at 

 Speakers. The mountains above here rose still higher and had 

 some fine timber on them; they form the southern base of the 

 Adirondacks. The valley and the river grow gradually narrower, 

 and several of the gorges are extremely picturesque. The bottom 

 lands are covered with pretty groves, and occasionally a farm 

 appears. The whole scene was very beautiful, and I had an un- 

 obstructed view all along. 



At Fultonville 1 stopped at the bank and bought some fruit and 

 a watermelon at the store without leaving the boat. The water- 

 melon was completely disposed of within the next five miles: 1 

 kept it between my knees, with a big spoon handy, and a lump of 

 ice inside it, while a sponge at my elbow was frequently called 

 into service to wet my bursting head, the heat being terrific. As 

 a consequence I took matters very easily, though making seven 

 miles in an hour and a quarter, and the whole fourteen-mile 

 level in two hours and forty-five minutes, in spite of the heat, 

 watermelon, and eel grass. This last was the worst, being so thick 

 as to completely stop the boat several times, which proved ex- 

 ceedingly exasperating to my already overtaxed feelings. The 

 mules and horses on the towpath generally have fearful galls on 

 their shoulders, but otherwise seem to be tolerably well treated. 

 The boats are numerous and ruu often all night, making Buffalo 

 from Albany in t^n days. The heavy boats, those that are loaded, 

 run two miles per hour; and the light boats about three miles. 

 The profanity is uiisin passed by anything 1 have ever heard; and 

 the language'of the skippeis and muleteers seems to consist alto- 

 gether of a set of choice oaths and profane expressions. The 

 captains, and the underlings too. always have a word for one; 

 and I generally cultivate those going my way; being apt to see 

 them agaiu. My boat distances theirs quickly, but they catch up 

 during the night. They invariaby believe that 1 am bound on a 

 fishing excursion; and consequently think that all I tell them is 

 very "fishy." 



Though quire worn out by the heat at the end of the long 

 stretch, having reached the terminal lock, 1 pushed on three miles 

 to Canajoharie, half way over a six-mile level and sixty-eight 

 miles from Albany. This is a large town, and the prospects for a 

 dinner ahead being slim, 1 dined here at a fair hotel; having run 

 nineteen miles thus far from the bivouac of last night. A tarry 

 of an hour and a half to cool off was grateful, and then I started 

 on in a thunder storm, but did not get more than a slight wetting. 

 Three miles from Oana jobarie comes another lock, opening on a 

 five-mile level. Owing to the action of a feeder above, the cur- 

 rent was pretty strong against me; and tine, together with a head 

 wind and floating masses of I he ever-present grass, made the work 

 very irksome. However, the fine scenery almost made up for all 

 this. The broad country rolled on as far as the eye could very 

 well see, fine farms and heavy timber lines alternating through 

 the hills. The pine groves were especially hue, consisting of large 

 trees. At the commencement of this level is Fort Plain, quite a 

 sizable place. There was much delay there on account of an accu- 

 mulation of canal boats; but at last I got through, though the 

 tenders allowed a canal boat to get in ahead of my turn. This 

 was the first piece of such negligence as I had met with, and I 

 gave the tender my views on the subject, he admitting his fault. 

 The number of boats going and coming on the canal is astonish- 

 in 0 '. There are some hard-looking characters along the route, but 

 so'far 1 have had no trouble with them. 



The lollowing level was three miles long, and while in the lock 

 at. the end a great swirl of water, caused by a damaged gate, 

 forced me to pull hard on the port oar to avoid disaster, where- 

 upon the oar broke tn the. neck— a serious mishap. Kooky Rift 

 feeder from the Mohawk comes in on this level, and Herkimer 

 county begins at Mindenville, a little hamlet at the lock, where 1 

 had supper in a wretched shanty; afterward proceeding for half 

 a' mile under my double-bladed paddle until I found a wagon 

 maker near the canal who promised to mend my oar in the morn- 

 ing. This man owned a dog of a very enterprising disposition, 

 who proved averse to my landing: but I conquered his scruples 

 after a little parleying, in which a club took part. Paddling to a 

 oniet spot a quarter of a mile away, I drew the boat up on a high 

 hank, and as the moon rose went in swimming; then, after read- 

 ing for an hour, turued in under my blankets. Thirty and one- 

 half miles run to this point since morning. 



