16 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
the next camp is most promising in many ways, and.thex-e 
is a revival of interest in many of the clubs that have 
long been inactive. In our opinion, if anything is to be 
done to. utilize these favorable conditions to the perma- 
nent revival of the sport, it must be through the introduc- 
tion of some one type of decked sailing canoe which 
shall appeal as forcibly to the majority of canoeists as 
the old Rob Roy did in the sixties, the Nautilus in the 
seventies and the new American models in the eighties. 
The question is one which concerns all canoeists, and we 
shall be glad to hear from them by way of discussion and 
suggestion. There should still be sufficient technical 
skill among canoeists to produce the right craft if some 
unanimous decision can only be reached as to what its 
characteristics shall be. 
Canoe Spars and Sails. 
Up to one week ago canoe sailing was still going on, 
but the present state of weather is not exactly inviting 
for any form of sailing in boats, and is not sufficiently 
hard to give opportunity for ice boat sailing. On the 
other hand we hear from many quarters that the of? 
time of sailing is being utilized by most of those who 
intend racing in 1900 in the careful overhauling of sails, 
spars and rigging. 
For those who Icnow how to rig and fit their own gear, 
such an overhaul of rigging and sails during spare even- 
ings at home in the winter is a useful and most entertain- 
ing employment. If carefully and correctly done, such 
work is far more reliable and lasting than is the same 
work hurriedly executed by professionals when fitting-out 
oi'ders are given in the spring; indeed, in many cases we 
cotild name, even quick work performed by some of the 
leading amateur canoe sailors is far more true and stylish 
than is the work of the professional rigger. The differ- 
ence probably is to be found in the fact that the former is 
working for his own property, his own success, and at 
his own expense in case of failure, whereas the latter is 
doing so much piece or hour work for wages, and his only 
care is to make it passable at the least cost to his boat- 
building employer. 
We have repeatedly heard and read criticisms of new 
craft condemning the rigging and fitting as "over done," 
"unnecessarily fine," "too complex in the way of knots 
and splices," and a lot more nonsense; but, in fact, it 
will generally be found that the man who takes the trouble 
to embellish his rigging work with Turkshead knots and 
other fancy work, which takes time, has also given ample 
time to the real solid Avork of the rigging, in the seizings, 
splices and grommets, and to the careful dressing or 
varnishing of all seizings, whippings and other parts 
which are liable to rot from wetting or to be chafed. On 
the other hand, it is pretty safe to say that an inspection 
of the critic's own craft Avill disclose a ragged, played- 
out and poor set of strings at every point in bad want of 
a re-fitout. 
As to the spars, there is no more dangerous time in their 
jives than the dam.p winter rest, stowed away in a boat 
house roof. Bamboo spars are more liable to suffer than 
pine or spruce solid spars ; but each and all are in danger 
of splitting or kinking, especially so in the case of built 
spars, if glued up instead of screw built. 
With such convenient lengths as are found in canoe 
spars, there is no excuse for leaving them in damp 
boat houses ; the spars can be stacked in a room corner on 
end, and the sails and rigging in drawers or boxes. In 
this way each item of rigging can be overhauled, mended, 
improved, and set in order for the coming year, just as 
convenient spare time offers. 
Sails will undoubtedly receive more careful attention as 
to quality and "sit" as the fleet of racing canoes in- 
creases. For ordinary pleasure sailing or for traveling the 
sit of the sail is of comparatively little moment; it 
does its pulling wdrk fairly well, and looks right enough 
if properly set up; but to coax a new sail out to its 
rating limit, and at the same time to maintain a proper 
sit, is a work of art only arrived at by long experience 
and much time. Such a work of art can be done in a 
house if there is a place Avith height and space enough, 
but it is far better done in the open, in sun and a light 
air, on the boat. 
yhe most difficult sails to bring into racing sit, and 
to keep there, are the light thin woA^en stuffs which are 
favored on account of their saAdng of Aveight. Messrs. 
Jackson, of NorthAvich, when making a new suit of sails 
for the Nautilus last season, advised a very stout build 
of union silk. The result of a couple of months' trial 
was remarkable for the manner in which the sail took its 
proper place and stood with only one batten instead of 
the usual three, and often four, placed in the bafter sail. 
