Sem. g4, 1891. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



197 



canoes passed by, and the crew were watcliing them too intently to 

 notice on tbe opposite i-iue a log cabin wit h seaTP, swiDgs and liam- 

 mock swinging under ; he trees until too late lo make a stop, and 

 ttiecurrent, which ran ve.i-y swiftly here, Hooncarried ttiein aronnd 

 the bend and out of sisht. A sudden fall over a rock dam caused 

 a holding; of brcaTh, and as the canoe shot over It the water came 

 rolling in, but the rubber blanket did its duty well. 



A few yards beyond an eddy is spied, and quickly the canoes are 

 Steered for it, a landing is effected, and while Jim and Will put 

 the tent. Tom prepared supper, as be had been elected "chet" 

 in the culinary department. Ttie tried potatoes were good, but 

 tb08P on the bottom looked like Saratoga chips in chocolate; the 

 coffee was hue, in fact almost too line. The bread and honey 

 passed well, and soon supper was finished, and cutting hemlock 

 bonghs for tbe bed was in order. When this was ready they 

 packed thing:s snug for the night, as a heavy fog was roUiog up 

 the stTCam. Then they turned in. and each related bis experience 

 and told of the escapes lie bad had. The uoise nf the rapids made 

 pleasant music, and soon three tired canoeists were lulled to 

 sltunber. 



Sometime during the night Will was aroused by a rap on the 

 bead, 'li d opened bis eyes to see Jioi sitting upright moving his 

 arnr 1 1: " IS'! he was paddling a race for his life. A good shake 

 ail) 'I iid be gave a stai-t and exclaimed: "I thought I was 

 goiiin • ■ V t - •• I ini Elmira dam; 1 could near the roaring, and was 

 almosi goijt-. If you hadn't, wakened me up I should have gone 

 over sure," and the poor fellow struck a match and looked at his 

 hands to see if he Ijad blistered them. The roaring sound was 

 explained a,6 tbe red light in the caboose of a coal train disap- 

 peared around the distant mountain, and soon all was qui^-t again, 

 save the constarit rushing of the waters in the near bj liflle. 



At G A. il. all were astir, and by a two-thirds vote Will was 

 elected to wash last night's dishes. Jfui took down tent and 

 folded blankets, while 'fom prepared breakfast. It was a (iecided 

 improvement on the supper, as the polatoes were excellent, the 

 coffee was better aud as strong as the butter, and was able to 

 stand on its own grounds Avilhout tbe aid of stimulants; a few 

 flies and ants in the honey did not aUect it materially. 



The canoea were soon packed and again afloat, passing a long 

 rip-rap work of loss, which guarded the railroad, while opposite 

 was a chute some 10ft. higli and 30 to 40ft. long which probably 

 had been built to guide the water from the mountain gorge; be- 

 tween this chute ran a clear and bubbling spring, which supplied 

 a cooling draft. 



As they continued on the stream became qidte shallow, and at 

 times forced the canoeists to jump out and lift over, at one place 

 a fallen tree lay completely across the stream, and thf water ran 

 quite swiftly under ii. Will piloted his canoe through safely, bnt 

 Tom narrowly escaped a capsize, and Jim became stuck on the 

 tree and ataid nearly ten minutes before he could get loose from 

 the branches and proceed on his way. When he baa caught up to 

 Will and Tom, who had pulled under some rooKs and were enjoy- 

 ing the coolness, he dropped his paddle and, with a forlorn look 

 on his face, exclaimed, "Boys, I have forgoi ten something!'' That 

 meant a long and tedious wait for his companions and a walk for 

 tim, so slowly Tom asked, "Well, what did you forgetV, ''Oh, 

 there was a rock back in that riffle audi forgot to run into it." 

 Then all took a drink from the spring close at hand, aud shoving 

 into the current were soou on-their way. 



