Jan. 13, 1894.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



39 



armed myself with a towel. "Too devilish cold!" from tlie Doctor. 

 "Not good enough, old man," from H '-Say. Skipper," from L-, "is 

 it very cold?" "No, not so very; besides, it's the proper thing to do, 

 you know. Every account of a cruise I ever read always describes 

 particularly the. 'morning plunge'." So L. came along, eiad like my- 

 self in a towel. Lightly we sprang from the rail to the dock, but no 

 eagerness was visible on either face as we shivered in the cold air. I 

 looked at L., L. looked at me. "It's always warmer than the air." he 

 observed, glancing down at the water as he spoke. " Ye-es." I aereed, 

 and then, bursting out laughing, we threw down our towels and pro- 

 ceeded to get in. Did we take a couple of headers? No. we didn't. We 

 let ourselves down by the log that, was on the outside of that little 

 ramshackle dock: two gasps-two plunges, and as to what L. did after 

 that I can't say. I know what the Skipper did, though. He made 

 straight for the shore, and after a hasty but vigorous rub down 

 dressed and took a brisk tramp along the beach to restore the circula- 

 tion. 



At breakfast their appetites were enormous, but, strange to say, not 

 more so than H.'s or the Doctor's, and let it herewith be confessed 

 that the first morning plunge was also the last during the cruise. 



After breakfast we said "goon-bye to our last night's acquaintance 

 and started out under double reefed mainsail and jib, as the wind had 

 increased to a gale; but as we neared the end of the passage and 

 looked out on the heavy seas rolling down the lake a council of war 

 was called and it was unanimously decided that to hammer against a 

 head wind all day would be an uncomfortable and wet proceeding; so 

 the tiller was put to starboard and we ran down under the lee of some 

 islands, where the anchor was let go, pipes filled and all hands pro- 

 ceeded to make themselves comfortable according to their various 

 ideas. In the afternoon L. and the Doctor took the dinghy and rowed 

 among the islands to see if they could catch any fish, They were 

 away a couple of hours and were rewarded with one bass, which would 

 weigh about 2t^lbs. 



The only break in the monotony of the day was afforded us by a 

 small schooner which was anchored about 1.000yds. to the north of us 

 in an exposed position. We had been watching her for some' little 

 time as she pitched and rolled to the waves, which came sw eeping by 

 her, when suddenly she commenced to drag her anchor and go rapidly 

 astern. As the shore was only about 100yds. from ber we made sure 

 she would drag on; but when 'within about 50yds. of it, they let go an- 

 other anchor and that fortunately held them. When the wind had 

 moderated in the evening her skipper rowed over and told us he had 

 run in there to load cord wood, for, I think he said, Chicago. 



During the night the wind shifted, and when moruing dawned it 

 showed us a raw, cold day with quite as strong a gale as had blown 

 the day before; but (bis time it came from the east— a fair wind for 

 us— and all but L. were in favor of getting under way immediately 

 after breakfast. His nerve, however, had been so shaken on our firs^ 

 day out— being totally unaccustomed to sailing— that he begged us to 

 Btay where we were. "We are in no hurry," he argued, "and what s 

 the use of going out in that sea and running the risk of drowning 

 when we are so comfortable hpre." So as we saw that he was thor- 

 oughly in earnest in his fears we decided to put in another day at 

 anchor. 



If the preceding day had been monotonous, this was more so. We 

 played a couple of games of cards and turned in early. Morning broke 

 oh a dill, lowerihg sky, the sea had gone down and there was only a 

 faint breath of air from the east. Sail was made and we slipped 

 quietly out of the False Detour, thankful to have left it at last behind 

 Us. We had not gone more than four miles, however, when the wind 

 died entirely awav. and we rolled in the relics of the sea of the previous 

 day until we thought she would pitch the mast out of her, At about 

 2 o'clock we boomed out the mainsail, as we felt a light air stirring, 

 and managed to make a little headway for a couple of hours until it 

 failed us again. 



