of a somewhat higher standard of watermanship than the other system. But he is none the less of opinion that this admission should not be accepted as a ground for teaching the other style.
In the first place, it would seem to him better to try to raise the standard of watermanship to the system than to lower the system to meet the requirements of inferior skill. In the second, there seems to be even greater drawbacks to the system preferred by his friends who differ from him. For instance, under the alternative system the oarsman is taught to a/fer his style of body when paddling, but to maintain a uniform depth of blade. He is taught to apply less sharpness of catch, and less reach forward. ‘To do so may tend to take the edge off catch, and to shorten reach, when hard rowing has to be recom- menced.
It is plain that paddling cannot be all round the same as rowing ; there must be an alternative prescribed. ‘The writer says, in effect : ‘ Alter only the blade (and so the amount of force required), and maintain outward action of body as before.’
Those who take the ather view say, in effect : ‘ Maintain the same blade, and alter the action of the body.’
i, must be admitted that those who differ from the writer are entitled, from their own performances as oarsmen and coaches, to every possible respect ; and the writer, while failing to agree with them, hesitates to assert that for that reason he must be right and they wrong,
One further reason in favour of paddling with a light blade may be added. When an oarsman is exhausted in a race, it is of supreme importance that, though unable to do his full share of work, he should not mar the swing and style of the rest. Now if such an oarsman, when nature fails him, can row lighter and so ease his toil, he can maintain swing and style with the rest. But if, on the other hand, he keeps his blade covered to the full, and secks relief by rowing shorter and with less dash, he alters his style and tends to spoil the uniformity of the crew.
Watermanship is a quality which can hardly be coached ;
