FOREST AND STREAM. 
[April 7,- 1900. 
Lake George, Lake Champlain and 
the Hudson River. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your issue of Feb. 17, under the above heading, Mr. 
Horace H. Chittendeii replies to Mr. E. Waldo's request 
for information as to the most desirable starting point and 
route for a canoe trip on those waters. 
Indeed, I have no desire to enter into a discussion with 
Mr. Chittenden respecting the merits or demerits of Lake 
Champlain in particular for canoeing for health and pleas- 
lure. However, 1 do feel called upon to speak with your 
ipermission through the Forest and Stream and enter a 
jprotest. 
When a gentleman of Mr. Chittenden's undoubted intel- 
lligence warns canoeists of what he seems to believe to be 
ithe great dangers attending a trip through that lake in 
canoes, he certainly cannot have had very much canoeing 
■experience on those waters, but the portion of his article 
■ithat I object to most is where he says, "Lake Champlain 
will not be found navigable for canoes more than two 
■days out of seven." Continuing, he says, "The wind 
iblows there pretty much all the time, and it blows 3 
:gale at that." Now what a Vermont-born man, as I 
should judge he is, can be thinking of to make such state- 
ments is beyond me ; he certainly cannot have the good 
■of that whole beautiful region at heart or he would adhere 
more nearl3' to facts. 
It is true, as Mr. Chittenden says, that St. Albans Bay 
IS a lovely spot, and Sampson's is a desirable hotel for 
.tourists and fishermen to stop at and so on, but why 
advise Mr. Waldo as he does to tie his party down to that 
'little corner of the lake? There are a number of other 
jparts of the lake that cruising canoeists would be charmed 
ion paying a visit to, and where excellent hotel accom.mo- 
idations are to be had. 
Now I would suggest this route to Mr. Waldo and 
his friends: Freight your canoes to Swanton, Vt., enter 
the Missisquoi River there, it being only a few feet from 
the Central Vermont Railroad depot, paddle down stream 
■and out of the river at the east branch and cross the bay 
to Highgate Spring, where there are excellent hotel ac- 
■commodations, as well as at Swanton, the starting point: 
thence, skirting the east shore of the lake, proceed north 
four miles to Philipsburg. P. Q., where will be found a 
•choice between two hotels, and beautiful natural sur- 
roundings. 
From this point across Missisquoi Bay, following the 
shores m.ost of the way, to Alburgh Springs Depot is 
about seven miles. Here also are two little country hotels, 
The next move would be to follow the west shore of the 
lake south past Alburgh Center to the highway bridge 
which connects Alburgh with North Hero, Vt., a distance 
of eight miles. A rest can be taken here if desirable, ac- 
commodations being furnished by a farmer. The lake here 
is one-third of a mile wide. Leaving the bridge behind, 
proceed south four miles over waters with surroundings 
that are surpassed nowhere in natural beauty of land 
and lake, to North Hero Center, or "City," so called, ap- 
proached on the west from the back bay by a half-mile 
walk overland, or via the east, and carry a few feet over 
the "carry place" and make a landing directly at the foot 
of the village. Here also will be found a comfortable 
hotel overlooking the bay and lake. Almost anywhere 
along the shores of North Hero the scenery is ideal for 
the canoeist, the fishing is good and camping locations 
are plentiful. 
Now our friends can paddle past .several islands across 
the lake to St. .AJbans Bay and put up at Sampson's and 
pass a pleasant day or daj^s even in this locality ; then, as 
Mr. Chittenden suggests, skirt the east shore of the lake 
to Burlington, carrjnng over Sand Bar Bridge, which is 
a fill across an arm of the lake, not forgetting to run into 
Malletts Bay on the way. I shall leave Mr. Waldo here 
to take the steamer through the broad lake to Ticonderoga 
or paddle his own canoe as inclination dictates. 
If, as Mr. Chittenden says, the lake is dangerous, it is no 
more so than any other fresh-water lake, and the wind 
during the months of June, July and August does not blow 
a gale five days out of seven. Indeed, I cannot conceive 
what should cause a Vermonter to warn canoeists or any 
one else seeking recreation to keep away from Lake 
Champlain. To my mind there is no more beautiful 
locality on this continent during the summer season than 
that sheet of water, particularly at the lower or north 
end of the amotio- the islands, and here is where the 
black bass fishing is best. 