The ncAV sail, in stuff, Avas nearly 2lbs. heavier than a 
similar sized sail of the usual light stuff; but the two 
cross battens, Avith their brass jaAvs, which are left out, 
would be nearly 61bs. This sail has a solid spruce boom 
and head yard, and a spruce reef batten, with brass jaAVS 
to each; a complete hauling doAvn reef gear, Avith six 
blocks; three mainsheet blocks, Avith steel wire strops 
on the boom; metal slings to the yard and steel wire 
spans; its total Aveight is 24lbs. This AA^eight Avas tested 
against two similar sized bafter mainsails of much lighter 
stuff, and which Avere fitted to bamboo spars; their weights 
were 20}^ and 22lbs. So, after all, the saving gained in 
tlie weaker rig is but some 3lbs. on a total displacement 
weight of over 50olbs. 
The test of a good sail versus a poor one is, however, 
mainly noticeable Avhen a change of circumstances occurs 
during a race. You start Avith reefs down in a hlov/, and 
then, the Avind falling light and reefs coming out, the 
difference of sit is seen between a Avell-built, stout sail 
with fcAv battens and a light stuff sail smothered in bat- 
tens. The stout sail rmy be someAvhat round, or CA^en 
baggy, but that has been vroved to be not even harmful 
if it comes in the right nlace — ^that is, near the luff and 
head, but not on the leech or foot. Another time of test 
is where during a race a heavy shower wets the sail com- 
pletely and then the sun comes out and dries it again. 
Weak substance and undressed roping will not stand 
this, and battens across the sail, if judiciously laced to 
stretch a dry sail, will have played havoc during the Avet, 
and will leaA^e a perch-fin look about the leech when the 
sail dries. 
The Nautihis' mainsail in each of her rigs is fitted to a 
wire jackstay, both on the boom and gaff, so that the 
sail can in a moment be slacked in if a wetting is ex- 
pected; so also the reef batten tension can be eased off. 
T]\e cle\y and peak lashing's are for this purpose fitted 
for a quick cliange travel, and are not seized as is com- 
monly done. The reef batten should never really stretch 
the sail; it is there merely for use in the one-part haul 
doAvn reef geaf, so it scarcely needs a leech lashing. A 
simple and very effective traveler for the clew at the boom 
end is made by having a ring-shaped shackle round the 
boom, which screw pins through the cIcav cringle. On the 
under side of the boom end insert about half a dozen 
small round-headed brass screws in a line about half an 
inch apart, and standing out about a quarter of an inch ; 
these form a ratchet on which the clew shackle catches. 
The size of the shackle should only give just room to 
shift over a screw head when the shackle is held perpen- 
dicular, and, of course, the sail itself >vill never hold it so, 
and, therefore, cannot shift the position of the cIcav by 
shaking. The same fitting Avill do well for the peak of the 
sail on the yard end. — ^W. Baden-Powell, in the Field. 
To A. C. A. Members. 
Gentlemen: ^One of the first difficulties that, con- 
fronted your officers for 1900 was the procuring of a 
paper or magazine to which members could subscribe with 
a certainty of securing a reasonable amount of canoe 
neAvs regularly at a small outlay by each member. .A.fter 
considering the varioits offers which we received, and 
bearing in mind our experience since the eighties Avith the 
Canoeist, Sail and Paddle, Recreation, Land and Water 
and others, Ave decided that the wisest course to take 
was to conclude an arrangement Avith the Forest and 
Stream Ptiblishing Company to issue the first number in 
each month as a special canoe number, Avhich Avill l)e sent 
out to ever}' member of the A. C. A. upon receipt of $1 
per year. In coming to this conclusion, Ave remen:hered 
that the FoitEST .\nd Stream has been an official organ of 
the A. C. A. since its inception twenty years ago, and 
during that time has been published regularly every 
Aveek. 
We felt that at $4 per year, very few members could 
take Forest and Stre.a.m for the canoeing news it con- 
tained, and our hope is that at the low rate Avhich we 
have secured, in consideration of the Forest and Stream 
being the only official organ, a large proportion of 
our members Avill see their Avay clear to send in their dol- 
lar and so give this arrangement a good fair trial. 
We ha\'e reached the conclusion that one of the very 
best ways of retaining in our membership old meiTjbers 
Avho cannot attend the meets is to supply them regularly 
with news pertaining thereto, and we trust that Ave will 
seciu-e your active support in our endeavors in this direc- 
tion. 
We Avould suggest that the secretaries of clubs and 
pursers of divisions, Avho are in closer touch Avith the 
members than others, would send any news items that may 
reach them to the Forest and Stream and so through 
it furnish the membership at large with a general idea of 
Avhat is going on in the canoeing world. 
