April 18, 1896. J 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
328 
§moqittg. 
may answer admirably, but not, in our opinion, for the all-round 
work that may reasonably be expected from a sailing canoe; nor is it 
the long-looked-for craft that is to rejuvenate canoeing. 
mge mid 0&lkrg. 
The Modern British Canoe. 
Tbb accompanying design, which we reproduce from the Field, 
shows a canoe of new model just building by Turk, of Kingston-on- 
Thames, for W. Baden Powell, from his own designs. We have long 
since lost the run of the numbers of Mr. Baden Powell's Nautili 
series, but this design must be somewhere about Nautilus XVII or 
XVIII. The canoe will be one of the first designed to the new rule of 
the Royal 0. C, as follows: 
"Rule 2i. A cruising canoe, to be classified for racing purposes, shall 
be sharp at each end, with no transom or flat stern. Anv metal keel, 
ceaterplate or ballast shall be detachable from her, and any 'bucket 
Canoe vs. Yacht. 
I have frequently been asked by yachting men, "What on earth can 
you find in a sailing canoe that so weds you to canoeing that in your 
heart of hearts you prefer it to any other kind of sailing?" Well, one 
answer is that canoe sailing is the nearest approach to union between 
the animate and the inanimate, with a resultant mastery over the 
freaks of aquatic nature. Personal prowess, a bait irresistible to 
human nature, equally keenly sought and sometimes praised in war, 
in politics, and I am credibly informed in love and matrimony, is to 
be found in canoe sailing in the highest and purest degree and with 
the least comparative amount of personal danger. Whether the blood- 
tingling prowess is earned in a masterly exhibition of management 
BISCAYNE BAY Y. C. HOUSE. 
well' fitted within the sleeping compartment shall be detachable. Di- 
mensions (maximum): Length over all shall not exceed 16ft. ; beam 
not over 42in. ; eliding seat (if any), when rigged in, to be within the 
beam of the boat; her fixed draft, including keel or drop keel, when 
hauled up, shall not exceed 14in.; the extreme length of any spar 
shall not exceed Hie load water! ine length or rating length • ratine 
/leneth of L W L. X sail ar^a\ e 6 8 ' * 
I ^j-jjyy 1 not to exceed 0.3. 
"Minimum dimensions: Depth inside, from deck to skin (to be taken 
at any distance within 3ft. of mid over all length and at not less than 
lOin, out from the middle line), shall not be less than 14in. ; depth out- 
side, from top of deck at middle line to under Bide of keel (taken any- 
where up to 1ft from either end), shall not be less than 13in. ; sleeping 
space not less than 5ft. 6in. in length, with hatchway thereto of not 
less than 18in. in width for a distance of 3ft." 
We must confess that on first sight we were under the impression 
that the paper had been roughly handled in the mails; and, when this 
proved not to be the case, that the drawing represented the result of 
leaving a canoe for a day or two with her ends on the rocks and with 
cargo and ballast all amidships; but a further study of the design 
proved that both conclusions were erroneous. 
In view of Mr. Baden Powell's long experience as a user and designer 
of canoes, of his superior knowledge o£ the particular work and water 
for which this craft is designed, and of the reasons given by him to 
and pluck in a wild weather race in presence of hundreds of specta- 
tors, or is gained on a storm-torn lake cruise, where a combination of 
perfect man and nearly perfect boat has got to windward of death 
with no "gallery" except the gulls, it is the same to the true canoe 
man— he did it, and he did it alone. To the yachtsman this is impos- 
sible, because "he didn't do it," bis crew helped. 
A sailor, even an admiral, who takes command of his own yacht, is 
looked at with half eyes by the crew, the idea between decks being 
that a skipper is being done out of a billet; and even in a J^-rater on 
the Solent, if the owner tries to enjoy his boat without a paid hand, 
the whole field is against him, for they think 30s. a week, and more, is 
being kept out of the pockets of an honest man. Is it not so also in 
salmon fishing? You go without a gillie, fish the pools without advice 
(advice usually tempered with whisky), kill and gaff your own fish; 
well, what's the verdict? "Ah! he's no much a fisherman, but he's 
just a bit lucky." Thank goodness, the "attendant" has not yet en- 
tered the sailing canoe — W. Baden Powell in the Field. 
The Atlantic Division Meet. 
The officers of the Atlantic Division are extremely anxious that a 
gnod division meet shall be held this year to accommodate those who 
may b« unable to visit the A C A. meet at Grindstone in August. In 
order that the interest in canoeing may be awakened as early in the 
SasU Ivr.BsdyPLarv. 
NAUTILAS CANOE. —Designed by W. Baden-Powell, 
justify the peculiar features, we are loth to venture a criticism; but 
we confess that it is a relief to the eye to turn from the exaggerated 
outline of this fin de siecle production to the fairer and moderate 
sheer, the sweet lines acd harmonious .proportions of many of the 
older Nautili, such as are illustrated in "Yacht and Boat Sailing." 
