Hi Matty,
I've logged your canoe into our BN Morris database, which currently has about 250 known Morris and Veazie Canoe Co. canoes. I suggest you look closely at the serial number, however, as there may be a "1" in front of the "3", making the serial number 13099. Morris canoes prior to 8XXX have an oval plate on the left inwale above the first full rib... canoes after that time have the plate on the stem. A 3XXX Morris probably dates from 1905, which is about as early as any canoes were fashioned with open gunwales. Morris preferred closed gunwales, although open wales were offered and I'm not saying it's impossible to have an open wale Morris c. 1905... just more likely to be seen ten years later, especially with the tag on the stem.
Another possibility would be that this canoe is one of the factory-direct Veazie Canoe Company canoes-- also made by Morris but placed into a separate serial number series. Where 3099 is a low number on a BN Morris, it is a higher number on a Veazie. Anyway... my opinion is that there may be that extra digit at the beginning... a "1" is often easily missed as it sometimes is way to the left. Your canoe is by a well-respected builder. There are many articles in the journal Wooden Canoe as well as discussions in these forums, as Mr. Pennypacker suggested. Our national assembly in 2015 will feature the Morris.
Kathy
