Deo. 16, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



S31 



§madng. 



While the rules of the Amiirican Canoe ABsociation were based 

 originally on those of the Royal Canoe Club, the two have for some 

 years differed greatly, the American rules having been amended from 

 time to time to keep pace with the advance of canoe racing, while the 

 R. O. C. has clung most tenaciously to several absurd and obsolete 

 restrictions. At the last annual meeting, ia 1892, a strong effort was 

 made to revise the rules to meet modern conditions, recognizing the 

 Butler sliding seat and remodeling the definition of the second class, 

 but it failed entirely through the opposition of the more conservative 

 members. 



This year, after another dull seasoa of racing, the movement for a 

 change has not only been more general, but the change itself has 

 been radical in the extreme, and after declining for years to go as far 

 as the Americans, the Royal C, C. has now at one jump far out- 

 stepped them ; with what results remains to be seen. The continued 

 existence of a bad rule has, with other causes, brought canoe racing 

 to a very bad state, so much so that even a decided improvement of 

 the rule may now fail to restore it. 



Whether the new rule, published elsewhere, will prove a success is 

 a matter of conjecture, and for our part we doubt the wisdom of thus 

 destroying the distinctive features of a canoe, as established by long 

 use. The increase of beam, if accepted by canoeists, will tend to a 

 larger and clumsier canoe, and one more difiicult to transport; a very 

 serious consideration where canoe meets are an established custom, 

 as in this country. The limit of sail is still retained at llSscj. ft. for 

 16ft. length, with the probable result of a waterline of less than 14ft 

 In order to get at least ISOsq. ft. of sail. The remaining 2ft. of over 

 all length allowed will be put into a raking sternpost, which is evi- 

 dently permitted by the rule, and into a bow like the modern fin-keel 

 racer. 



With the same limitations of depth and centerboard, the canoe built 

 under the new rule would be an inferior craft to .such American canoes 

 as Wasp, Bee and Glenwood; but as we understand the FidcVs report, 

 all restrictions on ballast, centerboards, depths and draft have been 

 swept away, and the path left clear for a bulb fln racer without the 

 least semblance of a canoe. 



The former recognition of the canoe yawl class is not new in Eng- 

 land, and little change has been made in the old rule. The class 

 would be a good one here, but all etTorts of the A. C. A. to bring out a 

 definite class of larger and wider canoes have proved failures, owners 

 have not indicated any desire for a racing class of tUs type of canoe- 

 The paddling classes call for no comment, they are similai- to those^ 

 which have worked well in practice on this side, and probably wil 

 answer perfectly well. While the change has on the whole much to 

 commend it, we have grave fears of the "canoe" of the future wliich 

 must result from the new R. C. 0. rules. 



THE liOG OF THE FRANKIE. 



The '92 Cruise of the Shenandoah C. C. 



BT THE COMUODORB. 



Pro Log. 



"Why is it," asked Capt. Jim one evening last June as we sat smok- 

 ing our pipes around our evening camp fire on the banks of the Green- 

 brier, after a successful day's fishing. "That you fellows, in your 

 summer cruising, always go down the Shenandoah? Aren't there 

 other rivers just as beautiful and just as accessible that would afford 

 you as much sport and give you more variety than you get by always, 

 year after year, going down the same stream? don't you ever get 

 tired of it?" 



"Well, Captain," I replied, "why is it that you always make this 

 same Greenbrier trip year after year ? Aren't there other good fishing 

 streams that would do as well, and give you more change— more va- 

 riety? Don't you ever get tired of this same old Parkersburg pike? 

 of climbing these same mountains? of fishing this same stream? of—" 



"Great heavens, man !:" be broke in impatiently. (That wasn't ex- 

 actly the expression the Captain used, but it looks better in print). 

