214 
FORESl AND STREAM. 
[March 12, 1898. 
back to us through the brush: "that's his tree-bark, 
sure." 
We found the irrepressible Tan "barking up" a big 
hemlock that stood by itself among a dense undergrowth 
(if briers and swamp maple. He had chewed up all the 
small bushes around the tree, .and commenced on the 
tree itself when we got there, and was makiiig more noise 
than a brass band. 
We set to work with a hatehet and cleared a spot for 
Mr. Coon to fall in, and just as' the "heavy contingent" 
came puffing and blowing up the hill Burdette buckled 
on his revolver and clitnbers, and went up the tree like 
a telephone man. After he disappeared among the 
branches there ensued a seemingly long period of sus- 
pense, during which Tan continued to bark (and chew 
bark) in a manner that was surprising even to old coon 
hunters. 
Suddenly, from somewhere above us-, came the sound 
of an explosion, which, although somewhat sulphurous, 
could not be ascribed to the burning of gunpowder, and 
a rustling as if the climber was hastily descenumg, 
"What's the matter up there?" sang out the Fat Man. 
The answer came back through Burdette's clenched 
teeth: 
"It's a gol-blasted hedgehog!" H. B. Swett. 
Elkjns, N H. 
POINTS AND FLUSHES. 
A few words dropped out of a line, in the report of the 
Manitoba Field Trials Club, published in our last week's 
issue, made it appear that his Honor Charles Patterson 
judged the club's trials last fall. Mr. Thos. Johnson was 
the judge, and the club tendered him a vote of thanks 
for his services, which he rendered gratuitously. 
Mr. George W. Richards, well known as a successful 
field trial handler, had an operation performed for ap- 
pendicitis, in St. Paul, Minn., where he went after the 
trials were concluded at New Albany, Miss. He desires 
it known that he is engaged to train for the Verona 
Kennels for one year. 
The report of Mr. ^milius Jar vis to the Council of 
the North American Y. R. U., which we publish this 
week, gives in detail the story of his visit to England, 
as already recounted in brief. The report shows in the 
first place that, contrary to the brief accoimts first cabled, 
Mr. Jarvis met with a most cordial reception, and that 
his mission was accepted in the same spirit in which it 
was planned on this side^ — as a means in bringing closer 
together the yachting organizations of the two great 
yachting nations. As to immediate results, Mr. Jarvis, 
unlike most American yachtsmen who visit the other 
side, knew exactly what he wanted to see and to learn, 
and apparently made the most of the opportunities so 
.generously afforded to him hy the Council and the de- 
signers. He has brought back with him much more 
valuable and reliable information as to the actual work- 
ing of the; present Y. R. A. than has thus far been cur- 
rent in this country. 
On this point, of the beneficial results of the rule, the 
evidence of owners and designers is apparently imani- 
mous, and it is strengthened by the indisputable proof 
of the sections of successful yachts of last year and of 
new ones planned under the rule for the coming season. 
The time intervening between the giving out of the re- 
port and our press day was too short to admit of the 
reproduction of the diagrams, but we shall pub]i.sh them 
next week. 
The North Amefkan Yacht Racings Umon, 
Toronto, Feb. 21, 1898. — To the Chairman and Coun- 
cil of the North American Yacht Racing Union.^ — 
Gentlemen: At a meeting of your Council, held in the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, on Oct. 30, 1897, Mr. J. 
M. Macdonough and the writer were appointed a com- 
mittee whose duties may be briefly expressed as fol- 
lows: 
(1) To confer with the Yacht Racing Association of 
Great Britain upon the best means of bringing about 
uniformity of measurement rules upon both sides of the 
Atlantic. 
