Evening star., 1911-06-04

the boat, but with the people who use II.
1t Is tricky and dangerous in the hands of
a novice-so is any kind of craft-yet
when rightly handled the canoe offers the
rarest Of sport
II people would use the canoe as 1t
should be used. safely and sanely. and
not attempt idiotic stunts, there would
be less accidents But as long as careless
people go on the water. just so long will
mishaps occur. for without question the
majority Of accidents are due to this one
thing. When they canoe sensibly then,
and only then. will there be a let-up in
the number Of casualties. With certain
fundamental principles taken into consid-
GRAFTON in handling canoe, II IL abso-
lutely safe These principles are not only
true Of canoe. but they are equally true
OF rowboat. launch or any small boat
as well.
Before going any further the writer
would ike to impress the reader with the
absolute importance of knowing how to
swim. No one should sport around the
water In either a canoe, rowboat or sail
boat II he cannot swim. Only one acci-
ing-drowning-and with common sense
the chances of this are very small The
fact that SO few people swim accounts
dor the large number OF fatalities from
Before going into the finer details of
handling canoe. consider for q mo-
ment what style of canoe to use. Select
h-eraft that will meet your REQUIREMENTS.
Ohe style or canoe, for instance IL salts
factory on a small stream. but would not
answer your purpose on a larger body of
water The same holds true regarding
ssS slow VIZ, and swift streams. So. IN pur-
canoeing you expect to do.
For ordinary purposes the canoe hav-
ing the greatest width midship, coupled
With hghtness. so that one man can carry
Il without great Inconvenience Is the
deal canoe to use. Seventeen-foot canoes
seem to be the most popular length.
This. OF course. does not apply where a
cruise Is planned. for then 1t Is best to
have stronger and more substantial
boat II you expect to go out alone a
small canoe Is the most desirable, but il
more than one Is to go, secure q canoe
that will safely carry the number you
take Do not overload canoe. Do not
put TOUR people into q craft that vas
meant for only two
A beginner should be careful when get
ing In or out of canoe, for careless
ness at such a time has been the cause
NJ many accidents. Before entering a
canoe. decide which way you want to
race; that done, stand next to the canoe
ana step directly over the center or keel
with the outside foot. With the one foot
placed. stoop and catch the gunwales
With the hands to steady yourself while
bringing the other foot In
With both hands on the gunwaies the
oaddler very easily can balance and con-
troll the canoe while sitting down. In
this position the center of gravity Is very
ow, making 1t almost impossible to up
st- When the paddler stands up the
conditions are directly reversed, however,
SO that more trouble is experienced In
keeping upright. Practice In getting
sfoat and ashore at the very beginning
will help the novice to avoid an unpieas-
ant and perhaps dangerous spill. Do not
attempt to step into the canoe while
boxing across the beam. This forces
you to stand upright, which In itself Is
dangerous. to say nothing of the handi-
zap In keeping q balance. The only prac-
.ical way to stand UP Is to have the hori-
20 the canoe, facing either end. with the
feet just al wide apart as they will 60.
Once having entered the canoe. do not
change position. This Is possible. but It
requires more skill and ability than the
aovice possesses and always involves
ianger. However. people have done 1t In
he past and In all probability will con-
inue to do SO in the future; consequently.
4 you must change use the safest plan.
The chief danger Is where several peo-
Die are concerned. as usually X only one
person is in the canoe almost any scheme
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