into three nearly equal parts. Then add the
stem and stern pieces (C, C, Fig. 2). These are better, probably,
when made of green elm. Screw the pieces to the bottom-board and
bend them, as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a string or wire,
fastened to a nail driven into the bottom. Any tough, light wood
that is not easily broken when bending will do. Green wood is
preferable, because it will retain the shape in which it has been
bent better after drying. For the gunwales (a, a, Fig. 3), procure
at a carriage factory, or other place, some tight strips of ash,
3/8 in. thick. Nail them to the crossboards and fasten to the end
pieces

[Illustration: Important Features of Construction]

(C, C,) in notches, by several wrappings of annealed iron wire or
copper wire, as shown in Fig. 3. Copper wire is better because it
is less apt to rust. For fastening the gunwales to the crossboards
use nails instead of screws, because the nails are not apt to
loosen and come out. The ribs, which are easily made of long,
slender switches of osier willow, or similar material, are next
put in, but before doing this, two strips of wood (b, b, Fig. 3)
should be bent and placed as in Fig. 3. They are used only
temporarily as a guide in putting in the ribs, and are not
fastened, the elasticity of the wood being sufficient to cause
them to retain their position. The osiers may average a little
more than 1/2 in. in thickness and should be cut, stripped of
leaves and bark and put in place while green and fresh. They are
attached to the bottom by means of shingle nails driven through
holes previously made in them with an awl, and are then bent down
until they touch the strips of ash (b, b, Fig. 3), and finally cut
off even with the tops of the gunwales, and notched at the end to
receive them (B, Fig. 4). Between the cross-boards the ribs are
placed at intervals of 2 or 3 in., while in other parts they are
as much as 5 or 6 in. apart. The ribs having all been fastened in
place as described, the loose strips of ash (b, b, Fig. 3) are
withdrawn and the framework will appear somewhat as in Fig. 1. In
order to make all firm and to prevent the ribs from changing
position, as they are apt to do, buy some split cane or rattan,
such as is used for making chair-bottoms, and, after soaking it in
water for a short time to render it soft and pliable, wind it
tightly around the gunwales and ribs where they join, and also
interweave it among the ribs in other places,