The annual meet of the American Canoe Association, which is now in progress on Lake Champlain, is decidedly the most important sporting event of the year to canoe lovers. For the past week hundreds of enthusiasts have been paddling and sailing and racing off Bluff Point, and every known kind of canoe has been seen on the water. It is only twenty-five years since canoeing as a sport found favor in this country, but since then it has grown steadily, and now there are canoe clubs in every State. Although the canoe, both as a paddling and a sailing craft, is distinctly American in its origin, it is a fact, nevertheless, that canoe cruising and the sport of canoe sailing were introduced from England. About thirty years ago a Scotchman named John MacGregor built a canoe, which he called the Rob Roy. It resembled an Esquimau kayak, being low and narrow and decked all over, except for a narrow space in the middle. It had a small lateen-sail, but the mode of propulsion used most by MacGregor was his two-bladed paddle. In this queer little boat he explored many of the waters of Great Britain, and cruised extensively in Holland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden, meeting with many adventures, an account of which he afterwards published under the title of A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe. He has also written several other interesting accounts of other trips. The most delightful account ever written of a canoe cruise, however, is Stevenson's Inland Journey. Any young man who has the slightest inclination toward the sail and the paddle will surely take them up with enthusiasm after reading these books.
The choice of a craft is always difficult, especially to one who has had little or no experience in canoeing. I told last week how an inexpensive canoe might be built of canvas, but for cruising purposes a boat made of wood is necessary. It is taken for granted that any one who can afford the time for a cruise can also afford the money to purchase a suitable craft for his journey. A good cedar canoe nowadays costs from $80 to $150, but boats made of less-expensive woods may be had for as little as $30. The building of these light canoes has become such a big business that there are over fifty varieties made now where there were only half a dozen fifteen years ago. But in spite of all the varieties there are only about three classes—the racing-canoe, the paddling canoe, and the cruising canoe—which use both sail and paddle.
BIRCH-BARK CANOES.
Although Mr. Vaux, one of the most experienced of canoeists, said, "There is no such thing as a best canoe," he did not mean that there was no such thing as the best kind of canoe for certain purposes. He was particularizing. He meant that it was impossible for any man to tell another what particular make of canoe would suit his tastes best. It really depends entirely on what you want to do with your boat. If you wish to cruise in inland lakes and deep open rivers where there is plenty of wind, but no very heavy seas, and where you will use sail and paddle in about equal proportion, get a canoe of the "Nautilus" type. But for narrow streams and running rapids I should recommend a "Peterborough." The latter are of different sizes and varieties, and are built at the Canadian town of Peterborough. They are modelled after the Indian birch-bark canoe, and are made of basswood or cedar. They cost from $30 to $50, according to finish, and are very serviceable. The basswood boats are not so liable to leak as others.
SAILING BEFORE THE WIND.
Another advantage of the "Peterborough" is that it will carry more passengers and duffle than any other style of canoe, and can easily be carried over land or around locks if you are travelling along a canal. It is easy to paddle, sails fast before the wind, and is the best craft in the world to shoot rapids. At night it can be drawn up on shore and turned upside down, thus making a dry and comfortable shelter. The "Nautilus" style of canoe is from twenty-eight to thirty inches wide and about fifteen feet long. It is fitted with a centreboard, and is an excellent cruising craft. It will carry one person comfortably, and two at a pinch, and the air-tight compartments forward and aft make it a life-boat, unsinkable. Beneath the decks and hatches there is plenty of room for dry stowage. At night the owner of a "Nautilus" canoe can either haul his craft ashore or anchor in deep water. In the latter case, he hoists his canoe tent above his head, unfolds his mattress, and sleeps comfortably in the cockpit. Personally, however, I prefer to land and pitch camp.