A few miles below Four Mile Kun is a nice cottage owned by 

 some SVellsboro parties and occupied by their families. Once a 

 fine large specimen of the bald eagle, frightened from his cool re- 

 treat, sails out and goes for ttie mountain top, the sun glistening 

 on his snow-white head and tail as he disappears from view 

 beyond a distant crag. A little further below is Tiadaghtou 

 slat ion, quite a resort for ti'out fisUermen and deer hunters. This 

 country was once a \ ast wilderness only broken by the narrow 

 stream which makes a liigb way or outlet for the lumber, but as 

 civilization advanced the best ground was cleared for use, while 

 the timber was cut and rolled into the creek until a sudden rise 

 carried it into the market at Williamsport. 



This stream was the favorite cruising, camping and fishing re- 

 sort of the late lamented "Nessmuk," and many a time he has 

 glided down this river, and perhaps these canoeists stopped at the 

 same spring where in years gone by this woodsman quenched his 

 thirst.' Their canoesmay havegrounded on the same rocks where 

 the i^ackiail had grated before. 



This is what ">^essmuk" wTote in the "Log of the Bucktail," 

 printed in the Forest akd Stream of Oct. 11. bSSt: "June 17— 

 Picked up canoe at Tiadaghton for a week's cruise down the river; 

 worst racket I ever got; overboard a dozen times. Arrived at 

 Blackwell's pretty weU used up; staidall night at Gregoi'y's Black- 

 well House; clean, square meals. $1 per day.'" 



"History repeats u«elf," and I will venture that "Nessmuk's" 

 racket was no worse than that of those three canoeists; for shortly 

 after leaving Tiadaghton the racket began. A swift, narrow 

 stream, a few sunken rocks, a canoe with bow high in air and a 

 canoeist's frantic etiorts to save himself, would have made a good 

 aim for a Kodak. 



But little remains to be told. Jim struck a rock, the canoe ran 

 high, and swinging around with the current, and before he could 

 jump the water poured over and down it went. He managed to 

 save his grip, and Will, who was below, saved his blanket, a coat, 

 a package of cigarettes, and a novel. Tom assisted him in right- 

 ing his craft, and after making some needed repairs and wringing 

 out clotliing, he found the only loss, besides some eatables, was 

 one of his patent leather shoes. When ready to go on it was 

 found that Tom's canoe had sprung a leak, and Pis ardor as well 

 as his clothing was somewhat dampened, out after some exertion 

 thi-eo tired canoeists reached Blackwell's about 6 P. M., and im- 

 mediately struck for the hotel, the Blackwell House, kept by a 

 Mr. J. H. Barton, who kindly loaned the use of his kitchen lire to 

 dry clothing, etc. 



they statu here all night and found Mr. Barton to be a very 

 agreeable and accommodating landlord, and he set a table which 

 a city hotel would not be ashamed of, while his prices were very 

 low. He informed them that the stream was loo low to afford 

 further enjoyment and was becoming more shallow each day, so 

 storing canoes Wilt left for home, as he had urgent business 

 which called him, while Tom and Jim continued on by rail to 

 Visit frienas in Williamsport. All agreed to come at some future 

 time a nd complete the run when there would be sufficient water 

 to carry them through. - K. 



ROCHESTER C. C. FALL REGATTA. 



THE annual fall regatta of the Rochester C. 0. Avsts held on 

 Sept. 17 at the club house on Irondequoit Bay. The race for 

 the Welters cup restxltedas folio wg: 



Start. First round. Finish^ 



Marie 3 08 00 3 33,^0 3 15 



Massiwippa 3 08 00 3 32 15 4 01 30 



Vixen 3 08 30 2 34 00 4 03 SO 



Prudence 3 08 30 3 35 00 Not timed, 



Harris 3 10 00 3 36 30 



Hero P. IG 00 Jifot limed 



Arual withdrew. , ,, .. 



Polly Wriggle withdrew. . .. .. 



The result of this race gave the cup to W. H, Martin, canoe 

 Massiwippa, by a lead of fom- points over H. W. Stewart, canoe 

 Marie. 



The next race vvas the paddling single blade quarter mile, with 

 5 entries: C. Smith, H, D. McVeau, Capt. W- Smiib, John Plum- 

 mer and C. F. Wolters. The race was very close, fiiii^-bing in tbe 

 following order: Capt. Smith, O. Smith and John Pliuntner. 



The next race was a sail of a quarter of a mile and return. 