 "Have you no eye for the beautiful I Can a man ever get tired of such 

 a magnificent trip ! Bucli grand, varied and beautiful scenery] Such 

 a lovely stream 1 to say nothing of the fishing! Why, if I had a hun- 

 dred years longer to live, I should grudge every year missed from this 

 trip and count it as much lost to me; a man who has the love of nat- 

 ure in his soul, and who can admire and appreciate beautiful scenery 

 can never tire of such a trip. I grant you there may be other rivers 

 where the fishing is as good, and other trips where the scenery is as 

 beautiful, although it is hard for me to believe it. But life is too short 

 for me as it is, to exhaust the possibility of this trip and — " 



"Precisely, Captain," I exclaimed in turn, interrupting him. "That 

 is just why we cruise the Shenandoah, year after year. There may be 

 other beautiful streams, in fact I know that there are, but there never 

 was a finer all around cruising stream in existence- one combining so 

 many good points, such as grand, imposing and beautiful mouiitam 

 and pastoral scenery; fine, bracing, beautiful climate; bold, dashing 

 rapids; good fishing, 'accessibility, etc.. and the more we cruise it, the 

 more we love it and want to cruise it again, and we really have no 

 more desire to lose a season in exploring some new and undeniably 

 beautiful and desirable stream than you have to lose a season from 

 the Greenbrier in exploring some new and no doubt really excellent 

 fishing grounds, see?" 



" I see," said the Captain as he lit a fresh cigar. 



The Log. 



Wednesday, July 27.— The party this trip consists of Col. C. L. 

 Cooke in anew canoe Mary Lou, George Bell in the canoe Shenandoah, 

 Lacy Gibson in the canoe Clyde and the Commodore (F. R. WebbJ in 

 the canoe Frankie, all members of the Shenandoah Canoe Club of 

 Staunton, Va. 



We drove dowzi to Bowlings on Middle River, yesterday evening 

 with the four canoes, loaded in as many express wagons, and each 

 cahoe loaded to the guards with camp duffle. I brought Frankie (my 

 small boy, not the canoe — althoueh as before stated the canoe was 

 along also) down to stay all night with us at the first camp. 



We went into camp without wetting a keel or a paddle, right under 

 the big willow trees just below the bridge at Bowlings, where I Jiave 

 often had a desire to camp: and the four canoes, each with its pic- 

 turesque httle Mohican tent of sti'iped awning elotli over it, were soon 

 in position for the night, while I fixed up a tent for Frank by rigging 

 up our dining fly close to the ground on short poles, and filling it with 

 Straw, over which I placed my rubber sheet and one of my blankets, 

 closing up the open end of the fl.y at his heap with a rubber coat. 



Oapt. Jim Bumgarduer and Rick Bell drove down at 0:30 and took 

 supper with us, and I got up a royal supper of fried ham. fried pota- 

 toes and onions and cheese omelette, flanked with biscuits and pot of 

 hot coffee, to which the party did full justice. 



The night was hot, but with the flaps of our tents up on both sides 

 we passed a very comfortable night, soothed by the drowsy roar of 

 the big dam but a few yards above us, and were out betiini s in the 

 morning, and after Bell had photographed the camp with hUs fine, 

 large Anthon.y camera, provided especially for this kind of work, the 

 tents were quickly struck, the canvas packed and we were ready to 

 start. 



The weather is intensely hot and the river very low. so low that at 

 our camp pretty much all the water in the river passes down the mill- 

 race, and we were obliged to carry the canoes fifty yards or so below 

 the camp before finding water enough to float them, and then make 

 another carry over the reefs under the railroad bridge, but after pass- 

 ing the mouth of the millrace the water improved and we were able to 

 step into our canoes and paddle carefully and slowly along. 



Frank rode in my canoe until we reached the carry at the railroad 

 bridge, when I set him out anc kissed him good-bye and left him 

 standing in the middle of the river, fishing rod in one hand, his 

 luuch basket in the other, and his preposterous big straw hat on his 

 head, a forlorn little figure, looking wistfully after the canoes and 

 watching theiu out of sight (He will fish all the forenoon and go up 

 home on the noon train). 



