to permit the
occupant to move about in them as is usual in such craft, a
light and strong frame of wood is prepared, composed of a
suitable number of pairs of ribs, with stem and stern pieces cut
from the natural crooks of hackmatack roots. These are firmly
framed to two gunwales and a keelson, extending the length of
the boat; the whole forming the skeleton shape of the desired
model. The forms for these boats having been prepared, as
already described for the racing-shells, and the frame being let
into this form, so that the outer surface of the ribs, stem and
stern pieces will conform with its outer surface, the paper skin
is next laid upon it. The skin, manufactured from new,
unbleached linen stock, is carefully stretched in place, and
when perfectly dry is from one-tenth to three-sixteenths of an
inch thick. Removed from the model, it is water-proofed, the
frame and fittings completed, and the boat varnished. In short,
in this class of boats, the shape, style, and finish are
precisely that of wooden ones, of corresponding dimensions and
class, except that for the usual wooden sheathing is substituted
the paper skin as described.

"The advantages possessed by these boats over those of wood are:

"By the use of this material for the skins of racing-shells,
where experience has demonstrated the smooth bottom to be the
best, under-water lines of any degree of fineness can be
developed, which cannot successfully be produced in those of
wood, even where the streaks are so reduced in thickness that
strength, stiffness, and durability are either wholly sacrificed
or greatly impaired. In the finer varieties of 'dug-outs'
equally fine lines can be obtained; but so delicate are such
boats, if the sides are reduced to three-sixteenths of an inch
or less in thickness, that it is found practically impossible to
preserve their original forms for any length of time. Hence, so
far as this point is concerned, it only remains for the builder
to select those models which science, guided by experience,
points out as the best.

"The paper skin, after being water-proofed, is finished with
hard varnishes, and then presents a solid, perfectly smooth, and
horny surface to the action of the water, unbroken by _joint_,
_lap_, or _seam_. This surface admits of being polished as
smooth