FOREST AND STREAM. 
tAuG. i8, 1900. 
25. Kingston, club, Kingston, LfHP?*^ m,==,.1„,s<.«s Bar 
25. Corinthian, championship, Marblehead, Masweh^^^^^ Bay. 
25. South Boston, ladies' day. City Point, Boston Harbor. 
i: &nrkt"cor.. Center Island memorial cup, Oyster Bay, 
Long Island Sound. 
25. Queen City. 17ft special, Toronto, Toronto Bay. 
27 Caoe Cod. open, Provincetown. Mass. , ^ , t„t,„^ 
^:31 :?eawanhaka and Philadelphia Corinthian, interclub matches. 
Oyster Bay, Long Island Sound. 
28. Wellfleet, open, Wellfleet, Mass. 
3L Wollaston, open. 
Cruise of the Crescent. 
The Skipper's Yam. 
As a native expressed it later, the water of Great Bay 
IS "spread out pooty thin." It is a large circular bay 
probably five miles in diameter, and the average depth is 
about 4ft.; but in many places it is nearer ift. at low 
water. Upon further exploration, the entrance to Mark s 
thoroughfare appeared impracticable, and the chart 
showed no thoroughfare dedicated to any of the other 
apostles. So when the Crescent was agam afloat and the 
crew had scrambled aboard, we sailed along the southern 
meadows, keeping well off shore, to look for a more pro- 
fane passage. In a few minutes we came up to an oyster- 
man in his punt and hove to to ask him where we could 
find a passage into Grassy Bay. Such of his answer as 
was audible a boat's length away referred us to an in- 
definite "over vander" and a "stake," supplemented, as 
we drifted apart, by a sweep of the arm covering some 
ninety degrees of the horizon. Thanking him, we filled 
away again, much encouraged, if not enlightened. After 
sailing about two miles we opened up a wide cove, and on 
the opposite bank of it, saw three shanties, where infor- 
mation regarding our course might be had. But right 
across the mouth of the cove stretched an ugly bar, show- 
ing yellow just below the surface of the water. Skirting 
this bar, it was found to end about 50yds. from the 
meadow, and beating up this passage we rounded a 
point and found ourselves in a narrow thoroughfare. 
But where are we ? and Does the creek go our way ? were 
the questions that nobody could answer. So we ran the 
boat's nose on the meadow (we had no tender) at the 
m(5uth of a little creek on the banks of which were the 
three shanties we had seen from the bay. They were 
occupied by market fishermen from Atlantic City, who 
spend the night here, fish at dawn, and wait for the tide 
to take their catches across Grassy Bay. In answer to our 
hail, an obliging brother (they fish with hook and line, not 
nets) paddled out in his sharpie and informed us that we 
were in the "Main Ma'sh Therfer" (Main Marsh Thor- 
oughfare), and that Grassy Bay lay beyond the next 
point, a quarter of a mile away. He said the tide was 
too low for us to get through that night. We were in no 
hurry, however, and our new friend, after supplying us 
with fresh water, came aboard and piloted us to an an- 
chorage where fish were to be caught. After giving us 
elaborate instructions as to the course across Grassy Bay 
and drinking our health in ten-year-old, he left us to furl 
and "stop" the sail and get the tackle out. 
He Was a good fellow and knew his ground (or water), 
for the "weakies" bit at once, and bit hard and kept on 
biting. The Cook, a true sportsman, insisted on return- 
ing to the water all fish that could not be used. The 
Skipper seconded this, to be honest, in a half-hearted 
manner, for 'tis hard to part with a fine fish that you 
have just fought to a finish. The temptation was too 
much for Koons, who quietly dropped his fish into the 
box, whence most of them mysteriously found their way 
back to their swimming grounds. Koons said he didn't 
mind this; it was quite right in theory, but he hadn't the 
heart to release liis captures himself. The crab bait ran 
low and Koons baited with the white belly of a weakfish. 
