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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 25, 1960)
Depths of Sea Have Always Had Fascination for Man; Tips Noted The mysterious world deep down in the depths of the sea has always held a fascination for man. Hundreds of years before Christ men were exloring this underwater area, seeking sponges, food and precious shells. Expert swimmers and divers were employed to in spect and repair hulls of ships. Some of them became sabo teurs of enemy fleets. Jules Verne excited the Imagination of the public with his book, "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." but who could afford States Pow er Squadrons and the sub marine to see what went on in this fascinating marine uni verse? Even the best swimmers can stay under water for only a minute or a minute and a half without artificial breath ing apparatus. Then around the 1930s Americans' began to find an answer to the problem, first along the shores of California and Florida and then in other areas of the United States. Equipped at first with noth ing more complicated than masks and spears, these mod ern pioneers of the ocean depths introduced a new sport and opened up a fabulous pan orama to thousands of water lovers. In a short period of time thousands of persons have be come intrigued with the sport. From the ocean it has spread to the lakes and rivers throughout the land, until no area can claim that it is with out its skin diver contingent. What does it take to become a skin diver? You have to be able to swim, of course. But you don't have to be more than an aver age swimmer. Your curiosity will more than compensate for your lack of ability. Perhaps you're afraid that it is too expensive a sport for you to fool with. Don't let this deter you. All you need to start are three basic pieces of equip ment - a face mask, fins for your feet and a snorkel. All three can be purchased for as little as $16. Fae Mask The face mask, costing $6.95 looks like oversized goggles that fit watertight over the area of the eyes. It offers pro tection and gives you better vision under the water be cause you have an air space around your eyes. The fins that cost from $6.95 to $12.95 fit on your feet making them like webbed feet of ducks and othe water fowl. This pro vides better propulsion while swimming. It also protects your feet when walking on sharp surfaces and keeps you from slipping on slimy rocks. The snorkel, which sells for $1.95 to $5, is a tube that fits in the mouth of the skin diver and extends above the sur face so that he can float face down and obtain air with his nose and mouth submerged. When he sights something he wants to take a close look at, ha merely darts down. The valve in the upper part of the snorkel closes automatically so that water will not be drawn in. That's all you need to start learning this intriguing sport. Chances are you'll want to take along a spear so you can go under water llsmng. A imDle one might cost you $9.95 while a spear gun will set you back $27.50. Those who want to stay un der water longer and sub merge deeper than their lungs will permit will soon take to the aqua lung, which provides them with oxygen for an hour or more. The standard size lung costs about $175. A weight belt to go with this costs about $10 For further protection, especially in cold water, the skin diver will probably want a complete diving suit to en case himself in. These range in price from $35 to $95. If you are already a camera fan. the underwater world will present new picture pos sibilities to you that you nev er dreamed of before. The technique will be different from what you've been used to and it will take a little time to master the new art. But think of the possibilities! You can get a camera for $36.90. . While you don't have to own a boat to become a skin dver, you're a step ahead if you do have one. The best skin diving is done from a boat. You can combine both sports. When you tire of fish ing from the surface, you can don your mask and aqua lung and go down under with spear in hand. From a more prac tical viewpoint, you can make use of your underwater equip ment to inspect your boat every so often. If you cannot obtain all these items from your local sporting goods store, they are available by mail from Aber crombic & Fitch in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Palm Beach. i " ' j DISPLAY MANNERS Cotton knits display town and coun try manners in these clean-cut separates. The candy-striped shirt has rolled sleeves and elongated placket. Skirt comes in matching spring colors. Both are by Aileen. ALWAYS A PROBLEM Dry rot is always a problem at fitting out time. After rotted area has been cleaned out, some times it's possible to patch it with fiber glass. Plastic sands smooth. MAIL TRIBUNE, M.dforJ, Or. Friday, March 25, 1960 B 5 Local Numbering Laws Change in Several States During 1960, the boat own er should check the lecal num bering laws that are appli cable to his particular boat because there is a strong pos sibility they may have changed since last year, ac cording to the National Asso ciation of Engine and Boat Manufacturers, guiding au thorities of the pleasure boat ing industry. The association pointed out that 31 states have passed new boat registration laws as of Jan. 1, 1960, under the option given them by the Federal Boating Act, of 1958. As of that date, the U. S. Coast Guard had approved 