Page:Yachting wrinkles; a practical and historical handbook of valuable information for the racing and cruising yachtsman (IA yachtingwrinkles00keneiala).pdf/182

 *genitors of our racing yachtsmen. For be it remembered that speed was the prime necessity of their means of livelihood. The contests between revenue cutters and luggers were continuous struggles for sea supremacy. If a lugger was captured by a cutter, the keel of what was hoped to be a still faster lugger was laid, and so the war went on. British privateers generally got the best of their Gallic opponents. Nelson crushed Great Britain's foes at sea as effectually as Wellington defeated her enemies ashore.

In the war of 1812 America proved her naval superiority by many a heroic deed. Until the devastating cruise of the Alabama our mercantile marine was our national pride. It is true that our mercantile fleet of to-day is by no means what it ought to be, but it is also a fact that our fine coasters and fishing vessels, although manned by a large percentage of foreigners, are, as a rule, commanded by native-born Americans. Those of our countrymen who follow the sea for a livelihood soon rise in their profession. The somewhat scanty emoluments offered are sufficient reasons for deterring the average ambitious American youth from seeking his fortune afloat, but should more liberal inducement ever be offered, the sea-loving Yankee will be to the fore again.

That the raw material is at hand was proven by the adaptability of the Maine men to be transformed into efficient