1S4 
FOREST AN£> STREAM. 
[Feb. 13, 180^. 
the rollers take tip all the motion imparted to his driving- 
wheel. 
The bicycle on the rollers is of course influenced^ by the 
same laws that govern it on firm ground, and will only 
stand up as long as pedaling is continued. 
The home trainer made a deep impression upon the cap- 
tain's mind, and he believes that in connection with the 
"breeches buoy," used for bringing shipwrecked sailors to 
land, the device will afford an easy road to the art of bicycle 
riding. He intends rigging such a machine in the cellar of 
his house in Brooklyn, and will support himself by a rope 
from the ceiling directly above his bicycle, which will be 
placed upon the rollers. The rope will be just long enough 
to permit his resting on the bicycle saddle, but when the 
wheel slues sideways or develops any of the numerous idio- 
syncrasies peculiar to it, he will be held aloft by a firm 
hand, as it were, and preserved from the unpleasant conse- 
quences of a fall, The length of rope will be just sufficient 
to enable him to sit on the bicycle when it is in a strictly 
orthodox position, and as long as all goes well he can pedal 
as correctly as any one. 
The moment anything goes wrong, however, his- weight is 
thrown on the breeches buoy and the fractious bicycle is 
brought up with a short turn. It is pleasant to contemplate 
the old gentleman's enthusiasm in the matter, and no doubt 
we will soon meet him on the Coney Island Path or on the 
Boulevard, a finished wheelman. 
Bicycle Postal Route. 
Before the days of the first transcontinental railroad im- 
portant mail used to be carried by pony express Eelays of 
horses were in waiting along the l,90()-mile trail from St. 
Joseph, Mo , to Sacramento, Cal , and mail went through 
in about eight days. The charge was $5 per letter. 
In Australia to-day under similar conditions bicycles do 
the work of horses. A bicycle postal route lias been estab- 
lished between Coolgardie, in the center of the gold fields, 
and Duadas, its port of entry, a distance of 280 miles. Let- 
ters and telegrams are carried backward and forward in 
small letter boxes strapped to the back of tfte machines at a 
charge of one shilling and five shillings respectively, the 
rider making one trip a week each way. The country is 
arid and infested by highwaymen, and a water bottle and 
weapons are essential to the wheelman's outfit. 
RICH IN PROMISE. 
There is rich promise of good things for Forest and 
Stream readers in the weeks that are to foUow. Here is a 
partial list of some of them: In our next number will be 
given the second of two papers descriptive of 
The Elkhorn, 
the black bass stream frequented by the anglers of Frank- 
fort, Ky. The writer is "Old Sam," of the Kingfishers; and 
his chapters deal "both with the fishing which has made the 
Elkhorn famous for generations, and with the fishermen 
who have done their part in making it renowned. 
In subsequent issues will be given, among others, the fol- 
lowing:. 
The House by the Lake. 
Some winter pictures of a boyhood home in the far-away 
woods of a Northern State. By Frederic Irland. 
Canoeing in South America. 
Adventures on the Parana River, one of the largest in the 
world. By J Gr. King, 
Hunting on the Spanish Main. 
A naturalist-sportsman on the line of the Nicaragua Canal. 
By J. F. Le Baron, late engineer in charge. 
Hud Turtle. 
A day in camp with Uncle Lisha, Sam Lovel, Joseph and 
Antoine. By Rowland E. Robinson. This is to be enjoyed 
best by those who have read in these columns or in book 
form Mr. Robinson's "Uncle Lisha's Shop," "Sam Level's 
Camp" and "Danvis Folks." 
The Florida Everglades. 
Describing a visit to a Seminole village on the occasion of 
the celebration of the Hunting Dance. By J. W. Stranahan. 
Where to Hunt in Florida. 
Detroit, Mich., Dec. 21. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
If you have any friends who purpose going to hunt this 
winter in Florida, I shall be glad to recommend to them 
a guide with whom I have always had the best of sport. 