The barometer meanwhile bad been falling fast, and I knew we were 

 in for a storm of some description: so, seeing a couple of islands in- 

 shore, about a mile apart, we headed for the nearest, and with the 

 main sheet hauled chcck-a-bJock, the rolling gave us enough way to 

 make it. As we drew closer we saw it was formed of rock and gravel, 

 not more than thirty yards long and twenty broad— quite large enough 

 to give our little craft a good lee if close in ; and as the morning breeze 

 had been from the east I concluded the blow we were expecting wou'.d 

 come from the same direction, so let go the anchor on the west side, 

 about fifty yards or so from the island. Getting in the dinghy, we 

 rowed ashore, sounding as we went with the boat! ook, and found 

 good water close ashore- We bent the cable to the 55-pound anchor, 

 but did not put it out, and having made everything snug on deck, went 

 down in the co^y little cabin to await events. 



The night grew as dark as pitch— I could not distinguish the island 

 ahead of us; when about 10 o'clock a low rumble of thunder followed 

 by a vivid flash of lightning apprised us that the storm was coming. 

 In a few seconds I was on deck, followed by L. A heavy gust of wind 

 and rain greeted us, and as after a tremendous burst of thunder a 

 blaze of lightning made things visible, we discovered we were in for 

 it from the west. There was that blessed island, fair astern, and as 

 the sea got up, every plunge she took she dragged toward it Hurriedly 

 calling up H. and the Doctor, we hauled on our anchor chain until we 

 had pulled it half in and then let the heavy anchor go, and slacked up 

 —back she flew, until a jerk that almost buried her nose, she brought 

 up. Anxiously, with one hand on the big anchor cable and the other 

 arm thrown around the bitts. I crouched in the bows, soaked from the 

 rain and the water tbat came aboard— still she dragged. Finally the 

 anchors got a firm hold and held her, but it was none too soon, as her 

 stern was not more than 15yds from the shore 



The storm continued until 3 o'clock in the morning, and often dur- 

 ing that time I crawled forward to see if everything still held. As 

 may be imagined, this first experience of L.'s of a storm afloat, was 

 not reassuring, and if possible he became even more nervous, Even 

 when it grew apparent tbat the anchors would hold her, he refused to 

 turn in, and when I suggested that as there was no use of both of us 

 keeping watch, and in that case I would take the opportunity of 

 getting some sJeep, he promptly vetoed it, "in case something should 

 happen!" The thunder and lightning were magnificent, but at last 

 as the wind decreased in violence, I dozed off and awoke to find the 

 sun shining. 



A fine, fresh breeze was blowing from the westward, a bead wind 

 for us, but what did that matter. The sky was blue and flecked with 

 a few white, fleecy clouds which promised a good breeze and a good 

 run. The air was clear and bracing, and everything so different from 

 the weather we bad experienced on the previous days that every one 

 was in good spirits ani anxious to make sail. Breakfast over, it was 

 "Up with the mainsail!" The anchors were hauled up, and as her 

 head canted, the jib and staystails run up and sheeted home, and out 

 on the broad bJue bosom of the lake we reached. Down, down, down 

 she heeled until the lee rail was awash, and there she hung — the 

 beauty— tossing the spray from her bow, and leaving along, gurgling, 

 eddying wake behind her which frothed and foamed like a steamer's. 

 We stood out for an hour or so, and then went about, pointing above 

 the Main Detour Channel, out of which many steamers and steam 

 barges were constantly coming, while others bound up for Lake Supe- 

 rior were going in. 



Just before dinner Archie, wiao had already distinguished himself in 

 the morning by losing a pillow and a lemon-squeezer overboard, re- 

 ported to the Doctor that we were out of bread, so we decided to put 

 into Detour for a fresh supply. The sheets were eased off and in a 

 short time we were running into the channel, with the village of De- 

 tour in full sight. As we drew in I noticed several fishing boats moored 

 out a short distance from the shore and not far from a dock, so de- 

 cided to anchor just out from them. A number of fishermen were 

 Standing on the d°ek watching us, so with an inward hope that inv 

 crew would only let the right halliards go, and at the right time, I 

 hauled in the mainsheet and headed in. 



L., H. and the Doctor were all forward, and soon one of them said 

 "There's bottom!" I called out to let go jib and staysail halliards, 

 while at the same time I let go the sheets, which led aft. In their 

 hurry they let go the peak and throat halliards instead, and down 

 came the mainsail on top of me. When I had struggled out from 

 under its folds I sang out to let go the anchor. This was done, and, 

 going forward, I got down the jib and staysail. 



