may be increased by^in. The draft shall not exceed llln. 
There shall be no limit to the weight or drop of the center- 
board, but when hauled up it tnust not project below the keel. 
A canoe without a centerboard may carry a keel Sin. deep out- 
side of the garboards and weighing not more than 361bs. ; a 
centerboard canoe may carry a keel not exceeding l%in. The 
keel-band shall not exceed j^in. in thickness, and shall be in- 
cluded in the measurement of depth of keel. Lee-boards 
may be carried by a canoe not having a centerboard. Open 
canoes may carry no rudder and no seat projecting beyond 
the gunwales. The sail area shall be limited to 130sq. ft. 
in decked canoes and 40sq. ft. in open canoes. 
Cruising Class. 
To be eligible to the "Cruising Canoe" class, a canoe shall 
comply with the above limitations, and in addition shall be 
fitted with a well not less than 16in. wide for a length of 3ft. 
6in.; with a sleeping space of 6ft., of which at least 5ft. shall 
be clear; and the sails shall be fitted to lower and furl. The 
regatta committee shall have power to rule out any canoe 
which, in their opinion, does not conform to the spirit of 
these restrictions. 
Paddling. 
To be eligible to the paddling races, canoes must be within 
the following limits: 
One and Two Men (Single and Tandem)— Maximum length, 
16ft.; minimumbeam,30in.; minimum depth, Ilia ; minimum 
weight, 501bs. A deficiency of weight to an amount not ex- 
ceeding 51bs. may be made up by ballast. 
Four Men— Maximum length, 20Et. ; minimum beam, 30in,;- 
minimum depth, 12iQ.; minimum weight, 701bs. 
War Canoes— Maximum length, 30ft.; minimum beam, 
36in.; minimum depth, 17in.; minimum weight, 1201b3 ; maxi- 
mum crew, 9 men. 
These lirhits shall not apply to war canoes built prior to 
Got. 1, 1897. 
The following amendment to the constitution, offered by 
Mr. Douglas and seconded by Mr. Stephens, was unanimously 
adopted: Article VI., Section 4— Board of Governors. — Each 
Division, in its proper turn at its annual meeting, shall elect, 
in the same manner as its regular officers, one member of 
that Division to serve on the board of governors of the Asso- 
ciation for a term of four years, or until his successor is 
elected. The Commodore shall be a member ex officio. Also" 
to insert in Section 5, same article, after "Board of Gover- 
nors," the words "to have general control of the funds and 
finances of the Association." This amendment is merely 
clerical; the original amendment provided for the future es- 
tablishment of a board of governors, the order of retiriag for 
the first four years, etc. The new amendment provides for 
the perpetuation of the board by the election of a member 
each year. 
The question of the date of the meet had been deferred 
until a calendar for 1898 could be obtained. It was now 
taken up, and after discussion Vice-Corn. Hale moved that 
the meet of 1898 should begin on Friday, Aug. 5. and close on 
Friday, Aug. 19. It was finally decided that this date should 
stand unless a change should be recommended by the com- 
modore. 
Purser Burrage asked for definite instructions as to the 
sending of names of candidates for membership to the 
official organs, and it was decided that the names and 
official notices should be sent as usual to the Forest and 
Stream and also to Recreation. On motion of Mr. Douglas, 
seconded by Purser Burrage, the meeting adjourned subject 
to the call of the Commodore. 
During the day the board of governors was in session. 
There were present at times during the meeting Messrs. 
Palmer, Hand, Hogan, Smythe, McVean, Thorne, Lansing, 
Dater, Quick, Shields, Dorland, Moser, Lawson. 
The very full attendance on the part of the officers and 
representatives was gratifying and encouraging, showing a 
continued interest ia the affairs of the Association. The 
business of the meeting was carried out successfully and all 
the work presented to the meeting was completed. As 
usual, the amendment of the racing rules was the most im- 
portant and complicated part of the work; and, also as 
usual, there was a failure to present all the proposals in 
final working shape, and on the part of some members to 
familiarize themselves with the numerous points involved. 
