Deo. '61, imi. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



ter of the public estimate of Mr. Brewer's honesty as a pigeon 

 shooter iias steadily risen since his good matches with Mr; Elliott 

 and his late Fulford matches, but right or wrong the Brewer 

 thermometer took a sudden tumble to well below zero. Mr. 

 Brewer is openly accused of selling out and throwing t he match, 

 and those who would i^ave hailed a Brewer victory under the a t- 

 tending conditions with the greatest delight are uow his most bit- 

 ter denunciators. Most of these men lost money on the result, of 

 course. A conservative element condemns Brewer for changing 

 • his Westley-Rtchards gun for his old Greener, and his Schultze 

 powder for American wood powder, for a money consideration. 

 These men forget that Mr. Brewer is making his living with his 

 shooting. He Is a professional aud moat professionals have a 

 price, and for money can be Induced to use this or that gun or 

 powder. J have for years been in a position to l^now this to be a 

 fact and it is no secret to anybody. Therefore men should keep 

 their money in their pocket and not bet on professionals if they 

 are not willing to take such chances. In this instance Mr. 

 Brewer is no more to blame tiian the parties who bought Brewer's 

 change of gun and powder. Not as much, because Brewer's fatal 

 change was not at all sought by him and was not voluntary. Of 

 course amusing incidents are not lacking. A certain number of 

 tlie inBidc taleTit got the tip straight that Brewer would shoot a 

 I irec-ner. It was wnispered about among "members of the family" 

 some days prior to the jmblic being aware of it that Mr. Brewer 

 would go back to his old trusty Greener gun and for the first time 

 use American wood powder for a money consideration. The tal- 

 ent theorized correctly enough that things were "fixed" for 

 Brewer to win. as neittier the agent of the Greener gun nor the 

 American wood powder people could afford to buy even the pos- 

 sibility of a defeat under the circumstances and boldly put their 

 money on the captain. Of course they deserved to lose for be- 

 lieving the above parties capable of any dishonesty in the matter 

 and the outcome of the match has certainly freed everybody from 

 any suspicion with the exception of the poor captain. 



I know that Brewer did not sell out. He made a mistake in 

 accepting money for changing his gun and x>owder jitst previoas 

 to the match. He was no doubt over-confident. I don't believe 

 that he was at all handicapped by his change of gun, for he can 

 shoot the gtm he used as well as any gun he has ever shot, and he 

 has done the best shooting with it that was ever done by any 

 man. 1 refer to his second match with Elliott, when he killed 99 

 out of 100 extraordinary good birds. There were no cripples in 

 tliat match, and the exhibition of skill and deadly execution was 

 the finest I have ever witnessed. He proved in this match that 

 he was at home with the gun by plainly hitting 249 out of the 350 

 birds shot at. He was doing his best throughout the match. He 

 very soon realized, as did hundreds of interested observers, that 

 lie was handicapped by his change of ammtmition. Here some- 

 thing was wrong. All hut one of his M birds scored as missed 

 left clouds of feathers behind and a majority of outgoing birds 

 which were scored were not dead, but had to be killed by the 

 gatherer. Qiaite a large additional ntrmber would have been lost 

 in a Slyds. as well as .TOyds. botmdary. The long shots made were 

 invariably broken- wing kills. 



iVIr. Fulford's second barrels shot miserably. He had to do 

 most of his execution with his right barrel, and outgoing birds 

 were seldom killed with his second. It was either a poor shoot- 

 ing gun or bis ammunition did not suit this barrel, which was 

 evident wuen using it in the Ground. Mr. Fulford was greatly 

 handicapped on account of it, and to use his own words, "If Capt. 

 Brewer had not changed his powder he would have won hands 

 down." ^ J. VON Lengerke. 



Editor Forest and Strmm: 



Allow me to congratulate you on the able manner in which the 

 shoot between Mr. Brewer and myself was written and pub- 

 lished. E. D. FXTLFORD. 



New Yo»k, Dec. 37. 



Canms Canoes and how to BuUd Tfi&m. By Parker B. Field. 

 Price 50 cents. Canae and Boat Buildihg. By W. P. Stephens. 

 Price ^S.OO. Canoe Handling. By C. B. Vaux. Price $1. Canae 

 ami Cam era. By T. S. Steele. Price 1.50. Four Months in a Sneali- 

 box. By N. H. Bishov. Price $1.50. Canoe and Camp Cookery. 

 By '■'■Seneca." Prise $1. 



Secretaries of canoe clubs are requested to send to Fohest A.nd 

 Stream their addresses, with name, membership, signal, etc., of 

 their clubs, and also notices in advance of meetings and races, and 

 report of the same. Canoeists and all interested "in canoeing are 

 requested to forward to Forest and Stream their addresses, with 

 logs of cruises, maps, and information concerning their local 

 waters, drawings or descriptions of boats and fittings, and all 

 items relating to the sport. 



