There are many styles of rowing, none of which may be discussed here.
It is well at the start to learn how to "feather" your oars, whether
you are handling one or two. This consists in bringing the edge of the
blade parallel with the water--a splendid exercise for the wrists--
then turning the blade as it reaches the water, and with all the
strength of every muscle drawing the oars steadily, never jerkily,
till the stroke is finished. The one purpose is to keep up a uniform
speed, and this can be done only by a uniform stroke. Endurance,
rather than mere brute strength, is the thing to be kept in mind in
rowing, as in everything else requiring effort. Always have in reserve
a stock of endurance to be used should occasion require. Never start
out with a dash, even if you are in a hurry, but strike a gait that
you can keep up without making severe demands on that most essential
of all the organs--the heart.

THE CANOE

The canoe, as you know, is managed by a single paddle, though I have
seen, up in some of the Adirondack lakes, canoes that were driven by
oars. But, excepting in name and shape, these were not canoes; they
were long, narrow boats.

The Indian, and the white man who would learn the fine art of
canoeing, sits in the bottom of the canoe and close to the stern end,
though in fact a canoe is all stern and all bow, sailing equally well
no matter which end is in front. The Indian does not paddle on one
side and then on the other. He uses, as a rule, the left hand side. He
grasps the blade right hand at the top, left hand a foot or more down,
and then reaching the paddle forward, he digs it into the water with a
strong, firm grip, keeping it perpendicular and drawing it aft. When