Swimming having been mastered, there are few as pleasant forms of gymnastics as a row in a light and well-made boat. The dress should be light and loose; dark flannel being the best, or some wash goods, as the bottom of a boat is always more or less dirty, and the skirt is always in contact with it. The jersey at present worn makes a pretty boating-dress with a dark skirt, as, while fitting well, it yields to every motion. Freedom for the arms must be insisted on. The sleeves themselves need not be very loose; but the seams where they are joined to the body must be made so as not to chafe at all, or in a very short time your arm will be too sore to row with. Shoes with rubber soles are convenient and comfortable in a boat: such as are worn for tennis are the right kind. A shady straw hat will be found a useful preventive of sunburn; but I am afraid that rowing is not a pursuit for those who are very particular about their complexions. Do not wear any thing very tight round the waist.

Blisters are a great nuisance when you begin rowing: you may prevent them by rowing in gloves. You need not be ashamed of this, as many good oarsmen do it. Cutting off the tops of the fingers and thumb makes the glove cooler, and does not impair its usefulness. Always take off your rings before you begin to row: you will be sure to blister your hands if you keep them on.

Learn all the parts of a boat thoroughly in your first lesson or two, which ought to be taken from some experienced person, in order to avoid forming bad habits which it may be hard to get rid of later on.

The fore-part of a boat is called the bows; and the after-part, the stern. To a ring in the bows is generally attached the painter, - a short rope which serves to tie up the boat when not in use. It should be coiled up carefully in the bows when the boat is under way: it looks very slovenly when allowed to trail overboard.

The thwarts are boards which cross the boat, and strengthen it, besides forming the seats. The fore-thwart has often a hole in it, in which the mast may be stepped. Small mats are often tied on the thwarts to sit on, but are quite unnecessary.

The gunwale (pronounce"gunnel") is the top of the side of the boat, and on it are fastened the rowlocks (pronounce"rullocks"), in which the oars rest when rowing. They are either fixed directly on the gunwale, or, in the case of narrow boats, are supported outside by iron outriggers: this is to give the rower sufficient leverage. A boat thus fitted is said to be outrigged.

The use of the word oar is (or ought to be) confined to the larger kind, which are used with both hands : sculls are used one in each hand. Both have a button of leather fastened to them to prevent them from slipping out through the rowlocks.

The rudder is the means of steering the boat, and is worked by lines attached to the yoke, or crosspiece at its head. See that the lines are not crossed behind your back. You have to pull the line on the side to which you wish to go.

The boat-hook is an invaluable aid when setting out, or coming to shore. There should be two, especially if there are locks to be passed ; and they should be kept, ready for use, in the bow and stern. The kind of boat-hook with a paddle on it is often useful in getting out of a lock.

A convenient boat for general use would hold about five, - two seated in the stern (one of whom steers), one on each of the two thwarts, and one reclining in the bows. The two who are engaged in rowing may each use, either one oar or a pair of sculls : the latter arrangement is termed double sculling, and is often adopted on the Thames, especially by ladies, who do not seem to take to an oar as easily as to sculls.

At the same time such a boat will not be too large for one person to scull about easily, and it may be perfectly safe without being at all cumbrous.

What is called a Randan is a very popular way of arranging the work in a rather large boat. In this case there are three rowers ; the one in the middle using a pair of sculls, and the others an oar each.

The oarsman next to the cockswain is called stroke, and it is he who gives time to the others. The one in the bows is termed bow. If there are more than this, as is usually the case in boating-clubs, as at Vassar or Wellesley, they are numbered, the one next to bow being two; and so on until the one next to stroke is reached: in an eight-oar this would be seven.

A few short rules sum up the necessary points in all boating.

1.   Straighten the arms before bending the body forward.

2.   Drop the oar cleanly in the water.

3.   Draw it straight through at the same depth.

4.   Feather neatly, and without bringing the oar out before doing so.

5.   Use the back and shoulders freely, keeping arms as straight as possible.

6.   Keep the eyes fixed on the rower before one, and avoid looking out of the boat; as, if one does, the body will not swing backwards and forwards in a straight line.

The first thing to do after seating yourself in the boat is to see that your stretcher is of the right length. (The stretcher is a board against which your feet press.) It should be adjusted so that your knees are only slightly bent. Then see that the oar is well greased where it works in the rowlocks, or it will creak in a very unpleasant way.

The hands should grasp the oar easily and naturally while its blade lies flat on the water. The head must be kept upright, and the elbows close to the side. When you are ready to begin, lean forward as far as you can, with your arms quite straight in front of you, still keeping the blade flat. When you are quite forward, turn the hands down from the wrist (this will turn the oar so that the blade will be at right angles to the water) : at the same time dip the blade by slightly raising the hands. The blade must be only just covered: any excess in this direction is called rowing deep. The blade is then to be pulled through the water by throwing the body back as soon as the oar dips. The arms are to be kept quite straight, and the pull done with the body only, until you are nearly at the end of the stroke, when the arms may be bent to pull the remainder.1