Jan. II, 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
51 
string, that is tied to the lower tip of the bow, 
should not be allowed to hang loose. It should 
be twisted around the string tightly and finally 
fastened with thread. The string should have 
a loop at each end. 
A single strand of previously waxed carpet 
warp gives a very satisfactory winding for the 
nocking point. Determine the center of the 
string and then coil the wrapping as far below 
the center as you do above, for otherwise the 
string will vibrate, not only as a whole, but also 
in segments, and produce harmonic vibrations 
that feel disagreeable, and will impart a vibra¬ 
tory wiggle to the arrow. 
For consistent shooting the arrows should 
always be nocked at the same point on the 
string. This is generally attempted by wind¬ 
ing a short piece of colored thread at the nock¬ 
ing point. That requires great care in placing 
each arrow on the string and allows the nock 
to slip up or down as the arrow is drawn. A 
better method is to wind a short shoulder of 
carpet warp, both above and below the nock¬ 
ing point, so close together that the arrow will 
just fit in between, without free play or undue 
constriction. The archer then has an invariable 
nocking point and need give this no further at¬ 
tention. 
The arrow should then be placed on the 
string at right angles to it. A draughtman’s 
90 degree triangle, or square, can be used for 
this purpose. Now make a heavy pencil mark 
on the bow directly above the shaft of the 
arrow. The hand should always be placed on 
the grip so that each arrow is raised to the 
height of this pencil line. The force of the 
string is then transmitted directly along the 
axis of the arrow, so that they will fly true. 
Any flirting or wobbling of the arrow intro¬ 
duces inaccuracy of flight and absorbs energy 
which should be used to propel the arrow 
straight and not wasted in doing internal work 
in the arrow itself. 
The period of vibration of the string should 
coincide with that of the bow. The rapidity of 
vibration of the string varies directly as the 
square root of the tension, and inversely as the 
length and the souare root of its weight. The 
length and weight remain constant, no matter 
how far the arrow-is drawn, but the tension is 
variable. It is, therefore, practically impossible 
to calculate the constants of a string exactly 
suitable for a given bow, but an incompatible 
one soon shows its effects in an uneven cast of 
the arrow, due to the string vibrating in over¬ 
tones, produced by a lack of harmony of the 
vibration periods.of bow and string. 
The incompatible string is also more apt 
to break, not at full drawn or while the arrow 
is still in contact with it, but on the recoil after 
the arrow has left the string. This happens at 
the moment when the string attempts to 
shorten while the bow straightens, .a case that 
would not occur when the periods of vibration 
of bow and string are in harmony. The arrow 
would probably hit the target, but a new string 
would be required, whose position on the bow 
would in all probability not coincide with the 
old one, and therefore require a new and un¬ 
determined point of aim. 
I well remember the peculiar idiosyncracies 
of a string that to the eye appeared nearly per¬ 
fect. It is, of course, imnecessarv to state that each 
string should be round along its entire length. 
It is customary to allow a clearance of 
about six inches between the string and the 
back of the bow, but eight inches produces a 
steadier flight and less wear on the shaft where 
it rubs against the bow. It greatly reduces the 
violent shifting of the nock to the right, which 
occurs just before the arrow leaves the bow, 
and constitutes one of the most serious physical 
imperfections of shooting. This shifting of the 
nock raises havoc with an arrow, unless it is 
unusually stiff, and rapidly renders them un¬ 
like in weight and shape. The increased clear¬ 
ance also greatly decreases the danger of strik¬ 
ing the string against the arm guard, which 
frequently spoils an otherwise good shot. 
For accurate shooting the arrow must be 
true in straightness, stiff, and uniform in 
weight, in the position of the center of gravity, 
and in the conformation, curvature and size of 
the feathers. Here is where our greatest me¬ 
chanical difficulties arise. It is practically im¬ 
possible to get accurate arrows, and still more dif¬ 
ficult to keep them in condition. We must utilize 
what is furnished us, but through the proper 
care conditions can be greatly improved. I 
shall not attempt to give my ideas as to how 
arrows should be made, as these are still in 
the formative stage and based on theory rather 
than on practice; but I shall attempt to give 
some hints applicable to arrows that come to 
us ready made. 
Examine the horn nock of each and file 
them to the width necessary for your string. 
See that the bottom of each nock is square, or 
better still, round, and of the same diameter 
as the string. This groove in the horn must 
be exactly symmetrical with the central axis of 
the arrow, and not displaced toward either side. 