A. 0. A. GOVERNMENT.— The present system of government 

 of the A. C. A., with a general executive committee and one for 

 each of the four dlNnsions, has worked very successfully since 

 1886; but for some time the necessity for a re-modeling and exten- 

 sion of the system has been apparent. Within the past three 

 years cases have come up of appaals to the commodore or execu- 

 tive committee, and of business between the general and division 

 committees, in which, after long delays, no satisfactory decisions 

 have been reached; in fact two such cases are now pending. The 

 chief of several reasons for this state of affairs is the brief time 

 for business permitted by the two meetings of the committee in 

 each year. On our return from the recent November meeting we 

 devoted some thought to the matter, with the idea of proposing 

 two important changes; first an extension of power of the division 

 officers and executive committees, giving them a greater control 

 over matters of membership, complaints against members, etc.; 

 aud second the establishment of a smaller and much more com. 

 pact body than the general executive committee, acting indepen- 

 dently of it, and ser^dng as a board of appeal, as well as a govern- 

 ing body with a general supervi.siou of the finances. From a 

 recent discussion of the matter with Com. Winne and other 

 canoeists, it appears that the same idea has suggested itself to 

 others, and a correspondent this week calls attention to the 

 scheme in more complete detail. There is ample time now to 

 prepare a satisfactory plan before it can be acted on by the ex- 

 ecutive committee, and we look to members for a full discussion 

 through the Forest and Stream. 



HOUSING CENTERBOARDS.— In the absence of a rule pro- 

 hibiting it, the simplicity and effectiveness of a single large plate 

 in the center of the canoe, and removed when not in use, has led 

 to the universal adoption of this type of centerboard in American 

 canoes. The disadvantages of this clumsy and unwieldy feature 

 which is frequently of such a size that it cannot be packed in the' 

 canoe, but must be shipped separately; and the advantages of a 

 board which houses compactly at all times within the canoe, are 

 each plainly evident; but the advantage in point of speed, how- 

 ever small it may be, has diverted all eflEorts for improvement 

 from the original form of housing board to the later form. There 

 is no doubt that, with any incentive under the rules to do so, the 

 housing hoard can be greatly improved, so as to make a most 

 efficient aid in sailing, and at the same time to leave a reasonable 

 amount of room in the canoe, and to present no projecting parts 

 to encumber the deck. We present this week two plans for ac- 

 complishing these ends, both of which are open to objections, but 

 they offer suggestions which may lead to more satisfactory resull s. 

 The plan of Mr. Hogan is both ingenious and practicable, and 

 such a board should answer all the purposes of a purely cruising 

 canoe, and possibly maybe utilized in agereral purpose canoe in- 

 tended for both cruising and racing. 



A. C. A,— Com.Winne spent Sunday last in New York, a number 

 or local canoeists visiting him at the Murrav Hill Hotel. He In- 

 tends shortly to take a trip through Canada in order to interest 

 the Northern Division in the coming meet. 



SLIDING CENTERBOARDS. 



TX7E have received from our correspondent "J. H; H." several 

 TV sketches of the sliding centerboard alluded td by hiiii in 

 bis letter published two weeks since, one of which we piiblish. 

 Though ingenious, the device is not new, a similar centerboard 

 housing in the deadvvood having been fully described with quite 

 elaborate details, by Mr. William Stewart in the Fizld of March 

 7,1885. The outline of the board, a metal plate, is shown by 

 the heavy line. The trunk is indicated by the letters A, B, O, D, 

 the headledge E F forming the fore .side, while the sternpost or 

 after dead wood foi-ms the after side. The fore end of the plate is 

 supported by two small wheels, at D, which would run on iron 

 straps bolted to the bottom of the keel on faoh side of the slot. 

 The board is shown in its lowest position; when raised by means 

 of the line G the small wheels would run back to the position D. 

 In a yacht of moderate size it would bo possible to arrange the 

 board and trunk so as to leave the cabin entirely unobstructed. 

 One disadvantage, however, would be the shifting of weight aft 

 as the board was housed, the trim of the yacht being so affected 

 that with the change of centers due to the absence of the board, 

 she would handle very badly. II; would of course be necessary to 



'i. The Commodore shall hold oflfice foi* the term of one year or 

 until his successor is appointed. It shall be his duty to lake 

 command of the squadron, to preside at all meetings of the Club, 

 and to enforce the rules aud regulations. The Commodore shall 

 be, cx-offieio, a member of the board of trustees and chairman of 

 the Regatta Committee. 



