Boating at Harvard has not always run as smoothly as it does now. At present if a man enjoys rowing he is enabled to gratify his tastes either by becoming a member of the 'Varsity crew, his class crew, or else by keeping a single scull on the river. Practically no obstacle stand in the way of any one who wishes to take his exercise in this way. A comparatively new and commodious boat-house is, on the payment of a small fee, at the disposal of any one desiring to make use of it. After a spin on the river, hot and cold water and a warm room in which to dress are furnished. No hardships have to be undergone, no privations suffered, and, in fact, nothing remains to add attraction to this deservedly proper branch of athletics. But how different things were a score and a half years ago! Then boating was in its infancy at Harvard, and only a few men took any interest in it.

The members of the class of '46 may be said to have originated boating here. In their junior year they bought an eight-oared barge called the "Oneida," and challenged the seniors to a race. The seniors accepted, and formed the "Iris Boat Club," in order to rival the juniors who had formed the "Oneida Club." In the race which took place a little later, the "Oneida" came off victorious, and was declared the better boat.

Such was the origin of our boating here, which was to ripen later into the H. U. B. C. Of course no such thing as an inter-collegiate race ever entered into the heads of those who took part in these races. They engaged in them simply for the fun of the thing, and underwent no severe system of training such as is now in vogue at present. They frequently made excursions in their boats, and occasionally were accompanied by ladies. But in 1851 they were taken by surprise in this way, - Yale had heard that Harvard owned an eight-oared barge, and wishing to vie with her on the water sent a challenge to row on Lake Winnipiseogee. Harvard accepted, the old "Oneida" was brought into requisition, eight men, who had never rowed together but a half-dozen times before, were picked out to represent Harvard. The race took place on August 3. The "Oneida" was victorious both in this and in the next race which occurred at Springfield in 1855. The following year, after the "Oneida" had done Harvard good service both as a pleasure and a racing boat, the old eight-oared barge was sold to Dartmouth where she was shortly after washed over a dam and lost. A picture of her may be still seen in the Trophy room.

By this time rowing had a firm footing here, and a boat was built solely for purposes of speed. She was named the "Harvard," and was of the design known as "lapstreak." To shelter her a boat-house was built. Hitherto the boat had been kept in old sheds or moored on the river.

The "Harvard" was shortly after superseded by a six oared shell, the first of its kind in America. She had all the latest improvements, including spoon oars, and was in a number of races, in most of which she took first prizes.

In 1858 an inter-collegiate association association was formed, which, with few breaks, has extended down to our day. At this time, as honors were increased, the duties became greater, and training began to be adopted with some strictness. In 1869, the H. U. Boat Club was organized, and a new boat house erected, as the old one was inadequate for the needs of the students. A new association was formed for furthering the interests of rowing, and a large number of colleges entered it. This association went to pieces in 1876, and the Harvard-Yale races were in stituted which have been kept up to the present time. These races have grown to be a college institution, and severe training is required of all members of the 'Varsity crew.