POOREST AND STREAM. 
S18 
anRe and to tutn in dne direction, and tlie gteat requisite of 
a proper understanding of the application of power to tlie 
pedals is completely ignored The pupils are turned out 
capable of riding on level surfaces under favorable condi- 
tions, or down hill, provided they keep their wits about 
them, but when it comes to an up grade or a bead wind 
they have everything to learn. This is not as it should be, 
and it is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when 
we will incorporate something of the French method in our 
schools. 
In Germany women riders are not allowed on the streets 
till they have passed an examination proving their skill. 
The rider must demonstrate before the police authorities her 
ability to control her wheel under the common contingencies 
of cycling before receiving her permit, which is in the form 
of a document declaring her to be the rightful owner of a 
bicycle. This document must be carried with her whenever 
she goes riding, and produced on demand by the police. 
No doubt the rule prevents fatalities that so often result 
from inexperience, but it is not the kind o£ a thing our 
American girls would tolerate. 
WHEELING NOTES. 
When riding for pleasure, never test the limit of your en- 
durance. It is an easy matter for the casual rider to exhaust 
his strength, and this is likely to happen if he attempts to 
keep the pace that is commonly set. Most wheelmen ride 
too "fast, accepting as their standard the speed maintained by 
the younger and more athletic riders. This speed is based 
on the rate attained by a runner, whereas for many wheel- 
men the pace of a leisurely walker is more suitable. 
If a rider moves his feet only a little faster than the ordi- 
Bary walking gait, he is pretty sure not to overfatigue him- 
self, even though he lack any constitutional vigor. 
An eminent physician, who has advocated the use of the 
bicycle for women since the days when the exercise tirst be- 
came popular, says that now, after five years' study and ob- 
servation, he has only one reservation to make. The npces- 
sity for moderation is greater now, he says, than in the days 
of heavier wheels, because overexertion is so much easier 
with our modern light models, that enthusiastic riders overdo 
unknowingly. 
The English and Continental papers are much exercised 
over a rumor that Defender will be fitted out and raced in 
British waters, various details as to skipper, crew, etc., being 
stated most positively. The report has its origin exclusive- 
ly on the other side of the water, and is entirely without 
foundation. Defender is still at her moorings in Echo Bay, 
and will remain there in all probability for a long time to 
come. 
It has recently been reported that James Gordon Bennett 
has purchased Britannia from the Prince of Wales, but the 
report is not confirmed, and is probably untrue. At the 
pame time, Britannia is for sale, and the Prince of Wales 
will probably replace her with a new Watson cutter. 
In the accounts thus far published of the new Gould steam 
yacht, which is expected to equal if not to surpass anything 
afloat, no mention whatever is made of the name of the de- 
signer. So far as we can learn, no designer will be employed, 
but the vessel will just be built after the usual American 
plan which has resulted in so many conspicuous failures in 
the "protected cruiser" class of steam yachts. Considering 
I the cost of such a vessel and the absolute necessity for 
I special skill of a very high grade in all the planning, this 
would seem to be a very risky experiment. 
RactDg in Restricted Classes. 
The Field of March 30 has the following account of a new 
restricted class that differs somewhat from the usual "one- 
design" classes: 
Mainly owing to the series of races for open sailing boats 
given by the West Quay Regatta Club last season, a new 
club has been formed at Southampton under the name of the 
Southampton Sailing Club, and it bids fair to be very popu- 
lar and successful. Its object is the encouragement of open 
boat sailing, and the burgee is red, with white vertical bar in 
the center. The rules provide that the boats are to be open, 
not exceeding 14ft. over all, to carry no ballast, nor have 
fixed keels, fins or other addition to the outside, while the 
centerboard ia not to exceed o-16in. plate. All spars are to 
fit inside the boat; the mast must be stepped on an ordi- 
nary step, or on the keelson of the boat; only two spars al- 
lowed to the mainsail, and no battens in the after leach, and 
only two fore-and-aft sails will be permitted. The length of 
the bumpkin is restricted according to the size of the boat; 
no guys or fastenings allowed on the fore side of the mast, or 
other evasions which would tend to allow the spinaker to be 
used as a fore-and-aft sail. The boats are to carry life-saving 
apparatus; the anchor is not to exceed 22lbs., and rope cable 
only will be allowed. The time allowance is at the rate of 
one minute per foot, and for every first prize won in a club 
race the winning boat will have to allow in the following 
races one minute to each boat which competed against her 
in the race when such prize was won. The crew is not to ex- 
ceed three, and no boat will be allowed to be sailed single- 
handed; they are also to be steered by a member of the club, 
and the crews are to be members, or gentlemen amateurs. 
