. J BEER BRKWED ON BOARD. 339 



the space between the 'Assistance' and 'Pioneer' was 

 commenced on by saws and blasting ; but this proving 

 tedious, owing to very heavy ice, ranging between seven 

 and fourteen feet, about the 1st of July we tested the 

 thickness of the outer ice to the nearest water, which wo 

 found to range from seven feet at our bows to two feet 

 at six hundred yards seaward, where the water was fast 

 increasing. 



Brewing from essence of malt and hops had been 

 practised as early as the 6th of August last season, but 

 the general adoption of our "home-brewed" did not 

 fairly commence until the end of October; with what 

 success I shall leave my readers to judge from the fol- 

 lowing report of the officer who superintended. It was 

 much esteemed, and at times mixed to dilute the excel- 

 lent beer supplied by Messrs. Allsopp. 



Her Majesty's Ship 'Assistance,' 1 Wellington Clianm-1, 



October 31, 1853. 

 Sin, 



1. In compliance with your directions, I have the honour to report 

 upon the beer brewed from the essence of malt and of hops on board 

 this ship during the winter 1852-1853, as follows, viz.: 



2. An experiment was made on the 6th of August, 1852, to brew 

 with the proportions prescribed by the makers (Hudson and Co.). 

 Eighty pounds of malt and three pounds of hops were mixed with 

 boiling water, and then started into a fifty-six gallon cask (rilling it), 

 placed by the side of the galley-fire : when the temperature had fallen 

 to 90 there was added half a pound of yeast, in a state of fermenta- 

 tion, made by mixing dried yeast, sugar, and flour, in hot water ; but 

 although signs of fermentation were occasionally apparent at the bung- 

 hole during the day, yet, from the low temperature that prevailed at 

 night (consequent upon the absence of the galley-fire), it could not be 

 goi 1o work satisfactorily. The beer produced, although palatable and 

 drunk by the ship's company, was so weak, from the inadequacy of the 