Looking at the shore it appeared to be further away than at first. 

 A glance at the anchor chain was enough. It was straight up and 

 down, and the wind was blowing us off shore. Pleasant mistake to 

 make before all those fishermen— every man Jack of them a crack 

 sailor— wasn't it? 



Well, there was no use talking. Sail had to be made, and that done 

 we again stood in. "Now, for heaveD's sake, boys, don't make a mis- 

 take this time," I implored. Slowly we drew in, down went the 

 anchor, down came the. jib and staysail, and — again we drifted out! 

 When the. headsails were again hoisted we noticed two of the fisher- 

 men pulling toward us in a skiff. They came alongside and explained 

 that there was a bank extending out from the shore only a shore dis- 

 tance, the outside edge of which went down perpendicularly, so you 

 had to anchor on this bank. 1 gave one of them the tiller and went 

 forward, and when the anchor was let go this time we stayed there. 



Whne we were stowing the canvas and getting things shtp-saape the 

 Doctor took Archie and the dinghy and went ashore to order dinner, 

 and by the time we were ready Archie returned, and w e all weit 

 ashore. Detour is a pretty little place, with two hotels, a store— 

 which was also the post-office — and a church and some ten or a dozen 

 houses, occupied principally by fishermen. 



We had dinner at the Detour House, and a good hotel we found it. 

 We were ravenously hungry, needless to say, but eveu such hunger as 

 ours can be appeased in tinie; so after dinner we took a stroll around, 

 and in the evening went down to the store to lay in a supply of eat- 

 ables. While there the two fishermen who had brought us in entered, 

 and when I wanted to pay them for their kindness I was agreeably 1 



surprised by their refusal. I insisted. "No," they said, "we didn't go 

 out to make any money out of you." Nor would they accept any- 

 thing. One of them took me to one side, however, and said he had 

 noticed I bad some on board who were unaccustomed to sailing and 

 if I wanted a man he was willing to go; 1 could ask any one about 

 him and whether he understood a boat; and told me his terms. I 

 asked the storekeeper about, him and he gave him such a good charac- 

 ter that I closed with his offer and engaged him on the spot. I never 

 regretted it. He was faithful, industrious, sober, a smart sailor and 

 kept his boat clean, and when we parted with him at Detour on our re- 

 turn we were sincerely sorry. 



In the morning we were ready to start, but. there was fio wind, so 

 we decided to try and get a tow from one of the small screw steamers 

 which run from Sault St. Marie to Mackinac Island. At 1 1 o'clock she 

 came in and I went to interview her captain. He was very accommo- 

 dating and promised to tow us if we could hang on. "but." said he. 

 my boat runs 1G miles an hour, and I don't think either yoti or myself 

 have a hue that will hold you when we get, our speed up. 1 .] We hauled 

 around, however, and gave them a new SJ^in. line to which they bent 

 their own, a line about the same size. She backed away from the 

 dock and went ahead slowly until the line was taut and we were half- 

 way out in the channel; then I heard the "jingle" ring for full steam, 

 and as our bow rose in response to the strain, snap! went the tow- 

 rope, and away she sprang from us like a (lash We haul»d it in and 

 found their line had parted about 4ft. from where it had been bent 

 on to ours. 



L. was very much disanpointed, He had just settled down to a com- 

 fortable smoke, confident there would he no moroof "that confounded 

 sailing business!" that dav. and when T called for help to hoist the 

 mainsail, he came, and told me he was sick of sailing, and if I would 

 send Archie ashore with him in the dinghy he would take the next 

 day's steamer to Mackinac Island, and. said he, "be there to welcome 

 you fellows, for you won't, get there before I do. I know!" So Archie 

 was sent ashore with him. and when he returned the dinghy was made 

 fa*t and we stood out in the lake with a light west wind. Four miles 

 out we were becalmed, and there we lay until 8 o'clock in the evening, 

 when a southeast wind set in that kept increasing gradually until it, 

 grew moderately fresh, and with sheets slacked off she reeled off her 

 8 miles an hour in the direction of Mackinac. 