We found the water discouragingly low, and had to get out at every 

 riffle for tte flrsi|few miles and ease the canoes over. In shooting one 

 promising-looking rapid Lacy, whose paaoe is an old one, ripped a big 



hole in the bottom of it, through which the water rushed in a torrent 

 that threatened to swamp him instantl.y. He promptly sprang out 

 into the water, which was nearly waist deep and hastily rushed his 

 boat ashore, beaching her just before she filled, and we had to lie up 

 h re for an hour while the disabled canoe was unpacked and turned 

 bottom upward in the hot sun to dr.y out. Once dry, a canvas patch 

 was quicklj' and easily plastered over the break, and she was ail right 

 again. 



A canvas canoe may be more easily injured thau a wooden one, but 

 the injury is not apt to be so bad as in a wooden boat, for there is no 

 wood to splinter and shatter and repairs are very easily made. 



Our detention here was a pleasant one, as we had a nice shady 

 gravel bar to lie upon, and while doing the repairs George took a snap 

 shot of the proceedings with his Kodak. 



As the day advanced the heat became excessive, and about 11 or 12 

 o'clock in the long open reach of river above Laurel Hill we felt it 

 keenly, and the large sponges which we kept saturated with water in 

 our helmets proved to be a great comfort as well as an undoubted 

 protection. We were glad to note that the water improved as we got 

 further down the river, and the cruising became more pleasant and 

 less troublesome. 



At noon we reached the place where Beall and I camped last vear; 

 and as it was a nice shady place with a spring house only a short dis- 

 tance away we laid up here for several hours for lunch and rest, and 

 then pushed on down for our evening camp ground, which Cooke and 

 I had selected as long ago as last Blay. 



We had a very pleasant afternoon's cruise, as the heat of the stm 

 was tempered by the clouds all the afternoon and reached our chosen 

 campground— a beautiful turf -covered bank, shaded by several im- 

 mense willow trees, near Baily's farmhouse— at 5 o'clock, where as 

 soon as we had the canoes drawn up on the bank under the trees, we 

 proceeded to take a good refreshing plunge in the river. 



The river at Bowlings is quite red, while as we go further down it 

 gradually clears, and at our evening camping place it is clear enough 

 for bass fishing. 



The evening was quite blustery, Avith a high wind and several rain 

 storms vi.sible at different points, but beyond an occasional sprinkle 

 we had no rain. The wind dislodged several large limbs from the old 

 decaying willows, which crushed down in our immediate vicinity dur- 

 ing thf evening, causing us some uneasiness lest some of them might 

 smash in a tent or a canoe, but fortunately none of them fell quite so 

 close to us. Wrote a short letter home before turning in for the 

 night. 



Thursday, July 2S.— It didn't rain last night for all the bluster, and 

 we passed a pleasant night, and were up early this morning, and after 

 a good breakfast of bacon, eggs and boiled potatoes the camp was 

 struck, the canvas packed and we were afloat by 7:30, the camp first 

 being photographed by Beall. 



Our day's cruise was a delightfully pleasant one, but not specially 

 eventful. This part of the river is quite interesting to me, with its 

 numerous reefs and falls, all on a mild, eas.y scale; good to get our 

 hands in, as it were, before tackling the serious business of the Shen- 

 andoah. The water continues to improve as we descend, and we had 

 but little difQculty at the reefs and rapids, although Col. Cooke had to 

 do the bullfrog act quite occasionally. 



We passed the mouth of Christian's Creek not far below our camp, 

 and its added volume still further improved the water. The stone flsli 

 dam below it could not be shot, but was easily portaged, whUe the next 

 one, a little below, was jumped at the expense of a thump or two. 

 We portaged the big dam at Humbert's Mill by sliding the canoes over 

 the crest at the right hand end, with Beall in the water below to ease 

 them down. Our letters were left at the mill here to be carried over 

 to Moimt Hope and mailed. 