Have the groove a little wider on top than 
at the bottom. File the groove down to such 
a depth that all the arrows are of same length 
Now weigh each arrow, add varnish to the 
light ones, and carefully remove it from the 
heavier ones until they are practically of the 
same weight. Do not add or remove varnish 
equally along the entire shaft, but first balance 
each arrow on a sharp triangular file and mark 
the center of gravity. Add or remove varnish 
so as to make the center of gravity of every 
arrow come the same distance from the point. 
A thin film of good oil or grease prevents 
mud. paint, etc., from adhering to the shaft 
and this keeps the weight of the arrows con¬ 
stant. 
When stored away for the winter, place 
them in a vertical position, preferably in a 
practically air-tight metal case, to prevent the 
abnormally dry steam heat from removing too 
much moisture. 
[to be continued.] 
Archery in Pittsburgh. 
Pittsburgh, Pa., Dec. 30. — Editor Forest 
and Stream: Winter has closed on us and the 
ground is frozen so hard that a missed target 
means a broken arrow. 
As yet an indoor range of sufficient extent 
has not been obtained, but it is expected that 
one may be found soon. 
As it is, the shooting part of the sport is 
to all intents and puropses over for the season, 
but the discussion of the various phases of 
archery and the publishing of the same in Forest 
AND Stream will constitute a mid-winter diver¬ 
sion almost as interesting as the real thing. 
Now, fellow archers, new and old, let us 
hear from you. Let us have your own original 
ideas. Don't dive into musty history and cough 
up some old and awful stuff that will impose on 
the good nature of the editor and usurp space 
not belonging to our department. Don't relate 
the doing of impossible things by impossible 
men, but endeavor to infuse something of the 
scientific into our beloved but neglected sport. 
The last scores made by the Beechview Bon 
Air archers were as follows: 
N’tiety-six arrows at “lOycls.: 
jas. S. Jiles . 9G 518 
Team round, 96 arrows, 60yds.: 
. S. Jiles. 
... 80 376 
i)r O L Hertig.. 
.. 92 510 
J. Holmes,. . . , 
... 86 36S 
American round: 
L. Hertig_ 
... 85 506 
W. J. Holmes _ 
... 83 405 
. Jiles . 
... 82 408 
Dr. Hertig 
has just 
finished his first 
season, 
having commenced to shoot late in 1911. 
In ten consecutive team rounds of 96 arrows 
at 60 yards, shot over three different ranges, he 
has averaged 92 hits, 480 score, in no round 
making less than go hits. This is an average 
of thirty to an end, or five (a blue) to each 
of 960 arrows. His average in the American 
round since Sept, i, covering several dozen 
rounds, has been 84 hits, 456 score. 
The doctor has a little note book in which 
he records his scores both good and bad. He 
says: “One may forget the bad scores; in fact, 
it is only human to do so. This little book is 
devoid of sentiment and human frailty, and 
when it comes to the computing of averages, it 
will place you just where you belong.” 
In his article of last week. Dr. Hertig re¬ 
lates a dream which the writer of this is sup¬ 
posed to have had, and which he does not deny, 
being firmly of the opinion that among the 
mountains of the East, yew trees may be found 
out of which good bows may be made. Let us 
search. Jas. S. Jiles. 
1913 Archery Scores. 
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 1.—Editor Forest and 
Stream: It is a rare thing for archers to shoot 
on New Year’s Day. As a rule, to which there 
are few exceptions, November sees the end of 
the archery year. But the mildness of this 
winter has enabled us to shoot on Christmas 
and New Year's and on several other days. 
Those few enthusiasts, who preferred to 
forego other pleasures for those of the range, 
made the following scores, to-day. Weather: 
Temperature 40 degrees, wind. South, 20 miles 
an hour. The scores: 
Team round, 9G arrows at 60yds.: 
II. W. Bishop. 21 105 22 104 21 125 22 112 S6 446 
C. L. Nichols. 22 106 22 96 22 116 23 111 89 429 
I. H. Pendry. 21 97 23 117 20 96 19 85 83 395 
Dr. E. B. Weston IS 78 18 94 16 66 21 95 73 333 
Mrs. Witwer-Taylor and Mr. Walker were 
out for a short time. 
Edward B. Weston. 
The Chicago Archery Club held its annual 
business meeting at the Grand Pacific Hotel re¬ 
cent!)' and elected the following officers and 
executive committee: President, James H. 
Pendry; Vice-President, Dr. Edward B. Weston; 
Secretary-Treasurer, Percival S. Eletcher; Ex¬ 
ecutive Committee, Messrs. Pendry, Weston, 
Fletcher and Homer S. Taylor and George L. 
Nichols. 
