216 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Feb. 17, 1912 
when freely suspended and unaffected by de¬ 
viation, will point) and the true pole are situ¬ 
ated at some little distance from one another. 
The amount of this deflection, or variation, 
as we must term it, varies both in force and 
direction according to latitude and longitude, 
but as this is clearly marked on all admiralty 
charts, it is nothing more than a mere cypher in 
the navigator’s calculations. 
In all compass calculations, whether it be_ in 
the setting or correcting of courses, or taking 
and laying off bearings on charts, I would strong¬ 
ly advise all amateur navigators to work only 
and solely in degrees, having proved from long 
experience that it is not only the easier method, 
but also a shorter and more accurate one, hav¬ 
ing the additional advantage of offering less 
scope for clerical errors on the part of the cal¬ 
culator. 
All the better class of compasses are marked 
in degrees as well as in points, the numbers 
running from o to 90, starting from either pole, 
to the points E. and W., respectively. 
How often does one not hear on board a yacht 
the skipper, when calculating his compass course, 
say something after this style: 
“Let me see. Thirteen degrees westerly vari¬ 
ation, that’s about 1% points, and two degrees 
westerly deviation; that’s about yi point—alto¬ 
gether about ikz points west to be allowed for.” 
Why does he not calcu’ate it in degrees 
throughout, and allow for 15 degrees of west¬ 
erly error straight off, instead of transferring 
the variation and deviation into points and al¬ 
lowing for I > 4 , which, strictly speaking, is not 
accurate ? 
However, from the above it can be clearly 
seen the difference between variation and de¬ 
viation of the compass, and to determine the 
latter the following method may be used: 
Take two prominent objects on the shore— 
one as near as possible to the observer, and the 
other as distant as possible, and maneuver the 
yacht so as to bring them in line with one an¬ 
other. Then find their magnetic bearing from 
the chart by laying the parallel rulers over them, 
subsequently working the rulers across to one 
of the meridians of longitude, so that the arrow 
mark K rests directly upon it. Close the rulers 
firmly together, taking care not to move the 
arrow mark off the meridian. From the upper 
edge of the rulers can now be read, at the 
point where the meridian intersects it, the exact 
number of degrees in the true bearing of the 
two objects. Common sense will tell the navi¬ 
gator whether to name the bearing N., S. E. 
or W. 
Having found the true bearing of our two 
objects, we must proceed to deduce its magnet'c 
bearing. This is a very simple matter, and is 
effected by applying the local variation. Thus: 
True bearing of objects. N. .30 W. 
Variation (allow to right). 13 W. 
Magnetic bearing . N. 17 W. 
For the benefit of those who are unacquainted 
with the rules for applying variation and devia¬ 
tion to true bearings, with a view to finding 
their magnetic and compass bearings, I quote 
the following; 
To turn a true hearing into a magnetic and 
compass bearing— 
If the variation or deviation is west, allow it 
to the right. 
If the variation or deviation is east, allow it 
to the left. 
EXAMPLE. 
True bearing . N. 30 W. 
Variation (allow to right, i. e., sub¬ 
tract . 13 W. 
Magnetic bearing . N. 17 W. 
Deviation (allow to left, i. e., add)... 3 E. 
Compass bearing . N. 20 W. 
To turn a cornpass bearing into a magnetic 
and true hearing— 
If the deviation or variation is west, allow it 
to the left. 
If the deviation or variation is east, allow it 
to the right. 
EXAMPLE. 
Compass bearing . N. 20 W. 
Deviation (allow to the right, i. e., sub¬ 
tract) .i.. . 3 E. 
Magnetic bearing . N. 17 W. 
Variation (allow to the left, i. e., add) 13 W. 
N. 30 W. 
The second process being of course the exact 
reverse of the first. 
Now take a careful compass bearing of the 
two objects, the difference between the two bear¬ 
ings, as taken from the chart, and also from the 
compass, being the deviation of the latter for 
that point upon which the yacht’s head lay at the 
time of the observation. 
Now proceed to turn the vessel round, stop¬ 
ping her to take a fresh bearing of the objects 
as her head rests steadily on every full point, or 
10 degrees, whichever the navigator prefers. 
Having noted each bearing down, together with 
the direction of the yacht’s head at the time of 
taking it, comparisons can be made with the cor¬ 
rect magnetic bearing of the two objects, and 
a complete deviation card compiled, which will 
be invaluable for future reference. 
[to be concluded.] 
M©iL©r B©atmi 
Motor Boat Show. 
The eighth annual exhibition of motor boats 
and engines will be opened in Madison Square 
Garden to-night, and will convene for eight 
days. The Garden has been transformed to 
represent one of the long piers running into 
the Hudson River. It is doubtful if prepara¬ 
tions for a show of this kind were ever made 
before on so extensive a scale. As the show 
is one of boats, engines, and their accessories, 
everything in the Garden is of a nautical char¬ 
acter. On entering the Garden from the Madi- 
sin avenue end, one will imagine that he is 
walking down a long pier in the neighborhood 
of West Twenty-third street. At the end of the 
floor will be seen the Hudson River, its tide 
flooding. On the other heading north will be 
the United States cruiser Salem, alongside the 
torpedo boat destroyer Meade and the high 
speed boat Dixie IV. So' well has the scenic 
artist painted these fast craft that they seem to 
be racing. Bow waves are splashing against 
the stems of each and the spray is being thrown 
high on each side. In the distance is the New 
Jersey shore with Castle Stevens, and in the 
distance the blue hills about the Oranges. 