A party of young people (including several "jerne.v mansions," as 

 the Colonel with his somewhat limited and imperfect knowledge of the 

 German language is accustomed to designate the pretty girls we see 

 from time to time along the river) hastily collected on the bridge to 

 .see our flotilla pass under, and were promptly gathered in with the 

 Kodak by Beall as we came down. Not far below the bridge we 

 reached the beautiful, shady bank at the Miller place, where George 

 and I lunched last year, and we laid by here for a couple of hours for 

 otir usuul noonday lunch and siesta, We found a party of Staunton 

 boys encamped here on a fishing and loafing trip, including among 

 others, Ed. Baker, B^n. Fultz and George Haines. 



Fortunately for us, the afterneon was again cloudy, so we took ad- 

 vantage of the temporary obscuration of the intensely hot sun to 

 start again as early as 2 o'clock. The Kline Dam was portaged in the 

 same manner as the Humbert Dam, and the afternoon's cruise was 

 like the morning's, pleasaut but uneventful, and we made an early 

 camp at the Graitan place— a nice camping place and one I have often 

 marked as a good place for a canoe camp. 1 did not feel very well this 

 evening, having smoked once or twice too often during the day, and 

 so retired early. The evening was again threate n iug and blustery, so 

 the boys put up the dining fly over the mess table before supper, but 

 the impending rain evidently went some other way, for we got none 

 of it. 



Friday, July 29. — To-day's run was a short one, only five miles, but a 

 most eventful one. It was a beautiful morning, the threatening 

 storms of the evening before having all vanished, and after George 

 had taken a couple of good photographs of the camp the tents were 

 struck, the canvas packed, and we were again afloat upon the lovely 

 little river, which down here meanders through a most attractive and 

 interesting section of old Augusta. To our left, up on the bluff, was 

 the fine old Finlay mansion, and not far away was the ample residence 

 of Col Crawford, with Wm. Bell Crawford's comfortable and hand- 

 some home also in sight just above us up the rivei'. 



For a couple of hours our cruise was delightful, the river scenery 

 was lovely, the water good, atfordiug us fine sport in shooting the 

 numerous stiff little rapids and falls which abound along the course of 

 the stream. 



At the snug httle fall a mile below our camp the Colonel hung up 

 badly on the ledge which constitutes the fall, and George got a couple 

 of excellent Kodak snap shots at him while he was doing the bullfrog 

 act. The bullfrog act, it may be said in passing, consists in straddling 

 the canoe, when it sticks on the rocks, one foot out on each side, and 

 standing up and lifting the boat over the rocks in a series of jerks and 

 shoves— a most ludicrously ungraceful performance, and one that is 

 quite hard on the canoe, as well as more trouble and work than 

 quietly stepping clear overboard alongside the canoe and lifting the 

 stern end up and shoving it gently over the obstruction— a regular 

 lazy man's act m fact. 



We passed smoothly on down to the big dam at Hoy's mill, where 

 the canoes were easily portaged by sliding them down on the rocks 

 at the right hand end into the deep waiei- below, The other fellows 

 did the work while I manipulated the Kodak; in other words, I 

 pressed the button and they did the rest. The set of pictures 

 obtained here we regarded especially interesting and valuable. 



The dam several iiules below at Mount Jilerithen is broken out and 

 we found that the consequent lowering of the water in the mill pool 

 had uncovered a, particularly rough series of reefs, 100yds. long, just 

 around the bend below the Hoy dam. resulting in a particularly nasty, 

 sti fit little fall. The channel is close under the left buLk and the 

 water very strong, swift, rough and rather deep, while a couple of 

 overhanging trees just above the surface ot the water a little below 

 the head of the rapid made the passage an ugly and risky one. 



Lacy went down it first and promptly hung up in the trees, while 

 the Colonel, without waiting for Lacy to get out of the way! came 

 right down on top of him with an alarming smash which stove a hole 

 in the bow of the Mary Lou, fortunately above the waterline, and 

 threatened more serious damage, if not destruction to both canoes. 

