276 „ 
Alter Barn Buov off Netley, Prucas was first. Lynx 
becQiid, Solitau-e third, and Galatea fourth. A fast reach 
across the water to Dean's Lake Buoy produced no 
other change than an increase^ in Pinicas ead iiom 
this point to Black Jack Buoy below Calshot Castle was 
a glorious run, in which (JaJatea took third place. 
Rounding this, Solitaire lost a lot of time in tying down 
a reef but had too much water aboard to stand any 
chance of winning, and was passed m the long home- 
ward beat by Trill and Galatea. Lynx went excel ently 
on this ooint of sailing, and finished only twenty-six 
seconds behind Prucas. Crayfish earned away her miz- 
7en bumpkin, and had to stow the sail. The starting 
and finisliing times, with B. C. A. ratings and .time 
allowances, are as follows: ^ , 
Rating. Allowance. Start. 
SA^fc:::::::: :i .".?S'- Ifdl . K 
TH11 W Fair ..56 0 00 22 Uncertain. 5 08 57 
S^fi.f Tidd"&-Quin„::: : O Ol le uncertain. | 1 ^ 
Prucas, Mr. Laws 3 0 11 10 2 08 Oo 4 4b ^ 
Solitai^, Mr. Wale 2tl 0 13 30 2 05 10 5 13 il 
■«Porpoise, Mr. Oliver 25 0 14 40 
*Luciith, Mr. Kipling no 
=»Ko.se, Mr. Cardell 15 0 2o 02 
*lietired; unable to cross the line. 
Prucas won the cup for the second year in succession, 
and, from the speed she showed, I think there is little 
chance of any other type of craft taking it Iroin her in 
a breeze of wind. An excellent camp dinner and smok- 
mg concert finishing the day. 
Saturday, Aug. ii.— The day of our regatta opened 
out beautifullv fine, but with little wind until the after- 
noon. The first race, for canoes under R. C. C. rules, 
was .started at 10:30 A. M. Solitaire was again first across 
the line, but was passed before reachmg Hamble Spit 
Buoy by Prucas. From here to Black Jack Buoy the 
race was a mere drifting match, in which Prucas ob- 
tained a long lead; but the wind dying out entirely at 
this point, she drifted right away to leeward with the 
tide and Solitaire, who came up last and met a new air, 
turned back to Fawley with a slight lead. This was 
soon wiped out by Prucas, and she led well at tawley 
Buoy. A smart reach across to Hamble Spit Buoy, 
livened up the race a little, but neither that nor the run 
home changed the relative position, and Prucas won by 
over 4min. from Solitaire, with Rose about the same 
time astern of the latter. Rose, by the by, carried a 
spare mainsail of Prucas in this race, and went very well 
with it. She was verv abl^ handled by Mr. Holbeche, 
who will' make his mark m canoe racing before long. 
This canoe is the Turk-buiit Nautilus design, in which 
the writer has made so many pleasant cruises in the 
Severn, Avon, Wye, and Bristol Channel. 
Race No. 2, for 14-footers, from Southampton; four 
entries were received, but only three turned up. These 
made ah extremely close start, and sailing in close com- 
pany over the same five mile course as before, finished 
very nearly together. The winner was Lucia, with 
Myrtle only i.ssec. behind, Rikki-Tikki being a close 
third. 
Pace No. 3 was for canoe ya^ls and canoe yachts, but 
in the light airs only three started, Galatea finrshing 
4imin. ahead of Lyn.x'and simin. ahead of Crayfish, but 
this race was declared void, the time limit being ex- 
ceeded. 
Race No. 3, a special scratch event, for all types of 
canoes and the visiting i4-footers, had to be postponed 
till Monday for want of wind, but at 4.30 p. m., the time 
appointed for the sail and paddle race (No. 4), the wind ^ 
piped up and gave the competitors a heavy drag agamst 
it to Hamble Spit Buoy. Here Porpoise, with two 
human propellers aboard, led by a short distance from 
Ro.se, with Solitaire third, and Galatea fourth. Prucas, 
with only one paddle, had meanwhile given up. On the 
run home Rose passed Porpoise and won by 47sec., 
Solitaire being about 2min. behind, and Galatea about 
3m in. 
After tea the first event was a tug of war between 
port and starboard watches of the boys on the training 
.ship Mercury, starboard winning rather easily. A fine 
race between three of their ships' boats' crews followed. 
The course, two and a half miles, was a long one, but 
of their own choice, and the finish very close. The next 
event was a long obstacle race, with a punishing run 
up hill thrown in. Many started, but only three finished. 