What a beautiful run we had that night! No one thought, for a mo- 

 ment of turning in. Thousands of stars twinkled overhead. Bois 

 Blanc Island Lighthouse threw a broad beam over the water on the 

 port bow, while the flash light, which warns vessels away from the 

 dread Spectacle Beef, appeared ever and anon in the south, and Point 

 Detour Light, shone astern of us. The air was refreshingly cool after 

 the heat of the day, and ns we got nearer, a glow, apparently in the 

 sky, denoted the electric lights at Mackinac Island. 



Monroe, the man I had engaged at Detour, was at the tiller, and the 

 rest of us lolled on the. cabin house smoking and discussing the sur- 

 prise L would be in when he found us quietly lying at anchor on his 

 arrival, and regretting that he was not. with us to enjoy what was by 

 long odds the finest run on the cruise At 1 o'clock a b ack mass 

 loomed up ahead of us. The lie-Ms were all out with the exception of 

 a solitary glimmer here and there, but it needed no range lights to 

 show us the harbor, and in a short time we were anchored astern of 

 a large schooner. The canvas was bundled up with a lashing hereand 

 there to serve, till daylight, the riding light seized on to the forest ay, 

 and I looked at my watch— just 3 o'clock! A glance at the slumbering 

 town and we tumbled down the companion, not to wake again until 

 Monroe called us at 10 next morning. 



Breakfast was eaten after we had had an extra good wash— "for the 

 sake of the Mackinac girls," as H. put it. and the clothes also came in 

 for a brushing— probably for the same reason. We then discovered 

 that the Sf'hooner ahead of us was the Idler, of Chicago. Long we. 

 looked at her. for had we not read of the famous victories she had 

 achieved when she flew the flag of the N Y. Y. C on salt water? On 

 the Lakes she had not led the fleet s^ often, having bpen defeated the 

 pre 1 ious year by the Oriole, of Toronto. East of us lav the Margaret. 

 of Kalamazoo, a deep-draft yawl of about 45 or 50ft. waterline, I should 

 judge— a comfortable-looking craft, flying an enormous red flag at her 

 masthead with her name in blue letters on it. 



In a short time we were ashore and walked up to the Grand Hotel, 

 where we dined. Our stay of five or six days at this charming spot 

 was made most pleasant by the universal kindnpss and courtesy we 

 met wilh The managers and clerks of the Grand and New Mackinac 

 hotels did everything in their power for our comfort, and this, too. at 

 a time when their houses were not only full to overflowing, bub at the 

 Grand they actually had to turn away over a hundred people who had 

 applied for rooms in one day, although this hotel is said to have ample 

 accommodation for over 800 guests. 



In the afternoon we went down to the dock to meet L. His aston- 

 ishment at seeing us was great, as he bad asked the captain of the 

 steamer if it were possible for us to have got in, and be told him no. as 

 there bad not been wind enough. He had had enough of yachting, 

 however, and although he came out one afternoon when we took 

 a party for a sail, he refused to return with us, and the day before we 

 sailed betook the steamer to Mackinaw City, and the cars from there 

 to his home. We met, many people at Mackinac, some of whom we had 

 the pleasure of meeting subsequently, and one, the genial S., ran down 

 with us as far as Detour on our return. 



Of our return cruise there is not much to be said The wind was 

 generally favorable, so the run was short, and, besides, the glamor of 

 yachting lies principally— to the writer at all events— in sailing over 

 new waters. We lay for a day off a small creek which comes into the 

 lake some fourteen miles west of Detour Passage, and got a little trout 

 fishing and met a crank from Chicago who was cruising in a nonde- 

 script affair called the Atmospheric Pressure. 