 They broke their way out of the trees and went drifting and bumping 

 together sidewise down the rest of the fall until they finalff reached 

 the smooth water below, while George and I remained quietly back 

 paddling in the pool above the verge of the fall, waiting for them to 

 get through and laughing at their tribulations. 



I followed, and by laying my canoe a little across the current as I 

 shot over the upper edge and by a strong, dexterous shove atrainst 

 the tide with my paddle, as I reached it, which threw me out around 

 the overhanging branches, I made the shoot safely and passed on 

 down the rapid, to the smooth water below, where I rounded to and 

 waited for George. 



I hadn't long to wait, I saw him enter the fall and disappear behind 

 the trees; then I heard a yell and a splash titid the next instant his 

 canoe came rolling out from under the trees bottom up with George 

 waist deep in the furious torrent holding manfully on to the stern 

 painter which he bad instinctively grasped in the capsize, and 

 struggling to maintain his fooling and right the boat, while the surface 

 of the water was strewn with his most cherished belongings bobbing 

 serenely along down the rough choppy waves of the rapid." My first 

 thought was ohl for the Kodak! what a picture for the collection! my 

 next thought was alas! the poor Kodak: the vuluuble Anthony 

 camera, the large and expensive collection of glass plates and Kodak 

 rolls! the numerous valuable exposures already made, alas! sub- 

 merged in the now righted but water logged canoe and all irretriev- 

 ably ruined. 



I did not stop long to mourn or moralize over this irreparable loss, 

 but quickly drove my canoe back up the rapid cm-rent towai'd ilie 

 scene of the disaster to render what assistance I could, and picking 

 up the floating articles right and left as I went, while George waded 

 ashore, towing his water logged canoe after him. while the air grew 

 sulphurous with his remarks; indeed the natives d iwu in that aeclion 

 can smell brimstone yet, and I think it quite probable that the river 

 will not be able to freeze up thfs winter in that vicinity. 



I reached the bank as soon as he did and Lacy and the Colonel were 

 speedily on the scene, and his canoe was hauled up on the rocks and 

 the water baled out of her. and his blankets, mattress, clothing, etc., 

 rpread over all the adjacent territory to dry out in the hoc sun, while 

 the ftir rfSounded with the smashing of ruined, useless glass plates 



(accompanied with plenteous choice scriptural quotations of an ob- 

 jurgating and denunciatory character), as he took package after 

 package from their dripping wrappers and smashed them on the rocks. 

 The cameras as well at the plate-holder were badly warped and! 

 twisted and rendered useless for the time being, even if there had been 

 a fresh supply of films and plates, and the whole outfit was afterward 

 boxed up at Mt. Meridien and sent home by express, This catastrophe 

 had quite a dispiriting effect on the entire party, any one of whom' 

 would gladly have assumed the capsize if thereby the loss of the pho- 

 tographic equipment could have been avoided. 



We tarried here for four hours, from ten until two o'clock, waiting 

 for Beall's things to dry out, and while here we took our nooday 

 lunch of cold boiled ham, sardines, hard-boiled eggs and bread and 

 butter, spiced with olives and pickles and washed down with a pint of 

 lemonade apiece, and the Colonel and I improved the opportunity to 

 go a-flshing, easily securmg a supply of helgramites for bait by simply 

 turning over the rocks in the swift water andscrapingin the creatures 

 with a small-meahed landing-net as they loosed their hold on the rocks 

 and drifted away in the rapid current. 



[to be cominubd.] 



The Royal C. C. Rules. 