13 of the 31 systems proposed, giving those states the right to num ber boats on all waters within their borders. The Federal Boating Act re quires the numbering of all motor boats equipped with en gines over 10 horsepower rat ing. The states have the right to adopt numbering systems of their own that conform to Coast Guard standards or leave the numbering task en tirely to the Coast Guard. The states also have the option to number all boats, regardless of power rating. The states have until April 1 to adopt acceptable number ing systems before the Coast Guard begins the process in states without such systems. States that have1 passed new boat numbering laws as of Jan. 1 are:"Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colo rado, Delaware, Florida, Illi nois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mis souri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. . The Coast Guard has ap proved the numbering systems of the following 13 states: Florida, Montana, Utah, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tex as, West Virginia, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon, Arizona, Kansas and California. New Innovation in Boat Motors to Be Displayed at Fair One. of the newest innova- tioons in marine engines will be on display this week end at the Crater Lions Sports fair. ' It's " an 80-horsepower mo tor designed to combine the quiet and economy of an in board, with the speed and performance of an outboard. The new "Volvo-Penta Aqua matic" trans-mount will be displayed in the Bell Boy Bo nanza boat. Counter Balance The new Volvo-Penta has an average cruising fuel con sumption of only 1.9 gallons per hour less than one-third the fuel cost of conventional outboards. Full height tran somo gives increased safety and protection from engine swamping and gives a lower center of gravity. The engine weight and pro peller thrust are in counter balance which reduces stress on the transom to a minimum. Reese Marine center, which is displaying the new motor, states that Sweden's centuries old tradition of nautical craftsmanship is combined with America's ingenuity and pioneering to produce the new trans-mount model. A boat owner has the tilt protection for beaching and trailer hauling provided by an outboard, coupled with the economy of inboard engines. The Volvo-Penta has a 12-volt electrical system and includes starter and generator. The weight of the engine and drive is 440 pounds. Cool, Abbreviated Style Noted in New Lingerie Cool and abbreviated styl ing marks a youthful fresh ness in spring's crop of new lingerie. Opened necklines, open sleeves, bare midriffs and bikinis offer spring-into-summer comfort. Designed for easy care and serving practical needs, spring lingerie appears in a variety of delightful shapes. New in timate apparel, sleepwear and loungewear may be simply tailored, luxurious or play fully frivolous. Nylon tricot is still a fa vorite; however, there are many different nylons-some crepy, sheer and the new satin sheer plus nylon blends. Addition of a new faceted yarn to nylon tricot gives a crystal-like sparkle. All Cotton All-cotton drip-dry batiste or plisse attracts prints and bright colors while cotton blends are mostly solid pastel shades. Silk crepe and nylon georg ette star in full-length gowns and matching peignoir-type robes, often highlighted with lace at the bodice. An Oriental flavor is dra matic in deep-floral print mandarin coats, some pleat ed at the side, imperial host ess gowns and rich brocade pajamas. These, together with full length gowns, are slated on long-side minority of spring's sleep and loungewear. Short Cuts Short cuts to sleeping com fort are the short boxer style pajamas worn with sleeveless tops. Cool and brief is the popular baby doll style of gown, featuring a lovely neck line with full sweep of ma terial from a wide yoke. Note the bed-to-breakfast fashions, which combine aprons, jumpers and pinafores with gowns for practical beau ty. Culottes, dress-like dusters and shirt-like coats share hon ors. Slips are mostly nylon or synthetic-cotton blends, seen in full and half length, tailor ed simply or richly trimmed with lace, eyelet embroidery, deep flounces or pleats. Nov elty monogramming and va rious whimsical motifs add variety for the younger set. STICK WITH YOUR BOAT If your boat should capsize, cling to it until help arrives. Don't strike out for shore un less it is only a very short distance away. CAN BE FUN Fitting out can be fun for and often learn much about boats. The pram the family, even if it involves work. Young- above will soon be ready for sanding and sters especially like to get in on the job, painting. ; r Presents Willie the Clown and His Rare Violin IN PERSON Saturday & Sunday at Their Booth in the Big Tent at the Crater Lions Sportsfeir MEDFORD ARMORY Be Sure To Have Willie Show You How to Have Fun With the Amazing CROON ALA If you are 1 to 101 and can hum or sing a tune you can play the Amazing CROON ALA 122 East Main Phone SP 3-5348 . - JL J l V aJv(( y 1 f " Downtown Medford ' -mm Introducing ... :J&M w nsSm Swim Suits W , J , Jt JS-?pJ' Elizabeth Stewart y LACK AND WHITE: ON THE ROCKS ELIZABETH STEWART SWIZZLES SHAPE WITH A STARTLE. RESULT: BLACK TO SWIM INV WHITE TO SHOW-OFF IN. TWO PIECE PRINT IN LINED COTTON, 10.06. WITH SCOOP-Y JACKET 0.00. THE BLACK KNIT SKIN SUIT, 22.00. YOUR CHARGE ACCOUNT INVITED! Main and Bartlett Streets Phone SP 2-6428
