The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-21
FISHERMEN DOUBT SHAMROCK 1T
Men of Galilee and Barnegat Believe Challenger Will Be Beaten

Men of Galilee and Barnegat Believe Challenger Will Be Beaten. While there is a certain fear mani fested by the general public that the Shamrock II. will carry off the Ameri- cas- Cup 1t is significant that the hardy fishermen of the Jersey coast have sub lime confidence in the ability of the Columbia to successfully defend the trophy. A three weeks search from Barnegat to the Highlands found but one man who thought the cup was in danger, and 1t was doubtful if he had not mercenary motive in his pessl- mistic phophecies.
 No better judges of yachts quali- ties than the men who make their liv- ing at the grounds" of Barnegat, Cali lee and other points can be found, and as they have watched the daily work of the Shamrock and all the previous races their opinion is entitled to weight. Somehow or another this opinion is ex- pressed in terms which do not agree with the estimates of many yachting experts. For instance, despite the strong belief that the Shamrock will do her best in light winds, or next to none at all, the fishermen of Galilee say she "ain't drifter at all an won't be in it with the Columbia" The re- port recently published that on one trip the Shamrock made seven knots in five knot breeze Is laughed to as much scorn as the remark of an expert that "the anchor was sheeted home." "She has too much to drag" said one imperturbable Galilean. That keel Is too heavy and too deep It'll catch all the struggling seaweed floating about in these parts, and add to the drag. and it won't let her give to the wind it's so deep. of this coast our center board boats often lose speed while sail ing in even strong breeze. You'll notice the man on board get up, pull the centerboard up and let 1t down again Then the boat resumes her nor maj speed, The operation is often re- peated; that Is because the centerboard catches the weeds The deeper the board the more 1t catches. But outside of this the keel is too heavy. and we notice that if seems an effort for the boat to carry it along"
 Under that condition do you think Shamrock will show her best form" was asked of a Barnegat man, whose palms were hard as oyster shells. The reply was indorsed by score of fisher men subquently seen.
 "The Shamrock will do her best work in a twenty five knot breeze. Over that or under it she will be beaten by the Columbia. It will be a close race, but she will be beaten. The Columbia sail without wind. and in ten knot breeze will show the Shamrock her heels either running or beating. The Columbia points higher and runs clean CT. Above twenty-five knot breeze the Shamrock will carry sails or spars away, and bury herself anyhow if she doesn't owing to her press of canvass. She will have to reef under such con- ditions. when the Columbia will stand all her routine sail. Then, in spite of all said and done, the Shamrock does not get away as quickly as she might There's no denying she's a swift boat, but she has to make an effort to start that heavy keel ahead
 Another point made by the boatmen of the Horseshoe is that the Shamrock is too steady She does not heel to the wind. It takes a heavy breeze to get her lee rail down to water. It is admitted that the crew is handy one that the sails fit to perfection, and that the vessel is better than her predecessor, but with all these per factions the men of Galilee and Barne- gat and of Navesink have no faith in the Shamrock II. the prophecy that she is beaten boat