 (Miarles Smith and Fred Smith cam" to the finish almost together, 

 but Fred Smith crossed on the wrong side of tbe buoy ttnd so was 

 obliged to go about and croaa again, lofing first place. 



The tandem race paddle, single blade, J-l mile, came next. Five 

 teams entered: Coi. Moody aud Oant Kugglea, John Plummer 

 and (leo. French, Oapt. Smith and C.Smith, H. O. McVean and 

 Fred Smith, H. W. Stewart aud \V. H. Martin. .Atartin and Stew- 

 art won by about 2ft., witli (Jypf. ymith and C. Smith seco- d. 



The ta,ndem band paddlinu j-ace of liJOyiis. liad four entries— H. 

 W. Stewast and Capt. Smith, Col. Moody and C. Smith, H. D. Mc- 

 Vean and F. Smith, J. Plummer and W. H. Martiu. Plummer, 

 of the N. Y. C. C, and Martiu led the others and finished a good 

 first in spite of an upset that they had just before starting. 



The last race was the tandem upset paddling, with three canoes 

 nntered-C. S. Smith and H. W. Stewart, W. C. Seward and Fred 

 Smith, J. Plummer andW. S. Smith. Stewart and Smith won 

 easily. 



At tbe conclusion of the races the canoemen and their friends 

 adjourned to tbe Newport House, wliere an elegant suiipor vv'fls 

 provided them. After the supper and the award of prizes, dancing 

 was kept up till a late hour to the music of Hyland's orchestra. 

 The regatta committee included Messrs. Seward. McVean and 

 Stewart. 



A SPECIAL CANOE RACE. 



THE Marine and Field Club has announced an open sailing race, 

 to be held on Oct. 10, on Gravesend Bay, for cups to the value 

 of $50, given by tbe club. The race will be open to members of 

 organized canoe clubs, under A, C. A. rules, the entries thus far 

 beir.g as follows: 



Bee Paul Butler Vesper B. 0. 



D. L. Goddard Vesper B, 0. 



Seabright VV, T. Wiutringham..:Marine and Field. 



W. S. Elliott Marine aud Field. 



Torment H. C. Smith Brooklyn. 



Eclipse F. L. Dunnell Brooklyn. 



Cricket Ij. B. Palmer lanthe. 



Bonnie O. B, Vaux New York. 



Bubble ...Wtu. W^hitlock — ...New York. 



Kismet C. J. Stevens ..New York. 



Aztec W. W. Howard New York. 



Entries may be sent to Wm. Whitlock, No. 37 W. Twenty-second 

 street, New York. Mr. W. S. Elliott will take charge of the ar- 

 rangements at the Marine and Field club house, where canoes 

 may be sent in advance. 



ALUMINUM CANOES, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As all sportsmen are interested in improvements which are 

 being made in the appliances pertaining to their craft a few facts 

 on the properties of aluminum and its alloys may not be amiss. 

 This metal, while the most abundantly distributed of all, owing 

 to the great difficulties experienced in reducing it from its ores, 

 has been more of a chemical curiosity than an economic mineral; 

 but recent advances in science have enabled the manufacturer to 

 offer it for 50 centa instead of several dollars per pound. In order 

 to show what interest this has for the hunter, take for purposes 

 of comparison a Peterboro wooden canoe 16ft. long and 31iu. ueam 

 having a superficial surface of about .SOsq.ft., this canoe when 

 new weighs nearly OOlbs. 



Apiece of aluminum 1ft. square and Srjn, thick weighs .831bs., 

 weigUt of a cauoe containing SOsq. ft. would be 411b8.. with the 

 advantage that it will not grow any heavier. The gunwale can 

 he made in the shape of a hollow airtight pipe, and an airtight 

 compartment at each end would provide the necessary buoyancy 

 to float her when full of water. 



One of the alloys of aluminum is aluminum bronze, and consists 

 of copper, 90 per cent., and aluminum 10 per cent. Its strength is 

 double and its rigidity is three times that of bronze, its resistance 

 to compression equals that of cast iron, while in hardness and 

 tensile strength it is little inferior to steel. A similar canoe made 

 of this metal the one thirty-second part of an inch thick would 

 weigh about 731bs. 