In addition to being able to show plenty of the feathered 
game of his . section, he is a noted deer hunter, and he 
now writes me that he has some fine dogs. Florida. 
(Our correspondent is a reliable man, and speaks very 
highly of the guide he refers to. Anybody who contem- 
plates a trip to Florida can obtain the name and address 
of the guide by writing to F. S., care of Forest and 
Stream Pub. Co., 346 Broadway, New York.) 
Weights of Moose. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I have bought and read your paper for many years. 
Recently a discussion has sprung up among my friends as 
to the weight of moose. They have feilled them all the 
way from SJOO fco S.OOOlbs. Will you give us some record 
weights in your Answers to Correspondents? S, H, S. 
Skis and their Use. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
On the subject of skis and their management — can some 
of your readers explain a few things to show how thi^ 
nhi coasting act is done? 
Is a pole necessary, and to what use is it put? 
Is it possible, with a pole or any other means, to steer a 
shi, or change its course, or brake it in any degree when 
coasting a hill? 
How are two skis on two feet, and influenced only by a 
toe strap, to be induced to hold true, to not toe in and 
clash, or not toe out and separate indefinitely? 
If, in coasting, the start is on soft snow and there shows 
up a strip of hard, smooth crust, what prevents the skis 
doing the balance of the trip riderless? And per contra, if 
A TEXAS TABPOM. 
railroad speed is attained on hard snow and soft snow is 
encountered, why shouldn't there result a distance record- 
breaker as a header? 
Readers are led to think from published accounts that 
cross country trips are taken, even in mountainous dis- 
tricts, and great hills coasted with no previous knowledge 
of the locality or the particular hill, amid flying snow and 
with a gasp for breath, and after a moment of extreme ex- 
hilaration and suspense, lol the safe arrival. 
The interjection here is: What of the trees standing 
or fallen, the big rocks, or even the patches of sweet brier 
or blackberry, that might have been there directly in 
front? 
It wasn't luck that saved him every time, we suppose; 
so who will tell of the science that makes this hazard a 
pleasure, with not too many grim smiles over recollections 
of close calls that might have sent the coaster off a flying 
ski on to a never-stopping toboggan? Novice, 
As the yachting journal of America, the Forest and Stream ts the 
recognized medium of communication between the maker of ynchts- 
men'' s'suppUes and the yachting public. Its value for advertising 
has been demonstrated by patrons who have employed its column 
continuously for years. 
FIXTURES. 
31, Harlem. 
5, 
12. 
19. 
26. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
1. 
3, 
3. 
4. 
6. 
10. 
17- 
28. 
81, 
7. 
14. 
31. 
28. 
4. 
4. 
6, 
11, 
Knickerbocker. 
Dou^laston. 
Larchmont, sprirg regatta. 
Seawanhaka-Corinthian. 
Stamford, special. 
Indian H«riior, sxjecial. 
CoriDthiau Meet, special. 
Horseshoe Harbor, special. 
Sea Cliff, special. 
New Eochelle, anmial. 
Larchmont, annual, 
American, annual. 
Riverside. 
-24. Larehmonl, race week, 
Stamford. 
Sea Cliff. 
Indian Harbor. 
Hempstead Harbor. 
Horseshoe Harbor. 
Huntington. 
JDNB, 
JULY. 
AUGUST. 
Huguenot. . 
Larchmont, (special. 
Larchmont, fall regatta. 
Larchmont, special. 
SEPTEMBEH. 
YACHT DESIGNING.— XIV. 
BY W, P. STEPHENS. 
[Continued from page 93.] 
