s on one side, pulling
fairly tight. Then, on the other side, put in tacks opposite to the
latter, pulling as tightly as possible.

The best way to do this is to seize the canvas with a pair of pincers,
so that on pulling you can get the head of the pincers just over the
gunwale, when they can be used as a lever to give an extra pull. A tack
may then be put in on the outside of the gunwale; half-inch galvanized
tacks will do.

Now remove the temporary set of tacks. To get rid of folds, which will
not occur along the keel, but along the gunwale, keep bisecting the
distance between two consecutive tacks by another tack, so that the
canvas is equally loose on each side of it, always now pulling the
canvas as tightly as possible.

In this way the folds will disappear, and the canvas be stretched tight
and well-fastened to the gunwale. Leave that portion within a foot of
each end untacked.

Next cut away all that portion which projects beyond the stem and
stern-post; turn the edges in, and tack along the edges at moderate
distances.

Bisect these distances, and these again, till you have a very close row
of tacks, as in Fig. 12. Pull fairly tight, but not too tight, and do
not use pincers for this part; quarter-inch tacks will be best.

The ends may be cut out and put on, lapping the edges over the side, as
shown in Fig. 12, and enough canvas will be left to fill the part along
the sides of the well, into which the canvas should be tacked with a
fine row of tacks, afterward being stretched over the gunwale. The canoe
will now be completely covered in except the well.

Before putting on the top, however, give the lower part outside a good
coating of boiled linseed-oil. This will be most of it absorbed into the
canvas. The same may be done afterward with the top.

When this is dry--that is, after two or three days--give another good
coating of the same. Then paint the canoe according to taste. Two coats
for the bottom will be advisable, and paint which will stand water well
should be used. It would be well to paint the framework with one coat
before covering.

[Illustration]

Make a stretcher (Fig. 13) for the feet, of half-inch board, and slips
to fit it into (Fig. 10), with stops on the floor. Also, a backboard of
half-inch board, to correspond (Fig. 14). Each piece in the latter may
be 18x4 inches. They should be nailed into two cross-pieces behind, so
as to form a hollow for back, and should be placed two inch