Erie Canal, Sept. u, Tuesday.— I rose at 6 and found two inquisi- 

 tive youug builoeks discussing me, and anxiously awaiting fur- 

 ther developments. I first went for the oar, which my tarrier 

 had repaired, making it half a pound heavier at the end, a serious 

 defect, as It "was much hairier to row with thenceforth. Break- 

 fast was had iu a vile little house where a domestic row was in 

 progress. The proprietor's better, and much more muscular half, 

 threatening to go up and haul him out of bed if he did not get up 

 "right oft." The master of the- house had evidently been on a 

 spree the night before; in fact everybody about this country 

 seems to get drunk whenever opportunity offers. The eel-grass 

 was not quite so bad as yesterday, but I had a strong head wind 

 all day to tight against. 



This level was a three mi ler, and uext followed one 5^ miles 

 long, on which were two aqueducts over small streams. East 

 f'anada Creek, from the Adirondacks. comes into the Mohawk 3 

 miles above Mindenville. At the end of the level Little Falls ap- 

 pears situated in a romantic place and surrounded by very pretty 

 scenery. There are 10,000 people here. The canal makes quite a 

 rise hereafter, there being four locks near together; while on 

 r-ither side rocky cliffs rise abruptly from the water. The place 

 iiself seems to be cut out of tne solid reck, the canal resembling a 

 i-iver in some wild locality. Above the falls of the Mohawk- a 

 feeder comes into the canal. After passing through five levels 

 as-'gregaiing 5J^ miles, I reached another of three miles. Next 

 comes a two and then a one mile stretch, the latter ending at, the 

 town of Mohawk, and on this level is Fulmer's Creek Aqueduct, 

 Mohawk has 1,800 people, and reminds one of a New England 

 town. On the far side of the valley opposite is Herkimer, the 

 capital of the county. The surrounding region is beautiful, hav- 

 ing all the features of an attractive landscape, hills, mountains 

 and valleys; while from the canal one has a noble view of it. 

 There was a good hotel at Mohawk— and two pretty girls, one a 

 waitress and one a fair boarder. These attractions within, and 

 the dread of the great heat outside, nearly tempted me to stay 

 until the next day; but, although the boarder was remarkably 

 handsome, and played the piano very well indeed, I pushed on, 

 callous to all allurements, at 3 P.M., having run 18J^ miles during 

 the morning. 



This levei was three miles long, ending opposite the town of 

 Hi on, across the river; then a one-mile level ended at the begin- 

 ning of a ninc-miler, wbich terminated at Utica, 110 miles from 

 Aloany. Ilion Creek feeder comes in the one-mile level, and at 

 the end of it is the little village of Frankport. Three-quarters of 

 a mile across the following nine-mile stretch Oneida county be- 

 gins. Having rowed one mile on this level I observed some choice 

 "king" apples, and soon obtained permission to gather them; they 

 proved exceedingly fine and large. 



A hearty young farmer and his wife lived here, and an invita- 

 tion to sup following, I was regaled with honey and other good 

 tilings at their generous board. It was somewhat early for tea, 

 but 1 thought best to take advantage of such a golden opportunity. 

 From here to the Adirondacks is but twenty miles, and those 

 mountains flank the valley on the north; while a lovely scene 

 stretched between. The Mohawk here is but a small stream, 

 meandering slowly in long windings through the peaceful land- 

 scape. Having had a pleasant conversation with the farmer, 1 

 put off again, stopping after dark within one mile of Utica. 

 Al ter the usual swim and reading 1 turned under the canvas, 

 feeling tired and sore witli sittiug so long in the boat; and having 

 had to contend with a stroug head wind, a broiling sun and a 

 head current all day. Thirty and one-half miles to this point 

 from Mindensville. 



