338 
THE YOUNG SCIENTIST. 
make the best of everything, to overcome 
difficulties and be always cheerful. A 
grumbler is an unpleasant companion 
anywhere, but in camp he is a nuisance. 
In warm weather, the camp-fire should 
be at a good distance from the sleeping 
tents, and precautions taken that no 
spreading of the fire can occur. It is well 
to leave nearly all of the crockery at 
home, and provide a supply of tin plates, 
tin cups, and cheap knives and forks. 
Prepare in advance sufficient food to 
serve for the tirst two or three days, and 
then be governed by circumstances. 
If the locality furnishes fl-sli or game, 
the ijrocuring of these will afford sport 
for the men and boys, but it is not safe to 
depend upon these, and there should be 
in reserve a ham, a supply of the stand- 
ard camp-food, salt pork, which, with 
an abundance of potatoes, hard-tack, 
dried apples, and coffee, will keep the 
table well furnished. Have meals at 
staled hours, let each one in his or her 
way help in preparing them, and — what 
is still more important— help in clearing 
away and washing dishes. Keep the sur- 
roundings of the camp in good order. 
Have a pit in a convenient place for 
scraps and slops, and provide other con- 
veniences in a sheltered place at a proper 
distance. If gims are taken into camp, 
let it be the business of some one to pro- 
vide a proper place for them beyond the 
reach of children, and where no accident 
can occur. See that the guns are always 
kept there when not in use. Reduce the 
work to the smallest possible amount, so 
that the greater part of the day may be 
spent in rest - in " leisure," in the best 
meaning of the term. Be sure and pro- 
vide an abundance of reading matter. 
Any Ijard-worl^ed family will return from 
a fortnight's vacation, or a longer one, of 
this kind, better fitted to take up the 
home routine, and perhaps be more ap- 
preciative of home comforts, — Agricul- 
turist. 
The Modern Canoe —Masts and Sails. 
Cooking Utensils and Food Carried 
in a Small Space. 
HE primeval canoe has passed 
through a process of evolu- 
tion," said a manufacturer of 
light water craft. " The crude 
dugout was gradually improved upon un- 
til it resulted in the Indian's birch bark 
canoe. This was a fast and serviceable 
craft, but it was very far from being com- 
fortable. The paddler sat on a wooden 
rod, instead of a. seat, and the canoe was 
very cranky. By gradual development 
the Indian canoe has been made into the 
canoe of to-day. Cruising canoes are the 
most popular. The American Canoe As- 
sociation has decided that a canoe to be 
entered for races must be a boat sharp at 
both ends, and not more than thirty-nine 
inches wide on deck. She may be pro- 
pelled by sails or paddles, or "both, but 
she nmst be capable of being effectually 
propelled by a double-bladed paddle. 
The best canoes have air chambers at the 
ends, which will float the crew and cargo 
even if the canoe is stove in. Canoes 
usually have the keel, bottom, and stem 
and stern posts of oak, while the sides 
and top are of cedar. The ribs are of red 
elm, and the coamings of oak. They are 
copper fastened throughout, and finished 
with oil. Bulkheads are built forward of 
the cockpit for dry storage. The craft is 
steered by the feet of the paddler by 
means of a simple steering gear, A ca- 
noe to be complete needs, a various equip- 
ment. The fittings for the canoe itself 
are a rudder, steering gear, a cushion, 
backboard, paddles, masts, spars, sail, 
ropes, blocks, and cleats. One of the 
most popular models has the following 
dimensions :— Length, 14 feet ; beam, 26 
inches ; depth amidsliip at gunwales, 8 
inches ; at ends, 13 inches ; rise of deck, 
3 inches ; cockpit, 18 by 60 inches." 
" Where are canoes iDuilt ?" 
" Many boat builders will turn out a 
canoe w^hen ordered, but the best are 
made by special canoe builders. The de- 
mand for them has increased so much 
during the past five years that there are 
several large canoe yards scattered 
around the lake regions. Centreboard 
canoes are quite popular. They average 
15 feet in length, and are made very stiff. 
They are completely equipped with masts 
and sails that can be unshipped and 
stowed away when the voyager paddles. 
There is no end to the things a canoeist 
needs when making a cruise, and en- 
thusiasts are constantly at work perfect- 
ing little labor and space saving devices. 
There is a place in a well-rim canoe for 
everything that is needful for comfort, 
and every thorough canoeist keeps every- 
thing in its place. 
" One of the most recent of the many 
contrivances is a sort of housekeeper's 
box, wdnch is made to fit in a special 
locker in the canoe. It consists of a light 
tin box 8 by 12 by 5 inches, divided into 
compartments. One section has three 
movable trays for bacon and crackers. 
Next are two boxes for oatmeal and rice 
respectively. Then there is a large box 
for flour. Next is a compartment in 
which can be i)acked three pails, a fry- 
mgpan, a saucedish, a boiler, and some 
snudl tin pie i^lates. All these utensils 
are made so that they fit into each other. 
The four corners of the main box are for 
pepper and salt. In the middle of the 
whole thing is a place for ice, with a com- 
partment for butter next to it. All this 
