do much toward making the undertaking less
difficult. Medium-weight sail duck is a good kind of canvas to get, and
second-hand material will do, provided it is firm; in fact,
weather-beaten canvas is preferable, as it has a smoother and more
pliable surface. To insure its setting firmly and smoothly make four
gores along the upper edge on each side and sew them firmly. Sponge the
canvas off on both sides with water, and while damp tack it along the
gunwale, allowing the stem and stern-posts to protrude half an inch. Use
galvanized iron or copper tacks, and do not be afraid of putting them
too near together. If you don't use plenty of tacks there will be danger
of a leak. Now turn your boat right side up again, and as the canvas
dries it will tighten and set with a firm surface. Have the canoe dry in
the sun if possible.

Before tacking on the deck canvas, give the inside and outside of the
hull a liberal coat of a mixture composed of three-quarters boiled oil
to one-quarter raw oil, with some patent drier. This acts as a filler
for the canvas, and makes it water-tight. When this has become perfectly
dry, apply two coats of brown ready-mixed paint for the inside, and two
of dark green for the outside. These are serviceable colors. But before
applying the last coat of paint, put on a gunwale-waring strip of 1-in.
spruce, and a spruce keel of 1 in. by 5/8 in. As the keel and waring
strips are put on after the canvas has been painted, they ought to
receive two coats of filler and one of spar varnish. This adds greatly
to the appearance of the canoe. It is not advisable for the novice to
attempt to manufacture his own paddle. It is cheaper in the end to buy
one, and a good paddle is to be had for $3.

[Illustration: S. A. SYME.]

The two scholastic representatives at the Metropolitan championships of
the A.A.U. held in Syracuse were Syme of Barnard School and Baltazzi of
Harvard School. Syme entered as a member of the New Jersey Athletic
Club, while Baltazzi wore the winged foot. The latter did not jump to
his usual mark, dropping out at 5 ft. 9 in. Some excuse for this may be
that he wrenched his ankle at that period of the contest, and could not
do better afterwards. But Syme was in better fortune. He contested the
low hurdles with Sheldon and Chase, and won. To be sure, Sheldon fell on
the eighth obstacle, but Syme breasted the tape nevertheless in 28-4/5
secs. It is encouraging for all lovers of sport to see how the s