He soon had a strike, and his line ran out until the reel 
was nearly empty, and Koons was so frantic with ex- 
citement that Walt had to hold him to prevent him from 
jumping overboard. Then the line came back slack, and 
when it was reeled in the hook was gone, the gut cut off 
close to the line. The Skipper said it was a shark, and 
Koons said he would catch it. He did hook it, or another 
one, with the same result. Then Walt got out a trolling 
squid, tied it on a heavy bluefish line and baited it with 
half a weakfish. Result, a bite, a slight tug, a cut line and 
a departed squid. Then Koens lost a squid in the same 
fashion, and we adjourned for supper. After that inter- 
esting event was over, Walt prepared a shark line by wir- 
ing a heavy hook onto the end of the sheet rope, and bait- 
ing it with a generous slice of weakfish, let it drift out 
with a bit of board for a float. His sharkship had prob- 
ably had enough of hook diet, for he declined to take the 
tempting lure. It was almost dark by this time. The 
wind had died out and our piratical friends, the- mos- 
quitoes, from the surrounding meadows put in their ap- 
pearance and made Koons wish he was a smoker. Fortu- 
nately, \vhen the full moon rose, which was shortly after 
the daylight faded, a cool west wind sprung up, which 
drove the pests away and insured a comfortable' night's 
sleep. Their sweaters on. the crew disposed themselves 
comfortably on top of the cabin to enjoy the pipes and the 
music of Koons' mouth organ. The Skipper indolently 
baited up and cast his line down tide, and, stretched full 
length, puffed contentedly. Feeling a tug, he struck, and 
there came a rush that brought him quickly to hi? feet 
Then began a great fight. The fish, a shark by the way 
It swam, ran out fully 50yds. of line before it was stopped 
Now it came back for the boat, swimming low down just 
cleared the cable as it passed across the bow and made 
another wicked rush as long as the first, and came back 
under the stern. This necessitated some firm persuasion 
to prevent the ime fouling on the rudder, and another wild 
run followed. So it went on back and forth and round 
and round the boat for fully twentv minutes. The con- 
test was rendered more exciting because even in the 
moonhght it was impossible to see the thin, dark silk line 
and the movements of the fish had to be followed bv 
watching the tip of the rod. At last it was led gently but 
hrmly uu to the quarter and Waft slipped the net under a 
Tolb. shark. It was hooked in the lip, so that the gut was 
. rmrely dear of the sharp teeth, which accounted for the 
capture. A few blows of the hatchet quieted the ugly 
brute, and he was laid on deck to be weighed at Atlantic 
Uty-: \\ e had neglected to provide ourselves with scales 
although. ?s supfgestfd whpn )ie pleanin^ t|jem^ 
the weakfish had a-plenty. As their scales however, are 
not Government standard, I have refrained from stating 
any weights on their authority. 
The tide would not serve for an early start next day, 
so we sat until a late hour, singing all the songs we 
knew and enjoying the fine moonlight effects on the rip- 
pHng waters, the green meadows and the far-seen line of 
low hills to westward marking the boundary of the hab- 
itable mainland of New Jersey. 
The next morning was warm and fine, and by 7 o clock 
the Crescents had had their swim and were at work 
preparing breakfast. The cooking debate between Koons 
and the Cook had by this time become a rather perfunc- 
tory performance, Koons having gradually and grace- 
fully retired from the contest. Of course, he had not 
really wanted to do the cooking from the first, but, being 
a lawyer, naturally seized upon the opportunity for an 
argument. Upon examination of Walt's shark line, 
which had been set over night, it was found that the 
bait had been eaten off, but the wired hook was left. 
