New-York tribune., 1922-09-17
w. S. Burgess. Designer, TO
Protest Nova Scotians'
! Efforts to Keep Boston
Fisherman Out of Race
isn't a Yacht He Insists
Builder Declares the Vessel
Is Eligible and Points
to Carrying Capacity
By Frederick B. Edwards

row evening to fight for his pet YES
sci. He will put up battle that will
make some of the Nova Scotians Won
der if they haven't made a mistake in
announcing their intention to bar the
Boston contender from the interna-
tional fshermen's race this fall. If he
is in the same frame of mind he was
in this morning the good folks of the
Nova Scotian capital are likely 20
imagine that the war has broken out
all over again.
In his Office in State Street yester-
day, surrounded by models Of new and
old yachts, and with a picture of the
Mayhower in permanent position on
the wall, Mr.. Burgess spoke what is
in his mind, about the Mayfower and
the action of the Nova Scotians who
say "she shall not race" He spoke
with q lot of feeling, and a lot of con-
viction. If ever man honestly be-
\ lieved that he had built stanch vessel
for practical purposes, Burgess is that
man.
In NO Sense Yacht"
NShe isn't a yacht" he said vigor-
ously. "She isn't yacht in any sense
of the word. Her construction is
heavier than any fishing schooner ever
before built, to the best of my knowl-
edge. / built her that way on purpose
her frame is greater than that of any
other schooner fishing out of Boston
or Gloucester, either.
II am convinced that the people in
Halifax do not know exactly what the
Mayfiower's measurements and carry
ing capacity are. That is why l am
going to Halifax. I am going to prove
to them that the Mayfower is by all
measurements and by her record,
practical fisherman. | am prepared to
concede whatever alterations in her
rig the trustees demand and am ready
TO demonstrate tnat she can and does
earn her keep as a fisherman. | am
confident that the good sportsmanship
which always goes hand in hand with
deep-sea sailing will, after my case is
IN, lead to a reversal of the decision
TO refuse the Mayfower's entry for this
years races.
The Canadian committee objects to
what it describes as 'freakish details of
her rigging l presume that the ref
erence IS to her yacht spreaders and
herbmartingale. These are admittedly
features of yacht design which | put
on the Mayf1ower because they help
her efficiency as speedy fisherman. AS
! see the case, the addition of the two
details Of rigging makes her better
fisherman, and | understand that it is
the primary object Of the international
race to develop more efficient types of
fishing vessels. Nevertheless | have
the authority of her owners to agree
to discard these new rigging details if
by discarding them we can persuade
the Canadians to accept her entry.
Can Garry $4,000 Pounds
"As to her carrying capacity it is as
good as most fishermen of her tonnage
and better than many. She can carry
b25,0 900 pounds of fish, which is more
than any boat, including the Bluenose,
packs on an average run. She has
been constantly in the fishing business
since her launching. She has been
fishing on the banks all season, return
ing to Boston only to unload her catch,
and she has earned her keep as a fish
erman. She is a deep-sea fishing
schooner in every possible sense, and
as such she certainly should be eligible
to race. The displacement tonnage of
the Bluenose is only per cent greater
.hoh Litdt Ol lne NidyuOWeT, anu CDe
iatter's displacement is greater than
that Of many Of the vessels accepted
as eligible
There is no test which the May
flower cannot meet. In order to bar
her the Canadians must fall back on
their own unsupported view that she
is not eligible, because they say she is
not eligible. / lave too high an opin-
ION OF Nova Scotian sportsmanship to
hot 1>o
barred on so fimsy an excuse.
There remains only the question of
cost. The reason why the Mayfower
cost more than she should have is that
her construction was hurried, because
we wished to have her make her first
trip IN time to be eligible for last
years race: Overtime and the extra
expense of working under adverse
winter conditions piled up her con-
struetion cost. l can build a boat on
the same model to-day under normal
conditions for $4,000 at the outside;
probably for little less. That is not
an excessive pice for modern fishing
vessel of the Mayfower type.
Cost Question Not Raised
"As matter of fact, the question of
cost does not enter. That point has
not been raised by the trustees, nor do
think they intend to raise it. The
sole question at issue is of the carry
Ing capacity of her rig We are pre-
pared to change her rig to meet
canadian requirements; and I am 60
ing to Halifax to prove to the trustees
mat her carrying capacity is equal to
mat of any fisherman of her size work
ing on the Banks, or so nearly so that
the difference is negligible Aetep chat
l cannot ,,for the life of me see how
they can still refuse her entry"
Mr. Burgess said that the American
committee this year seemed prepared
10 accept the Mayfower's entry. This
was not the case last year. when
eioucestor interests opposed the Bos-
ton entry as fervently as the Cana
elans did. Apparently, the Mayfower
mas convinced Gloucester men that she
Is sure enough fisherman and de-
slraole candidate to carry the United
states flag In the big race!
Inc American committee has post
Pohed It's action on the Maytiower until
ar; Burgess has fought his battle at
nailfax. If the Boston designer fails
10 10 convince the Canadians that the
:Maynower is what he claims her to be
II Is possible that the Americans may
PRINT aT the race to go by default.
=, The Mayflower is our best boat" is