There were, in consequence, delays and hitches while simple 
points were being explained or argued over; but in the end 
a, very satiafactory result was attained. The only radical 
i 6 7 i 4' '4 II a 
A STUDY m CATBOATS. H. K. WiOKSTBBn, 1897. 
change is the barring of racing shells in the trophy pad- 
dling race, and this was done by a majority vote after thor- 
ough discussion both at the meeting and on other occasions. 
Apart from this, the rules are practically the same in effect 
as before; but ai concerns the paddling races, they are on a 
more definite and satisfactory basis. In the evening the 
visiting canoeists were entertained at dinner at the Crescent 
Athletic Club, in Brooklyn, about fifty canoeists being 
present. 
The Proposed Membership Competition. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The Commodore and Secretary-Treasurer of the A. C. A., 
after reconsidering their offer of a prize for a membership 
competition, as published, have decided to withdraw it. 
In explanation of the above, it is only necessary to say that 
a number of the old members of the A. C. A. have expressed 
their disapproval of the competition; so they have decided to 
withdraw their offer. 
They trust this will not prevent all members of the _A. C. 
A. from trying to Induce all good canoeists and those inter- 
ested in canoeing to join the A. C. A. 
Frank L. Bunnell, Commodore. 
C. V. Schuyler, Sec'y-Treas. 
A. C. A. Membership. 
Applications for membership n^ay be made to the purser 
of the division in which the applicant resides on blanks fur- 
nished by purser, the applicant becoming a member provided 
no objection be made within fourteen days after his name 
has been officially published in the Forest and Stream, 
northern division. 
Name. Residence. Club. 
John Harmer. Toronto , Toronto. 
Geo. "Walter Begg Toronto Toronto. 
Richard J. Plaskett Toronto Toronto. 
A Handy Catboat. 
CoBOURG, Oct. 7.— Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
never been in love with any of the genus felix, but the gen- 
eral interest in catboats has led me to my first attempt at a 
catboat design. The result seems to me at least symmet- 
rical, and the modern overhanging bow serves to mitigate 
the innate cussedness of the type and gives a chance to 
brace the step and partners and to set a forestay; the latter 
would probably be further improved by a strut near the 
jaws of the gaff. The dimensions are: 
Length over all , 23ft. 
L.W.L 16ft.- 
Beam 7ft. 
Draft If t. 
Freeboard 1ft. 
Displacement 2,1941bs. 
Sail area 3369q. ft. 
H. K. Wicksteed. 
[This little boat is very well adapted to the requirements 
of amateur builders. The construction of small craft of this 
class is very fully described in "Supplement to Small 
yachts."^ 
15 It 13 16 - iV ft 
"Fast Cruisers." 
It is evident that the proposed new yachts of 25ft. l.w.L, 
under general restrictions, will meet the conventional "long- 
felt want;" and the type is likely to be very popular next 
year. While the Sound yachtsmen are planning such a 
class, as mentioned last week, a similar movement has been 
talked of for some time past in Boston, and is now taking 
definite shape in a proposal that the Knockabout Associa- 
tion should formally establish such a class. The following 
conditions have been suggested, and seem to meet the case 
very well. They are by no means beyond improvement; in 
fact some material changes can be made with advantage; 
but as a definite proposition giving the necessary basis for 
discussion and improvement, they are comprehensive in 
scope and in a general way correct in detail. The limits of 
space do not permit of a detailed discussion this week, but 
we hope to go over the proposal later on. We shall be glad 
to have any comments from both Boston and New York 
yachtsmen who are interested in the proposed class. 
Proposed rules and restrictions governing special 25ft, 
cruising knockabout class: 
Definition. — The boats of this class are intended to be com- 
fortable cruising vessels, of good accommodation and moder- 
ate sail area, the aim being to encourage racrfng in a sea- 
worthy type of boat of moderate cost. 
Length L.W.L. — The length on the l.w.l. not to exceed 
25ft.j to be measured with all fixtures and equipments, as 
specified, on board and in position, but without crew. 
Beam L.W.L.— The greatest beam at l.w.l. to be not less 
than 8ft. nor more than 10ft. The measurer to mark the 
position of this point, by a small copper nail or other mark, 
3in. above l.w.l. 
Freeboard. — The freeboard not to be less than 26in. at 
lowest point. 