Although only started in January, the club already numbers 
nearly forty members, and there are now ten boats available 
for the class matches in addition to others building. 
The first annual meeting was held at the Pier Hotel, 
Southampton, on Monday evening, under the presidency of 
Mr. A. Spooner (Commodore), who was re-elected, as were 
also Dr. R. E. Lauder as Hon. Sec, and Mr. F. V. Beatou as 
Hon. Treas., and the committee were appointed as follows: 
Messrs. F C. Carter, F. Dewey, G. Dewey, J. Fisher, H. J. 
Grandison, A. B. Heanley, F. Quinton, W. A. Richards, B. 
H. Trippe, J. H. Williamson, T. H. Hine and A. A. Alex- 
ander. It was reported that eleven matches had been ar- 
ranged for the coming season — ten for the 14ft. class and one 
for boats belonging to members which do not come within 
the class. Mr. Tankerville Chamberlayne has given a cup 
for the boat winning the greatest number of points during 
the season, and prizes have also been promised by the com- 
modore, the mayor of the borough (Mr. E. Gayton), Sir 
Francis Evans, M P., Dr. Lauder, Mr. J. Lauder and Mr. F. 
V. Beaton. The subject of promotinga one-design one class 
of boat for sailing in Southampton Water was debated at 
some length, the general opinion being that a centerboard 
boat of about 17ft., with a moderate amount of lead on the 
keel, and to cost about £40, would be the best type; but ulti- 
mately the design and other matters were left to the com- 
mittee, as were also the questions whether the 14ft. class 
should be allowed to carry spinakers, as the danger of their 
so doing was evidenced more than once last season, and 
whether each boat sbaU Jiave a number on the peafc of the 
maiosai], as is the oase dow in the Solent olasiSGs, A vote 
of thanks to the oomtoo^pr^ iot pregi^log oJosed » very 
gUG09sg{ul meeting. 
The PieicZ of March 2? gives the following account of a 
one-design class Of 25ft. cutters how buildinglfor Blelfast 
Lough: 
The coniing yachting season in Belfast Lough promises t o 
be interesting and eventful beyond anything of previous 
years. For many seasons past it has been the desire of local 
yachtsmen to get a number of boats of similar build and de- 
sign, with a view to keener competition, and in this they 
have partially succeeded. The members of the Bangor Cor- 
inthian Sailing Club took the lead, and from time to time 
got boats of a similar class and design built which afforded 
excellent sport and close finishes— so much so that in the 
majority of instances premier places in races in which they 
competed were only secured through skillful handling and 
seamanship. Following the matter further up, a number of 
gentlemen representing the diflrerent clubs of the lough de- 
cided, at the close of last season, on building a new class, 
and Mr. Fife, the eminent Scotch designer, was asked to de- 
sign a boat which would meet the general wishes and wants. 
A particular design was accordinely prepared and decided 
uoon, and tenders were invited, with the result that that of 
Mr. John Hilditch, of Carrickfergua, was accepted out of 
quite a number sent in, not only by builders on this side of 
the Channel, but by several well-known firms on the Clyde. 