On each side of this pier or dock is a mammoth 
ocean steamer. The Olympic is on the north 
and the Mauretania on the south. These two 
are apparently ready tO' put to sea. Black 
smoke is belching from the four stacks on each 
vessel. The scenery to display the midship sec¬ 
tions of these two steamers is 240 feet long and 
it towers way up into the roof girders of the 
Garden. The exhibits of boats and engines are 
to be on the dock or main floor of the Garden. 
There will be altogether more than 150 exhibi¬ 
tors at this show and as yachtsmen are all 
anxious to find out what the prevailing fashions 
in boats will be this year, and to see what im¬ 
provements have been made in engines in ig¬ 
nition, carburettors and the many other things 
that go to make a perfect boat, these exhibits 
will be attractive. 
Among the exhibitors will be twenty-five boat 
builders and these will have 17 cruisers, ranging 
in size from 26 to 60 feet, many day boats of 
all sizes and a dozen hydroplanes of different 
types. The National Association of Engine & 
Boat_ Manufacturers who hold this annual ex¬ 
hibition, wish this year to make it as educa¬ 
tional as possible, and the Motor Boat School 
of the Young Men’s Christian Association and 
the Nautical College will conduct an informa¬ 
tion bureau where the novice can learn all about 
boats, engines and trips, and the expert can 
learn a few things he did not know before. 
Capt. Howard Patterson and others are to lec¬ 
ture afternoon and evenings on boats, engines, 
nautical instruments, the compass, chart reading 
and many other subjects. These lectures will 
be free to visitors to the show. In the theatre 
there will be moving picture show and the races 
for the British International trophy and other 
classic events can be witnessed again. 
Maurice Levi is to conduct the band. This, 
too, will be nautical in character. Every piece 
rendered will have a taste of the sea and many 
special numbers have been written for this 
show which will be rendered for the first time. 
Caini©©ninii 
Atlantic Division Meet. 
Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 10. —Editor Forest 
and Stream: Although 1912 is the year for the 
Atlantic Division of the American (Sanoe Asso¬ 
ciation, to support and carry out the general 
camp, Vice-Commodore Fort and the division 
officers have planned a regular division meet. 
This event will be held from July 3 to 7, in¬ 
clusive, at the Philadelphia C. C., Wissahickon, 
Philadelphia. 
This club occupies the old quarters of the 
“State in Schuylkill Fish Club.” known as 
Colony Castle, the building being over a hun¬ 
dred years old and originally used as a Revo¬ 
lutionary grist mill. The club house and 
grounds are in the famous Fairmount Park at 
the junction of the Wissahickon Creek and 
Schuylkill River, and delightful short cruises, 
can be taken on both streams. 
The Wissahickon runs through a rugged 
valley beautiful at all times and with enough 
rifts and rough water to suit anyone, while the 
river and canal give opportunities for easier 
cruises. The park extends on both sides of the 
Schuylkill below the club and on this stretch 
each Fourth of July the People’s Rowing Re¬ 
gatta is held, which is known as the American 
Henley, and all the big events are run off at 
that time. 
In the other direction, up the river, at Valley 
Forge, a special Independence Day celebration 
is held that is worth paddling up to see. 
The camp this year will be unique. It will 
practically be held on club grounds in the city 
of Philadelphia, and yet be out in the open, at 
the same time. Trolleys pass the door, and 
Wissahickon station on the Reading R. R. is 
right at hand, while Riverside Mansion and 
High Bridge Hotel, both well-known road 
houses, are practically on the same ground. 
The railroad facilities make it convenient for 
out-of-town people, while the trolley service 
will enable campers to go to and from work 
in a short time, staying in camp at night. 
Although unable to run any sailing races on 
the Schuylkill, a course for paddling events can 
be selected to suit all conditions. 
There will be no general mess, but arrange¬ 
ments will be made whereby good service can 
be had for bread, groceries, milk, etc., so that 
the real campers can enjoy their own meals, 
while the hotels can look after the ones who 
prefer not to cook. The committee is going 
to arrange smokers, dances, campfires, cruises 
and entertainments, so that everyone will have 
a good time. Definite directions how to reach 
there will be given later on. 
The Red Dragon C. C. had its annual mess 
at the club house on the Delaware, Wissinom- 
ing, Saturday, Jan. 13. It was a bang-up affair, 
and all those present enjoyed themselves. The 
Dragons were a quarter of a century old this 
year and celebrated accordingly. 
The Philadelphia C. C. held a smoker at the 
club house on the Schuylkill on Jan. 27. Visi¬ 
tors from Red Dragon, Lakanoo and Yapewi 
were on hand and after a fine feed, the A. C. 
A. was boosted from all sides. 
Frank T. Wilson. 