3. The Vice-Commodore shall hold office for the term of one 

 year or until his successor is appointed. He shall assist the 

 Commodore in his office; shall officiate in his absence, and m 

 the event of death or resignation shall succeed him in office. 

 The Vice-Commodore shall be. ex-oficio, chairman of the House 

 Committee. 



4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall hold office for the term of nnn 

 year or until his successor is appointed. It shall be his duty t(» 

 keep records of the meetings of the Club and the board of truslees, 

 to keep the records of the Club, to post and mail notices, to carry 

 on Club correspondence, and to prepare a Club book as may i>n 

 prescribed in the By-Laws; to receive all moneys due the Club, 

 and to pay ail bills duly contracted by the board of trustees, and 

 to keep a correct account thereof in a book provided for that 

 purpose; to make a report to the annual meeting of the Club, and 

 also to the board of trustees whenever called for in writing by 



HOGAN'S CANOE CENTERBOARD. 



have a board of C0D«'*f'ieible weight in order that it might alwavs 

 drop quickly, and VyS'to secure sufficient strength against tlie 

 lateral pressure. In a smail craft, such as a canoe, a second line 

 on the fore end would be necessary to haul the board forward. 



The peculiar motion of the ordinary parallel ruler, with its two 

 radius bars, is one that would most naturally suggest itself to a 

 draftsman; and in 1880, when the necessity of a centerboad in a 

 canoe was first recognized in this country, together with the 

 serious disads-antages of a trunk in the cockpit, we devoted some 

 study to this device, butfinally abandoned it, as no saving of room 

 was apparent. The same idea, however, has been utilized in a 

 more practical shape within a few years by Mr, Percv F. Hogan, 

 of the Brooklyn C. C, retaining but one radius bar, the forward 

 one being replaced by a nurved track, A B. The after part of the 

 plate is supported by a radius bar swinging on a pin near the top 

 of the trunk; while in the fore end is a stud, A, projecting about 



three of the trustees, attd to include in such report a statement of 

 all his feceipts and disbursements. The Secretary-Treasurer 

 shall have tiie custody of the funds of the Club; he shall he ex- 

 otncio, a member of the board of trustees, and shall be exempt 

 trom the payment of annual dues. 



_5. The Board of Trustees.— The government of the Club, the 

 title to, the mana^'ement of its property, shall be vested in a board 

 of trustees, to consist of five members, two of whom shall be the 

 Comoiodore and Secretary-Treasurer; three of this board in- 

 cluding the Commodore and the Secretary-Treasurer, shall retire 

 each year in the order of their election, unless re-elected 



At the first meeting of the board of trustees held after'the first; 

 election held under this constitution, the trustees not officers of' 

 the Club, shall by lot divide themselves into three classes, the- 

 first class to go out of office at the next annual meeting of the. 

 Club, the sacoud class at the second annual raeeling. 



J. H. H.'S SLIDING CENTERBOARD. 



MiP. on each side of the board. The track, A B, is of brass, about 

 ■'i6X%in., two pieces of the shape shown, one screwed to t'ne inside 

 of each sideboard of the trunk. On lifting the board, by means of 

 the hauling line, the fore end at once begins to rise, allowing the 

 after end to clear the keel and enter the trunk. The board is 

 shown applied to an ordinary canoe of about llin. extreme depth 

 at fore end of well. The outline of the board when fully housed 

 IS shown by the bi-oken line: while the position of the common tri- 

 angular board fitted to the same length of case is stiown by the 

 dotted line. The area of the swinging board is Z]4 sq. ft., the tri- 

 angular plate being a little larger, but the center of the swinging 

 board is just 1ft. further aft. Ttje effect of a slight pull on the 

 line IS to draw the board forward without lifting it much, so that 

 the amount of weather helm may be very easily varied w'thout 

 materially decreasing the area of the exposed part of the board. 

 A longer board than that shown mav be used, and in some cases 

 the center may be thrown still further aft. The mechanical de- 

 tails are quite simple, and the device should work well in ijracticc: 

 thus allowing the trunic to be placed at least a foot further Cor- 

 ward than with the common pivoted board. 



THE ORGANIZATION OF CANOE CLUBS. 



E have received a number of inqairies of late for a constitu- 

 tion and by-laws suitable for a canoe club, and we publish 

 herewith the latest, and one of the best which has come under our 

 notice; that recently adopted by the New York C. C. It is very 

 largely the work of Mr. Allen H, Sexton, a member of the club: 



CONSTITUTION. 

 Article I.— Name. 

 This organization shall be known M the New York Canoe Club. 



Article 11.— mjevtH. 

 The particular object of the Club is to encourage and foster the 

 building of canoes, and the improvement in model, rig, appurle- 

 nancea and handling thereof; the general object of the Club bein» 

 the cultivation among its members of an active interest in explor" 

 ation, navigation and seamanship. 