Erie Canal, Sept. 10— Wednesday— I was aroused this morning 

 by the cheery voice of a capiain through a dense fog; 1 had seen 

 him and passed him two days ago, and his surprise was great at 

 finding me here. I had bivouacked upon a high bank, and, as 

 there was no screening shrubbery, my domestic arrangements were 

 all in full view of the ladies on the canal boats; but they were 

 evidently accustomed to such scenes, as they did not appear to be 

 at all abashed. 1 rowed a mile to the lock in the city of Utica, 

 where, showing my letter to the lock- tender, and leaving my boat 

 under his protection, 1 chartered a friendly rough to show me the 

 way to the "beet hotel in the place," He took tne straight to a 



dirty little saloon around the corner, but seeing my unqualified 

 disgust, had the kindness to walk half a mile into the city, and 

 then, with an air of patronage, took me into BaggV Hotel. It 

 was a good house, and Utica struck me as a beautiful city. 



1 was away again at 9:30, and, as the fog and heavy dew be 

 tokened, had another day of broiling heat, with a brisk head 

 wind, and quite a current in the canal. This is a "summit" level, 

 the canal descending from it iu both directions, and it is CO miles 

 long. At Utica, from the south, comes in the Chenango Canal, 

 which boasts 60 or 70 locks close together; all within 24 miles of 

 Utica. This canal runs south to Binghamt on, there joining the 

 Susquehanna River system. The sun was so overpowering that. I 

 had to keep my head wet all the time, and even then it utterly 

 exhausted me. This level ends at, Syracuse, and though a "sum- 

 mit" level is neither the only one nor the highest on the Erie 

 Canal. After rowing through a line farming country for 15 miles, 

 I came to the city of Rome, of 13,000 inhabitants. Leaving my 

 boat here in the charge of an obliging engineer at a mill, I re- 

 paired for dinner to Stanwix Hall, the largest house here, and 

 found an atrocious meal. The canal heie was very dirty, quite 

 an unusual thing, as it un if ormiy has had beautiful water through- 

 out. There appeared in it dead horses, mules, cats, dogs, rats, 

 musk rats and cows; besides which it served as a receptacle for 

 various other kinds of filth, the odors of course being fearful. 

 The entrance of the Black River Canal is here; it runs north to 

 Lyons Falls, and has a succession of locks for miles. 1 stayed 

 some little time in Rome to purchase a few necessaries, and then 

 pushed on, passing Port Bull, New London and Higginsville. The 

 latter place is 135 miles from Albany. 



When within 5 miles from Durhamville, 1 broke my oar again, 

 just above the former splice, and then paddled 4 miles, to within 

 one mile of Durhamville; passing the little hamlets of Dumbarton 

 and Loomis. Having reached the point of my bivouac some time 

 after dark, I was driven ashore by an imminent thunder storm. 

 The wind suddenly became a gale, and the thunder boomed nearer 

 and nearer, while I hauled my boat out, on a grassy bank by the 

 aid of the lightning, it being inky dark; and having hastily 

 pitched my tent, ducked under just in time to escape a tremendous 

 downpour of rain. It was a line storm, and very violent, but my 

 canvas was faithful, and kept all dry inside. After lighting up, 

 I went in swimming during the storm. It was so dark that po 

 object could be discerned save the cheerful light glowing through 

 my tent. Before going to sleep I ate a canteloupe and read a 

 little. Made 35 miles to-day rowing and paddling. 



Erie Canal, Sept. 11- Hmrsday— it rained hard during the 

 night, but I slept the sleep of the j ust, and at 6:10 A. M. was under 

 way, paddling one mile to Durhamville, where I got a good break- 

 fast at a little count ry inn, and found a Yankee named Hank 

 Palmerly, who mended my oar. He had to put two heavy iron 

 clamps along the neck for a foot, making it very htsavy. As the 

 weight was at the extreme end of the oar, the unusual strain on 

 my arm made me sore for many a day, the work being not only 

 tiresome, but the oar was very troublesome and clumsy. The 

 town has a population of only 1,000. Fox & Co. have exteusive 

 glass works here. 



