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Show 744 He describes this skag as a piece of oak two inches thick and about five inches in height at the stern, sloping down wedge- shape to almost nothing at the center of the boat. Its purpose was the same as a fan- shaped center board, so that in quiescent stretches of the river where they went down bow first. it kept the boat from swinging. R. 1785. " BY MR. BLACKMAR: " Q. Did you carry life preservers as part of your equipment? " A. Yes, sir. " Q. What character of life preservers? " A. Cork, that would sustain a dead weight of eighty pounds." R. 1785. He describes the trip through Cataract Canyon as one continuous effort. The water is turbulent there, with a great many rocks in the channel. At the head of practically every rapid not all, however, they found a quiescent pool. R. 1785. The would land on either one side or the other secure the boats firmly to rocks then make their way down the talus slope to the foot of the rapid. By looking up stream they could easily identify the sunken rocks; the rocks immediately below the surface of the water that might be dangerous if you struck them. He could then pick out the best channel, return to the head of the rapids and run the boats through. " It would be rather foolish to go in pall well, without looking them over first." R. 1786. " Q. Do you recall how many rapids you found in |