Articl e 11 r. —Mem Tiership . 



1. Any person over eighteen years of age is eligible to member- 

 ship. 



2. There shall be three classes of members: acti%'e, associate and 

 honorary. 



3. Active members shall be entitled to vote and to hold office, 

 and to all the privileges of the club house. 



4. Associate members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office 

 but they shall be entitled to certain privdeges of the Club as pre- 

 scribed in the By-Laws. 



5. Honorary members must be active canoeists, and if formerly 

 active members of the Club they shall be entitled to all the privi- 

 leges of active members. 



6. Membership in the Club shall be terminated (o) by death; (b) 

 by resignation, provided such resignation be tendered In writing 

 addressed to the becretary-Treasurer; and (c) by expulsion, 

 whereby any member may be dropped for cause, by a two-thirds 

 vote of all the members present at any meeting; provided such 

 mernber shall have been notified of the charge, in writing, at least 

 ten days previously, that action will be taken thereon, and that 

 opportunity will be given to be heard in his defence. 



7. The interest of any member in the Club property shall cease 

 on the termination, of his membership. 



Article iy.—o.Wcers. 

 1. The offlcera of the Club shall consist of a commodore, a vice- 

 commodQre, a secretary-treasurer and a board of trustees. 



The terms of office of those trustees who are not, ex-nirwin. mem- 

 bers of this board shall be three years. 



The trustees before each annual meeting of the Club shall nom- 

 ma e twice as m«ny candidates as there are vacanr-ies to be filled 

 m their board, but any member of the Club may at the annual 

 meeimg ot the Club nominate a candidate or candidates for such 

 vacancies. The vacancies shall be filled from the members so 

 nominated or by the re-election of the retiring trustee or trustees 



The hoard ot trnstees shall have power: 1st, to fill, by appoint- 

 ment, tor the unexpired term, any vacancies in their board which 

 may expire by death or resignation, except the office of Cimmo-^ 

 dore; 2'i, subject to the approval of the Club to make By-Laws 

 in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Constitu-^ 

 tion: od, to make purchases and contracts for the Club; but it 

 shall have no power, unless specially authorized, to render the 

 Club or any member thereof, liable for any debt beyond tbe 

 amount of money which shall at the time of contracting such 

 uebt be m th>i treasury and not needed for the discharge of nrior 

 debts or liabilities • 



A votji of two-thirds of those present at a meeting of the Club, 

 caiied tor that purpose, can reverse any action of ihe board of 

 trustees. 



Article Y.— Meetings. 



1. The annual meeting of the Club shall be held in December of" 

 each and every year. 



2. The Commodore may call a meeting of the Club at any time,, 

 and he shall do so on the written request of three active mem-- 

 hers. 



3. At least five days' notice of aU meetings shall be sent to every 

 active member. " 



4. At any meeting of the Club seven active members shall con- 

 stitute a quorum. 



Article Yl.— Elections. 



1. Officers.— The election of Officers shall be held at; the annual 

 meetmg. All voting shall be by ballot. 



.2. Members.— Each canflidate for membership in the Club shall 

 be proposed by one member and seconded by another, tn both of 

 whom the candidate is personally known. The Secretary-Treas- 

 urer, after receiving written notice of such proposal, shall Fend io 

 e,ach voting member of the Club, containing the name ot the can- 

 didate with the names of nis proposer and seconder. Upnn the 

 expiration of not less than seven days after such notice ttin Boord 

 of Trustees may elect such candidate to membership, unless two 

 or more members shall have objected to his election. 



Article Vll.-C'omm/ttees. 



There shall be two standing committees, namely, the Rpgatta 

 Committee and the House Committee, whose organizaf ion and 

 rospec'ive duties, each, shall be prescribed in the Bv-Laws 

 They shall be appointed each year by the Commodore not later 

 than the first day of March following his election. 



Article VIII.— BntrancB Fee and Dues. 



Each active member on his election shall pay an entrance fee of 

 ten dollars; if said sum be not paid within thirty days after his 

 election such election shall be null and void. 



The yearly dues for active members shall be pre? eribed in the 

 By-Laws; provided, that such yearly dues shall not exceed the 

 sum of twenty dollars for each active member. The annual dues 

 for associate members shall be five dollars, pa%'able in advance 



Members who are absent from the United States for a whole year 

 shall be exempt trom their dues for such year, provided thev give 

 notice ot their absence to the Secretary-Treasurer. 



No member of the Club shall be entitled to any of the privileges 

 of the Club until his dues are paid, and if any member shall allow 

 his dues to remain unpaid for » year, his name shall be dropped 

 from the roll. *^ 