Except while nuntmg, I have used a paddle very little 
on the lake, but I have rowed a little open Rushton boat 
that weighed exactly 5olbs. all over the northern portion 
of the lake time and again, despite the great dangers Mr. 
Chittenden refers to. I spend one month of happiness 
every summer cruising and fishing in small boats on those 
tempest tossed waters. Try it, Mr. Waldo, and let us hear 
from you through the Forest antd Stream. 
R,0ME0_ 
Year Books Wanted. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
I find that the A. C. A. has no copies of the old year 
books, and the officers are consequently at a loss to 
know what changes, etc., have been made in rules and 
regulations- 
I think it would be a good idea to have with the 
secretary's books a bound copy of all the 3'ear books issued 
■by the Association for references. If any members have 
copies that they will spare I would be glad to get a card 
from, them giving the years, and m this way see if we can- 
not make a complete set for the use and convenience of 
future officers of the A-ssociation. 
W G. MacKendhick, 
Some old copies were sent to the librarian a year or so 
ago to be preserved for the Association, but none of 
them dated further back than 1886- We can make up for 
Com. MacKendrick a pretty com.plete set, including prob- 
ably all but the fi.rst three books— 1881, 1883, 1884 
The idea is a very good one The Association should 
■from the fir.=t have preserved copies of all books and 
similar records, but such has not been done, and such 
efforts as have been made at times have been but 
tran.sient. When chairman of the regatta committee in 
18S8, Mr. C. B. Vaux made up a large scrap book con- 
taining a copy of every notice, entry blank, record blank, 
etc., prepared by the committee, copies of official reports, 
etc., his intention being that similar matter should be 
added year by year, making a most valuable guide for 
new committees. The book was passed by him to his suc- 
cessor, but disappeared in the course of the next year 
or so, and has never since been heard from. When Vice- 
Coniraodore of the Atlantic Division in 1889, the writer 
planned a rather elaborate scheme of studying the canoe- 
able waters of the Division. Maps of the entire Division 
were procured and all the waters fit for canoe saiHng, 
coast and inland, were colored blue, those suited for the 
small paddling canoe being colored red. A classified list 
was made of rivers, bays, lakes and canals within the 
Division, and it was proposed to enlist the co-operation 
of members in procuring full and complete information 
concerning all waters. Such a scheme properly carried 
out would be of incalculable advantage in many ways, not 
merely to canoeists and cruisers, but for use in case of 
war, and as an important addition to the geography of 
the country. With its numerous members, the A. C. A. 
is well fitted to carry on such work from year to year. 
The maps and the details of the scheme were turned' over 
to the new ofiicers, but nothing more was done. 
In this same connection it is well to note the necessity 
for a uniform size of book each year. The first book was 
a very small pamphlet, printed by Mr. Bishop ; the next, 
tAvo years later, as none was published in 1882, was a very 
large though thin pamphlet. The books of 1884, 1885, 
1886. 1887. printed under the direction of the writer, were 
of medium size. The 1888 j'ear book, printed by Mr, 
Vaux, was enlarged to the size familiar to all members, 
and which has been retained ever since with one excep- 
tion ; the very poor book of 189S, with its other imper- 
fections, was enlarged so much that it cannot be bound in 
one volume with those preceding and following. It is to 
be hoped that all future books will be made of the size 
which has long been the standard. 
Satis on a Canvas Canoe. 
Staunton, Va., March 17. — Editor Forest and Strea^n: 
I note a communication from V. U. Tognazzint, of Sis- 
■ quoc P, O., in which he states that he has a canvas 
canoe which he built from the Shenandoah model No. 2, 
as described in my "Manual of the Canvas Canoe," which 
he would like to fit out for sailing, and desires to know 
how much keel and what size and kind of sail to use in 
order to produce the best results. 
While I am not able to give him much information in 
regard to sails and keel, I think it as well to write and 
-State that I do not think he will succeed in making any- 
thing more than a fair sailer of his canoe at best, as the 
model is not designed for sailing. Being designed for a 
cruising canoe for swift, shallow waters, where the paddle 
alone is used for propulsion, all calculations as to sails 
were purposely omitted, and her lines are so radically 
different from those of the sailing canoe, she will probably 
be at best but an indifferent sailer, excepting, possibly, 
dead ahead before the wind. She is what would be 
classed as a "sailable paddling canoe." It may not be 
amiss to state, however, that my ideas for this boat were 
originally obtained from Mr. Stephens' Jersey Blue 
model, and in the description of this model in his "Canoe 
and Boat Building" the model is fitted with a keel 2^4in. 
deep (and also with a centerboard in addition to the 
keel). In her sail plan Mr. Stephens states that she "was 
rigged as a schooner, two boom and gaff sails and jib. 
