The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-07-21
ABOUT BOATS AND BOATING.


what Man who Makes u Business
of Renting boats Says of rhis and
Otber Seasons.
1--WE shan't do one-third the business
this year that we ought to do, and not moro
than half as much as we did last summer"
was the grumbling complaint of boatnan
10 CRITIC reporter.
Business is dull, is it2" inquired the re-
porter as ho seated himself in such posi-
tion that he escaped the uuwelcome re-
minder that he was near the guano facto-
RIGS.
Dull, well should say So" tho other
returned. "Why business amt anything
like it was several years ago. 1t used to
be about impossible to keep boat in the
house. Just as soon as one would be
brought In 1t would be hired at once aud
taken out again. All we bad to do was TO
sit here and take in the money. Letting boats
then was q money making business" he
added, mournfully shaking his head at the
contrast between the past and present.
'Now,a whole day may go by without hard
ly an application"
Evening is the great time for rowing,
isn't it,"
Eyes, evening and Sunday wo used to let
out good many boats during the day, but
we don't any more. Everybody waits un
til evening, and not nearly as many come
in the evening as used to-
"What do you think Is the reason-more
people own their boats2"
"Well, that's partly the reason. think
the greatest reason is that people in Gov
eminent offices are saving their money
more this summer than last. You sec,
they don't know whether there will be
change, and they think IL best to save
their money. II the present officers stay
in why next season will be a good one.
They will BIO willing to spend their money
as they used to. If the Democrats come In
don't know how things will be. They're
so inclined to cut down appropriations l
am afraid they won't want to spend much"
"About how much do you expect one Of
your boats to earn during the season ?"
ats hard to say. l counted up what
one boat made last season, and IL was one
of our poorer boats, and 1 found 1t was about
$685."
"The Others probably earned considerably
more than that then ?"
"Oh, yes double that"
"WelI, that must be pretty lucrative
business. How much does good boat
cost ~
"There's one you can have for $S5-good
as new hasn't been used over half dozen
times. It's light, doesn't weigh over ninety
pounds, seats for two, sliding seats, spoon
oars, swivel oarlocks. But our boats are
generally good deal heavier than that
They cost nearer hundred"
"How long is the SEASON."
at begins about the middle of March
and lasts until September. Sometimes it's
earlier. sometimes later. 1t never extend s
later in the fall, for the evenings become so
cool that the ladies can't stand it,"
"Do the boating parties generally land or
Just go up the river for row."
ooh, they generally land. You'll see al
most every party bringing back some kind
Of greens they gathered on the banks"
How about hiring boats by the season or
months much of that done? ?"
Considerable. Some parties make ar
rapgements to take certain boat, say three
evenings in week during the season. That
boat is kept for them on those evenings
and does not 20 out, no matter how many
applications there are for 1t. OF course o
considerable reduction in rates is made for
those.who rent by the month. We charge
81 an evening when taken by the single
evening, but it's considerably less by the
month. If you should own your boat and
paid for its being kept, 1t would cost you
$24 year to have 1t kept. So you see by
hiring by the month or season you can
avoid great deal of bother and trouble and
| be sure Of a hrst-class boat as often as you
| care for 1t and IL won't cost you much, II
| any, moro than the care of your own boat.
| "Many boats been built for private pur-
poses this season."
| mo, not many. It's as 1 said people are
saving their money" and the boatman re-
turned to his gloomy meditations.