The first two University crews and the first Freshman crew took advantage of the clearing of the ice below the Boylston Street Bridge to take a few short stretches on the river yesterday afternoon. The ice still holds above the bridge so that the crews had to use the Weld Boathouse. This is about a week earlier than the men were able to get out on the river last year.

The work was only very light, rowing by fours part of the time and at a low stroke for a stretch of about a quarter of a mile the rest of the time. The boats seemed to be quite steady for such early practice, and spaced fairly well. The two University boats were made up of men who have had considerable experience. The first Freshman boat also has in its make-up a considerable number of experienced men, and bids fair to develop into an exceedingly powerful eight.

The orders:

First University. -- Stroke, Pirnie; 7, Reynolds; 6, Harwood; 5, Mills; 4, Trumbull; 3, Stratton; 2, G. vonL. Meyer; bow, Morgan; cox., C. Abeles.

Second University. --Stroke, Chanler; 7, II. Meyer; 6, MacVicar; 5, Curtis; 4, Taylor; 3, Murray; 2, Cutler; bow, Carver; cox., Gallaher.

First Freshman.--Stroke, Wilson; 7, Soucy; 6, Boyer; 5, Emerson; 4, Parson; 3, Potter; 2, Morgan; bow, Jeffries; cox., Enright.

The other crews rowed on the machines as usual.