SWIMMING RACES.
To attain success in a swimming competition, the horizontal posi tion is preferable to all others, as it enables the swimmer to get over more ground, or rather water, at a much greater speed than can be obtained by any other method.
Fish adopt the horizontal position naturally, as it offers the least resistance to their movements, and the nearer men come to that posi tion in swimming the better chance they have of success. Marine architects are beginning to realize this fact, and our modern vessels are constructed with a view to so equalizing the vessel's tonnage over its entire surface as to decrease the draught, and consequently in crease the speed. Canada, whose navy ranks fifth among the mari time powers, has many "Greyhounds of the sea" built upon this principle, such as the steamer Cibola and others, equal to any in the world for speed and safety. A great many self-taught swimmers endeavor to swim with the body too deep in the water, the primary cause of this is the fact that they draw their legs up underneath the body instead as already described in the breast stroke. The frog, so frequently quoted as a model for swimmers, draws his legs up laterally instead of under the body, thus obtaining a much more powerful stroke, its forepaws are tucked under the chin, and are used simply to buoy the body up near the surface, while all the propelling power is centred in its legs. Catch one and place it in a tub of water and see for yourself. The nearer you can bring your own legs to kick like the frog the better, adding to this knowledge the information given in the chapter on the breast stroke.
If there is a tendency to get out of this correct position of the body by depression, the chest should be laid with more force upon the water, and the head a little thrown back, thus raising the chin and clearing the waves, at the same time the limbs should be raised (but not above the surface), this effort will replace the body in the true horizontal position. Care must be taken not to make the strokes too near the surface, which would cause foaming and splashing. The strokes should be made so as to obtain a good grip of the water, and this is obtained not by increasing the angle of inclination of the whole body, but by depressing it uniformly through its entire length. It is quite easy to understand the theory that the lighter the draught, the greater the speed, as described above in relation to vessels. A few words regarding respiration will doubtless prove valuable. When the arms are extended and the legs drawn up ready for the propel ling stroke, a deep breath should be inhaled. When making the stroke, it should be expelled. You will find this very useful, in a swimming contest especially, as it prevents you becoming exhausted or out of breath, and will enable you to remain fresh and buoyant for a very long time, besides adding greatly to the force of 'your strokes.