Another alloy is made by adding from 5 to 10 per cent, copper 

 to aluminum, which has the effect of greatly increasing the hard- 

 ness and toughness of the latter, while adding but little to the 

 weight. 



As these alloys can be turned out in sheets of any desired size 

 or thickness, are exceedingly tough, light, strong and do not rust 

 or corrode in the air, there is no limit to the modifications that a 

 canoe Iniilt of tbem might not exhibit. It could be made in two 

 halves for ease in transportation, which could be fa.stened to- 

 gether in a tew minutes. Wltbout a doubt in a year or two canoes 

 large enough to accommodate a hunting party of three with all 

 their outfit, will be made of this metal or its alloys to weigh less 

 than40lbs. Mds-ke-ke-wa-no. 



PADDLING RACES AT SPPi,INGFIELD.-On Sept. 10 a num- 

 ber of racing and paddling races were held on the Connecticut 

 River at Springfield, in connection with the bicycle tournament. 

 A paddling race with double blades was won by Perkins, of the 

 Vesper B, O., of Lowell, from tbree other contestants. In a second 

 race Mr, Perkins defeated Knappe and Euson, of Springfield. 



A. C. A.— MEMBERSHIP.— Eastern Division: Leslie A, Taylor, 

 Lawrence, Jdass.; O. W. Whitlemore, Arlington, Mass. Atlantic 

 plviBion: J, A. Porter, Philadelphia, Pa, 



THE VALUE OF DESIGN IN CANOE RACING, 



IT would be a pity to think that even a part of the vast amount of 

 skill and labor which has been expended on the designing of 

 canoes from the earliest days of canoeing some ;.'5 years siiice, had 

 been in any wav wasted, but all who are faaiiliar ^vith the history of 

 caooe racing w"ill he able to recall manv instance.s of fast iMats which 

 are lacking in tbe points generally considered essential to good design, 

 while other boats apparently faultless have proved failures. Before 

 condemning the careful and elaborate work of the amateur designer 

 a-; a waste of time beside the simpler and quicker methods of the rule 

 of thumb builder, it is weU to consider the various processes which 

 are involved in the making of a complete design, and which are briefly 

 as follows: 



First>-The selection of the crude dmiensions and elements, or, as 

 length is now practically limited to ICft., tbe selection of the beam, the 

 depth of hidl, and the displacement. This part is of more importance 

 in a canoe than in any other sailing craft, as the canoe must fit the 

 weigbt aud height of tbe man to a gre.at extent, the crew represent- 

 ing about bO per cent, of tbe total diaplacemeut and 100 per cent, of 

 the ballast. 



Second— The proper disposition of the displacement throughout t he 

 length of the boat, avoiding undue fulness or leanness in either end or 

 the middle, especially when the boat is heeled to her working angle. 



Thu-d — The ad justment of the center of lateral resistance, the center 

 of effort, the determination of the outline of keel and draft at each 

 end, and the placmg of the centerboard. 



Fourth— The de-sigaing of the actual "Hues" of the boat, that is tht. 

 drawing of the mid.ship section, the load waterline aud the fairing of 

 the whole surface. 



Fifth— Tbe careful shaping of deadwoods, scag, keel, etc., so as to 

 carry out all lines fairly from end to end. This last point is a matter 

 of construction rather than design proper, but must usually be done 

 by the designer for the builder in order to insure satisfactory results. 



In the estimation of many canoeists, the meaning of the word 

 "designing" is limited to tfie fourth process mentioned, though tbis 

 part of tne work is of itself but little mote tban mere drafting. Beyond 

 all qiiestiou, the most important portion of the work is the fir.st iueu- 

 tioned, the selection of the leading dimensions and the displacement; 

