1852.] MOISTURE BETWEEN DECKS. 139 



as they were by their predecessors." Now, I am firmly 

 of opinion that Sir John Ross was right as to his system 

 of ventilation, but carried it on upon such a reduced scale 

 that it could not act sufficiently. And I feel fully satis- 

 fied that the evil in these vessels might be remedied by 

 hatching the present decks, and in winter removing the 

 crews six feet lower. Such a disposition would avoid 

 the immediate condensation of breath on the lower deck 

 beams, resulting in a constant dripping on the lower 

 deck, and, at night, soaking the bed of every man sleeping 

 there ! Undue wet and pervading moisture, and that too 

 charged with the customary constituents of the breath 

 of men, is but too well known to be the predisposing 

 cause of scurvy ; and yet, knowing all this, will it be 

 credited, in the last portion of the nineteenth century, 

 that horse-sponges are supplied to wipe off this mois- 

 ture ? a thing only to be discovered in October, when 

 these drippings commence, and when the daily doleful 

 report of the surgeon is, " She is so very wet between 

 decks, Sir." And, as if this should not be a sufficient 

 warning, I find that vent-holes, to let down cold air, to 

 increase and keep up this condensation, are actually 

 opened, when the heat below cannot be maintained at 

 40, and was frequently, even in my cabin with a stove, 

 below 20. 



This season may pass, and, I sincerely trust, without 

 any material mischief; but should it be our lot to pass 

 another here, I have fully made up my mind that, hav- 

 ing given the plans of my predecessors a fair trial, a very 

 different system will be enforced, for the future comfort 

 of all. 