I finally got away at 9:30, the day being bright and sunny, but 

 somewhat cooler. One misses the Mohawk River after leaving 

 Utica, as it branched off there; in fact, afterward it has but the 

 proportions of a small creek. Just after leaving Durhamville the 

 canal crosses Oneida Creek, one of the inlets of the lake of that 

 name, which is not far north of this place. Its outlet joins the 

 Oswego River further west. When four miles beyond Durham- 

 ville a heavy gust came up, giving me quite a soaking in spite of 

 a poncho and a convenient bridge, though by reason of the gaping 

 cracks in the latter I would have been better off perhaps from 

 under it, as streams of mud poured through. The wind was so 

 violent tiiat rowing was out of the question, so I amused myself 

 by eating a huge canteloupe and laughing at some of the canal 

 boats, wnich, blown together by the wind, were in an apparently 

 inextricable mess. The crews relieved their dampened feelings 

 by swearing profoundly. 



Alter this the wind blew hard against me, hindering the pro- 

 gress of the boat very much. At Canastota, five miles from Dur- 

 hamviUe, Cowasselon Creek comes into the canal. From Cana- 

 stota the direction of the canal was westerly, having been nearly 

 due south from New London, thus avoiding Oneida Lake. New 

 Boston Landing, a small place, was four miles further on, and a 

 short distance beyond the feeder from Cazenovia Lake, rejoicing 

 in the name of Chittenango Feeder, flows in. Here is also the 

 little town of Chittenango, half a mile f com the canal, and walk- 

 ing there 1 got a cold lunch. It, is a pretty spot, high ridges en- 

 compassing the town, covered with fine timber, and the two lakes 

 are hard by. They told me about the bicyclist who is traveling 

 across the continent, and who stopped here to dine. A consider- 

 able product of this region is hops, and a goodly-sized corn can- 

 ning factory stands near the canal. 



1 started on at 3:30 P. M., in the face of a gale of wind which 

 blew without intermission until night. At first the clouds we~e 

 lowering, but it cleared off cold, ana the sunset, together with the 

 afterglow over the water and the surrounding country, were ex- 

 quisite. I rowed without a break for 12 miles, though having 

 some serious impediments, especially that of my broken oar, 

 which made the recover tiresome, and greatly fatigued my wrist. 

 The other oar now gave signs of weakening, and I had to be very 

 careful, not daring to pull hard upon it. Quite a number of steam 

 canal boats went by to-day; they are generally pushing another 

 boat, and sometimes towing one as well. Their speed is about 

 that of alight barge. Passed the villages of Bolivar and Kirkville, 

 near Chittenango, and 8 miles thence Manlius on the north, 

 where the De Ruyter's Reservoir conies in. Onondaga county 

 begins at Canastota. After passing two other villages, Clarksville 

 and Th' mpson, I stopped at a fine farmhouse to get some milk. I 

 had a disagreeable adventure with an energetic dog of large size, 

 but got off unscathed. 



About this neighborhood there are several large basins in the 

 canaL/Some of them almost lakes; and the sceuery was very beau- 

 tiful about them. The country lately has not been thickly settled; 

 on the contrary, except around the villages, I have seen but few 

 houses. For the most part, toward the north, was one wide ex- 

 tent of swamp land, as far as the eye can see, dotted over with 

 forests and apparently uninhabited. It was rather flat also, hut 

 on the south there was much pasture and farm land, with rolling 

 hills. I passed Green Lake just beyond Canastota Lake, and was 

 told that people had in vain tried to fathom it. Large rafts of 

 pine logs, on their way from Michigan to New York, are fre- 

 quently met with; each raft entire is nearly half a mile long, but 

 it is towed in sections, so as to get through the locks. 