Fair first, Cardell second, and Wale third. Cardell 
would have V/on easily, but for having to retrace his 
footsteps to round a forgotten obstacle. The tug of 
war, Married v. Single, resulted in an easy win for the 
free and independent bachelor brigade, but the next one, 
PLimble v. Warsash, was well pulled out, although al- 
though Warsash had too much strength for the men who 
had crossed the water. Unfortunately one event, and 
indeed the whole day, was marred by a serious accident 
to Mr. Percy Nisbet. A cartridge in the 4-bore starting 
pistol had failed to explode, and he was in the act of 
opening the breech when the cartridge exploded and 
badly injured the fingers of his left hand. Every assist- 
ance was promptly given, but, to our universal regret, 
he has since suffered very much from a lacerated and 
painful wound. After all the care and forethought he 
has shown in arranging this meet, such an occurrence is 
most regrettable to us, and we earnestly wish him a 
speedy recovery. Bift for this unfortunate accident the 
whole day passed off in a thoroughly successful manner, 
and Warsash and Hamble turned up in hundreds to en- 
ioy the sports. 
Alf. E. Wale. 
[Oct. 4 . 19^- 
The following is from a subsequent issue of the Field: 
The British Canoe Association at the end of its camp 
meet held an official meeting to nominate officers and to 
propose the camp site for the coming year, 1901. The 
officers elected are; Com., Mr. Bartley; Vice-Corn., Mr. 
Clayton; Rear-Com., Mr. Laws; Hon. Sec'y, Mr. Wale. 
The influence of the "yacht," which has been growing 
in the B. C. A. for some years past, took rather a severe 
hold of the club at this year's meet; and in the result 
a rule has been passed which allows the fixed draft 
of a canoe, canoe-yawl or_ canoe-yacht to be equal to 
two-thirds of its beam, with a maximum of 3ft. 6in. 
Thus a cruising canoe of 42in. beam can have 2ft. 4in. 
of fixed draft; but probably no one in the canoe 
classes would elect to use such an inconvenient fixture 
on his boat. Possibly if racing were a little more 
prominent in the club the fixed lin and bulb might be 
introduced purely for racing, and prove successful at 
prize winning; but such an unwieldy appendage would 
as surely kill the sport as did the sliding seat. 
It is a move the very opposite to that of conserving 
.general utility in the canoe. 
For canoe-yawls, which are usually between 5ft. and 
6ft. beam, the fixed draft of 3ft, 6in. would practically 
turn them into canoe-yachts; all the utility and con- 
venience of the canoe nature of light draft, the 
ability to cruise in shallow waters and the often essen- 
tial ability to beach and haid up in bad weather are 
wiped out of existence where such a cumbersome fixed 
draft is adopted. At present a canoe-yawl is portable, 
can be carried up a beach on the coast, or over an ob- 
struction on a river, and can be conveniently carried 
on a railway truck or on a steamer's deck; but add to her 
a fin and bulb, or construct her hull to a 3ft. 6in. draft, 
and you have a craft almost impossible, or at least highly 
inconvenient, for any of these common needs and ad- 
vantages of canoe traveling. 
For the canoe-yacht the draft matters very little ; 
we never yet heard of any classification embracing a 
canoe-yacht. The title was, in fact, coined in disgust at 
canoe-yawls departing from nearly all canoe principles, 
and aping yachts, yet falling short of them in size, 
comfort and sea-going ability. The only sign of the 
canoe discoverable in a canoe-yacht is that the stern 
or counter is sharp or pointed, and the sections thereof 
are of bow form. This move of the B, C, A. will tend 
to lessen the canoeing element of the club. The increase 
in the fleet of craft with fixed draft of 3ft. 6in. will 
undoubtedly require the club to hold its meetings on 
deep water estuaries, at places suitable for canoe-yachts, 
even though utterly unsuitable for genuine canoes, and 
when this is, so the association will be a yacht club 
living under the title of a canoe club, and in no way 
representative of canoeing. 
In regard to the above amendment of rules we hear 
from a member of that club, and who certainly is well 
posted in all the doings and prospects of the B. C. A., 
that immediately after the meeting it was notified that 
two new "yachts" would be built; and he further states 
that the B. C. A. will probably hold its next meet at 
Pin Mill, on the Ipswich esttiafy, and the hope is enter- 
tained that "we shall have our fleet enlarged by at least 
half a dozen of the east coast canoe-yachts," If so, then 
farewell to the trim-built canoe; paddle, plate and badge 
must go; for surely the badg-e cunnot remain when the 
ca.noe element has been eliminated. 
