1854.] MAN-tOWER ASCERTAINED. 185 



sides of a square, affording a surface of forty feet in 

 width by thirty ahead, or twelve hundred square feet; 

 mean depth, twenty-one feet. I contended against heavy 

 charges, and in this instance prepared three of 10 and 

 three of 4 Ibs. The first ten-pound charge, placed near 

 the bottom, at the cut in eighteen feet next the bow, effec- 

 tually displaced this entire mass, and two, of four pounds 

 each, effectually brought up the bow cradling. I have of 

 late calculated minutely the working powers of the men 

 engaged.* The result proves that, with numbers varying 

 from ten to sixteen, and not of full power, they have 

 broken up and thrown to the dock wall, from whence 

 others remove it, six hundred tons of ice (by shovels 

 and picks), affording a mean rate of one ton per hour for 

 each man during the working intervals. Some of our 

 strong hands have indeed far exceeded, I might say, even 

 doubled, this ; but the mean labour amounts to that 

 which I have stated. During this labour, which, in cold 

 climates, induces great thirst, I at first ordered an issue 

 of lemonade ; but this was found to disagree with their 

 constitutions, and variations from time to time were 

 made, in consultation with the medical officer, until it at 

 length reached pretty strong brandy punch. This not 

 only improved their spirits and working condition, but 

 materially conduced to their general health. 



The assembled crews here and at Beechey Island hav- 

 ing, by special order, been surveyed by the surgeons and 

 reported on in three classes, fit for any duty, fit for 

 light duty, and unfit for any exposure, drafts were for- 



These result from the masses of ice removed in six days of ten 

 working hours. 