(2) To obtain definite and authentic information as 
to the working of the present Y. R. A. rule, namely: 
Length -|- Beam -}- Jo Girth -I- .5 Sail Area 
Lineal Rating, 
and (,3) To discuss the feasibility of regulating scant- 
ling. On behalf of the committee I now submit a report: 
We arrived in London on Nov. lo last, and immedi- 
ately placed ourselves in communication M'ith the secre- 
tary of the Y. R. A., Mr. Dixon Kemp. Owing, how- 
ever, to his illness, a considerable delay took place, and 
before any discussion could be had with the representa- 
tives of the Y. R. A. respecting the object of our visit 
Mr. Macdonough was obliged to leave London, and I 
was left to confer with them alone, and to gather the 
necessary information. The results of these conferences 
and inquiries I have now the honor to lay before you. 
Owing to the delay above alluded to there was no 
opportunity afforded me for any preliminary discussion 
with the officers of the Y. R. A., and consequently when 
the general meeting of the Association was held (at the 
Langham Hotel, on Dec. 2) I found that they were quite 
unprepared to deal with the matters which I had to lay 
before them, or even to discuss them except in the most 
general way, and I found it impossible then to bring 
about an intelligent discussion of the objects of our 
visit. 
I had, however, opportunities subsequently for discus- 
sion of these with several members of the Y. R. A., 
who became Avarmly interested therein, and a second 
meeting was called which I was unforturiately .unable to 
attend. 
The chairman, Sir George Leach, however, most 
courteously called a special meeting of the Council, 
S ^hich I met a few of its most active members. 
As the result of this and other conferences I received 
an official communication from the Y. R. A. (which is 
appended), firstly, expressing their appreciation of your 
action in appointing a committee to confer with them 
on subjects of such importance to yachtsmen on both 
sides of the Atlantic; secondly, an,swering certain spe- 
cific questions put by me; and thirdly, suggesting a plan 
of co-operation for the future. 
From the members of the Council whom 1 then had 
the pleasure of meeting T learned that the present rule 
has checked the tendency to shoal-bodied boats; that 
it is satisfactory "to the majority of yacht owners; and 
that it would be impracticable, even if desirable, to 
make any alteration at the present time. These views 
were confirmed by other yachtsmen whom I met, mem- 
bers of the Y. R. A. and otherwise, including all the 
naAfal architects hereafter mentioned. The consensus of 
opinion is that the rule is producing what was intended, 
namely, a fuller-bodied boat, also that it does not en- 
courage in too marked a degree any particular form, as 
every form of racing 3^acht may win in its particular 
weather. This is shown by the following notes on the 
prize records' in the most keenly contested classes: 
In the larger class Bona was the most successful. She 
is a vessel with a full under-water body. Aurora is also 
a vessel of full body. She was late in coming out, but 
after some alterations had a fair measure of success. 
In the 65ft. class there was no racing yacht built last 
season under the present rule, and Isolde still heads 
the list of winners. The racing in this class therefore 
affords insufficient data for comparison. 
In the 52ft. class Penitent and Morning Star were 
the most successful. Both are vessels with full sections. 
In the 36ft. class the first prizes were very evenly 
distributed— Emerald with 16 firsts, Westra 12 firsts, 
Hermes 11 firsts, Forella 9 firsts, and Heartease 8 firsts. 
These craft are by different designers, and vary from ex- 
ceedingly hollow to full sections. 
A similar experience is met with in the 30ft. class, where 
the first prizes were also fairly divided between three or 
four, viz., Carol. Gwendoline and Lora. They are also 
craft varying in form of midship sections. 
I have now to speak of another most important and 
niost interesting part of my vi.sit. 
Through the introduction of individual members of 
the Y. R. A. I was most courteously received by the 
various naval architects, who afforded me every oppor- 
tunity of studying their designs and many of the craft 
themselves; and as they were in winter quarters it was 
a most opportune time for the latter. 
"I first visited Mr. Linton Hope at Greenhithe, where 
I saw many of the small craft which he has made such 
a success of, and a design from which he is building for 
the 52ft. class. He gave me a tracing of the midship 
section of this craft, together with one of a successful 
24-footer. 
I next visited Mr. G. L. Watson in Glasgow, who 
furnished me with a similar tracing of one of his most 
successful craft of the past season, together with a tracing 
of a design from which he is building a 6s-footer, also 
section of a fast cruiser. 