Thus far, as in Plate I., we have considered the three plans 
in the relation in which they originally stood to each other, as 
adjoining parts of the box surrounding our model. This ar- 
rangement is not a convenient one, and in actual practice a 
different one is followed. It is always easier to draw a line 
which is concave with respect to the draftsman than one 
which is convex; and for this reason the half-breadth plan is 
reversed from the position shown in Plate I., the middle or 
base line being placed on the side toward the draftsman, the 
lower edge of the paper, and the deck line and level lines 
being further from him, as in Plate II. In all drawing the 
draftsman's body may be considered as the center of a circle, 
and hia arm aa the radius, swinging freely in a circular 
sweep. In marine drafting, where so many of the lines are 
curves, it is easier and more natural to draw them in this 
way than in the reverse; and it is also more natural to stand 
as it were at the center rather than outside the circle to scan 
and inspect them. The half-breadth plan then is commonly 
placed near the lower edge of the paper, with its base lin 
next to the draftsman. 
It is often desirable to draw in a full deck plan, showin 
both sides instead of one; the full breadth giving to the eye a 
more correct idea of the true proportions of the deck. When 
this is done the right hand side of the deck is shown on the 
near side of the middle line, its outlines being of course con- 
vex to the draftsman; and the left hand side, with the level 
lines, is shown as in Plate II. The right hand half may be 
finished up to show either the arrangement of hatches, sky- 
lights and other deck fittings, or the construction of the 
deck frame. 
Between the half-breadth and the sheer plans a space is 
usually left for the diagonals (expanded), the inclined water- 
lines, and any similar lines. If the curve of areas is plotted, 
it is also placed here. 
The body plan, which in Plate I. was shown in two parts, 
is in actual practice always drawn in one, the two halves on 
opposite sides of a common middle line, the bow half on the 
right hand side. It is always located at the same height on 
the drawing as the sheer plan, in order that a T square may 
be used to transfer the heights from one to the other. 
A common plan, and a very good one, is to make the body 
plan a part of the sheer plan, Station 6 of the latter being 
taken as the middle line of the body plan. This lessens the 
length of the drawing and makes it more compact, and at 
the same time diminishes the chances of error through im- 
perfections of the T square and the edge of the board. It is 
less confusing to the beginner to keep the two entirely sepa- 
rate, but the practiced hand finds it easier to have the body 
plan at the center of the sheer plan, both directly under his 
eye and hand. 
It must be admitted that a complete set of lines is compli- 
cated, even to the expert, and simply bewildering to the 
novice. In Plate I. the eye fails to catch the really essential 
curves of the vessel, being distracted by the rectangles 
formed by the numerous auxiliary lines. In order to bring 
out in the necessary relief the principal lines, it is customary 
to use inks of different colors, and much may be done in this 
way to lessen the apparent complication of the drawing. 
There is no common standard for such coloring, but each de- 
signer follows his own fancy to a great extent. In the 
course of practice we have worked out a method which 
seems to answer the purpose, but which we will only men- 
tion briefly here, leaving it to be described in detail in its 
proper place later on. 
The framework of the drawing (the base lines of the three 
plans), the stations in the sheer and half-breadth plans, the 
level lines in the sheer and body plans, the diagonals in the 
body plan, are drawn lightly in red ink; these lines being 
laid off very accurately as soon as the dimensions of the 
yacht are finally decided on. Five of these lines, it must be 
stated, are drawn in blue instead of red: the l.w.L, the mid- 
dlelline of the body plan, and the stations at 0, 6 and 12 in 
the sheer and half-breadth plans. In this way the eye can 
locate instantly the most important lines, the l.w.l. and the 
stations at each of its ends and its middle. It will be found 
a great help, both in sketching in and fairing, to have these 
lines in blue standing boldly out from the red. The bow- 
buttock lines in the body and half-bredth plans are drawn 
in green. This framework being completed in ink at the 
outset, it is not destroyed in the necessary erasure of many 
parts of the design in the succeeding processes, as would 
be the case if it were left in pencil until all the lines were 
completed. When this latter stage is reached and the final 
inking in begins, the deck line, sheer line, side line, etc., 
are drawn in black, the level lines in the half-breadth plan 
in blue, the l.w.l, and all below it being solid lines and 
the upper level lines being broken. The stations at 0, 6 and 
13 in the body plan are drawn in blue, the others in black; 
the bow-buttock lines in the sheer plan are drawn in green, ^ 
the expanded diagonals in green, and the inclined l.w.l. in 
blue. By this method, the fine red lines being less conspic- 
uous than the other colors, the numerous straight lines of i 
the drawing do not dominate everything else, as is the case 
in Plate I,; but the keel line, sheer line and deck line stand 
out boldly in black, the l.w.l, is clearly seen as the upper 
one of the solid blue lines in the half-breadth plan, and the 
diagonals, bows, buttock lines, etc. , appeal to the eye without 
the distorting effect of the many straight lines. 
