BOATING, the art of managing and propelling a boat. This is done either by means of oars or sails. As sailing is fully treated under the head of YACHT, rowing only is dealt with here. The most ancient form of boat known to have been used in the British islands is the coracle; it is still much used in Wales. The coracle is but a large wicker work basket, covered with skins, or some thin water-proof substance stretched over the wicker-work, strengthened by a cross seat. Seated in one of these rude boats, with but a single paddle; it is astonishing with what dexterity the paddler will skim over broken and avoid dangers which would infallibly destroy a heavier or less manageable craft. From the coracle spring all the varied classes of boats now in use, either as pend ants to ships, or as used for pleasure traffic or a means of conveyance upon our rivers and inland waters. The 'wherry next claims attention. There are many kinds of wherries, but we only notice the Thames wherry, This is stoutly built, and is constructed to carry about eight passengers. It is usually managed by one sculler or two oarsmen; it is almost entirely employed by watermen for the conveyance of passengers or pleasure parties. The boats used for rowing as a sport or pastime are of a much lighter and sharper build. They are constructed of all sizes, to carry from twelve oarsmen down to a single smiler. Of this class of boats for racing purposes, we have the 8, 6, 4, 2, and single pair oared boats; while in contests between single scullers, we have what Is denominated the wager-boat—a boat so frail and light in its proportions, that none but a most experienced sculler can sit in one without danger of upsetting. For pleasure, we have another class of boats denominated gigs, of stouter and more capacious build: they are constructed either for four oars, a pair of oars, or single sculls. Boat-raeing is a practice of some antiquity, but it has only culminated in our day. Many prizes have been given from time to time for competition, some of which have been made annual. Perhaps the most famous of all these is Dogget's coat and badge, which is rowed for yearly on the Thames by watermen's appreutices, on the 1st of Aug. But the events of most note in the rowing world are the Oxford and Cambridge 8-oared match, rowed annually upon the Thames, from Putney to Mortlake. This match has not been a regu lar yearly havingatch, there having been occasional intervals at times of a year or two. In 1829, 1842, 1849. 1852, 1854, 1859, from 1801 to 1809 inclusive, and in 1875, the Oxford boat carried off the prize; Cambridge having wrested it from Oxford in the years 1833, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1845, 1840, 1849, 1850, 1858, and 1876. Thirty three matches have conic off in 48 years, the balance being on the side of Oxford. It
will be noticed that two matches were rowed in 1849. The best picked men from each university are selected to contest this great event, and the hardest exercise and the severest trainine• gone through by the crews, to improve their wind, strength, and endur ance, for months before the day of rowing; their diet consisting mainly of the plainest cooked lean meat and potatoes, with malt liquors, spirituous drinks hying prohibited, and the duties of temperance, soberness, and chastity strictly enforced. It was at one time thought that light men stood the best chance in these matches, but experience has shown this to be an error, and 10, 11, and 12 stone men are now chietb selected. The distance rowed upon this course is 41- miles. The time chosen is usually nt slack-tide, and the time taken in rowing varies according as there is little or no tide or wind, or the reverse, from 18 to 29 minutes. The introduction of sliding-seats has added very greatly to the power of the rower by lengtheningthe stroke. The is a small piece of board on which the rower sits, and which works on rollers, and slides backwards and forwards as the rower makes his stroke. From 36 to 44 strokes of the our per minute is held to, be fair racing-pace; and a long, steady, even stroke—the blade of the oar not being dipped too deeply in the water, oi thrown too high above the surface when with drawn, the arms being well extended in taking the stroke, and the elbows brought well home to the sides at the conclusion—is the kind of stroke now preferred by connois seurs. The other great events of the boat-racing world arc the regattas of Henley and Putney. At the former, the Oxford and Cambridge crews usually tight their battle over again in conjunction with others for the challenge-cup; and at these also many smilers' matches arc rowed, though single smilers' races for the championship of the Thames, etc., are usually events of themselves. Campbell was one of the first sculling champions, beating Wiliams in 1831. He was beaten by Robert Coombes in 1846, who held the championship for about six years. He at length succumbed to the prowess of Cole in 1852. Cole, in 1851, was beaten by Messenger; Messenger yielded the palm to Kelly in 1856; and Kelly was, in 1859, beaten by Robert Chambers, the. champion of the Tyne. In 1865, Kelly recovered his laurels, and beat Chambers. In 1867, he beat him also on the Tyne; and in 1868, lie had in turn to yield to Renforth, having been champion off and on for 12 years. An Australian oarsman, named Trickett, won the championship in 1876, by beating Sadler. then champion. So much is B. favored at our universities and schools, that almost every college has its club.