The University Crew.

The university crew took their last pull on the river yesterday afternoon, and tried for the first time the new shell which Waters has just finished. It is built on the same model as the new '85 boat, and it rides the crew well. It sets a trifle too high out of the water, since it was built to hold a slightly heavier crew; with the present crew it is rather better suited for rough than smooth water. The new shell, the '77 cedar boat, and probably the '83 boat will be taken to New London; but it has hot been decided which will be used.

First, as to the stroke: so much has been written about this matter that little remains to be added. In brief, the stroke used is this: smoothness throughout the stroke is aimed at; the catch is made without a jerk, and is made with just that force which can be carried through to the finish; the body is kept in motion all the time, without a hang at either end; the legs are used hard and the hands are drawn in with life at the finish; the slide and back are used at the same time; the blade is well covered at the moment of the catch; the feather is nearly flat; above all, there ought to be no hang at either end, and no let up in the middle of the stroke.

So far as we know, the present crew is the lightest university eight Harvard has ever had; it averages five pounds lighter than either the '83 or '84 crews. But this is no reason why we should not be victorious this year. Our chances for both 'varsity races are good. The men are now rowing pretty well together and the stroke which they row is well adapted to the crew. It must be remembered, however, that Yale has a heavy and powerful crew, and that it is precisely the same as their '84 crew; and the stroke which they use is the same as last year's. The Columbia crew averages slightly heavier than ours; it has four old 'varsity oars, and three men of last year's victorious freshman crew. The stroke which Columbia rows is long and steady, with a sharp, quick recover. Their crew has been at New London since June 8, and has rowed over a four mile course twice daily.

There is little to criticize in the form in which our crew is rowing at present. As a rule there is a good deal of life in the boat; there is little or no hang at either end of the stroke; and improvement has been made in keeping the pressure on all through the stroke, so that there is little let up. All the men have more or less serious individual faults. Bow: rowed in '87 freshman crew; chief fault is tendency to raise his hand at the finish instead of drawing them in straight; this makes him finish rather poorly, and shortens his stroke at the end; it also makes him feather under water. 2: never rowed before; strong man and is doing well; has overcome to a great extent his hang at both ends of the stroke; he still sometimes clips the beginning, and meets somewhat; he could do more work with his shoulders. 3: rowed in '87 freshman crew; heaviest man in the crew; apt to feather under water; is slow in getting away after the finish; is a little rough in his rowing. 4: captain and stroke of '87 freshman crew; a man of tremendous amount of push; his finish is rough, and he swings back too far. 5: substitute on '84 'varsity crew; rowed in Yale race; clips the end of his stroke; does not row smoothly; careless on the recover. 6: rowed in '87 freshman crew; has improved greatly during the year; still rows short, and meets at the finish; faces his blade over more than the others. 7: captain; rowed in '83 and '84 university crews; most experienced oar in the boat; rows smoothly; his finish is sometimes weak. Stroke: rowed in the '84 class crew; is a good stroke; is slow sometimes in sliding forward on the recover; pulls out at the finish, and has tendency to meet.

The following is a list of the crew:

Bow. H. W. Keyes, '87, 21 5.11 169

2. J. J. Colony, '85, 22 5.09 1-2 158

3. T. P. Burgess, '87, 20 5.10 176

4. G. S. Mumford, '87, 19 5.08 149

5. J. R. Yocum, '85, 23 5.10 173

5. W. A. Brooks, '87, 20 5.10 1-2 166

7. J. J. Storrow, '85, 21 5.11 153

St'ke. R. A. F. Penrose, '84 21 6.00 166

Cox. T. Q. Browne, '88, 79

Captain.

Substitutes.

J. S. Russell, '87, 20 5.11 1-2 153

F. Remington, '87, 20 6.00 156

W. Alexander. 156

The crew averages 21 years in age; 5 ft. 10 1-2 in. in height; and 163 3 4 lbs. in weight.