After brealcfast, while waiting for the tide, the rods were 
gotten out, and though the fish did not bite as fast as on 
the previous evening, the .sport was good. We were able 
to contribute a goodly number of fish to the load of our 
friendly fisherman of the night before when he passed 
us returning from his early morning expedition on Great 
^ At II o'clock, the flood tide being two hours old. the 
fleet of sharpies got Under way and we prepared to fol- 
low them. Just as the Crescent began to forge ahead 
■under the influence of the gentle south wind, a large 
catboat came into the thoroughfare and we lay to for 
her to pass, in order to follow her lead. A quarter-mile 
sail brought us into the peculiar piece of water (?), Grassy 
Bay. We had wondered why no soundings were given on 
the chart for the greater part of this bay, but the reason 
was now plain. The chart gave the soundings at low 
water and at low water the upper half of the bay has no 
water in it. At least the surface of the water is so close 
to the roots of the tall sea grass that it is hardly visible. 
The lower half of the bay is composed of shallow flats, 
but is crossed by a deep channel, propbably cut by the 
tide making in from Bigantine Inlet, though we did not 
investigate this. 
Well, we followed that other boat along the north 
shore of the bay, moving very slowly through the long 
grass, which was now barely covered by the water. For 
some reason the other boat's sail was single reefed and 
the Crescent soon forged ahead of her, and not tacking 
soon enough, grounded in the mud. And what soft mud 
it was! But we didn't want to wait for the tide to float 
her, so overboard went all of us and got her head around 
and worked her back into the wake of the other boat, 
v/hich we then followed, spilling the wind out of our 
own sail to keep astern and making short tacks until the 
channel before mentioned was reached. There the Cres- 
cent filled awav, and passing through a break in an ugly 
looking bar that appearently extended all the way across 
the bay headed for the bridge of the Brigantine Railroad. 
Through not knowing the best water, we kept too far 
off the" meadows here, and trying to lay a straight course 
tor the drawbridge ran into a flat again. But the fresh- 
ening wind heeled the boat enough to reduce her draft 
somewhat, and with board up and sheet started she 
bumped across the obstruction into deeper water and 
tacked for the draw. .The Cook was engaged in the 
preparation of one of his famous "stews." while Koons 
braced the stoves in a more or less upright position. It 
was the first and last time they tried to cook while under 
way. Every time the boat came about a lively duet of — 
well, unparliamentary remarks — was audible in the cabin, 
and at last the Cook put his head out the door and 
swore if the boat was not "sailed straight" he would 
desert at the next port. It was pointed out to him that 
the watch on deck was not responsible for the velocity 
of the wind and the rough water and he retired grumbling 
to his fire. After passing through the draw a boatman 
whom we hailed informed us that our way lay through 
the second "therf'r," and a beat of half a mile brought 
us to said "therf'r," a mere creek about 50 feet wide 
Half way through we anchored to permit the cook to 
serve up his "stew," which, to tell the truth, was well 
received. Then we got under way once more, but tried 
to sail too close in, coming into the last reach of the 
thoroughfare, and stopped for a moment, while Walt 
and the Cook (in "the altogether") combined duty and 
pleasure by taking a bath and pushing the boat off the 
sand at the same time. Crossing the arm of Absecon 
Inlet, known as Main Channel, we entered another narrow 
passage through the meadows and came out into Abse- 
con Channel and opened up a view of Atlantic City, a mile 
away. A few tacks down the channel, with the Crescent 
heeling until the lee rail was submerged and bounding 
over the slight swell from the ocean, brought us to the 
inlet pier. The big catboats here threatened to crush in 
the sides of the lighter built ' Crescent, and an arrange- 
ment was soon made with Capt. C, of the Star, to moor 
our boat at his wharf on the canal. There the Crescent 
was tied up and the crew donned their shore clothes and 
landed to "take in" the sights of the overgrown and too 
popular resort. Atlantic City, with its rushing crowds 
and its miles of side shows and photograph galleries on 
the ocean front, had few charms for the Crescents; they 
love the sea too well, and the proper atmosphere for its 
enjoyment is absent from the place in July and August, 
at any rate. What the crew did and the sights they saw 
in Atlantic City the Skipper, having spent his time with 
his family, who were summering at the shore, knows 
only by hearsay. It has nothing to do with the cruise 
any way. Koons was unfortunate enough on Monday to 
lose his light rod, reel and line. Starting for a day's 
fishing, he was getting his tackle ready and left it on 
deck coming out of the canal. The word was given to 
stand by ready to jibe, but Koons did not know the 
nature and results of jibing in a fresh breeze, and when 
he picked himself up and got out of the cabin his rod 
was gone. The water was shallow at that point and 
Koons and Walt jumped overboard and waded back, but 
were unable to locate the spot, and thereafter Koons 
fished with a heavy rod and heart. 