I next visited Mr. William Fife, Jr., at Fairlie, on the 
Firth of Clyde. He gave me tracings of his most suc- 
cessful craft in the 52ft. and 36ft. classes, and showed trie 
designs of a 65-footer building. 
I next visited Gosport and went over the yards there. 
Mr. C. E. Nicholson, of Camper & Nicholson, gave a 
similar tracing of his most successful 30-footer. While 
in Gosport I was the guest of Mr. R. E. Froude, of 
the Royal Naval Experimental Works and a prominent 
member of the Y. R. A.; he took great interest in the 
matter and gave me mtich practical and technical in- 
formation. As he is a man of world-wide reputation, 
I have no doubt that his suggestions will greatly inter- 
est you, and I inclose with the correspondence a copy 
of a letter received from him, together with one from 
Mr. G. L. Watson. 
From Gosport I went to Southampton, and there 
went over the yards of Messrs. Fay & Co., Summers & 
Payne, and White. At these yards many of the famous 
racing yachts were in winter quarters, and I had an ex- 
cellent opportunity of comparing side by side the produc- 
tions under the length and sail area nde with those of 
the present rule which takes girth as a factor. Mr. 
Soper, of Fay & Co., gave me a tracing of one of his 
large craft which has had a fair measure of success. At 
Summers & Payne's, side by side, are the 52-footers 
Niagara, Audrey and Penitent. This afforded an excel- 
lent opportunity of comparing the three. 
Penitent, as you are aware, has been the most success- 
ful in the 52ft. class, and is a boat of full section giving 
excellent living accommodations for a boat of her size. 
Here also was a craft built some years ago under th« 
length and sail area rule; for a time she was outclassed 
by the shoaler-bodied boats, but under the new rule has 
been again raced with success. Mr. Payne furnished me 
with tracings of the midship sections of four of his most 
successful craft, and it is to be noted that the cross sec- 
tions vary very considerably in style. 
I cannot express too strongly my appreciation of the 
kindness and courtesy shown me by these various design- 
ers. Their willingness to impart information, and the 
unselfish way in which they permitted me to examine 
their drawings and models, indicated their warm interest 
in the object of my mission. 
As to the third section of our instructions, namely, a 
discussion of the practicability of adopting a limit for 
scantling, I found that nothing could at present be ac- 
complished in this direction. 
As to the third section of our instructions, namely, a 
discussion of the practicability of adopting a limit for 
scantHng I found that nothing could at present be accom- 
plished in this direction. 
I much regret that owing to Mr. Macdon,OUgh's una- 
voidable absence from England I had not the benefit of 
his co-operation in the discussions that were held and the 
inquiries that were made, and as he is still absent in 
Europe I cannot submit this report for his approval. I 
append, however, a copy of a letter which I have re- 
ceived from him since my return, in which his views are 
expressed. 
I send you herewith, on sheets numbered i to 15, cop- 
ies of the tracings of midship sections given to me, re- 
ferred to above. On sheet No. i I have indicated 
the mode of measuring girth. I am, dear sirs, yours 
.faitWully, 
(Signed). ^milius Jarvis. 
(Copy.) 
To Sir George A. Leach, K. C. B., South Kensington, 
Chairman Y. R. A, 
London, Jan. 7, 1898. — My dear Sir: In your note of 
Dec. 2 last you expressed a wish to be advised as to my 
movements; therefore I write to say that business calls 
me to Scotland on Monday next, where I shall be for 
at least a week. 
From your note and from a conversation recetltly had 
with Mr. Newton-Robinson I gather there has been a 
misconception of the object of our visit. Mr. Mac- 
donough and myself were appointed a committee by the 
Council of the North American Yacht Racing Union lo 
confer with your body upon the measurement rule ques- 
tion and other subjects of interest to yachtsmen, and to 
obtain authentic and practical information as to the 
working of your rule — if it was satisfactory on the whole 
to yacht owners — an-d what type it was producing. I 
might say we had an impression it was not altogether 
popular, which impression no doubt arose from the re- 
cent proposed change. 