 and tbe actual fitting of the boat to the man who i'> to sail her. The 

 next in importance is the proper distribution of bulk; these two being 

 by far more important than the other three. While there are few 

 canoes iu which all five of these processess have been carried out 



Eerfectly, there are many in which two or three are found, the per- 

 ormance of tbe boat depending on which they are. There are many 

 instances of fast cauoes of the roughest form aud finish, the bottom 

 unfair and lumpy, the laps uneven, and the two sides by no means 

 ahke; but a close investigation will discover the fact that the general 

 dimensions and power of the boat are fitted to the weight aud activity 

 of her crew; and that, in spite of local unfairness, the lines will show 

 a verv good curve of areas, mdicating a proper disposition of the 

 bulk." On the other hand there are many promising hoats, with a 

 good midship section, with all lines carefully faired, and with the 

 neatest of work about the stem, keel and deadwoods. which win but 

 third or fourth place. The work of a moderately skdful amateur 

 designer, or of many very clever builders is of this character, the 

 lines fair and pleasing, both sides symmetrical, and with neat finish 

 about the ends; but with these feattn-es are found often a lack of 

 power, too fine lines, and faults in the shape of keel or in the relative 

 fulness of the ends. 



The value of all-around excellence of design is greatest in moderate 

 weather, in a good working breeze and nearly smooth water; under 

 these circumstances the niceties and refinements of model, the fair- 

 ness of all lines, the symmetry of both sides, the turning of the bilge 

 so as to give requisite power without abrupt curves, the careful modu- 

 lation of i;he waterline to give easy but powerful diagonals, the proper 

 contour of the keel and the shaping of the deadwoods are all impor- 

 tant factors of speed. In lighter weather, when little more than 

 drifting is in order, other qualities come into play, tlie area of im- 

 mersed surface, the absence of laps and projections, and the actual 

 smoothness of the surface, are of more importance than fairness and 

 symmetry of form, while very fine lines and a lack of stability are 

 less of a hindrance than under any other condition. When it conies 

 to very strong winds and rough water, everything is changed, and 

 the rougher a.nd cruder craft are likely to win from many of con- 

 f essetlly f air form, partly ou their power, and partly because, in 

 spite of ail local uiifah'ness, the distriDution of bulk, not pei-haps on 

 the designed waterline, but on the trim in which they are actually 

 sailed, is nearly what it should be, Tbe old Dot, a boat with clumsy 

 deadwoods and keel, rough laps, and a big lump m each end of her 

 garboards, was fast in a breeze aud rough water; Vesper, as she was 

 raced at the 'S6 meet, with unfair laps aud the light plunking htickled 

 in many places, sailed beside the smooth aud ctean lined I'eeowsic; 

 Blanche, another canoe 01° the .same date that is known to lie fast, 

 shows but jjoorljT when turned over beside some of tbe handsome 

 canoes that are seen at every meet; Iguana, tlie winner of the race at 

 Burlington ttiis year, iu which she beat boats of better model, is a 

 boat with full lines, the forebody apparently fmier than the after- 

 body, while the finish of stem and deadwoods is very rough. The old 

 Dawn, now the ilab, a powerful rather than a fair ooat, did well in 

 the record sailing at the meet, in heavy weather, and on several other 

 occasions, while in the rough water and strong wind of last week 

 Toltec probably saUed as fast as though every waterline and diagonal 

 had been fair from end to end, Cauuek also is by no means a fair 

 boat, showing a marked f ullntiss 6ft. from the stem, but she has per- 

 formed wall m all weathers, 



It is not infrequently the case that the builder,whileperhaps imfau" 

 in many of his lines. aU'l rough in finish, has an intuitive sense o 

 form which enables him to give his hoats the most important requi- 

 sites, though to the casual eye the craft are crude and unfair through- 

 out. On the other hand, the mere method of ivorlcing out a design on 

 paper is likely to lead the aniateuc U) the construction of beautiful 

 curves ill whieii the prime essentiah; of a good e;esign are entirely 

 lost. The designer and builder who take any pride in their work will 

 use evei-y eft'ort to secure fair lines, smooth' seams and surface anrl 

 fine deadwoods, and the absence of these features betrays careless 

 and clumsy work, but it does not follow of necessitv that a canoe will 

 be fast on account of them or slow for the want of them. The true 

 elements of good design lie much deeper than merely fair form, and 

 are certainly worth looking for. 



