Nov. 12, 1904.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
41S 
\ Stringers YPS'Vt ' 
Sectfopat fran?e 16 
looking aft 
M2 16 Construction Flai;' 
MoJWI L.SKENE Maval /\«l(it««f 
151 State St, Bostoij 
Se.le I' » r 
131 3fote 3t, Boston 
Swle. I' 
TWENTY-FOOT LAUNCH COMET DESIGNED BY NORMAN L. SKENE FOR E. M. OILMAN AND BUILT BY T. L. WHITE. 
either wade around the rocks in two or three feet of 
water, or go in a small rowboat, holding the torch near 
the water, until you see the lobster (they come out to 
feed on dark nights and can easily be seen with a torch). 
As soon as you see one you. jump into the water and 
grab it. keeping an eye open that nothing grabs you m 
the meanwhile. The lobster is thrown into a bag over 
your shoulder, or into the bottom of the boat, and you 
continue. This way we caught four weighing about 
q pounds each. Only the Captain retired and allowed 
the crew to do the grabbing. Once upon a time the 
Captain believed in civilized methods for fishing, but 
gave them up after they had cost him many dollars 
in nets, baskets, pots, etc., that the sharks, saw-fish, 
sword-fish, etc., smash almost as fast as you lower them 
overboard. 
All hands then turned in to sleep the sleep of the, 
just with "the starlight on our faces" to quote from a 
much-discussed poem. 
With a little shooting, plenty of fishing, some sailing 
and much power-boating, one happy lazy week went 
by, and with great regret we struck camp to return. 
For three days previously it had been blowing hard 
from the E., and quite a heavy sea was running out- 
side. Early in the morning the Captain and crew took 
the dory for a long run outside to see how the engine 
would behave in really rough water. It was a pleasure 
climbing up big seas and then sliding down on the 
other side without getting a drop of water on board; 
the engine ran merrily, just as well as in smooth water. 
About midday, seeing that the wind was, if anything, 
freshening, we decided to wait no longer, so tying three 
reefs in our mainsail and without setting a jib, we 
headed for the entrance, towing the dory. We were 
just able, by pinching her, to clear the rocks on th§ 
leeward point, though the sea running in the narrow 
channel made it nasty work, and before we got clear 
she put her nose under up to the mast, much to the 
horror of the Madame, who thought we were going 
down sure. Once clear, however, we were able to ease 
her off and, running before the sea, it was not so bad. 
We tore down the coast, making record time; but as 
the wind still kept on freshening we had to drop the 
peak, until we made the lighthouse at the entrance to 
Guantanamo Bay, where we gybed around and came 
into smooth water for our Q-mile beat up to the dock 
at Caimanera. The dory towed well, but we had to 
double the tow-rope so as not to get in without her. 
I am sure this small boat never before went so fast 
and perhaps never will again. 
It did not take us long to make our anchorage, thus 
ending a most enjoyable week, and we were hardly on 
shore before we were making plans for another trip, 
of which perhaps more anon. E. A. B. 
New Cruising Launch. — Mr. Henry J. Gielow has re- 
cently closed a contract with the Electric Launch Works, 
of Bayonne, N. J., for a 70ft. cruising launch. She is 
74ft. 5in. over all, 70ft. 2in. waterline, 12ft. breadth, and 
4ft. ioin. draft. .The construction is of wood throughout, 
and of a very substantial character. 
•I « « 
New Auxiliary Yawl— Messrs. Macconell & Cook 
have designed for Mr. H. A. La Chicotte, of New York 
city, an auxiliary yawl 46ft. over all, 32ft. waterline, 12ft. 
breadth, and 7ft. draft. She will have liberal accommo- 
dations, and will be fitted with an 18 horsepower 
Standard engine, 
Twenty Foot Launch Comet. 
The design of the launch Comet is from the board 
of Mr. Norman L. Skene, of Boston, and her plans 
are published in this issue. The boat was built by 1. 
L. White, of Manchester, Mass., for Mr. E. M. Gilman, 
of Boston, Mass. A 
The plans show the boat to good advantage and a 
very fair idea may be had of her appearance and con- 
struction. She was built in a very thorough and sub- 
stantial manner, and mahogany was used almost en- 
tirely in her finish. Comet was built solely for a com- 
fortable boat and as such is a success. 
The engine, which is a 3 horse-power Murray & 
Tregurtha motor, was entirely nickle-plated, as were all 
of the metal fittings used on the boat. 
The dimensions are as follows: 
Length— 
Over all • 22ft. 8in. 
Waterline ....20ft. 
Overhang — 
Forward ift. 4m. 
Aft ift. 4in. 
Breadth — 
Extreme ... 5ft. ioin. 
L.W.L • 5ft. 
Draft- 
Extreme 2ft. 
To rabbet io^itt. 
Freeboard — 
Forward . . 2ft. 8in. 
Least ift. oin. 
Area midship section 3.06 sq. ft. 
Displacement g.aoolbs 