This consisted of a flat-bottomed, fore-and-aft-rigged craft, with a 

 stern paddlewheel, which could be raised above the water a few 

 inches when under canvas. The motive power was atmospheric pres- 

 sure—hence the name. In other words, the boiler, made of galvanized 

 sheet iron, was only used to create a. vacuum, and this vacuum ran 

 the engine. We requested to see it go, but his paraphernalia was out 

 of order. He had a circular saw set in his after deck to cut up drift- 

 wood for fuel and two affairs like large wedges built of plank and 

 weighted inside with stone. These he explained to us he intended to 

 use in case of a storm, by anchoring his bow and stern so he would 

 he broadside to the shore; the wedges would then be hoisted over- 

 board with their points underneath, and by slacking up on bow and 

 stern lines the waves would carry her high and dry up on the big end 

 of the wedges. We inquired how he would get her off again when 

 the sea had gone down, but he pointed triumphantly to a pair of jack 

 screws. His chart box, however, was one of the best arrangements 

 we had ever seen. It was made slightly wider than the charts, which 

 were mounted on small spring window shade rollers, fastened inside 

 the box; slots in the cover permitted them being pulled out and a 

 strip of wood fastened to the end prevented their being pulled through 

 the slots by the inside springs. Altogether, in his way he w T as a 

 genius. 



At Detour we said good-bye to S., who was to return to Mackinaw 

 Island by the steamer that day. and having paid off Monroe, who 

 promised to lie ready if wanted for a cruise the next year, we were 

 off. The fresh west "breeze quickly carried us up the passage, and 

 once around Point Chippewa we got the topsail and spinaker on her 

 and bowled along, and on a beautiful August morning Alert heat 

 slowly into her home port to her moorings and the cruise was over. 

 The four who composed the crew are now far apart. The Doctor 

 resides in California, H, when last I heard from him, was in India, 

 and only L and the Skipper meet sometimes and talk over times, 

 which, in retrospect, appear to the former to have been "not half 

 bad!" . Alert. 



YACHT NEWS NOTES. 



Vendetta, 40-rater. has been sold by Admiral Montague to Mr. 

 Evelyn Simpson, and the new Watson 40-rater, the order for which 

 was countermanded, will be built at once. 



Mr. T. C. B. West, so often mentioned as a probable challenger for 

 the America's Cup, has just bought the old 80-tonner Yanduara for 

 cruising. 



"W. B." steam yacht, owned by W. B. Hay den, is being rebuilt by 

 Dr. C. D. Miller, of Poughkeepsie. 



It is stated that James Gordon Bennett, owner of the yacht Na- 

 mouna, which has lately been fitted with new machinery, which gives 

 her greater speed at decreased coal consumption, has a new yacht on 

 the stocks, which will carry only one mast, and is expected to beat any 

 thing afloat. — Marina Journal. 



The annual meeting of the Corinthian Mosquito Fleet will be held on 

 Jan. 15 at 8 P. M., at the Sturtevant House, Broadway and Twenty- 

 ninth street. New York. Officers will be elected and a number of 

 amendments to the constitution and by-laws will be presented. 



Messrs. Nichols and Fisher have shown us drawings of a launch 

 which is being constructed for Silas C. Blaisdell, M.D., of Brooklyn 

 She is to be equipped with a IS H.P. engine by the Gas Engine and 

 Power Co.. of Morris Heights New York, and is expected to attain a 

 speed of 10 miles an hour for 50 consecutive hours. In model this 

 craft is a departure from the conventional style of naphtha launch. 

 She is 42.4ft. long over all, and 35 tjfe. l.w.i , S.tit't. beam, 3,0ft extreme 

 draft, displacement a tons. She may be seen at the foot of Washing- 

 ton street, Bruoklyn, E. D. — Marine Journal. 



The following nominations have been made for officers of the New 

 York Y. C. for ltifli, the election taking place on Feb. ti Com., Edwin 

 D. Morgan; Vice-Corn., Edward M, Brown; Kear-Com., Royal Phelps 

 Carrol; See'y, J. V. S. Oddie; Treas., F. W, J. Hurst; Fleet Surgeon, 

 Morris J. Asch, M.D. ; Meas. , John Hyslop; Regatta Gommittte, jj. 



Nicholson Kane. Chester Griswold and Irving Grinnell. House Oom> 

 mittee. E. A. Houghton. Alonzo B.Jones, Frank M. Cronise and F. T. 

 Adams. Committee on Admissions, Frank T. Robinson. James Ql 

 Bergen, Robert Center, Daniel T- Worden and Henry C Ward. Li- 

 brary Committee, J. M. Woodbury, M.D., Wm, Gardner and Fordhami 

 Morris. 



