THE freshman crew is now getting down to solid work; the large number of candidates has been cut down one half, and those who are left can now be more advantageously handled. As far as can be judged from the weights of the men the candidates are very promising and the outlook for a strong freshman crew is very bright. But as yet few, if any of the freshmen who have been playing football have come out to try for the crew. From the football men especially, a large quantity of good material is always expected. The slight disadvantage at which the men are put from the fact that they have lost the first few weeks of training is usually fully compensated by their superior physical condition. That these men should come out immediately is of the greatest importance. The time from now until next June is none too long, even with the hardest and most conscientious work, to develop a crew.

The position of the coach of the freshman crew is a most difficult one. He has a number of men most of whom have never before rowed in a shell, to whom he is expected to teach rowing, beginning with the very rudiments. After the freshman year the work of developing the crew is not so difficult. There are some men in the class who know how to row and the question is to develop good men for the positions, or perhaps to select the few who may be necessary to fill any vacant places from a small number of promising men. After the first year it is harder for a man who has never rowed before to get a position on his crew. With the freshman crew however, the situation is entirely different. Every man in the class who is physically suited has an equal chance for one of the position in the boat. It is then that the great mass of men are new at rowing, and all the places in the boat are open. Undoubtedly the freshman year is the time for a man who ever intends to try for his crew to begin.

As has been said, the task of the coach is no easy one. The college is looking to the freshmen for a winning crew, and every member of the class should do all in his power to see that the college is not disappointed. Just now the call is for all the freshmen who have been playing football. The men themselves should see that it is promptly answered.