The following report of the annual meeting of the Royal C. C. on 

 Nov. 5!3 we take from the Field: 



The autumn annual meeting of the Royal C. C. was marked, and 

 will long be remembered as a most business-like meeting. The failure 

 in first class canoe racing during the past season, the death of the 

 second class sailing (long foretold), and the dissatisfaction in the 

 paddling classes had roused up the real leading spirits in the club and 

 they came to the meeting in agreed form of mind to do or to die, andl 

 they "did." Bach motion for reformation was carried by well over 

 the required majority of two-thirds; indeed some were carried nem 

 con. The opposition was weak in numbers and still more feeble in 

 argument; and therefore, so far as the senior club is concerned, the 

 gate is open for a big revival of canoe sailing next season. What the 

 other clubs of the country may elect to do cannot yet be known; they 

 are undoubtedly in the same straits as to slackness of sport and stop- 

 page of progress as was the parent club, but we have little doubt that 

 one or two of the most go-ahead clubs will see the wis om of the 

 changes in the B. C. C, and will probably follow the lead and finally 

 will acknowledge the advantages of simple untrammeledTules, antJ 

 will also accept the advisability of common adhesion to "one set of 

 classification rules among the whole of the clubs. 



Months ago, and for months past, we have advised a clean sweep' 

 away of the old complex rules. They liave now been swept away, and' 

 in their place three simple rules for yawls, canoes and paddling stand, 

 allowing the greatest latitude in model, rig and ballast, in fads or fit- 

 ment, and yet conserving thoroughly the genus canoe. The novice at 

 canoeing, and the professional boat builder, need no longer quail at 

 the idea of attempttng to enter the lists of canoe designing for com- 

 petitive sailing, as was commonly the case under the complex limita- 

 tions of the past. All is now clear, and almost anything as to model 

 or fitment may be constructed within three simple, but very necessary 

 limitations of class. 



The classes now stand thus: I. Canoe-yawls; XL canoes; and IH. 

 paddling canoes. 



, T, /length of L.W.L.Xsail area\ 

 Canoe-yawl. Rating ( \ not to exceed 0.5. 



Beam not less than .3ft. No transom or counter stern. Rudder shall 

 be hung abaft, the stern. No deck seat shall project beyond the per- 

 pendiculars of the sides of the canoe. The certificate of such rating 

 granted by the Y. R. Association, or by the Thames Boat Sailing As- 

 sociation (if same rule) shall be deemed the yawl's rating, subject to 

 verification by R. C. C. if necessary. Thel.w.l. length shall be marked 

 at each end, and such marks .shall be above water when the yawl is 

 lying in smooth water in complete and usual racing trim (i. e., with • 

 crew on board). 



Sailing Canoes —Rule 33: "No transom or counter stern shall be 

 allowed; the rudder shall be hung abaft the stern," and length over 

 all shall not exceed 16ft.; beam shall not exceed iift.; rating (as for 

 yawls) not to exceed 0.3; a sliding deck seat is allowed in a canoe. 

 Certificate of rating and the marking of waterline, see canoe-yawls 

 rule. 



Paddling-canoe — First class, any canoe. Second class (Rob Roys) 

 Any material or build, decked with wood; not to exceed 16ft. in 

 length; greatest beam not less than 26in.: minimum depth from level 

 of top sireak to under side of gai'board. Sin. ; and from inside of 

 center of deck to garboards, llin. 



Taking yawls fir.st, it will be evident to the expert that the new 

 definition permits any form of ballasting, even to a bulb fin keel. 

 Overhang to any extent is permitted, but the rudder must be hung 

 abaft the stern; and no transom or "sawn off" stern is permitted. 

 The minimum beam limit of 3ft. was retainpd as a mark line between 

 the canoe and the yawl. The sliding deck-seat was barred in yawls, in 

 that, where maximum beam is unlimited, the permission of sliding 

 seats was unnecessary, and would fot-ter an undesirable narrow 

 acrobat- balanced craft, which would probably bring into yawls as 

 much uncruisable nature as ever appeared in the smaller canoes; and, 

 as yawls are intended for open water cruising and racing, it may truly 

 be termed a life-saving clause. 