Ably as the advantages claimed for this design are set forth, we can- 
not reconcile ourselves to either the type to be developed by the rule 
—as exemplified by her— or to the bulky form and peculiar 
details of this individual design, as representing a desirable 
all-round canoe. If, as has always been assumed in discussing the 
canoe, pnrtability, housability and compact form generally for pur- 
poses of house storage and rail transit are among the prime requisite* ; 
and if, as American practice shows, the limit of sail allowed by the 
R. C. C. rule— 112sq, ft. for 16ft. l.w.l. -is smaller than desirable when 
a 42in. Blide is used, it should be possible to produce a faster and 
altogether better canoe save for a sort of sea work which is never 
done here, if abroad, in a waterline of at least 15ft. , and with no less 
useful but with far more symmetrical ends. About a year ago we 
were called on for a design for a large canoe on the dimensions of 
16ft. over all and 42in. beam, and very much against our will we were 
.compelled to limit the l.w.l. to but 12ft. 6in., for the sake of appear- 
ance in up to-date overhangs. No doubt a better craft could have 
been produced by less overhang under a limit of 10ft, over all, and 
longer l.w.l. with appropriate canvas. 
For certain special work we can understand that fba new deeign 
spring as possible, it is proposed to hold the meet on Decoration Day, 
but some objection has been made to so early a date. We shall be 
glad to hear from canoeists as to their ideas and wishes in the matter. 
CANOEING NEWS NOTES. 
A correspondent asks for information about the Columbia River, in 
Washington, as he is desirous of making a canoe trip on it. 
We have received from J. H. Rushton a supplement to his catalogue 
containing descriptions of a large line of small gasoline launches. 
The models, which range from 10ft. 6in. upward, are of the sharpie, 
canoe and dinghy types, both with and without overhangs. The 
W .verine double cylinder marine motor is used, a very compact and 
cr venient engine. These small power craft are a novelty that will 
b appreciated by many. 
REVOLVER SHOOTING. 
Newport, Vt.— Editor Forest and Stream: I have read 
with much interest the article from Brass Barrel on 
handling a revolver. I have often wondered why it was 
that no space was devoted to revolver shooting, while 
every isBue brings out discussions of the proper caliber, 
length, weight, loading and holding of rifle and shotgun. 
Then, too, it seems all the more strange when we think 
that in no other country is the revolver in more universal 
use (if ownership or possession implies use), while quite a 
large proportion of such possessors know little or nothing 
of the proper manipulation of the arm, to say nothing of 
efficiency in its use. I am glad Brass Barrel has set the 
ball rolling, and I trust we may hear from some of the 
revolver shooting fraternity as he suggests. Rob. 
Toronto, Canada.— Editor Forest and Stream: In 
your issue of Feb. 29 there appeared a letter from Brass 
Barrel on revolver shooting, in which he suggests that 
experts such as Walter Winans and others might be in- 
duced to contribute articles on the subject to Forest and 
Stream. Brass Barrel voices the feelings, I have no 
doubt, of many of your readers, myself included, who. 
while not experts, have a taste for revolver shooting, but 
have no opportunity to get tuition in the art. 
I have failed to find any book dealing with the modern 
revolver, and have watched Forest and Stream carefully 
to see if I could get any hints on the subject, but without 
result. Mortimer. 
Boston, Mass.— Editor Forest and Stream: I find a 
question asked by Brass Barrel that hits my case "plumb 
center," and with all due respect for your foot note re- 
garding a high front sight I would like to hear from 
some one who shoots a revolver and can make a decent 
score with one. I have been troubled some years with 
the same complaint that B. B. has and I have become 
discouraged. Rastds, 
[We have in type for our next issue a practical paper 
on pistol shooting and another one for early subsequent 
publication. We believe that these will in large measure 
supply the instruction asked for.] 
Steam Yachts and Marine Machinery. 
CoJifUBTE machinery -'outfits" for boat builders, made by Marine 
on Works, Chicago. Light draft work a specialty, Catalogue free, 
One Rifleman's Experience. 
Deckertown, N. J., Feb. 8.— From somewhere there was handed 
down to me a fondness for firearms, that is, some kinds of firearms, 
for I never took kindly to shotguns. I early fell heir to a good one, 
but seldom used it. It was too comprehensive to suit me. I wanted 
an instrument of precision ; the rifle and revolver were more to my 
liking. I read tales of hunters and trappers out West who could drive 
nails, snuff candles and "bark" squirrels with unerring precision. 
This was the sort of practice I wished to emulate. 
However, I was a grown man before I owned my first rifle. It came 
to me in the way of a trade, and was a sure enough back number. It 
was of the kind so highly indorsed by Frank Forrester in his "Manual 
for Young Sportsmen"; a Perry, made in Newark, N. J. This one 
was almost a cannon, for it weighed over 121bs. and carried a ,50cal. 
ball. The load, either a paper cartridge or loose powder and ball, was 
fed into the forward end of a tumbling breech block, operated by a 
finger lever. A feeling of chagrin comes over me now when I recall 
the many loose and erratic ways of that rifle for which I stood re- 
sponsible. Nothing short of omniscience could tell where a ball fired 
from it was going to fetch up. I didn't "bark" any squirrels with it 
that I can remember, and sometimes I weakened and thought that 
perhaps a scatter gun was not such a bad thing after all for a fellow 
like me. 