Wishing each of you a Happy Ncav Year, and trusting 
that every member will do his little share tOAvard help- 
ing along the A. C. A. so that we can celebrate our 
twentieth anniversary in Muskoka Avith our Association 
on a better and sounder footing than it has ever been 
before, I am, yours sincerely, 
Will G. IMacKendrick, Com. 
Toronto, Dec 26. 
Editor Forest and Stream: ' 
If there was any necessity for my writing to the mem- 
bers of the A. C. A, I should probably be so busy as to 
be unable to do so; but the opportunity offers, and I 
will trespass on your space just a little to make a few 
suggestions regarding the running of our division, and 
more particularly general camps. 
In the fii'st place, then, it seems to me Ave are endeavor- 
ing, possibly because we can't help it or because it is 
best, to do aAvay as far as possible Avith any idea of camp- 
ing out save that Ave are permitted to sleep in a tent 
and spond most of our time out in the good pure air. 
Under the present tendency it seems to me Ave are get- 
ting nearer and' nearer to the Ocean Grove and Asbury 
Park idea, and while this is good in its Avay, at the same 
time there are some of us old fellows Avho like to feel 
that perhaps we could have a good time and get more real 
enjoyment out of the camp if Ave could get away a little 
more from the camp meeting idea and a little nearer to 
the camping out plan. The first thought in this line 
to me is the catering. I have no special objection to a 
big general mess, but I do Avant to register my "kick" 
against a compulsory general mess, which has been the 
practical Avay it has been Avorked. I am fully aAA'are that I 
shall hear at once the argument that "you must guarantee • 
so many before you can get any man to take the job of 
catering"; but fortunately I am in a position to know 
that in 1894, Avhen the commodore sent out Avord that 
there Avould be no general mess and every one was ex- 
pected to care for himself— and a large number did — 
that I did arrange for a mess Avbere those who did cope 
unprepared could get their meals. If a man is coming 
to camp and does not Avish to mess himself, let him send 
Avord ahead and arrangements can be made for him; and 
if he Avill not take the trouble to send word and he is 
inconvenienced thereby, he has no ground for objection. 
I am not opposed to the general mess for all Avho want 
it, but I am opposed to the officers sending out AVord 
and practicallv telling us we must go to the camp hotel 
"so as to help the caterer." Let every man feel free to 
come and cook for himself if he Avishes or go to the 
general mess. We have lost a number of good members 
because Ave discouraged the real camping idea. We got 
along all right in 1883 without a special general mess 
and had to make, I think, no guarantee in 1884, '85 or '86, 
and Ave never had more enjoyable camps than thosfe, 
although I in no Avay intend to deprecate our other most 
delightful camps, _ , , I- 
Again, cannot Ave get rid of the expensive and forttieil 
headquarters? Why cannot the commodore sleepln his 
own tent and haA^e headqitarters imder his cap, as in 
many other' years? The official headquarters should be a 
good-sized tent where the secretary-treasurer could have 
his desk, the postoffice and a table for writing on pro- 
vided Avith pen, ink and paper. This tent should not be 
too large, and should not be used for a circus or any- 
thing of the kind, except as above stated. Let the A'ice- 
commodores have any headquarters they choose. The 
regatta committee Avill not, whether they have a special 
tent or not, use any official tent, but will do their work 
■at their oAvn tents, and this is natural, ag they are more 
secluded and less likely for interruption. The prizes 
could be shown in the secretary's tent on the day or two 
before the completion of the races. 
The camp site committee should have its headquarters 
„at the dock or Avherever the supplies come in, and the 
necessary lumber, etc., should be stored there, 
which usually is outside of the social center of the camp. 
A tent for this committee in "Officer Roav," as we have 
had it, is useless and expensive, for some things Avere 
in the chairman's tent, some in headquarters tent, some 
at the lumber pile at the dock, some at the store and 
so on. I have been chairman of the camp site commit- 
tee in 1889- 1894, and on the committee in other years. 
The camp surgeon should have no tent at headquar- 
ters, for the reason that witli one exception none ever 
has used the tent, and it has been useless. Every sur- 
geons seems to prefer to stay at his OAvn camp except 
when actually needed, and then it frequently happens he 
must go to the patient's tent. 
Only under exceptional conditions is it possible to use 
a signal code, and that is Avhen we have a clear open 
camp. The signal pole at Grindstone was useless to 
those over the hill, and of no use to the great majority 
at Stave and Hay islands. 
This is not to discourage headquarters idea, for we 
Avant a rallying point, and none is better than the post- 
office or the main camp-fire. I believe the latter should 
burn every night, but it need not of necessity be so 
large on nights when entertainments are going on at 
private camps. 
