The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-29
special Correspondence

| EU'S viz . pCL Y cp AlIpCbASs l. LULU
Montreal he sailed in paper canoe
through Lake Champlain, down the
Hudson and along the coast of Florida.
He also sailed down the Ohio and Mis-
| sissipi in sneak box-a sort of marine
| fatiron in shape-and his book descrip-
tive of the journey had an enormous
| sale.
AS late as 1879 there was but one club
| and only hundred or so of canoeists in
the United States. Many open canoes
were then in use in Canada, and few
in the United States, but of decked cedar
canoes there were probably not over $50
in the country up to 1879, all of the
Rob Roy or Nautilus model. In 1879
the New York Canoe club held regat-
ia on New York bay, the first for five
years, and, in fact, the first successful
canoe regatta sailed in this country.
During the same summer a number
of canoeists visited Lake George and
were present at the rowing regatta off
Crosbyside, and extra prizes were offered
for canoe races, which were hurriedly
arranged. Just above Crosbyside, the
headquarters Of the boating men, was
the beautiful home of one of the earliest
and most enthusiastic of Americas canoe
lists, Mr.. N. Fl. Bishop, and it was in his
fertile brain that the idea of national
association of American canoeists first
originated and the general scheme as
well as its details was planned. Mr..
Bishop was at the time disengaged from
business, and he took up the new idea
with all the dash and energy that char
acterize his many adventurous cruises.
In the highest story of his beautiful
house, overlooking the lake far and
near, he set up an amateur printing press,
and in 1879 began his missionary work
in behalf of canoeing. He was soon in
correspondence with the leading Eng
fish, Scotch and canadian canoeists, and
in little while had made the acquaint-
ance by letter with the few American
canoeists, then disunited and isolated
couple of dozen in New York, two or
three in Cincinnati, one in San Francisco
and others in different localities.
1t was solely through Mr.. Bishops
labors that the arrangements were made
for the meet nf canoeists at Crosbyside,
Lake George, in August, 1880, with sail
ing and padding races, those present to
organize a national association. Help
was promised from all quarters, but the
promises were not kept, and when the
first meeting was called to order only
thirteen men responded. This bakers
dozen of canoeists camped, padded,
sailed and talked, the result being that
all went home full of enthusiasm and
ready to come back the next year to the
second meet of the American Canoe as
ISOLATION, which they had organized
with Mr.. Alden as commodore and Mr..
Bishop as secretary.
During the next year the growth of
the young organization was somewhat
slow. Canoeing had not yet overcome
the strong prejudice and ridicule which
it excited at first, but the annual meet
was successful and well attended. 1t |
was held on the Canoe islands, owned |
by Messrs. Bishop, Longworth and Wul-
sin, near Long Island. This year the
first Canadian delegation five canoes), |
led by Mr. Edwards and Colonel Harry |
Rogers, was present.
In 1882 the association had increased |
greatly and most successful meet was
held at the Canoe islands. In the fol-
lowing year a move was made to Can
ada, the camp being held at Stony lake,
with the result that many Canadian
canoeists joined.
As the meets increased in size it be-
came evident that the Canoe islands
were too small, while the winds on Lake
George were not the best for canoe sail