FACTS ON DORMITORY ROWING.

In reviewing the dormitory rowing of the fall, it is discouraging to notice that the bumping races were not so popular as last year, which in turn fell off considerably from the previous year. In 1905 when the dormitory was chosen as a unit for a system of scrub rowing, the novelty of the plan had much to do with its immediate popularity. In the second year of its existence twenty crews competed in the races, while this fall only twelve crews rowed. Several dormitories or dormitory groups hitherto represented were not able to get out crews either form a lack of interest or from a lack of tolerable material. Either the dormitory is not a good unit for scrub rowing, or the general interest in popular rowing is waning.

In criticising the dormitory as a unit for scrub sport, it must be remembered that this year, which is the poorest so far in point of numbers, over one hundred men competed in the bumping races. A scrub sport of any sort that employs one hundred men in competitive exercise for a month can hardly be called unsuccessful. One thing is certain: there have never been so many men rowing under any other system in the University as there has been under the dormitory system this year. Until a very much better plan can be evolved, enthusiastic and careful supervision of the dormitory system is likely, to give a large number of men a chance to row for the fun there is in it. After all the plan was started for that purpose.