I ran within half a mile of Syracuse, and, considerably after 

 dark, tied up at a little boat house on the water at the edge of a 

 large basin, where one could hear the sounds and see the lights of 

 the citv. Ha ve made to-day hut 35Va miles, owing to my grievous 

 detentions. After a supper of bread, milk ana jam, and some 

 reading, I turued under the blankets, though not before a hospita- 

 ble inhabitant, attracted by the light, had come down and offered 

 to do anything for me, remarking that he " had often been there " 

 himself. 



Erie Canal, Sept. H— Friday— At 6 A. M. I rowed into Syracuse, 

 passing through two locks. They were "machine" locus, and fell 

 to the west. At the third, M mile from my camp, I left my boat 

 iu charge of the lock-beeper, and proceeding through the town to 

 the Vanderbilt House, had breakfast. The city is well laid out 

 and very pretty. On returning I bad to wait half an hour for my 

 turn at the lock. The next level was 4ii miles long, and uninter- 

 esting; passing for the greater part through rows of houses, salt 

 works, etc. A good view of Onondaga Lake, half a mile distant, 

 can be had from the canal. Just below Syracuse the Oswego 

 Canal branches off to the north, Oswego, on Lake Ontario, being 

 38 miles distant. The great watery highway, after leaving Syra- 

 cuse, passes iuto Onondaga Lake on its east shore, and the outlet, 

 which flows into the Oneida River, is navigable to Three Rivers 

 Point, where the junction of these waters forms the Oswego River. 



The following level was 11 miles in length. A strong west wind 

 sprung up, which had a bad effect on my speed. The country 

 hereabouts was quite desolate, and I saw but few houses, except- 

 ing in some villages by the way; Camillus, opposite which the 

 Camilius Creek comes into the canal, called Nine-Mile Creek; 

 Peru and Jordan at the next lock. At Camillus begins Cayuga 

 county. Just east of Jordan the outlet of Skaneateles Lake comes 

 in. At 1:30 P. M., when half a mile beyond the little village of 

 Memphis, 1 got my coffeepot filled with hot water, and landing 

 on a shady spot made some chocolate and dined on canned 

 chicken, wafers, jam and canteloupe. After dining I saw a 

 tramp on the towpath opposite, and threw him tbe remainder of 

 my chicken. It fell short into the water, but he captured it aud 

 ate it nevertheless. One meets some dangerous-looking rascal3 

 now and then; strange and eccentric character* too are frequent, 

 but they are always known by the questions they ask. The hills 

 dotting the country are very beautiful, and makes an attractive 

 picture. 



My dinner station from bivouac this morning was about 13% 

 miles. I left again at 3 P. M. aud rowed to the lock, then came a 

 7-mile level, on which was the town of Weedsport, and the small 

 villages of Cold Spring and Centreport. Just north of Weeds- 

 port, the outlet of Seneca and Cayuga lakes flows into Cross 

 Lake, which itself empties into the outlet of Onondaga. A feeder 

 comes in at Westport, and the canal itself is 403ft. above tide- 

 water, being 22ft. lower than the highest level I have yet been on; 



the 60 miles ending at Syracuse. Port Byron ended this level be- 

 yond Weedsport, aud the next was 17 miles long. I stopped for tea 

 at Port Byron, a characteristic western New York town, has 3,000 

 inhabitant and resembles closely a pretty New England village, 

 with broad lanes, lined with tall aud fine trees, among them 

 many elms arching across. The surrounding country is not so 

 hilly as heretofore, but exceedingly picturesqe. 1 have seen all 

 along much arbor vita, or white cedar, the banks at places being 

 lined with it for some distance. Plum trees also are plenty, and 

 other fruits, but I am told that the former were ruined this year 

 by the eaily frost killing the blossoms. 



I started on at dusk, much refreshed by a "strum" on the hotel 

 piano, thougli my fingers are getting very stiff for that amuse- 

 ment from continued rowing. I soon passed the lock about half 

 a mile beyond the town, and when the huge gates closed behind 

 me I lit my buckeye and placed it on the forward deck. There 

 was a dense tog rising from the water, as the night was cold, and 

 it was so thick as to plainly show my shadow in the lamplight. 