Tuesday fornenoon the setting in of the flood tide found 
all the Crescents on board and a gale blowing from the 
northwest. Shortly before 11 o'clock our little yacht, 
under close-reefed mainsail, left the sheltered "eanal" 
and dashed o\ er the lop^ s\v^lls across. tl>e inlet., 3.roi;\^nd 
the "staked island" and up the Main Channel. Across 
the entrance to our "second therf'r" was a bar. which the 
tide had not yet uncovered, so we went two miles fur- 
ther and tried two other passages, both of which we 
found too shoal a short distance in. So we ran back to 
the original thoroughfare and found enough water around 
the edge of the bar to let the Crescent through. When 
we came out into Grassy Bay the tide had not risen enough 
and we anchored in a sheltered corner to wait for it and 
have dinner. The afternoon sail across Grassy Bay was 
without special incident except a rather lively time hunt- 
ing, in that three-reef gale, for the elusive passage across 
the bar in the middle of the ba}'. For the rest, we found 
good water, and about 4 o'clock dropped anchor in the 
Main Marsh Thoroughfare, where we had decided to 
remain over night for the sake of the good fishing. Run- 
ning into the meadow bank to catch some crabs for bait 
we encountered an ancient fisherman, who told us that 
he would not for any consideration swim in those waters, 
as we had done when we anchored there before. He said 
the morning we left an 8-foot shark had been seen in the 
thoroughfare. Koons was sure this was the fish that had 
taken his hooks off, for anything less than 8 feet he was 
sure he could have held. The A. F. was reminded by 
this of other blood-curdling monsters of the deep that 
he had seen, and treated us to stirring accounts of their 
capture until the supply of bait was sufficient, when we 
put off for our anchorage. The sport was again excel- 
lent and we were able to present some twenty-five fish 
to the master of an oyster sloop that passed about half 
an hoi* later. In return the sloop's foremast hand 
dumped a supply of luscious bivalves into the cockpit of 
the Crescent. Koons was so delighted at this exchange, 
which for a time relieved him from the painful necessity 
of returning his fish to the water, that he volunteered to 
open the oysters himself, which he did, and they proved 
a pleasant addition to the supper. Another pleasant even- 
ing further endeared this lonely anchorage to the Cres- 
cents, and they unanimously resolved to come again and 
stop there next year. 
[to be concluded next week,] 
Oconomowoc Y. C. Regatta. 
Chicago, 111., Aug. 11. — Argo, the crack 20-footer owned 
by Mr. L. F. Gates, of Oshkosh. this week at the regatta 
of the Oconomowoc Y. C, won both main prizes — the 
Oconomowoc Y. C. cup and the Green Lake cup. This 
gives the Oconomowoc cup to the Winnebago boat for a 
permanent possession. 
