WEEDS.
Next to cramp, the dread of the swimmer is to find himself among sea-weeds or stringers. These generally grow to a height of from six to fifteen and twenty feet, so that it is no uncommon occur rence for the swimmer, when moving along in comparatively deep water, to find himself caught in a clump of the disagreeable stringers, and if not careful, he may soon make the startling discovery that his legs or arms are held fast by the slimy thong-like blades.
Immediately he feels himself passing over these weeds, the swimmer should at once cease making any motion with his legs, and by long steady arm strokes pull the body along the surface of the water, using, it is needless to say, every precaution to keep the limbs clear of the , enemy. As soon as the legs are clear, turn on the back, float them to the surface, and scull out to deep water.
Should the legs be caught, one must while lying on the back beat very slowly with the feet, and with the hand opposite to the bound limb cautiously insert his fingers between the stringers and the leg, and slip the hand along the leg, round the heel, and off by the toes, in somewhat the same manner as when putting off a stocking. Of course
it will be plain that if the other leg is bound the opposite arm must be used. It is folly to use both hands at the same time in an endeavour to loosen the weeds from any part of the body. While the one hand is working the other must be performing the sculling movement.
The above directions, slowly and surely per formed, are the safe methods of extricating one's self from weeds.
Swimmers must be careful at all times not to dive in the neighbourhood of a weedy bottom.