 The night was a quiet one, not a sound disturbed the silence, save 

 the plashing of my oars. I rowed 4 miles to a large basin near 

 the town of Montezuma; here my boat ran into a flock of tame 

 geese, which were so dazed by my lantern that I could put my 

 hand upon them, as I proved by grasping one old fellow around 

 the neck, which action caused a great fluttering and flying of 

 water and feathers. Further on, while nosing along shore to find 

 a good place to tie up, I got as near a pair of wild woodducks, and 

 tuuskrats were quite numerous. The boat makes no noise and 

 consequently approaches without alarming these creatures. 



I tied up to a bank near this place, having made all told 331-53 

 miles. There was much eel grass to-day, and this together with 

 the wind detained me sadly. After reading and a swim I went 

 below, tying a poncho over the well, as the night was cold. To- 

 night turns up just one week from Albany and a distance of 207 

 miles. I have daily had a full day's rowing, except UJjjs hours loss 

 on account of the broken oar, thus making 30 miles per day on 

 the average. With no extra detention at the locks, no head winds 

 and none of the ubiquitous eel grass, f would have made 35 miles 

 per day at least. 



Erie Canal, Sept. IS.— Saturday.— A cloudy morning and raining 

 a little. Rowing around to the bridge at 0:30 A. M„ on which the 

 town street crossed the canal, I got breakfast at a small inn. 

 Apples are plenty here and a store was laid in. Plums are a drug 

 on the market hereabouts, and 1 procured a peck of them also to 

 lighten the way. Started again at 8:30. Five wild ducks greeted 

 me on leaving Montezuma. Ntar the town one passes the mouth 

 .of the Seneca and Cayuga Lake Canal. Cayuga Lake is 40 miles 

 long, Ithaca at its head, being 56}^ miles from the Erie Canal. 

 Seneca Lake is 39 miles in length, and 61 miles lie between Monte- 

 zuma and Watkins" Glen at its head. Union Springs and Auburn 

 are but 13 or 15 miles distant also. 



Iu the vicinity numerous salt springs and deposits are found. 

 The old stage road from Albany to Buffalo passes t hrough Mon- 

 tezuma, and 1 have been following it all the way along. Some- 

 what west of Montezuma, tbe canal crosses the outlet of the 

 above lakes on a magnificent aqueduct, the outlet being a large 

 river. Marshes covered with a curious reed extended on all sides 

 for miles, and beyond they were flanked by thick masses of 

 forest. It was a wild-looking place, and doubtless a great feed- 

 ing ground for wild ducks. The current appeared to be quite 

 swift, while the reeds were 8 to 10ft. high, lining the river com- 

 pletely. These reeds, not rushes, are only found at, this pla/e. 

 and are cut, stored, seasoned and shipped all over the country for 

 coopers' use, being the best for this purpose found any where in 

 the country. This business forms the chief industry of Monte- 

 zuma. 



Ahout half way to Clyde, at the end of this seventeen-mile level, 

 I passed into Wayne county and Section 8 of the Erie Canal. The 

 eel grass was especially bad on this level, and dodging it w;ih very 

 fatiguing. Running into a lot of the stuff would bring the boat 

 to a complete standstill. A strong head wind olew throughout 

 also, and these two evils detained me a great deal. At Clyde 

 ended the wild part of the region, then br^an a three-mile level, 

 at the end of which stands the village of Lockberlin. This is a 

 great grape-growing locality, hut on account of the vineyards 

 being planted on the southern exposure of the hills and ridges 

 south of the canal, I have actually seen but few. The various 

 orchards were large and well kept. Along this last level appear 

 euormous conically-shaped mounds and hills in rows, generally 

 some distance from and parallel to the canal. Though evidently 

 artificial, their origin is entirely unknown. 