We hear from a report of the final proceedings of the 
B. C. A., and which came to hand too late, that a few 
short day cruises were made in the fine weather which 
graced the end of the meet, but it appears that by this 
time many of the canoe men had returned home. No 
doubt the Solent from Hamble affords some very pleas- 
and cruising lor small yachts, but it is scarcely the place 
to do an out and home canoe day cruise; the wind may 
pipe up and make the return impossible. For instance, 
in the B. C. A. cruise to Beaulieu the river mouth was 
cleared on the return journey at dark, and had there been 
anything like a fresh breeze from anywhere, such as from 
south round by east, to north, the canoes could not have 
made the return journey that night, or at least to do so 
would have been gravely risky work. However, as things 
turned out, the men seem to have had some pleasant 
cruises to tone down the disappointments of the previous 
part of the outing. 
I he Sailing Canoe. 
Philadelphia, Sept. 24. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
After reading the canoeing page of Sept. 8 and Sept. 
22 it looks as if we are really going to have something 
done for the material modification of the sailing canoe 
into something less of a machine, and something more 
of a canoe. But do the proposed amendments go far 
enough? It seems to me that even if constructed in 
accordance with the proposed modification, but up to 
date in other particulars, she would not be a very de- 
sirable craft for all-round work in good sailing waters. 
Would she, for instance, be any stiffer, any drier or any 
less fragile or more dependable with a fair-sized cock- 
pit, double-blade paddle, hoisting rig, rudder only to 
keel and 4 by 6 sliding seat, than at present? 
It seems to' me that what we want is a radical difference 
in construction and model, especially in construction. 
Could we get at this by putting a minimum weight limit 
on the bare hull, without cehterboard, rudder or ballast 
of say 80 to LOO pounds, or would it be better to work 
out a table of sizes for planking, timbers, keel, deck, 
etc. Shall we allow 4 by 6 sliding seats, as Mr. Moore 
proposes, and have them snap under us, and let us into 
the drink, as happened to the same Mr. Moore not so 
manv moons ago? Or shall we allow no sliding seat 
at all, as Vice-Com. Dater proposes, and have the broad 
part of our trousers get wet from holding her up in a 
sea, and have our legs nearly sawed off by a sharp 
coaming at the same time? T. faith, no. Let us hang 
on to the sliding seat, which is a good thing, but let us 
be moderate, and not take too much of a good thing, 
but limit our taking to say 2 by 6, or the beam of the 
canoe. And again, to quote Mr. M'oore, who is to say 
v.diat size cockpit is "large and deep enough to sit in 
comfortably," what would fit Butler certainly wouldn't 
do for Moore or Dater. In this each man would have 
to be a law unto himself, and we can't make that kind 
of an elastic contrivance. Why not provide for two 
bulkheads 6in. apart, and all the rest of the provisions 
for the present cruising class? In short, why not pro- 
vide for a canoe instead of a machine? 
M. D. Wilt, A. C. A. No. 2263. 
.six associate members. Its object, as set forth in the 
constitution, is "the promotion of canoeing and small 
boating, as well as of social intercourse among its mem- 
bers." 
Conduskeagf C. C, 
For several years past Jimmy Cartwright, once of the 
Puritans, has "been, for business reasons, exiled from 
canoeing and stranded in Bangor, Me., a place with plenty 
of water, but no canoe club. Those who know the 
energetic disposition of Jimmy will not be surprised to 
learn that he is now the captain of a new canoe club, the 
Conduskeag C. C, of which Mr. Henry Lord is purser. 
The club has an active membership of twepty-four, with 
A Bit of Fisher Cup History, 
Clinton, Canada, Sept. 25. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your story of the races for the Fisher cup reminds me 
of the incidents in connection with Zelma's attempt to 
win it, which may be worth recounting now that the 
cup bids fair to come into public notice again. For 
many years, up to the time Onward captured it, the rec- 
ord was one of much quarreling over conditions and 
little racing. So long as Norah held it her owner dis- 
played great ingenuity in evading challenges, although 
it is only fair to say that this boat was a cumbersome, 
expensive craft to fit out for a race, and he claimed that 
on two occasions challengers had defaulted after putting 
him to the trouble of getting ready for them. It was 
said that Onward's challenge was accepted because the 
boat had no reputation as a racer, and she certainly was 
a fairer match for Norah than Zelma would have been. 
