62 Chapter II. 



small as possible. The reason of this was that a small 

 ship is, of course, lighter than a large one, and can be 

 made stronger in proportion to her weight. A small ship 

 too is better adapted for navigation among the ice ; it is 

 easier to handle her in critical moments, and to find a 

 safe berth for her between the packing ice-floes. I was 

 of opinion that a vessel of 1 70 tons register w r ould 

 suffice, but the Fram is considerably larger, 402 tons 

 gross, and 307 tons net. It was also our aim to build a 

 short vessel, which could thread her way easily among the 

 floes, especially as great length would have been a source 

 of weakness when ice-pressure set in. But in order that 

 such a ship, which has, moreover, very sloping sides, shall 

 possess the necessary carrying capacity, she must be broad ; 

 and her breadth is in fact about a third of her length. 

 Another point of importance was to make the sides as 

 smooth as possible, without projecting edges, while plane 

 surfaces were as much as possible avoided in the 

 neighbourhood of the most vulnerable points, and the 

 hull assumed a plump and rounded form. Bow, stern, 

 and keel all were rounded off so that the ice should not 

 be able to get a grip of her anywhere. For this reason, 

 too, the keel was sunk in the planking so that barely 

 three inches protruded and its edges were rounded. 

 The object was that " the whole craft should be able to 

 slip like an eel out of the embraces of the ice." 



The hull was made pointed fore and aft, and somewhat 

 resembles a pilot boat, minus the keel and the sharp 