At the end of the following level of three miles came Lyons, of 

 6,000 inhabitants, where I dined at a good hotel, having run 

 eighteen miles since breakfast. Pushed off again at 3:10. The 

 next level was short; then came one of one and one-half miles; 

 next came three locks close together, which brought me to a 

 twelve-mile stretch. The village of Arcadia is built on one of the 

 shorter levels, and I passed Newark, 224 miles from Albany, about 

 one mile beyond the lock on the twelve-miler. Thence I rowed to 

 within one mile of Palmyra. At dark some hot water was had at 

 a farmhouse, and thus making chocolate, I had supper in the 

 boat. Proceeding agaiu, 1 stopped for the night at a bank whereon 

 were some tall trees, these being desirable as a protection from 

 the heavy dew. Tying up here, a swim was indulged in. 



The night was c id and cheerless, with a thick fog, though be- 

 fore the latter began to rise a fine Aurora Bore-alls lighted niv 

 way. An unusual number of boats passed me to-day, mostly 

 bound east. A large flock of wild duck3 gladdened my eyes dur- 

 ing the afternoon. Have made 32 miles to-day. After leading 

 for an hour I turned in. 



PHtt.At)Et/PH£A, Pa. M. B. 



[TO BE CONTINUE!).] 



PURITAN C. C— The annual meetiug of the Puritan C. 0. was 

 held on Jan. 2, the foUowing officers being elected-. Com., Fran- 

 cis J. Baxter; Vice-Corn., Josiah S. Dean; I* ar-Com.. Joseph E. 

 Hill; Treas.. Lothrop Hedge; Sec, Jas. W. C • iwright, Jr.; .Vleas., 

 John R. Robertson. The commodore, vice-cjmmo. lore, reai-com- 

 modore, secretary and treasurer, together with Samuel A. Brown 

 and Charles F. Dodge, form the Board of Directors. The House 

 Committee comprises Messrs. Brown, Baxter aud Hedge. The 

 Membership Committee comprises Messrs. Hill, Hedge and G. R. 

 Underwood. Tbe Regatta Committee consists of Messrs. For- 

 bush, MaeDouald and Cart-wright. The treasurer's report showa 

 a balance on the right side. The secretary's report upon the mat- 

 ters under his control shows that the club has a membership of 

 26 active members aud 12 associate members. The fleet consists 

 of 28 canoes. There are more coming, a 10X30 racer for A. H. For- 

 bush, from Joyuer, and two IKigxA) Class C canoes for Messrs. J. 

 E. Hill and Lothrop Hedge, from Robertson & Auburndale. Of 

 the 26 members in the club 15 are A. C. A. men, or will be as soon 

 as their applications have gone through the proper course. The 

 weather has been so mild here that on no bolidav has it been un- 

 comfortable canoeing. Christmas Day was but t degrees colder 

 than the Fourth of July. The annual dinner of the club will he 

 held at the Thorndike on Jan. 22.— James Weld Gartwright, 

 Jr., Sec. 



FIXTURES.— We publish this week the first fixtures for tbe 

 year 1890. Now is the Lime to fix the dates for all races, and clubs 

 doing so at once will avoid much trouble later in the season. 



NEW YORK C. C— Arrangements have been made for a series 

 of three "smokes" during the winter, the programme including 

 canoe talks, music, stereopticon views, etc. 



A. C. A. MEMBERSHIP.— Eastern Division— James Craddock, 

 South Boston, Mass. 



"Went India. Hurricam* and the Great March Blizzard." By 

 Everett Hayden, 17. S. Hydrographie Office. Large quarto, with US 

 Utlmyraphie plates. Price $1. Contains full history of the great 

 stnrin of March, 1SSS, with practical information how to handle a 

 vessel in a cyclone; use of P« at sea, etc. 



14, 28. Beverly. 

 5,19. Beverly. 



FIXTURES. 



JUNE. 



JtJXY. 



IS). Sippican, Open. 



AUGUST. 



6. New York. Rendezvous for 2, 16. 30. Beverly. 

 Cruise. 10. Sippican, Club. 



SEPTEMBER. 



1, 20. Beverlv. 30. Sippican, Sweepstake. 



BRETAGNE.— The steam yacht. Bretagne, built in Baltimore, 

 iul881, for Mr. Leon Say, has just been sold to a Norwegian 

 yachtsman for 125,000 francs. 