The race itself was more of a bit of fun during a holiday 
cruise than a serious affair, and I have been told by 
one of the Rochester men that Norah's owner objected 
to a crew limit, and it was agreed to waive it. The 
Onward men promptly unshipped some ballast and took 
aboard a deck-load of their friends, who in the squally 
winds but smooth waters of the Bay of Quinte held 
down the weather rail, and the race was won. 
Norman Dick's challenge with Zelma was promptly-^ 
accepted, but Com. White, owner of Onward, did not 
want to break into his cruising arrangements, and at 
first offered to default. This was declined, Norman 
Dick preferring to await the convenience of Com. White, 
so it came about that the race — -one was to be decisive — 
was fixed for some time in September of 1893, the 
course 30 nautical miles, with a time limit of 6 hours. 
While the friends of Onward conceded that she had 
little chance with Zelma, there was a general desire to 
put up a good race, although Onward was in poor con- 
dition, just in from a cruise, and lacking a racing 
skipper and racing crew. She was hauled out and tuned 
up a bit, a crew got together, and Capt. Wood of the 
Cinderella took charge. I sailed on her as scrutineer, 
and remember that the first day the wind was light and 
the race not nearly finished within the time limit. 
The next day we were at it again, the weather un- 
settled, but more promising for wind. A start was made 
in a good working breeze, but a squall came up and 
all tlie light sails had to come in. It was soon over, the 
wind dropping rapidly, but the club topsail was scarcely 
drawing again before it had to come in for another 
squall, which lasted longer and then dropped to a dead 
calm, in which, for the best part of an hour, the two 
boats used up the time limit and made little headway., 
As one of the idlers I had gone below to assist in 
preparing lunch for the hard woi^ed crew, when the 
third and worst squall of the day struck us, the crew 
just niangaing to strip the boat to mainsail and jib in 
the nick of time. I have a lively recollection of an 
amusing few minutes looking after sundry piles of sand- 
wiches, which were anxious to spread themselves all 
over the calain; while the Onward was laying over wit.h 
the water washing green along the lee deadlights in 
the cabin house, a look through the weather side show- 
ing a very wicked sky, obscured by showers of spray 
and driving rain. I thought it just as well that we had 
a competent skipper, and an experienced skimming-dish 
man at that. 
It cleared again, the wind fell light, and later on we 
got beautiful weather, with a moderate breeze, but all 
too late; for Onward, which had led by a small margin 
all day. failed by half an hour or more 'to make a race 
in the time limit. Both boats made port, with disgusted 
crews. There had been enough work for two or three 
races, and certainly enough wind for one, if it had been 
spread evenly and not laid on in chunks. There \Vas 
some talk of extending the time Hmit, as it was clearly 
too short for average weather conditions, but it was not 
altered, and the crews turned in early for a good night's 
rest, preparatory to a third attempt. 
Norman Dick and two or three of his men slept 
in the club house--camping out with their dunnage, 
which was all ashore. I was there also, and about 
midnight we were awakened by the rattling of windows 
and swishing of trees outside. Norman Dick jumped 
up, remarking tersely, "That's wind." and without another 
word hastily dressed, and with two of his crew made 
for the club dock, where Zelma was secured. The outlook 
did not strike me as serious. The evening had closed 
fine, with a light air, and every prospect of settled 
weather. A big tug had left port wth three barges, 
loaded with 600 tons of coal apiece, bound for Port 
Hope, and someone had said, as we watched her steam 
out, "That's a cheap way to carry coal; put that tug's 
engine into a vessel carrying eighteen hundred tons and 
it would make a poor show. As it is the outfit will do 
five or six knots and be in Port Hope before morning. 
They have a fine night for the trip." Not so much as 
a cautionary signal had been displayed from the pier 
end, and as it afterwards appeared, old Probs. had been 
taken b}' surpirse. - - '• 
For a while I slept"the:"sleep' of a rhan who had no"' 
boat to look after, but the increasing gale and heavy 
rain prompted me to get up to look at the weather 
soon after morning broke, .and truly it was a sight to 
see. The gale was coming right out of the north, 
veering at times to th.e west, and had already made a 
new disposition of all loose things afloat and ashore. 
Trees were down, sideshows and refreshment stands 
blown in or wrecked, the grounds of Ontario Beach 
strewn with debris of all kinds, everything being sodden 
wet. Around the club house small craft were in every 
kind of trouble, some cap.sized. others adrift, and more 
ashore. An ancient chain ferryboat was no longer 
"chained to business." but had broken away and gone 
to smash. The U, S. -Revenue' Cutter Com. Perry had 
been tied up to the pier the night before, near the en- 