Noav let me make a plea for the small individual or 
club camp-fire. To many Avho visit camp each year there 
is the necessity for rest. This is the one time in the 
year that is taken for recuperation, and as so many of 
us now are nerve workers some quiet is beneficial. 
There are but tAVO ways to enjoy the CA^ening — around 
the camp-fire or- drifting out on the Avater — unless Ave 
are permitted to have our small camp-fire. Around a 
moderate-sized fire Ave can carry on a conversation of 
the day's happenings or listen to a good story, or in 
some such manner pass the time, while if compelled to 
go to the general camp-fire no conversation is possible; 
and while the entertainment of songs, etc., is aHvays de- 
lightful, still the numbers and surroundings to some of 
us are filled Avith excitement. Let us haA^e both, and 
now that I have put in my little "kicks" let us hear from 
others, so that "in the multitude of counselors" we may 
find "Avisdom." 
• Robert J. Wilkin, A. C. A., 47, 
BROOKLra, N. Y. Dec. 29. 
Muskoka. 
Muskoka for 1900. Such is the watchword that our 
enthusiastic commodore is spreading. Those Avho knoAV 
Muskoka ask, Where? Which of the larger lakes — Mus- 
koka, with its black Avaters reflecting the minutest detail 
of the overhanging trees and rocks; Rosseau, more, 
varied and more picturpsqvte, AAdiose islands are Avell cov- 
ered Avith dense foliage, or Jospeh, the most distant and 
to many the most pleasing, Avith its clear blue waters and 
more gently sloping shores? 
With hundreds of miles to choose from, surely there 
should be no difficulty in selecting a suitable spot, aided 
by the advice of many residents of these attractive waters, 
each of whom knoAvs a spot that Avill fill the bill ahvays 
Avithin reach of his own domicile. But the attendants at 
the A. C- A. meets are experts in discoA'ering the disad- 
vantages of any location, and after Hay Island Avill be 
even more difficult to satisfy. 
The commodore determined he Avas going to locate 
the camp before Avinter closed in and practically hid Mus- 
koka with snow, so, accompanied by the secretary-treas- 
urer, arrayed in hunting costumes, with shotguns and 
pounds of cartridges, they started on Nov. jy to do the 
Muskoka waters with the staunch steamer Oriole, placed 
at their disposal for tAVO days by the Muskoka Naviga- 
tion Co. On the railroad they induced the Avriter to de- 
part from the path of business and join them as senior 
counsel. 
At Muskoka wharf Ave were delayed Avhile thirty-eight 
red deer Avere unloaded and tht incAutable photographer 
had "caught the scene." The secretary-treasurer has a 
Avell-earned reputation as a successful Nimrod, and the 
commodore is long on cats within 50yds. range. Doubt- 
less Ave shall hear from them next vVugust of the number 
of deer they saAV in Muskoka. 
The sun Avas Avarm, the sky cloudless and the brisk 
Muskoka air made the day a delightful one. The steamer 
made its devious course up the lake, poking its nose 
into this baj^, taking a look around the head of that island, 
now heading east, noAA^ Avest, and ahvays trending north. 
Shelter Bay, Avith its little sand beach, Avould give ac- 
commodation to a dozen tents. Thompson's Point would 
hardly afford room for McManus* goat. Hutton's, the 
next on the list, has room for an unlimited number of 
tents in a pasture field — its sole recommendation, but in 
Muskoka an important one. Taa'O acres of arable land on 
the lake shores are seldom found together. Water — rock 
— rock and Avater in picturesque confusion everywhere. 
The foliage, varied from the silver birch to the somber 
hemlock, is so dense that even in November but a small 
portion of the adjacent shore is visible. 
The captain pulls the bell ; the Oriole bumps the dock. 
We are at Butler's Bay. Some time is spent ashore ex- 
amining the location. Should it be chosen it Avould pre- 
sent a most striking picture to all passing craft, com- 
manding, as it does, a vicAV of the lake for miles, a 
sloping area of cleared land lying between almost unscal- 
able granite cliffs, Avith an excellent sand beach in front. 
Fading daylight and a vacant feeling beloAV induced us 
to order the captain to head for the nearest village— Port 
Carling. We soon entered Indian River, and the lig'Iits 
at the lock Avere most cheering to the hungry trio, 
StCAved venison, with etceteras, put us "in good humor 
with the Avorld. The evening was spent intervieAving 
local guides, who were one and all willing to put their 
services at ouf disposal. _ 