Meteor, owned by Robt. Nunnemacher, Milwaukee 
Y. C, won the Pabst trophy. 
Entries for the regatta were Problem, Walter Dupee, 
Oconomowoc Y. C. ; Imp, C. D. Peacock, Jr., Chicago 
and Green Lake Y. C. ; Harriet H., Henry L. Hertz, 
Pistakee Y. C. ; Avis II., Wm. N. Pelouze, Oconomowoc 
Y. C; B. & F., H. R. McCullough, Green Lake Y. C. 
The above are all Chicago-owned boats. Other entries 
were: Robert Nunneinacher's Meteor, Milwaukee Y, C. ; 
W. L. Davis' Anita, Neenah Y. C; L. F. Gates' Argo, 
Oshkosh Y. C. ; George Brunder's Aderyn. Pine Lake 
Y. C. ; William H. Meyer's Dora and William Kieclc- 
hefer's Dorothy, both Pewaukee Y. C, and Gardner 
Green's Peerless and Hayes Murphy's Galatea, both 
Oconomowoc Lake Club. 
The regatta was sailed under Inland Lake Y. A, rules. 
Wm. Cothroll was official measurer. 
FIRST DAYj AUG. 6. 
The fast Fox Lake boat, Harriet H., which made so 
good an impression at the Fourth of July regatta of 
Columbia Y. C, at Chicago, took the first heat for the 
Oconomowoc cup. She was handsomely sailed by Nick 
Morris over the nine-mile course, four and one-half miles 
and repeat, and held matters well in hand, except ©n the 
short leg, where there was windward work. In the latter 
Argo gained upon Harriet. Problem, Dupee boat, seemed 
hardly at its best in the stiffish wind that prevailed. The 
boats crossed the line in the following order : Harriet H., 
Meteor, Problem. Dora, Argo. Harriet dropped to lee- 
ward and led. Meteor and Problem fought a little duel 
under a slack wind in the lee of the island, and later 
drew out well up with Argo and Aderyn, Harriet by this 
time having established a decisive lead. The main in- 
terest was between Harriet and Argo, and between Meteor 
and Problem. Argo made her gain in the brief windward 
leg, a half mile in length, and she went up from fifth 
place to second, leading Aderyn, Meteor and Problem. 
The start was flying. Following are the sailing times : 
Harriet H., Pistakee Y. C 1 00 30 
Argo, Oshkosh Y C 1 01 42 
Aderyn, Pine Lake Y. C....i...^.. 1 02 05 
Meteor, Milwaukee Y. C. 1 Uii u7 
Problem, Oconomowoc Y. C 1 03 36 
Zaza, Oconomowoc Lake Club 1 05 28 
Dora, Pewaukee Y. C 1 06 34 
Avis II., Oconomowoc Y. C 1 09 54 
Galatea, Oconomowoc Lake Club 110 20 
Peerless, Oconomowoc Lake Club 1 11 K 
SECOND DAY, AUG. 7. 
Argo made it two straight to-day and cinched the cup. 
The wind was stiff', and she could stand it. Admirably 
sailed by Luhm, her skipper, she gave her nearest rival a 
very handsome beating. The same course was sailed as 
before, twice around the triangle. Wind, W.S.W. and 
fresh. The order of start was Argo, Galatea, Harriet 
H., Dora. Meteor. Aderyn, Problem, Zaza, Peerless, Avi.s 
II. On the second leg, the windward one, Harriet seemed 
not to point in the same class with Argo, and was also 
outsailed by Aderyn, which ran up from fifth place and 
got within thirty seconds of the leader. A duel between 
Aderyn and Harriet on the third leg, off the wind, lost 
time for both boats, and gave Argo a fine chance, which 
she was not slow to improve, so that she had a clean lead 
of one minute at the end of the first round, On the 
second round Harriet out-maneuvered Aderyn and gained 
a lead very lively at the turn for the first leg, but this duel 
of the others continued to give Argo the best of it, and 
she gained a two-minute lead, Harriet now second. 
Times : 
Argo 0 58 07 Zaza 1 07 39 
Harriet H, . . 1 00 25 Galatea 1 09 25 
Problem - - 1 02 25 Dora ...109 28 
Ademi 1 02 31 Avia II 1 09 32 
^etebr . 1 05 44 Peerless 1 f)? 4T 