At a meeting of the Hull Y. C. on Jan. 6 that portion of th<? by-laws^ 

 relating to officers' flags was changed so that the oomroodore's pen- 

 nant will be a white sea horse on a red field. The sailing rules were so> 

 changed that in all future regattas a yacht sailing over the course- 

 without a competitor will receive half the prize money. 



The American Y. C of Newburypo-t, Mass , elected the following- 

 officers on Jan. 1: Com., C. H. Shac.kford; Vice-Corn., N. T>. Rodigrass; 

 Sec'y, E. N. Follahahee; Treas., H W. Bagley ;. Fleet Oapfc, P. J. Lo- 

 well; Meas.. J. F. Williams; Regatta Committee, O. E Stone, J. W. 

 Seaver, Jr., L. W. Rodigrass, G. S. Lang and E. P. Durland. 



Enigma, schr., bettor known as Lancer, has been broken up. She 

 was built by Alonzo E. Smith in 1882 and last year was overhauled, re- 

 ceiving new spars and rig and being renamed Enigma. 



Messrs. S. S. Thorp & Co., the yacht sail makers of 20 Fulton street, 

 have issued a handsome calendar with a picture of a three-masted 

 schooner under sail. 



The Yachtsman's second Christms annual is a large and handsome 

 paper of double the size of the regular weekly issue, its principal fea- 

 ture being- some very fine photogravures from photos hy Adamson 

 & Son. That of Valiant is excellent, but sailing yachtsmen will be 

 better pleased with a spirited view of Britannia, Iverna, Satanita and 

 Valkyrie, and a still better picture of the three 40-raters, Vendetta, 

 Varuna and Lais. Quite as interesting, though not so artistic are 

 several half-tone reproductions of American photos of Vigilant and 

 Valkvrie in the Cup races. The designer of the imaginary challenger, 

 Mr. F, Shepherd, is unknow-n to us, but be has produced a very fair 

 and pleasing design, though too small to compete with Vigilant, being 

 84ft. l.w.l. and 16ft,. draft. The sheer plan and keel contour are very 

 similar to Valkyrie, but the body plan is more of a compromise with 

 Vigilant. Among the half -dozen sea stories wich complete the num- 

 ber is a cleverly written one with some good descriptive by Mr. T. F. 

 Day. The number is an improvement on last year, and is well wortta. 

 the attention of yachtsmen. 



There is nothing new in the letter which we publish this week, as 

 the same complaints and the same suggestions have been frequently 

 made before. The questions of just w-hat the A. C. A. can and should 

 do for its members are very hard to answer, as, outside of estab- 

 lishing uniform rules and holding a yearly meet, the scope of prac- 

 tical work within the reach of a loose national organization is very 

 limited. What it most certainly cannot do out of its dues of $1 per 

 year, is to publish a canoeing journal, weekly or monthly, or to pub, 

 lish maps and guide books whose utility would be very doubtful. 



The comparison with the L. A. W. is not a fair one, as the bicycle 

 naturally outnumbers the canoe hy a very large majority, the ad- 

 vertising patronage being very large and yet barely supporting the 

 official journal, in itself mainly a trade paper. Such a paper as the 

 Bicycling World is not practicable in canoeing, nor if it were would 

 it satisfy the requirements of canoeists. 



From what our correspondent says about hotels and ball rooms, 

 it is quite evident that he has never visited an A. C. A. meet, hut 

 he may rest in the assurance that he will not be interfered with 

 or even disappointed if he visits Croton Point this summer with his 

 old clothes, a small tent and a battered frying pan. 



We can answer, as far as the librarian is concerned, that he is 

 supposed to receive and preserve cruises, maps, etc., sent by A. C, A. 

 members, but as no such cruises, etc., are ever sent, this portion of 

 his duties are very light. At the present time there is nothing in 

 his possession which is nt all worthy of publication. Unfortunately 

 the A. C. A. is not able to appropriate a sum each year Ond quite a 

 large one would be rf quired) for the collection and publication of 

 cruising information and canoeing news, and all voluntary aid on 

 the part of members has long since ceased. 



Reforming the A. C. A. 