Mr. Hilditch entered on his contract about the beginning of 
the year, the stipulation being that thp boats — seven in all — 
are to be ready by May 1 next. Mr. Hildii-ch's yard at the 
present time is well worth a visit. The work of construction 
is going rapidly on, and all the boats are in a forward state, 
so much so that it is expected the majority of them will be 
ready for launching by the middle of next month. Tbev 
have been designed and built with h view to comfort as well 
a"? speed, as the following dimensions will show. Each is 
38ft. over all, waterline 2.5ft,, beam 8ft. Tin. The keels are 
of cast metal, each weighing 3]^ tons. Th'^ hulls 
are very well forward, and the boats should orove 
dry in bad weather. They will be cutter rigged, 
pach mast being S9ft. long, and the boom about 
28ft. They will carry gafi: topsails, which will be somewhat 
of an innovation for local yachtsmen who are accustomed to 
the smaller classes of boat. So far as mea.surement is con- 
cerned, the newcomers will be about 3 5 raters. The timbers 
are all steam bent, the lower planking is of pitch pine, and 
the top sides yellow pine. They will be named after the feath- 
ered tribes, and have already been drawn for by the owners. 
The names chosen are as follows; Hoopoe, Wimbrel, Feltie, 
Halcyone, Tern, Flamingo and Merle. The hulls will be 
painted dilferent colors with one exception, and in this case 
the top sides will be kept bright. There could not possiWy 
be any choice in the boats, as all have been built off the same 
moulds, and if there should be any difference in their sailing 
capabilities it will undoubtedly be attributable to training 
or seamanship. The first cruise is expected to take place 
early in May, and the result will be watched with much in- 
terest. Mr. Hilditch has just received an order for, and ia 
about to enter on, the building of another boat of exactly 
similar design for Mr. Lee Hill, of Londonderry. Although 
this boat is intended for the Foyle. it is quite possible that 
she may turn up at some of the Belfast Lough regattas dur- 
ing the coming season. In addition to the above, Mr. Hil- 
ditch has on hand a steam yacht built to the order of Mr. A. 
J. A. Lepper, J. P., Carrick'fergus. This yacht is now almost 
ready, and only awaits the engines, which are being con- 
structed in the Isle of Wight. The length of the yacht is 
66ft. over all, with a waterline of 48ft. She was designed by 
Mr. Dixon Kemp, and will be schooner-rigged. Never be- 
fore was the yacht building and yacht repairing industry so 
brisk at Carrickfergus, and as a couRequencea large number 
of hands are being employed. The result of the winter's la- 
bor promises to add to Mr. Hilditch's well-known reputation 
as a builder. 
Loss of the San Francisco Club's House. 
San Fkancisco, April 5. — A great calamity was the burn- 
ing of the handsome club house of the San Francisco Y. C. 
a few days since, with heavy loss to the club and individual 
members. It was a clean sweep of the building, burning 
down to the water's edge the foundation piles, on which it 
stood over the water, and which were the mo.st expensive 
portion of the structure. Fortunately most of the hand- 
some rowboats and canoes were .«aved, but the contents of 
the reception room, with its valuable paintings, piano and a 
beautiful model, some 10ft. long, fully rigged, of a cutter, 
valued at $500, were lost, and the undersigned lost some 
forty odd models of famous Eastern and local yachts. The 
club also lost a handsome silver pitcher presented by Com. 
Ashbury as a prize, and a portrait of himself and models of 
the Cambria and Livonia. 
As there was very little insurance on the house and con- 
tents, and most of the members are young men on salaries, 
I do not see how we are going to be able to rebuild. There 
is some talk about consolidating with the Pacifies, but there 
is some antagonism of long years' .standing resulting in the 
switching off of sundry members that organized the Pacific 
Club. 
Then there is the Corinthian Club, composed of youngsters 
that term us old fogies and say they do not want us, as their 
rules do not admit of anything in size beyond the ability of 
Corinthians to handle, and some of the San Francisco Club's 
yachts are large schooners. So we are wonders on the face 
of, not the earth, but the waters, and know not where to lay 
our heads. Podgers. 
Tbe Cruise of the Energy. 
Stottville, N. Y., April 7.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
Having read with great interest Lieut. Meigs' letters de- 
scribing passage of smacks Enerery and Relief from New Lon- 
don to Valparaiso in 1832, published in FoEEST AND Stream 
of 3d inst , I believe that I can give a little information as 
to result of this fishing venture. 
