This skate has, at its heel-end, instead of a screw, a piece of iron so shaped, somewhat as a T (and keyed so as to prevent its position from being altered), that it can be locked into a corresponding hole in an iron plate, which is to be firmly screwed and let into the heel of a good strong lace-up boot. The hole in the said iron plate is to be plugged up with tow or a strip of strong linen cloth when not in use, which is easily removed by a pocket buttonhook, the hook part being broken off and ground to a point, or still better, perhaps, by a little steel instrument of the nature of the crochet hook, but very much stronger, shown in Fig. 2. No heel-strap over the instep is necessary (a great relief); a broad toe-strap, divided so as to make two ends, and each buckled over and across the foot, is quite sufficient, as the three little spikes are underneath. boots can be worn during the frost in the daily occupation; and what with the absence of the heelstrap, and the simple fastenings of this skate, we have not yet met its equal for general convenience. One of the writers has worn such a pair during the late severe frosts continually, and has been on the ice at least sixty times, and that with a degree of comfort which he has never experienced under any other system. The only objection that can possibly be urged against it is that, having straps over the toes, it is not quite so neat as the fastenings without any strap at all.

The

A notable effort at still further improvement of

the skate with cramps and T combined has been lately made by one of the members of our Club, assisted by the practical skill of Mr. Hill, cutler, of the Haymarket, the maker to the Club, and with some success, but it has hardly yet undergone that test of extended use and time by which its merits could be fully proved; but, if it

FIG. 6.

stand moderately rough work, the improvement is decided.

In this new skate (Fig. 6), all straps of every kind are done away with; the cramp described in a previous page is the sole front fastening, and the heel of the skate, on its upper surface, is fitted with a revolving T with a spring catch to prevent its turning. The skate is put on by pushing the

boot into the cramp until the T enters the hole made to receive it in the heel; the T is then revolved a quarter of a circle by means of a small projecting lever, the spring catch drops into its place, and all is secure.

The boots, we think, will have to be protected with the golosh for the sake of the cramp, and the

FIG. 7.

ingenious valve cover for the hole in the heel; and we think that they must be stout also, because all the fastenings are attached simply to the sole and heel of the boot.

Another skate without straps (Fig. 7) has quite recently been invented in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It has the cramp, as usual, but this is most in

geniously made with a horizontal adjustment, enabling it to be fitted most accurately to any boot. At the front part of the heel three pikes are pressed in by a powerful lever adjustment, which also tightens up the cramp: altogether a most ingenious arrangement. The entire skate is of metal. We have heard that a skater has been known to balance on one leg and take off this skate, and then replace it, without stopping his motion. Surely, then, this is a near approach to perfection, but we have also heard that this kind of skate has been known to tear off upon a rude shock.

Many persons object to the skate being fixed simply to the sole of the boot, as such a fastening causes the boot to feel as in a boot-jack, the weight of the skate always pulling at the boot. A small strap in addition, over the instep, remedies this, and, if skating in elastic-side boots, becomes a necessity.

A word here as to skates entirely of metal. Twenty years ago one of the writers had a pair made from a design of his own, and his experience of them, as compared with those having a wooden bed, compels him to decide in giving the preference to the combination of wood and iron, as absorbing the vibration and jar which is peculiarly observable in the skate formed entirely of metal, the metallic ring of which can be easily distinguished.

We now arrive at a very old-fashioned skate without straps. This has the iron fastened permanently into the sole of the boot, and thus causes the trouble of taking off the regular boots with the thermometer, perhaps, at ten degrees. Fig. 8 shows a skate of this character that can be screwed by short screws on to the sole of a boot.

FIG 8.

The next skate on our list is a patent one which has recently appeared in the shop windows; it is entirely metallic, with an open toecap and bed, and adjusting screw at the heel, which projects slightly behind, by means of which the skate is tightened longitudinally, and two pikes enter the front part of the heel (underneath the