Rutherford . N. J. — Editor Forest and Stream: At the risk of 

 being accused of digging up an old chestnut, lam going to ask for 

 some discussion of the question as to what the A. C. A. is doing or is 

 going to do for its members. This is the proper season to talk, so that 

 we may act in the summer. 



Lest'l be accused of being green and wanting the earth, let me say 

 that I have been canoeing ever since 18*6, and have had in that time 

 five different boats, three of which I designed and built myself. For 

 business reasons I have never attended an A. C. A. meet, although I 

 have been a member ever since 1887; but I have always kept posted, as 

 far as possible. 



Under these circumstances, therefore, I think I may speak as repre- 

 senting a class of canoeists who are sufficiently numerous and worthy 

 the name to be accorded a hearing. Such men are enthusiasts. They 

 own and use canoes for canoeing for the simple pleasure of the sport, 

 not for the sake of the prizes they can win by them. 



They are I he kind of men the A. C. A needs. But, if you ask one of 

 them to join the Association, his first question will be, "What good 

 will it. do me?" It is useless to tell him of what has been or will be 

 done for canoeing by it. He will tell von- and justly, too— that it has 

 done very little. Changes in rig. design, jewelry, etc., have been fos- 

 tered by the clubs, not bv the national body. What little has been ac- 

 complished in the way of maps, information as to trips, etc., has been 

 effected more through the Forest ano Stream than any other agency. 

 The meets have benefited canoeing, but only that part represented by 

 those who attended them, not much more than a regatta of any of the 

 vacht clubs would benefit yachting. This last is not an exact parallel, 

 because, while the meet or regatta, would give a pleasant trip to those 

 in attendance and the improvements brought out by either would be 

 valuable to all sailors when published and commented on by the press, 

 in the yachting case there is no national organization to claim the 

 credit. The inference is that the A. C. A. is not worth joining. 



For myself, I can say that I belong to it from a sense of duty, 

 because I believe it can be made to do some good and because I think 

 every canoeist ought to be a member on genera] principles; but it has 

 not done anything for me for the last two years tbat I should not have 

 had anyhow. It has not even sent me a Year Book for '92 or '93. al- 

 though I have receipts from the purser of my division for membership 

 fees. 



Tne only man who receives any substantial benefit from the A. C. A. 

 is he who can go to the meet. And even this list must be cut down to 

 the few who have leisure and money enough to have a racing machine, 

 for in the light of the last meet experiences of hotel table and full 

 ' camp-fires" in the hotel ballroom it is difficult to see where the 

 fellow comes in who wants to see the meet and also get away from 

 extreme civilization for a while— who prefers to cook his own meals 

 and sleep in a tent, and have an old style chat around the camp-fire. 



There is something wrong about this condition which should be 

 attended to. I should like to see some one else ventilate his (or her) 

 ideas on the subject. Let the A. C. A. do something for its members. 

 Why can not some such plan as that followed by the League of 

 American Wheelmen be adopted. Their dues are $1 a year and there 

 has always been some sort of a publication sent them. At first it 

 took the form of a email weekly— the L. A. W. Bulletin. Later a 

 contract was made with the publisher of the Bicycling World, by 

 which a certain amount of space was devoted to official notices, etc., 

 and the paper sent free to each member in good standing. Cannot 

 some similar agreement be made to send each A. C A- man some 

 paper devoting part of its space to canoeing, even if we had to raise 

 the annual dues or get a reduced rate for A. C. A. men. 



Another good idea might be to make some arrangement with cer- 

 tain guide book, chart or map publisher for reduced prices on their 

 goods to men presenting an A. C. A. membership card. This could 

 be extended in other ways as well. I have found that if you bring a 

 certain amount of trade to one man he will usually give lower rates, 

 but at present we have the spectacle of a well-known New York 

 dealer in canoe jewelry putting his prices as has been remarked — "50 

 cents worth of name and 50- cents worth of goods for $1 spent." 

 Other dealers in canoe goods take their cue from him. My idea 

 might cut down some of this. 



One more query and I am clone— for the present. There is a tradi- 

 tion in the A. O A. of an officer known as the librarian. What is" he 

 for and what is he supposed to do? If , as I suspect, he has some 