Of course it is impossible to follow this system in a paper 
or book other than by costly supplemental plates; but we 
have endeavored to obtain a similar effect in the numerous" 
designs published in this paper. The arrangement followed 
to that end is shown in Plate II., precisely the same plansi 
and lines as Plate I,, but arranged in a different way. In 
this drawing nearly all of the straight lines are omitted, but 
in every case the positions are plainly indicated, so that theyi 
may be drawn in if needed. The upper level lines in the 
sheer plan are merely indicated at the extreme sides of thei 
drawing, thus throwing the topsides out in relief. The lower 
level lines are shown only within the limits of the hull; asi 
few straight lines as possible are shown in the body plan, and 
in the half breadth plan only portions of the stations and the 
bow-buttock lines are nsed, to show the under-water as dis-' 
tinct from the out-of -water body. The upper level lines in 
this plan are broken, the l,w,l. and the lower level lines beingi 
solid. The bow-buttock lines in all three plans are a com-' 
bination of dashes and dots. The No. 6 station in the body 
plan is a broken line, to distinguish it from No. 7, which is 
of very similar contour and liable to be confused with it, the 
two crossing. 
Three new lines are shown in the drawing: a dividing line, 
a horizontal ribband line, and a line of heads and heels of 
timbers. The former encircles the vessel at the turn of the 
bilge, and is normal to or at right angles with each of thei 
stations in the body plan. Its other projections, expanded or 
on the sheer and half-breadth plans, are not shown. The: 
horizontal ribhand line is the true projection on the half- 
breadth plan of the upper diagonal, No, 1. The line of heads, 
and heels of timbers is the true projection of the same diag- 
onal on the sheer plan (m the previous paper it was incor- 
rectly stated that this line and the expanded diagonal were 
identical). Similar lines may be drawn in the sheer and 
half-breadth plans for each of the other diagonals. 
The expanded diagonals and the inclined waterlines art 
laid off from the line representing the greatest half breadtl 
of the vessel as a base line; this line not being drawn in full 
in the plate, but only indicated by its extremities. 
There are two very important lines which have not yet 
been mentioned, the rabbet line and the bearding line. 
Where the design is made to the inside of the plank, both o: 
these are essential from the start; and in vessels of the ol( 
type, with a keel and dead woods distinct from the hull, th( 
rabbet line Is quite as important as any in the vessel. In thi 
modern yacht, however, the rabbet line is properly a part ol 
the const/ruction and not of the form; and, as we hav« 
started out to deal only with the form of the exterior surface 
of the vessel for the present, both of these lines may be left 
to a later consideration, as their introduction here would 
only be confusing. 
The various lines thus far enumerated include all that aw 
of material use in yacht designing, but it is necessary that 
the student should become thoroughly familiar with th« 
nature and use of each, 
A comparison of plates I. and II. will show the superiority 
of the latter in displaying prominently and clearly the really 
important lines of the hull, 
[to be continited,] 
On Jan, 28 the steam yacht Argo was sunk in collisiot 
with the fruit steamer Albert Dtmiois, her bows being atovti 
Two guests on the yacht were drowned: Messrs, H, P 
m. 
Herter and F. Blassini. 
