The New York herald., 1870-04-27
R Q W. N @.
THE GREAT SEASON OF 1870.
~~~~>~>~~--~~>~>>-~~~-~
Growing Popularity Ofthe
PaSti1nc.
BOatS--Their Construction, Classification,
Dimensions and CSt-The New Paper
Shells and Working Boats.
Oars. Sculls and Style Of Rowing in New
York Clubs; Matches and Regattas.
THE MIDSHIPMEN vs.. THE ATALANTAs.

been such bright promise anu glorious prospects as
now upon the dawn Of the coming season. Th re
seems TO have been impaired an impetus, boundless
ana csaseless thL has operated 10 bring out the
sturdy and cjnplshed veterans OF byROne yeas
VINO have done so mucA to elevate the American oar
so much to advance our boat cen ;trGci ion aud its
varying intrca:ies, an ill up the prond rec ,rds
or our different clubs with time never eXceled In
any quart,r of the worll. Enthusiasm abounis
evcrywhere among rowAs. Already they have
begun to launch th,lr fran craft the waters or IN
bay, IN the N~r.h ami East rivers and a. the club
houses along the fronts, and especially at the
foot OF Christopher street. where daily the muscular
oarsman can be seen, Uniformed ia his prescribed
wear, propelling elthery shell beneath the counters
OF the ferry boats through the fleets OF the lighters
and scows about vessels anchored in the stream or
pressing the rsey shore. The season is Just begin
ming, and days of activity are drawing nigh. But
the pastime, either in its amateur or professional
sense, is not merely confined to New York. to the
Atlantic seaboard IL extends throughout the Union,
wherever there is sheet of water, whether on the
muddy surface OF the E.ie Canal on the placid
face of some inland pond. II Is Gratifying
TO find that healthful and vigorous ex-
ercise calling for the rapid powerful but not deeter-
Gus muscular movements necessitated by rowing is
increasing in public favor. In country like America
where the incessant howl is Business, business,u
from daylight to darkness; where young men have
no time to indulge their constitutions in little in
vigOrating play, and where those OF middle age have
long ceased to think even OF recreation it is really
encouraging to observe grounds for hope that we
may yet have purely
> NATIONAL AND UNIVERSAL PAsTIME,
and that rowing, which demands the most bene-
fetal training Of the body, developing the
chest, giving ninty hardness to the arms,
dexterity to the limbs the glow of health
and freshness to the cheeks. There il
nothing more natural so comparatively inc xpeasye
and )thing w.icl with similar capital win afford
equal p.easure and bodily profit. Young ladies in
Europe-Americln young ladies abroad in particu-
lar-are not too tmid 20 ply the upon Lake Geneva
or In the bay at Naples and the result is that those
who seek this hardy recreation have little use for
rouge lip save or hard enamel to fill up the valleys
dug out by the twin efforts OF time and laziness-
those coplrtn that have such fondne for crows
custom has been e lera for young ladies to drift out
with pair OF scus, and they have often accom-
plished what the fashionable snob would disdain to
attempt as an inroad upon his ease.
THIS summer ladies VIII patronize the rastime
more than ever LelOre, and we may soon LOOK for
sewing circles anl soclabIes upon the water. At
the colleges a4d na 10 al Institutions the country
has heard for years II the proficiency expertness
and ready aptitude Of the American youth. Through
the wisdom OF Admirai Por.er the interest Is being
heighte ed He has thrown all the vast inuense OF
the Navy Department into the par onage OF the pas
time, and under this Cn ia sanction Ii has grown to
unusual prom inence. And why should Il nOt2 1t IL
the only manly sport where excellence depends upon
purely physical edO,t untra nmelled by trlc kerry
and uninnuenced by soeclous conditions 1t
and mi mi
at once improves, ald where dissipation s rather
drawback than at ractlon. it is lesson learned
never to be forgotten and az accomplishment once
maste el never to be lost In and about the city
new clubs are organizing, and commendable zeal is
observed everywhere.
