A very good amateur sculler—J. E. Parker, winner of the Wingfield Sculls in 1863—used to say that he always went back until his sculls came out of the water of their own accord. As a piece of chaff, it used to be said of him, by his friends, that there was a greasy paich on his fore canvas, where his head camte in contact with it at (he end of his stroke. Of course this was only a jest, but undoubtedly Parker swung farther back than most scullers, perhaps more than any amateur. The secret of his pace, which was indisputable, as also his staying power, probably Jay to a great extent in this leng back swing of his. He also sculled exceedingly cleanly, his hands worked in perfect unison, and his blades came out clean and sharp. The writer cannot recall any sculler whose blades were so clean, saye Hanlan and also W. S. Unwin in 1886. Much of the secret of cach of these scullers lay in the evenness of their hands ; they wasted no power. F. Playford, junior, was a more powerful sculler, and apparently faster than either of the above-named amateurs (ceferts paribus as to slides, gui Parker) ; but taking his reach and weight into consideration, it is not to he wondered if Playford was in his day the best of all Wingfield winners. ‘Vhe late Mr, Casamajor was a great sculler, He also had a very long back swing, and clean blades. He never had such tough opponents to beat as had Playford, but at least it could be said of him that he was unbeaten in public in any race,
Steerage apparatus is in these days fitted to many a sculling boat. ‘The writer, as an old stager, is bound to admit that he had retired from active work before such mechanism was used, he therefore cannot speak practically as to its value for racing. So far as he has watched its use by scullers, he is induced to look upon the contrivance with suspicion. On a stormy day, with beam wind for a considerable part of the course, such an appendage will undoubtedly assist a sculler. It will save him from having an arm almost idle in his lap during heavy squalls. But on fairly smooth days, or when wind is simply ahead, a rudder must surcly detract more from pace (by reason of the water which it catches, even when simply on the trail) than it