It might have been fairly ruled that, where a bulb fin keel is carried, 

 it shall be liftable, so as to aUow of shallow water work and of land- 

 ing without the assistance of a dinghy or a waterman's boat; but, on 

 the whole, it is probable that the disadvantages attendant on the fixed 

 bulb fin, or, indeed, any fixed deep draught keel, will speedily enforce 

 their weight in £ s. d. on the owner of the craft so fitted. A moderate 

 amount of out.side or keel ballast wfll enable a shallow center-plate to 

 be housed with but a vcy .small amount of case or trunk within the 

 yawl, and will thus permit of compai'atively good clear sleeping 

 space; and, at the same time, wiU furnish that essential feature for 

 sea work, a large range of rehable stabifity, reliable as compared with 

 the dangerously shiftable quantity known as crew stability. 



As to sailing canoes, the scope for new design is very wide and 

 there is ample latitude in which to build a craft abls to compete with 

 a fair chance of success in racing, and at the same time to be a com- 

 fortable and roomy cruiser for open water canoeing. The existing 

 fleet of first class boats of Stiin. beam are not driven out of existence, 

 and many of them, we know, would come in well on a comparatively 

 inexpensive rebuilding, i. e., by replanking, framing and covering 

 boarding out to the 30in. now allowed for beam. The heavy expenses 

 of building come ou in the center plate and rudder construction, 

 hatchways and other fittings; these are all in place and can be left 

 untouched. 



In paddling, the old-time single streak canoe, commonly known as 

 the cedar pencil, will again be admitted, and the fastest possible time 

 will be attempted; useless though they are for any work but fast 

 racing, still they are much in favor with the paddling athlete and will 

 furnish true sport at the regatta. 



Canadian canoes are not specially named or legislated for, and 

 this we think a grave oversight, but seeing that the wording of the 

 second class rule is very slack, merely staling that they are "to be 

 decked with wood," and no definite amount of such decking being 

 stated, a Cai I adian canoe which has end decks can come in. The old 

 rule, from which the wording is taken, was intended and used to 

 prevent oiled linen decks being put in competition with heavier 

 wooden decks. 



On the whole, there is flowing freedom in the new legislation which 

 should have a b-neficial effect ou the racing in the coming season. 

 The new leaf wliich the club has turned over should, however, be 

 faced by a new schenio of racing programme; convenient courses and 

 bunched fixtures should be coupled with somewhat more substantial 

 prizes. Inter-club racing should undoubtedly be the aim, not only of 

 the Royal Canoe Club, but of each club in the country, and the first 

 move in that direction is about to be taken by the executive of the R, 

 U. C, in compfiance with the decision of the general meeting that the 

 executive otHoers shall use their best efl'orts to approach the other 

 clubs with the object of creating an Inter-Club Canoe Racing Council. 



CANOE NEWS NOTES. 



The Sing Sing Y. C. has tendered the American Canoe Associatioa 

 the use of its club house during the meet of the organization at 

 Croton Point next summer. The yachtsmen's quarters are just across 

 the stretch of water known as Crawbucby Cove, which lies between 

 Sing .Sing and Croton Point, and will prove very convenient for the 

 canoeists in many ways. Some of the members of the yacht club are 

 old canoeists, the most prominent being Messrs. J. Herbert, Wifiiam 

 M, and Harry Carpentc-i-, and George Fisher Secor, and the organiza- 

 tion w ill do us utmost to sliow every courtesy to all visiting canoeists. 

 The officers of the Sing Sing Y 0 are: Com , Ralph Brandreth; Vice- 

 Corn,, Francis Larldh, Jr.; Rear-Com., Charles S. Raymond; Sec, 

 Robert T. Dennis: Treas., Joseph Thompson. Some of the prominent 

 members are John V. Cockcroft, who owns Croton Point, where the \ 

 meet is to be held; Col. Franklin Brandreth, Col. Edwin A. McAlpin, 

 Col Henry C. Symonds, Wm. Clinton Mead, president of the village of 

 Sing Sing; B. Scuyvesaut Gibson, Samuel V. Lane. Wm. J. McCaffrey 

 and Clement C. Moore. 



The Hartford C- C. has sent out invitations for a camp-fire on Dec, 

 16 at Hartford. 