I was running a drug store over in New Jersey in those days, and 
now and again Doc Stiles and I would drop out of town for a little 
shoot. Doc was a royal good fellow and used to send me lots of pre- 
scriptions. He was the very soul of honesty, and I never suspected 
him of an intent to increase bis surgical practice surreptitiously, but 
when I think of the pounds of lead which we turned loose, in ounce 
hunks, in our peaceful New Jersey valley, it is a marvel to me that we 
did not materially dimmish the Democratic majority for which that 
section of New Jersey was particularly noted. There was little dan- 
ger of hitting a Republican then. 
On occasions Lew Beatty would join us with his .56cal. carbine and 
we would have a glass ball shoot, but most of our shooting was at a 
target put up against a tree or some other convenient fixed mark. 
I cannot say that all this practice made me a much better marks- 
man, but it removed the last vestige of gimsbyness. The results of 
our shooting somehow did not beget confidence. When I found that 
Lew's old .56 could give my Perry odds, I nearly lost faith in every- 
thing along the line. I pulled myself together again, however, and 
cast about for something better than a Perry 
Long range shooting: was all the go then, but I did not care for it. I 
had served my time at artillery practice, and wanted a change. I 
began looking for a neat, compact little gun that was easily carried 
and of a moderate, "good all-round" caliber. This had always been 
my taste in rifles. I liked condensation. 
The market was not as well supplied with light-weight guns then as 
now; Creedmoor rifles were all the rage. The Sharps and Remingtons 
had it between them, and made heavy range and sporting weapons 
mostly. A catalogue of the latter firm contained one little rifle, how- 
ever, which I thought would suit me, and knowing well the reputation 
of the firm I seat for the gun, feeling confident that I was going to get 
something good. It proved to be a flat failure. It was made on the 
revolving plan and was of ,88-cal. Seth Green's favorite arm was a 
Colt revolving rifle, but it must have been better built than mine, for 
mine had a dangerous way of firing off several charges when you 
only calculated on one, and besides was weak, ill-made and forever 
out of order. I sold it for half its worth to a fellow whose girl had 
gone back on him, and began to look for something better. 
About this time I left the store and went to live on a farm. I was 
fond of horseback riding, and this part introduced some new features 
into the choice of an arm. For shooting from the saddle a finger 
lever is objectionable unless the throw is very short. I liked the 
Maynard much, but the mode of operating it to me was objectionable 
for the above mentioned reason. The repeaters then made were not 
thought to be "in it" with the single loaders for accuracy. The Frank 
Wesson was my choice at last. These arms seemed to be free from 
most objectionable features, were neat and finished in appearance, 
and had an excellent reputation for accuracy. I finally ordered mine 
of a firm in New York city, .38cal., extra long, 24in. barrel, and 8J41bs, 
weight. It was fitted with swivels and sling, and was a singularly 
handy and handsome little gun. This was before the days of the 
.32 40, .88-55, etc., and I thought I was choosing a pretty good car- 
tridge. I used a cannelured ball and cut them off at the mouth of the 
shell, thua.getting a good cartridge for short range and small game 
shooting. I have known the soft lead bullet when used entire with 
the full charge of 37grs. of powder behind it to pierce sixteen lin. pine 
boards placed lin. apart, and bury itself in a chestnut stump behind 
them. My shooting was much improved with this gun, and when it 
did not do right I blamed myself . It would make an unaccountable 
mias every once in a while, and I noticed that my first shots were 
always the best. The powder crust had a way of collecting at the 
rear of the rifling, which I did not quite understand, and that this may 
have had something to do with my gun's failings I now suspect, r 
had a feeling that this rifle was tryiDg to be good anyhow, and I used 
it with a great deal of satisfaction for ten years or more, but still I 
did not attain to the point of excellence in marksmanship which bad 
been the dream of my boyhood days and the hope of my early man- 
hood. 
Finally I concluded that Lyman sights might help me somewhat and 
packed my rifle off to Middlefleld. Mr, Lyman wrote me in a few days 
that the rifle was ready to ship and in a postscript added that in 
testing the ad justmient of the Bights he had found that it had shot 
wild. This was final. My idol was shattered. It gave me a pane, but 
my old favorite had to go. 
I think the firm I purchased it of was to blame for its faulty be- 
havior. Not having;a ,88 extra long in stock, they had sent out a .38, 
short or long, to some bungler to rechamber for the longer cartridge. 
I find that many a good rifle is ruined jn this way. A burr, however 
alight, left at the rear of the rifling holds the powder orust, and tlm 
cutting into the.pext ball fired, destroys al! accuracy. The Wesson. 
