THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
329 
well arranged for facile paddling. The 
" Kob Eoy," when completely fitted 
weighed 71 lbs. only, or without fittings 
60 lbs. Mr. Macgregor considers that 
the stature, etc., of the canoeist is the 
proper regulating standard for his little 
craft. Thus it is the length of the occu- 
pant's foot which should determine the 
height of the canoe from keel to deck, 
the length of his leg settles the size of 
the well, and his weight (with travelling 
baggage, etc.,) governs the amount of 
displacement to be arranged for. 
In the following description, given in 
great part in Mr. Maogregor's own words, 
a canoe is spoken of which is adapted for 
a man 6 feet high, 168 lbs. weight, and 
wearing boots whose soles are about a 
foot in length. The " Eob Eoy" is 
decked, except where the canoest sits, 
and is built of oak, with a mahogany top 
streak, and a red cedar deck. The canoe 
has a mast which can be easily shipped 
or taken down, and a lug-sail. She is, of 
course, propelled by a double bladed pad- 
dle. 
Fig. 2 shows section of the craft ; Fig. 
3, plan ; Fig. 4, cross section at the beam ; 
and Fig. 5, cross section at the stretcher ; 
Figs. 10, 11 and 12, are the backboard and 
apron, the other sketches showing de- 
tails. 
The principal dimensions are : Length 
over all, a s, Figs. 2 and 3, 14' from 
stem to stern, b, 7' 6" ; beam outside (6" 
abaft midships) 2' 2" ; depth from top of 
deck at c, for'ard of the well, to upper 
surface of keel, 11" ; keel, depth outside 
1" (with an iron band along the whole 
length i"wide); camber, 1" ; depth at 
gunwale, 82". The upper streak is of 
mahogany, and quite vertical at the 
beam, where its depth is 3". The gar- 
board streaks, and the next on each side 
are light, as it is found that they are less 
exposed ; but all the lower streaks are of 
oak. The stern and stem posts project 
over deck, so that the canoe, if turned 
over, will rest on these points, and on the 
upper end of the combing, round the 
well. The well is 2' 8" from c to d, and 
1' 8" from E to r, so placed that d m is 
2', and thus the beam of the V)oat being 
abaft of the midships, the weight of the 
luggage, G, and of the masts and sails 
stowed forward, bring the boat to nearly 
an even keel. For a boat without lug- 
gage, the beam should be one foot abaft 
midships. The deck is supported on 
four carlines forward, and three aft, the 
latter portion being thus more strength- 
ened, because in some cases it is required 
to support the weight of the canoeist sit- 
ting on the deck with his legs in the 
water, and each carline has a piece cut 
out of its end (see Fig. 7), so that the 
water inside may run along to the beam, 
when the canoe is canted to sponge it out. 
The after end of the carline at c is bev- 
elled off (Fig. 6 in section) so as not to 
catch the leg. All the carlines are nar- 
row and deep, to economize strength, and 
the deck is screwed to them with brass 
screws. A flat piece is inserted under the 
deck at the mast-hole, h, which is also 
furnished with a flanged brass ring. The 
deck is so arched as to enable the feet to 
rest comfortably on the broad stretcher, 
J, Fig. 5, the centre of it being cut down 
to a curve, in order that the masts and 
sails may rest there, and be kept above 
the wet under d^ck. The cedar deck 
round the well at e f, is firmly secured 
by knee pieces, and the boat may thus be 
lifted by any part, and may be sat upon 
in any i:)Osition without injury. The floor 
boards about 2' long, rest on the timbers 
until, at the part below c. Fig. 3, they 
end at p p, Fig. 8, in notched grooves, 
which fit into short oak pieces, m n, i" 
thick, sloping down on each side of the 
keel, o, until they rest on the garboard 
streaks, and so lower the heels nearly 1" 
below the level of the floor board on the 
top of the timbers. 
(To he continued.) 
Beaeing Eeins and Blinkeks.— The 
London Lancet very sensibly argues that 
the bearing rein and the blinker or blinder 
should be abolished altogether. As re- 
gards blinkers, there are several reasons 
why these should be abandoned. With- 
out them the horses are able to see the 
raising of the whip, and by answering 
thereto are saved the infliction of its 
stroke ; their temper also is greatly im- 
proved. 