Some years ago my boatman at New London told me the 
story of this voyage, and said that the smacks went out to 
introduce Yankee ways of fishing on the coast of Chili. The 
venture promised to be successful until the Chilian Govern- 
ment imposed duties, which stopped the business. The 
smacks afterward returned to New London. It is said that 
when the Energy went into the harbor of Valparaiso, the 
flagship to which Lieut. Meigs was ordered was laying at 
anchor off the city. Capt Eldridge luffed the smack up 
alongside the ship, as he would have gone to his wharf at 
New London. The admiral happening to be on deck came 
to the gangway, and looking down upon the Energy's deck 
remarked, "You fellows will be coming round the Horn on 
a toothpick nextl" Probably the frigate could have taken 
the smack on deck about as easily as she handled her own 
launch. I have always supposed this thing to have been an 
old sailor's yarn, but it certainly fits the letters which you 
published. 
Possibly the New London library has a full account of this 
venture, and certainly the files of local papers could tell us 
all about the ves.sels. A, C. Stott. 
A Liarge Schooner. 
The announcement is made this week of a new cruising 
schooner nearly as large as Yampa, to be designed by A. S. 
Chesebrough and built by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. 
(who built Yampa) for an Eastern yachtsman. The dimen- 
sions given are: 
Lengtii over all, 13Sft, 
UW.h,,r,. ,<lt'4ft, 
Beam.,.,..,,..,.- 'Mi. 
Craft.,.,..,,.!.. : .,, lUti, 6ia, 
Eastern Y. C. 
The Ha^tern Y. C. has for some years suffered even more 
than the New York clubs from the reaction of the 90ft. ex- 
trayagancCj and the best efforts of its race committees have 
failed to bring about anything more important than knock- 
about races. The fault has not been with either the club or 
the committee; both have labored in vain against the adverse 
conditions that have beset racing in the middle and largef 
classes, 'the new commodore, Henry W. Lamb, of the 
schooner Marguerite, ha<» for some time been interested in 
the subject of the revival of general racing, anfl under his 
leadership the club will this year make a new effort. Com. 
Lamb has already written to the New York Y. C. in regard 
to combined races of the two clubs ou the occasion of the 
New York cruise around the Cape. The Boston Globe speaks 
as follows of the plans of the race committee for the season: 
There is a fair prospect that the regatta committee of the 
Ea^'tern Y. C. will be successful in its efforts to promote rac- 
ing in the club, and that the coming R«ason will see com- 
petitions in something be.side the knockabout class. The 
response of yacht owners to the invitation of the committee 
to meet its meinbers at the second eeneral meetine of the 
club, last Tuesday evening, and to offer sugerestions for a re- 
vival of the racing interest formerly displayed, was very sat- 
isfactory, and seemed to show possibilities of sport which 
might not have been brought except by some such plan. 
As a result of the conference and of suggestions offered, 
the committee has decided to frive several handicap races for 
yachts enrolled in the club, in cruising trim, and to offer 
suitable prizes in the several clas.ses. The arranging of the 
handicaps will be a most ditficult matter, but if anything 
like a reasonable scheme can bethought out the plan has 
promises of sncness which make it well worth trying. The 
attempt will be made in any event, and although members 
will not envy the committee the task it has laid out for 
itself, still they will not withhold their approval or coopera- 
tion in whatever way may be deemed advisable. 
These handicap races will be entirely apart from whatever 
racing the committee may decide upon, in connection with 
the visit of the New York fleet, and yet they may furnish 
sufficient sport to make them the feature of the season. It 
is proposed to give three of these races, and the date for the 
first one will probably be Saturday, Julv 3. The committee 
realizes that handicap racing is not the ideal sport, but if it 
serves to bring out the boats and to awaken an interest that 
shal I lead to out-and-out racing in some one class, the com- 
mittee will feel that its labors have not been in vain. 
There will be two classes for schooners in the handicap 
races, the 'first for boats over 7.5ft. waterline, and the second 
for those of 75ft. waterline and under. In cutters there will 
be thre*' classes. The first class cutters, over 70ft. waterline, 
will be kept together for the first clas^'. while in the second 
class will be grouped the boats under 70 and over 35ft. water- 
line. The third class will be for boats of not over 35ft, 
waterline. It is proposed to start the boats in divisions, the 
slowest starting first, so that if the handicaps are fortunately 
arranged the boats will finish somewhere near together, and 
thus be enabled to see what they have in comparison with 
the rest of the fleet. 