.4t the same time it is a fact that excellence of design, even iu its 

 broatlesC sense, is of less importance in a canoe than in auy other sail- 

 ing craft. That combination of sail carrying power with a minimum 

 resistance of hull which is the object of all designers, aud which in a 

 yacht is dependent on the model and ballasting, in modern canoe sail- 

 ing depends not on the boat but almost entirely ou the weight, skill 

 .and agility of the man. as measured by the length of sliding seat 

 whica ho can use to advantage, and tbe amount of sail which he is 

 tliUT enabled to carry. His work is easier and surer in a canoe with a 

 reasonable amount of stability as compared with a V shaped craft, 

 but even the advantage he gains in this way may be easily offset by a 

 litile extra agility in the crew of the other "boat. 



We have not touched ou tbe questions of rig or of arrangement and 

 fittings, but they hold a place between the personal skill of the crew 

 and the merits of the hull as factors of successful racing, so it wUl be 

 seen that the excellence of design, such as would meet tbe approval 

 of a naval architect or yacht designer, is of very limited value iu a 

 racing canoe. So long as the canoe has sutBcient displacement and 

 lateral resistance, and will tack surely and reach with a fairly ea.sy 

 helm, she may be looked to as a possible winner if well sparred and 

 sailed. At first sight such a conclusion is rather discouraging to those 

 who be.heve, as we do, in the value of carefm and systematic design 

 as diatioK'uisbed from aimless and haphazard work. It does notfollow, 

 however, that the labor of the designer is unuecessaryj or likely to 

 be thrown away; while lie is working on a smaller margin than iu the 

 case of yachts and larger vessels, there is still a held for improve- 

 ment in model, and instead of givmg up the task entirely, he must 

 look still deeper, and go at his work with a full understandiug of the 

 truth that successful designing goes a very great way beyond mere 

 fairness of form aud skill with a pen and battens. 



NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AMATEUR. OARSMEN.- 

 This association in annuiil convention at Washington, on Aug. 18, 

 directed the puifiication of the report of the executive committee, 

 and the issue of a copy to each rowing club in the United States. 

 It is the rule to print with the annual report the laws of boat rac- 

 ing, the constitution and by-laws, and regatta rules of this asso- 

 oiHtion, and a list of associate clubs; to these it is thought advis- 

 able to add, for tbe beneSt of the fraternity, an accurate list of all 

 clubs, and the oflicers of the same are hereby urged to send at 

 once to the undersigned the n.ames and addresses of their secre- 

 taries and captains.— W''. Howard Ginsois, Sec'y National Asso- 

 ciation of American Oarsmen, Washington, D. C. 



A LONG JOURNEY IN A CANOE.-Afeat never before ac- 

 complished has been performed by Eugene Underbill and Murray 

 Boocock, of New York, the latter a Yale student. They arrived at 

 St. John, N. B,, Sunday, having traveled in a canoe from Moose- 

 head Lake to the mouth of St. iTohn River, a distance of 504 miles. 

 They had three guides and three canoes. They left Mt. iJ^ineo on 

 the afternoon of Aug. 10 and lauded at Indiantovvn Sunday, hav- 

 ing been 34 days on the journey. Of this time, however, only 14 

 days were actually spent in traveling, the rest having been passed 

 in camp, fishing and shooting. The journey was without special 

 incident. They left for New York yesterday morning.— Sprf?ig- 

 fickl Repuhlican. 



lANTHE C. C— On Tuesday, Sept. 29, the lanthe O. C, will hold 

 a river carnival and illumination, with chib four race, in which 

 it iu hoped many clubs will enter crews. The lanthe crews are 

 already made np and are as follows: No. 1, W. J. Stewart, Alex, 

 A rcbibald, Barron Fredricks and Turner. No. 2, Harry S. Farmer, 

 James Duguid. J. B. Stewart and Percie Hart. No, 3, Richard 

 Hobart, George Meize, L. B. P,almer and Geo. P. Douglass. 



GEORGE A. WARDER.— Mr. Warder, who had intended to be 

 present at the meet but was delayed, has been in New York for a 

 week past. He reports having left Mr. Shedd in good health at 

 Tacoma, W. T. Mr. Warder is the happy possessor of a heavy 

 black beard, which has cbangetl his appearance considerably. 