The first step after enrolment and the Inauguration
Of the machinery Of club Il to secure an eligible size
Tor
BOAT HOUSE,
and in order TO obtain general view Of the subject
the at tenton of the reader Is invited to the club
houses at the foot of Christopher street. North liyer
That OF the Atanta Club, Ce oldest body OF its kind
III America, neat two story structure built out
the river, with large arg hatchway through which to
to the stowage Of boats, oars and fittings, and the
numerous craft can now be seen carefully put away,
in fine condition, available for instant The sec
Ond story Is occupied for the club rooms, and is
handsome apartment, hung with pictures OF aquatic
contests, regattas, famous oarsmen, marine scenes
and various celebrated characters who have earned
renown. Adjoining this room and overlooking The
river Is an apartment lifted up with numerous
is the balcony. This is fair type OF all boat
houses. They are situated at various points along
the SHORES of the North river
BOATS
are of course CONSTRUCTED or speed-every other
consideration being secondary to this demand-f0r
1t ls only by icing 1ast tnat u man gains anything
In this world. 10 OBTAIN THIS requisite there has
been great deal Of experimenting, miny theories
and frequent inprOvem nts and the belief is now
IN dimensions
aud concerning su stances, bo,t construction Is as
near periec ION as possible oy the ald OF human
skill. In general oats must be built for ltghtnesi,
q shallow draught OF wa er, clean and perfect
bottoms, exact outlines eAqusltely balanced,
appendages- anse all these qualities COM
bined IN ltgh dcgree will make last
rally fitted with rudders. Boats are known forward
the bows, ait as the stern sheets, with transverse
seats called thwarts. The rounded bottom Is the
biige, consisting OF streaks nailed TO firmly knit
fiamew0rk, which is OvertOpped by the gunwale.
Where the oar ships In the gunwae the r0wiOck Is
the movements G O. sne loom. CRAVINGS are shipped at
the bows and in The stern sheets, and painter Is
coed down forward ready for use on touching shore
or disembarking Oi the classification OF boats and
those In use by the Hudson Amateur Rowing AsS0-
ciatOn we begin with me
which constitute the Ilird clas, They win man
from four TO sixteen oars but barges generally man
ether four six or eight oars One of the latter class
Is owned by the Atanta Club and Is, OF course, only
for pleasure, Is the case win all bages OF this
class 1t Is OF clinker build, that Is, lapstreaked,
and, therefore, Of pattern from which little speed
can be expected. Tue nfcion ls undeniably greater
with this style OF construction than with the curved
model, whleh his smooth bottom. This barge Is
built with all oak frame cedar streaks, Is fory-hve
feet long, four feet wide, permits one man to
thwart and costs $4o0 Of It's kind is an excellent
type.
Above 1t, nicely housed, is q six-oared barge,
called light racing barge fortytwo feet long, forty
two inches wide, and weighing 26o pounds II Is
made OF Zine and cedar Like all barges, rowing Is
done on The gunwale Tie second class comprehends
GIGS.
These are elegant little boats, built with the
greatest delicacy and finish, and constructed for
two four or six oars. sxoared gig Is about forty
dve feet long, thirty inches wide, and weighs about
225 pounds. The outlines are very sharp, and the
narrower the Lean the greater length OF keelson.
GgSiIe fitted with wooden or metallic outriggers
consisting OF two galvanizediron projecting from
the side and flmy embracing the rowlock at a
horzonta distance of tMeve inches from the gun
vale. These uutrgAel r.wiucks aie now ntJe on
the En- glls plan til wooden pouchlng II tie hard
est XII d. the ar ument cling that The l. less iric-
tOu aud ea Ieg a.. The distance between the out
rgee.s (oub, ard Is n.y. 10 ~. heS In the inter
OF lss u.ewo del fnisniig very elegant, ami they
re4Lie "a e.ul ald delicate handling. Gigs aie lifted