Useful.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 14, 2 April 1913, Page 13

Useful.

A frenchman has been interesting liid compatriots lately by swimming at the speed of sixteen tuilea an hour iu one of the waterways near Paris. To be ntrictly accurate, however, states the ‘Philadelphia Record/* he does not swim at all, but merely operates a acrew-pro-pel led apparatus that goes through the water with him lying upon it. A plank about nix feet loug has metal floats at each end. At the rear end U a screw propeller of the type used on motor boata and driven by means of pedals. The swimmer lies flat on this plank and pedaU, as if he wae riding a bicycle. He uses his arino chiefly to direct his eourse and to maintain bis balance on the plank. Tl»e revalvimg propeller provider ail the impetus necessary. An advantage of the apparatus » that tbe user need not necessarily know how to swim without it.