Floating is the position assumed by a swim mer to rest. It is accomplished by holding the forehead below and the mouth and chin above the surface of the water. The arms and legs may be stretched out as far apart as possible, as in the "spread eagle" position or the body may be held rigid and straight with the legs crossed, the lower part of the face and the toes peeping above the water and the arms either lying at the sides or above the head with the thumbs locked.
Treading water is a method employed to maintain a perpendicular position in the water, the head being kept above the surface. It is accomplished by paddling with the hands and working the legs and feet as if going up stairs, with the soles of the feet acting as sustaining surfaces. It is the only branch of the art that approaches natural conditions and if resorted to in cases of accidental immersion, would prevent 75 per cent of the deaths due to that cause.
Expert swimmers are capable of dispensing with the use of the arms, and when treading for display, or in competitions, either hold their arms and hands above the surface or fold them across the chest. They are also capable of floating with both legs or both arms out of the water; spinning like a top while maintaining, a sitting position; taking off the clothes on the body; taking off the stockings, and cutting the toe nails, all of which illustrate man's command over the attending artificial conditions.
Aids to increase speed may be employed in the form of wooden plates which are attached to the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. The most effective are those invented by R. H. Wallace Dunlop and introduced in England in 1876. Other helps, for sustaining purposes, have been employed from very early times. They were generally in the form of flat surfaees of wood, tin and water-proof fabrics, but their use is not recommended.
The Amateur Athletic Union of the United States holds championship swimming competi tions in various places every year. The
Hawaiian Association has a very large follow ing and holds numerous contests. There are also intercollegiate, metropolitan and many local competitions.
A general idea of the speed and endurance of swimmers may be obtained from a few of the best performances on record: 100 yards P. McGillivray (American amateur), 54s. (in bath); D. P. Kah'oku (American amateur), 53s. (in open water) ; A. Wickham (Australian professional), lm. 44s. (in open water).
One mile—D. Billington (English profes sional) 24m. 1Ugs. (in open water); B. Kieren (Australian amateur), 23m. 16115s. (in bath) ; G. R. Hodgson (Canadian amateur), 23m. (in open water). Woman's record— Fannie Durack (Australian), 26m. 8s.
Long-distance swimming—Webb, 40 miles with tide, 9h. 57m. 00s.; Mercardier. 20 miles with current. 4h. 59m. 46s.; Miss Agnes Beck with, 20 miles with current, 6h. 25m. 00s.
Long immersions—Webb, 20 miles, in creased to 35 miles by tides, crossing the Eng lish Channel, 21h. 45m. 00s.
The• literature on swim ming is quite extensive. The following-named works are among the best on the subject: Thevenot, 'The Art of Swimming) (trans. London 1699) ; Bermordi, 0. de, 'Schwimm kunst fibersete (Vienna 1797) ; Frost, J., 'The Art of Swimming (New York 1818) ; Rompel man, H. 'Het nut der Zwemkunst' (Amster dam 1830); Fofitenelle,Julia de, 'Manuel des Nageurs' (Paris 1838) ; Forrest, George, 'Handbook of Swimming and Skating' (Lon don 1865); Leahy, John, 'The Art of Swim ming in the Eton Style' (London 1875); 'Spaulding's Athletic Library,' Nos. 20-30 (New York 1894-95); Dalton, Capt. Davis, 'How to Swim' (New York 1899); can Physical Review (Vol. IV, Cambridge, Mass., 1899). Consult also Austin, H. R., 'How to Swim' (London 1914) ; Brewster, 'E. T., 'Swimming' (Boston 1910) ; Dalton, F. E., 'Swimming Scientifically Taught' (New York 1912).