The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-01
To MAKE A CANOE

The best time OF the year TO get bark
suitable FOR a birch canoe is July. says
r. II. Risteen i'm the New York Press
This is what is known as summer bark
which can be peeled from about the mid
die of June tin the middle of Aug,st.
winter bark from April TO oct. Win
ter bark is really the firmer and
stronger for the purpose OF building a
canoe. but II is now very scarce an 0hard
10 find. Some summer bark has good
Wear-right out In looking for bark
suitable for canoe there is no trouble
IN hnding II wide enough. but IL is diff
cunt 10 nnd II long enough and free from
knots and blemlshes
How do / make "A bark canoep girs,
! clear of piece o. ground perfectly
level the length of the canoe. rounding
~ up little IN the centre To ht the shape
OF the canoe. Next | make the frames
or gunwales OF the canoe: then | lay the
bark on the ground, with the inside
downward; lay my gunwale frame on top
or that, weight IL with stones or other
weights 10 press IL solidly as possible.
Then turn the edges OF the bark up and
drive stakes all around the gunwalc
from two TO three feet apart, tying the
tops together with cedar bark spruce
roots or any kind of string Then IL
your bark Is not wide enough as is
usually tht~p>sse, YOU have 20 sew
piece on each edge in the centre OF the
canoe 20 make hor dccp enough. This
VIII require some hours work When
an this Is done she wants TO be left a
day or 90 10 get the bark i'm press TO
give II the mold. Thou you sew your
pieces on the sides whore the bark is
rot wide enough for the sides OF the ca
noe Then you rase your gunwales
about eight Inches in the centre up the
stakes toward the top OF the bark OF
course, at the bow and stern YOU raise
them more 10 give them the proper curve
and mold on top and still keep the
weights we'll on the bottom. so as to
preserve the shape of the canoe should
have said that as soon as the canoe Is
in press You 40 90 work and make your
rios, and that gives the bark time 20
FORM. u will take day and a half to
get them made and bent. Cedar makes
the best ribs. Sometimes we have To
use fir but t is hard 20 make "A go)d
Job of IL unless you have steam box.
You can make the canoe. OF course. any
size you like The average size Is about
rs feet long, inches deep IN the centre
and about 50 to - inches wide. Exact
dimensions are matter of fancy
face my canoes inside with pitch. with
a layer OF cotton on top OF that. This
strengt hens the canoe. and II you break
a hole through the bark. there Is some
thing behind It, Besides IL adds prac-
tically nothing TO the weight To build
a bark canoe takes from four TO six
days. according to your chances and the
YOU have to work with.
After you have raised the gunwales
and gwen the canoe the right mold on
top. YOU draw the bark up tiyht and
bend IL over the gunwales and tack IL
down, and then you put IN top strip |
and nail 70 TO the guuwa-e, also a side |
piece OF cedar or fir along the side of
he gunwalc Rhen this is all complete |
you take your weights out and turn |
your canoe upside down and shake out /
all the dirt. chips ana shavings. She is |
now practically complete except the |
'rame.
Turn her over again on n smooth bot
.om, put a bunch OF moss or shavlngs ,
under the bow end OF her and spring ID |
~ a little. This l. the time when YOU /
put on your facing of pitch and cotton. /
When that is done YOU lay strips of |
,edar or fir about onc-tenth of an inch l
hick lenEthways W tho canoe each OF \
hem being made a little over half the
ength of the canoe so they will lap over
n the centre. where the ends want TO
De- shaved off so a. TO make the joint
As neat and level as possible. Then YOU
,egin at the end OF t;le canoe fitting |
N your ribs. You get the right gauge 1
after YOU have cut one or two
You slip them In under the gunwales
md drive them In place with a mallet--
, half round mallet with fiat sides. Keep
IN driving the ribs until you get to
bout the centre Of the canoe, then you
everse the ends aud begin at the other
nj again when that Is done All you
,nve to do IL 90 turn your canoe up,
,ut the pitch ON her. and fix the ends.
rhc indians use strips OF cedars split
a nt the shape OF the bow, but 7 pre-
er a spruce cedar or fir root made To
h the shape Of your bow and stern. I
et that I'm, and then tack the bark sol
div TO A. Rosin and cotton are then
.ut over the bark at the bow, and IL
.ou want 20 make a good job of it, IL is
,etter To place a piece Of zinc over that.
citing it run wei under the bow TO
uard against striking stones, otc.,w when
on are goiuv ashore.