Oxford Rowing. By the Rev. W. E. Sherwood. (H. Frowde.
10s. 6c1.)—This is a complete account of all the rowing that has been done at Oxford or by Oxford men elsewhere, though some of the minor regattas have not been noticed. Mr. Sherwood has been permitted access to the boating chronicles kept in various Colleges, and makes some amusing extracts from them. In the good old times things happened which would look a little strange now. A boat could be used indifferently for a race and a picnic, and watermen were hired to fill an empty place. On the whole, one gathers that competitions which must have excited very strong feeling have been managed with good humour and with scrupulous fairness. One fact makes itself very manifest, that as the boats have become lighter—and the racing eight of 1900 is as different from that of 1840 as a thoroughbred from a cart- horse—the crews have become heavier. The average weight of the University crews who rowed in the first ten races—the figures are not given for 1829-40—was 90 st. 13 lb. ; that of the crews between 1890-99 98 st. 4 lb. Evidently it has come to be recog- nised that heavy weights are generally more powerful than light. In the early days, also, the weight of the coxswain was not so carefully considered as it is now. In 1846 the coxswain weighed 10 at. 10 lb.,—that is, 7 lb. more than bow. Since 1862 the highest weight has been 8 et. 7 lb. The lightest has been 7 st, (twice). One coxswain, who officiated five times, all victories, began with 7 st. 3 lb. and ended with 8 st. 7 lb. It would have been very foolish to have exchanged this veteran for a lighter recruit. Mr. Sherwood, himself distinguished in these contests, has given us a book that is a model of its kind.
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