The rig was subsequently changed to leg of mutton, and 
later to balance lug. In cruising this canoe will carry a 
mainsail of 4Sft. with mizzen of 18 to 20, and in racing a 
mainsail of 65 to 70 sq. ft." 
Trusting that_ these points may be of service to your 
*:orrespnndent, 1 am. 
Very truly yours, 
F. R. Webb. 
[The canoe might be fitted with a fixed keel 3in. deep 
in the middle and rockered toward the ends and with 
two sails of the Vaux pattern, as frequently illustrated in 
the FoKEST AND Stream, the total area being about 6s 
.sq. ft.— Ed,] 
Th^ T^o ton Sportsmen's Show. 
The members of the Ottawa C, C. who went to Boston 
last week, where they competed in the international canoe- 
ing events at the Sportsmen's Show, had a splendid trip. 
The boys have come back with the belief that, in spite 
of the fact that they were defeated, they know con- 
siderably more about paddling than the Americans do. 
One of their reasons for this is the fact that the Amer- 
ican war canoe crew, which defeated them, averaged 
20lbs. per man heavier than the Ottawas. The Amer- 
icans in spite of their great advantage in weight were 
defeated in one heat and only won the two others by vtty 
close margins, and with four of the Ottawa , boys tired 
out from paddling in the fours in between. On that 
account the Ottawas claim that if they were not con- 
siderably the better paddlers the Americans with their 
extra weight would have paddled right away from them. 
The Canadian and American strokes are entirely differ- 
ent. The champion American war canoe crew used 
paddles fully 4in. longer and considerably broader m the 
blade than those of the Canadians. They also used a 
very slow stroke, averaging thirty-five to the m.lnute 
They reached far forward and in many cases did not 
take their paddles out of the water until after they had 
passed their hips, Their recovery, owing partly to the 
size of their paddles, was rather slow. 
The Canadians on the other hand paddled about sixty- 
five strokes to the minute, nearly twice as fast as the 
Americans, recovered like a shot and put all the weight 
of their shoulders and backs into each stroke. The Otta- 
was also did not let their oaddle^^ go past their hips, as 
back of that they consider they only lift dead water. 
The Toronto boys proved themselves thorough snorts. 
After their defeat by the Ottawas in the fours and war 
canoe races, instead of showing the least hard feeling, they 
pitched m and did their best to help the Ottawas win 
the finals. On Saturday night thej- assisted in rubbing 
down the Ottawas after the different heats. During the 
races they yelled and cheered so for the Ottawas that 
they got so hoarse they could not speak afterward. Tin] 
best of feeling prevailed between the American an^' 
Canadian paddlers throughout. Each came away thorj 
oughly impressed with the good sportsmanship shown bj' 
their opponents. 
The management of the Sportsmen's Show treated the 
Ottawa and Toronto boys in splendid style. They nol 
only paid all their hotel and railway expenses, includ- 
ing sleepers down and back, but also for various extrad 
that were ordered at the hotel. \ 
While in Bo.ston the boys went to the Boston Museuniji 
where the famous, actress, Miss May Irwin, was play- 
ing. One of the members of the company was Miss' 
Aileen May, of this city. The boys sent their card downj 
to her and she wore the Ottawa C. C. colors during the; 
remainder of the play. Afterward the boys all saw her: 
and escorted her in a body to her car. | 
Mr. Harold O'Dougherty, of Boston, who was iul 
Ottawa last summer visiting friends, looked the Ottawa.] 
boys up when they got to Boston and with his brother, ' 
Willie, showed them all the sights. . Their kindness added ■ 
greatly to the enjoyment of the Ottawa visit. — Ottawa- 
Journal., March 14, 
The. A. C. A. Transportation Committee. 
Com. MacKendrick has appointed the following com.- 
mittee to arrange for the transportation rates, etc., for 
Muskoka;"^ Mr. Hugh Neilson, Toronto, Canada, chair- 
m_an. Mr. Neilson joined the A. C. A, in the summer ol 
1882 and holds A. C. A. No. 192. He attended the Lake. 