The committee's plans are not yet perfected, but the out- 
line as thus given seems capable of being completed with no 
small chance of a satisfactory result. The club's season 
will therefore be looked forward to with more than ordinary 
interest. 
Amateur Builders. 
Boys who are fond of tools, carpenter's work and building 
boats, from a "cat" of a few inches to a "Defender" of 2ft. or 
more in lenerth, will be interested to know of the Criterion 
Y. C, a flourishing boys' club, which holds its meetings at 
1711 Park avenue. 
The C. Y. C. was organized in October last with five boys, 
but now numbers fourteen enthusiastic members from nine 
to fourteen years of age. The boys meet every afternoon by 
threes or fours to learn carpentry and boat building and to 
some extent, recently, wood carving. 
They make at the club the many useful and ornamental 
things boys can make of wood, after some instruction in the 
use of tools, nature of materials, etc. Their proceedings are 
guided by rules and discipline largely of their own devising. 
Each member is led to feel his responsibility, with the result 
of developing manly self-reliance and self-control. The 
educational value of the club's work is therefore very de- 
cided. 
Members are obligated to do work and race boats against 
any like organization in Baltimore. They have a library of 
books for boys, with monthly dues to meet expenses and pro- 
vide various adjuncts of sport, exercise, etc. There is a 
librarian and treasurer, with the usual oflicers and commit- 
tees of an organized club. 
It is the object of the Commodore to practice eye, hand, 
taste and judgment, and carefully help each member in his 
special bent or talent Training of this nature can but be 
helpful in after life in any business or profession, manual 
training being always useful. 
The first term of the class will close about June 1 with an 
exhibition of work done by the boys. It is the intention of 
the Commodore to take up work again in the autumn, with 
a competent assistant if necessary. 
A fleet of boats built by the boys will be launched early in 
the summer, and the members of the club will compete for 
prizes. The officers are: Board of Governors — Wm. W. Am- 
men, Robertson Griswold, Owen Palmer, Effingham Wagner, 
Henry Hough; Treasurer, R. Griswold, wir.h Eff. Wagner 
assistant; Librarian, Eff. Wagner, and W. E. Morton assist- 
ant; Secretary, Owen Palmer, and Harry Hough assistant; 
Commodore, W. E. Morton, and Eff. Wagner assistant. The 
members are: Wm. W. Ammen. R. Griswold, Eff. Wagner. 
Edgar Wagner, John Owen, Marshall Chew, Samuel C. 
Chew, Jr., Thos. O wings, Owen Palmer, Rufns Goodwin, 
.Tos. dishing, Edward Birmingham, Harry Hough, Ralph 
Hill. — Baltimore Sun. 
Alcedo II. 
The new yacht Alcedo II , designed by A. S. Chesebrough 
for George Washington Childs Drexel, was successfully 
launched by the Harlan & Hollingsworth Co. at their yards, 
Wilmington, on April 10. Her dimensions are; 
Length over all 185ft. 
L.W.L 154ft. 
Beam .... 24ft. 2in. 
Depth of hold 15ft. Sin. 
Draft. lift. Sin. 
Freeboard, least 10ft. Bin. 
The hull is of steel, built to Lloyd's requirements; she is 
schooner rigged and the engines are 14)'3, 24 and 37x22in , 
the wheel being 7ft. 6in. in diameter, with a pitch of 10ft. 
Three Almy boilers are carried. 
The Society of Naval Architects. 1896. 
The fourth annual volume of the "Transactions of the 
Society of Naval Architects" has just been published by the 
secretary, Naval Constructor Francis T. Bowles, containing 
the records of the Society's business for the year 1896, and 
also the twelve papers read at the annual meeting last No- 
vember. The Society is now in a flourishing condition, with 
a lilt of 535 members, and a balance of $6,000 on hand. The 
papers, which are all of high technical value, are accom- 
panied by tbe etenogrftpbic reports of the diaousBioua ond by 
oiauy Iftrge plates. The membereblp list iocludw » nuffibssi" 
ot w«U-}iaowo yacbtsmeo, and tber§ U xo9m for m9V%, 
