Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18

that the streams OF the Dominion arc
more suited 10 the sport than TIE ma
iorlty of those Of the United S'ales' eN-
cept I'm the Maine woods.
For years The ST. Lawrence ana the
saruenay have been the Mecca OF the
American canoeist. Here was the oppoI-
tunity for which they all sought-lhat or
demonstrating what skill they uid pos
sess and acquiring stil more Al
qrst 1t was the plain padding canoe
Then the more Vcnturosome OF me
canoeists tried the tactics which the
canadian Indians employed years ago
ON the St. L.awrence-sailing. though win
somewhat different sails. The result mas
been a. steady growth OF the popularity
OF the sailing canoe, until THIS season
The number Of sailing canoes Will APP
proach very closely to those wing are
operated by paddles alone.
II must not be supposed that canoes
are TO be found only IN Canadian waters.
There are plenty Of them which SKIM
over what the old settlers Of the west
uscd TO call the unsaltcd seas.
The rivers Of the East also number not
q fevr Of them among the craft that dot
their surface. when. at Albany the
other day tho writer saw as trim
"A sailing canoe as was ever
built. and the way she was
handled showed that her skipper was no
novice She was OF that variety known
os the 81. I.awrencc-river racing Skill
and the speed she showed was some
thing marvellous. She was decked over
entirely. as all Of the best racing canoes
of to-day are. and was fitted win WHAT
is called the sliding seat.
This seat is worth more than passing
notice. for TO me it seems one or the
cleverost features which modern ldeaS
have given the canocist IT Is construct
ed. as a rule, Of piece OF stout TWO
inch plank, which extends 10 ihchos ITO"
the side OF the canoe. Upon this the
Skinner of the canoe sits while sailing
II fts upon the side Of the boat ia such
a manner that It can be shifted from
one side 20 the other at the pleasure or
tho skipper. when the canoe tachs. Leu
some of the old-tmers who read ms
compare IL with the ancient method or
sitting upon the deck while sailing. NO
one minds a ducking If he Is a real canoe
let hut the canoelst loves comfort, ana
here Is a bright and shining example OF
what ne can do TO gain IL.
yror those whose taste does not run in
ere direction OF sails the good Old pad
dler Is as strongly in evidence as ever
II one IS going into the woods theh
should he depend upon his padGle. IL ~
an absolute necessity If one Is gong 10
,oi,e n canoe trip all along that he
sNo,bd no an EXPERT with the cairoe a
good shot. a good cook, and moderately
sreu skilled in wood lore. Then he must
he n first-class swimmer. as the one ac-
o,aent which the canOeist has most 10
Gear Is drowning. For the reason thal
n "a not often one person combines an
tbe knowledge referred TO- unless ne Is
n nrofessional woodsman, IN the Canadian
country. II is the practice this year lor
two persons TO take the canoe UP TO-
eetrler This IS decided saleb"aTu
against accident. for If anything halpens
10 one 1t IS more than an even ou"nCe
Tint the other viii be able 70 give aid'
,,hore ~ there was only one person
NAT one would be Obliged TO depend SOLE
~ upon himself at all times.
Tn the minds of most persons the WORD
canoe Immediately calls TO mind The
indian and the birch bark craft that the
novelist has always given hm WhehcNe'
tho slightest opportunity made II possloie'
AZ matter OF fact. I'm Canada to-day
there are not half dozen birch-parR
canoes The person who wishes 10 We
and ride In the olG-timc bicch-paik aIall
must needs journey into the Maine WOODS
There. not so very FAR from the Cauaolln
line ne will ind both the hirch-baik canoe
ana the bdckNoolaHi""' "-' ~
his appearance. 20 have just stepped IRON
the pages Of an old-time novel
The birch bark canoe is much more uh'
certain in It's movements than the more
modern one constructed Of cedar or bass
wood. such as even the Canadian Indians
,se nowadays. The canoeist viii tell you
that Il Is cranky" and there is no other
word which better expresses It's genera
characteristics. sim. there Is infinite
pleasure In forcing II with gentle but
firm strokes OF the paddle 10 take YOU
along. and realize that you have mastered
this most unruly of boats.
More people so TO the woods ana camp
out every year. Time WAS when II was
thought that 10 camp cut IN summer one
s<.as4 .4.-->- Ia ~ ,=,sa his IT, -4Ha