Nothing in our instructions gave us power to bind our 
Union; therefoi-e it was not expected to commits yours, 
but merely bring about a state of affairs that should in 
the future prove beneficial to both bodies, it being evi- 
dent both are striving to bring about the same result. 
Trusting to have the pleasure of meeting you again 
before my return to Canada, believe me to be, yours 
faithfully, 
(Signed) iEMlLlus Jarvis. 
(Copy.) 
6 Wetherby Gardens, South Kensington, Jan. 6, 1898 
(crossing my letter of 7th). — Dear Mr. Jarvis: We are 
rather at sixes and sevens in the Y. R. A. matters in 
consequence of the resignation of our secretary. I sent 
your note to Mr. Lake, who is acting pro tem., and he 
was to call a meeting between the dates you named, Jan. 
3 and 8; but as I have no notice from him, it seems 
probable he has forgotten among other pressing busi- 
ness—for he is a very busy man — to do so. 
If you will send me a wire when you receive this J 
will get a few of the members to meet you on Saturday 
afternoon or Monday afternoon, if that will be con- 
venient to you. Please give me your address in town, 
so that I may comfflunicate with you there, instead of 
through the Montreal Bajik, as this will probably save 
time. Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) G. A. Leach. 
(Copy.) 
6 Wetherby Gardens, South Kensington, Jan. 7, 1898. — 
Dear Mr. Jarvis: I have called a meeting at the Royal 
London Yacht Club, 2 Saville row, West, at 2:30 to- 
morrow afternoon, in response to your telegram. I 
hope this will suit you. I have not yet received your 
letter. Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) G. A. Leach, 
(Copy.) 
Yacht Racing Association, 2 Haarlem Mansions, West 
Kensington, W., Jan. 22, 1898. — To ^milius Jarvis, Es^., 
care of Bank of Montreal, 22 Abchurch lane, London. — 
Dear Sir: The Council of the Yacht Racing Associa- 
tion desires me to express to you the sincere satisfac- 
tion with which it welcomes the action of the North 
American Yacht Racing Association in deputing your- 
self and Mr. Macdonough to confer as to the possibility 
of bringing the British and American rules of yacht 
measurement in approximation, so that the yachts of 
either country may compete in the other without serious 
disadvantage. 
The Council is conscious of the very great difficulty 
which would be e:5tperienced in any attempt to agree 
upon one and the same rule for both countries, and if 
such' agreement were attained it is of opinion that differ- 
ences of climate would cause the evolution of rather di- 
verging types of yachts on the opposite side of the At- 
lantic. 
At the same time the Council, understanding that the 
general desire of American yachtsmen, like that of our 
own, is for a rule which will produce wholesome and 
roomy sea boats, feels confident: that your Association 
will be able to assimilate British and American racing 
yachts in type by adopting some formula conceived upon 
sitnilar lines to our own, yet with such variations as the 
conditions of the American climate and racing courses 
may render necessary. 
In reply to the particular questions which you have 
addressed to the Council, I am to say that the measure- 
ment rule 
L. -I- B. -I- .T6 G. -f .5 V'sTa. t • , t. 
' -■ — — — ^Lineal Rating, 
which has now been in operation in British waters for 
two seasons, appears to give general satisfaction at pres- 
ent. 
It was adopted in order to correct the tendency of the 
former rule 
L. X S. A. 
6,000 
to produce yachts of very small displacement and sail 
area relatively to their hull dimensions. 
The operation of the new formula h^a^s been decidedly 
such as was expected by its framer. 
In conclusion, the Council hopes that after your As- 
sociation has thoroughly tested whatever rule it may 
finally adopt, another opportunity may be afforded for 
a conference between the representatives of the two 
organizations, with a view to harmonizing such changes 
I in the respective formulae as may ultimately appear to 
be desirable. I am, dear sir, your obedient servant, 
Sigrned B, Hs^KiTALL Smith, Sec'y- 