No Notice Taken of AnonjrmoaB Oorrespondents. 



E. B. B., Bay Ridge.— We cannot lidentify {the bird from your 

 description. 



T. C. M., Chicago.— The lines of a 17ft. cruising sharpie were 

 published Jan. 17, 18S4. 



J. B., Greeupoint.— For clay-pigeon breaking No. 7 or No. 6 .shot 

 will give breaking power where No. 8 shot fail.s. 



G . E. B., San Francisco, Oal.— We shall probably publish a de- 

 scription of the boat this fall. She has turned out quite speedy. 



L. A. J., Saylesville, R. I.— Open season for grouse and quail ia 

 Connecticut Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. in Massachusetts, quail, Oct. 15 to 

 Jan. 3; grouse, Sept. 15 to Jan. 1. 



H. W. S., Renforth, Out.- We have published no description of 

 the gun, but we understand it to be a perfectly reliable arm. and 

 one that is liked by its users. The manufacturers will doubtless 

 send you full description. 



(-r. W. R., Charlestown, Mass,— 1. The yacht mentioned would 

 draw too much water for Florida; we hope shortly to publish the 

 lines of a better boat for your purpose. 3. A 6 H.P. naphtha en- 

 gine would give the required speed with a good model and under 

 lair conditions. 



Eb C.4PIT.A-N, Philadelphia, Pa.— 1. A modern schooner SGft . 

 over all would be about 42ft. l.w.l,, 13ft. beam and Ttt. 6in. draft, 

 lend keel and two headsails. 2. For a cruiser of this size a cutter 

 rig would be preferable in a yacht under SOtt. l.w.l 3. Your 

 figures are too indefinite, over all length has no meaning in con- 

 nection with modern yachts, the waterline length being the only 

 definite one. 



Backwoods, Glady, W, Va,— I send you specimen of a plant, 

 some species of pine, and I should like to know what itis. It 

 grows iu the laurel swamps along Glady and other streams in this 

 section, running along tne ground and rooting fast at intervals, 

 sometimes for quite a distance. I have seen vines of it 30 or 40ft. 

 long, and probably in some cases much longer. It bears a scar- 

 let berry not unpleast to the taste. Ans. Itis the ground hemlock 

 (Taxm baccata, var. canadensis). 



W. L. P., Vioksburg, Miss.— We wish to renew the hull for our 

 hunting launch, Greenwing. What is the most durable wood for 

 the outside, oak or white cedai? Centennial Lake, in which our 

 boat is anchored, becomes quite warm in summer, aud all wood is 

 put to a severe test in it. We are not familiar with white cedar 

 —will it last well in such water? If not, what is the best wood to 

 use? Ans. White cedar is the lightest and strongest wood for 

 small craft, and is to be preferred to oak both for bottom and 

 topsides. The best materials for planking are: for garboard and 

 possibly sheerstrake, white oak; for topsides, from waterline to 

 sheeratrake, clear Georgia pine; and for bottom, from garboard to 

 waterline, white cedar. The clear white cedar used for canoes 

 and light boats is not so good for larger crnf t as the coarser kind. 

 Cypress is also an excellent wood for the bottom, though, like 

 cedar, itis softer than yellow pine, and not so good for topsides. 



A German chemist says thtit of the various remedies re- 

 commended for mosquito bites — such as ammonia, oil of 

 clove.s, chloroform, carboli zed glycerine, etc.— none is better 

 than ordinary soap. He is an ai'dent naturalist, and ou his 

 frequent excursions in the country he invariably carries a 

 small piece of soap, with which In case of a bite he makes a 

 lather all over the affected part and allows it to dry on. He 

 almost invariably finds that the relief is instantaneous, and. 

 that all pain soon ceases. Should it continue, however, as 

 sometimes happens, it is only necessary to repeat the appli- 

 cation.— iJo.sto?i Transcrtiit. 



There is au old fisherman ou the Jersey coast, ■who, though 

 for 40 years he has followed his calling, has never eaten a bit 

 of fish. He says: "I kin live on rum and pork. Tliere hain't 

 no boties in them,"— Spfi/ngMld Bspurnqm' 