George meet of that year, Stoney Lake in 1883 and Grind-' 
stone in 1884. In 1883, Avith the Boreas, heavy center- 
board Pearl model, he won the unlimited sailing race, ' 
sailed in half a gale of wind which upset most of the ■ 
contestants into Stoney Lake. Mr. Neilson has had 
some experience with the transportation problem in the 
early years, as he arranged for the Canadian contingent 
in 1882, 1883 and 1884. In 1880 he assisted in tire organi- 
zation of the Toronto C. C. with six members, while the 
roll call now shows 360 members. He was elected Com- | 
modore of the T. C. C. in 1883, 1884 and 1885. During 
1885 Mr. Neilson purchased an island in Lake .Muskoka, 
where he built a summer residence. 'and each year since 
then has spent a month or two in cruising around those 
wateris. Members going to camp pass close to his island, 
where the red ring of the Toronto C. C. floats proudly 
throughout the summer. 
President Allerton of the New York C. C. kindly con- 
sented to serve as the buffer between the railroads and the 
Atlantic Division men on the question of rates and ac- 
commodation. While not an old A. C. A. man he shows 
such enthusiasm in the sport that the Atlantic Division 
end is sure to be well served. 
F. B. Huntington, Alilwaukee, Wis., will see that the 
Western Division secure as good accommodation for 
Muskoka as the other divisions. Mr. Huntington made ;i 
hosj. of friends at, Hay Island, last year, where he acted 
on the much bethimiped regatta committee. He deserved 
a rest from ofiicial duties this year, but being in the rail- 
road business he had the dtity thrust upon him, 
Louis A. Hall, Boston, Mass., will see that the war 
eanoe and other craft to represent the Eastern Division 
will take the fastest route to Muskoka. 
Sailingf Canoes in Maine. 
BowDOiN College^ Brunswick, Me., March 2^.— Editor 
Forest and Stream: I "take exception to the statement 
of Ilex. 1484, in the issue of March 3, that there is not a 
sailing canoe in Maine to-day. I know of and have sailed 
in eight. To be sure, they are iiot up-to-date racing ma- 
chines; on the other hand, they resemble more the good 
old Stella Maris elass. Still, they must be classed as 
sailing canoes. 
Five are located on Umbagog Lake, the lowest of the 
Rangeleys, and three on Songo Pond, a small sheet of 
water near Bethel. They are designed for practical use— 
for shooting and for moving from point to point — hence 
are adapted to the paddle quite as much as to the sail. 
They weigh from 60 to T25lbs.. carry up to 100 sq. ft. of 
sail, length 14 to i8ft., beam 28 to 38in. I am the owner 
of the largest, which I had built on Umbagog in 1897. 
Trusting that Ilex will accept this amendment, 
Reader. 
The Susquehanna, Schuylkill and Lehigh Rivers. 
We have a request from a correspondent for informa 
lion as to the canoeability of the upper Schuylkill and 
Lehigh rivers and the Susquehanna from Binghamton to 
Wilkesbarre. Possibly some of the members of the At. 
lantic Division can supply the information? 
CANOEING NEWS NOTES. 
The annual meet' of the Eastern Division will be held 
on Lake Quingigamond, Worcester, Mass,, on June 16, 
17 and . 18. ' . 
Mr. Roger de Quincey, father of B. de Qurncey, Mate 
of the Royal C. C, has presented to the club a challenge 
cup valued at £50 for the cruising class. 
^ 
British canoeing has sustained a serious loss in the 
early death, at the age of twenty-sfeven, of Mr. J. A. 
Yo\i\, who died of influenza and pneumonia at Burnham.- 
on-Crouch on Feb. 24. The following is from, the Yaehts- 
m.an: Mr, Youl com.menced his canoeing som.e twelve 
years ago in a little Rob Roy canoe on the Tliames ; this 
he soon replaced with another of the Mersey type, fitted 
with small sails, which he took with him on going to 
reside at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Here he joined the Tyn<= 
C. C, from which, however, he seceded, and was one 
of the six original mem.bers who founded the Northern 
C. C, which for some years flourished so vigorousk- 
and which was the first in this country to allow sbdine 
seats and to frame rules for canoes and yawls, which 
absolutely barred out racing machines. Not only were 
the different classes required to be built of proper-sized 
scantling, and efficiently fitted as regards deck 'hatches, 
sleeping accommodations, etc., but even sufficient initial 
