of Ships and Vessels, 



have less difficulty in raising it again. The same observation 

 may be made on the aft-part." 



The preceding observations ought to be sufficient to convince 

 all but the most prejudiced, that I am justified in what I pro- 

 pose ; and naval architects must concur with me in its utilityj 

 although they have never put it in practice. I shall therefore 

 endeavour to show that it is practicable. 



By removing the cat-heads aft, there would be a few fa- 

 thoms more of cat-fall to run up, but which, considering the 

 very short time taken to cat the anchor, does not appear to me 

 can be considered an objection : and the anchors being 

 brought abaft the round of the bow, would fish clearer of the 

 side than at present, and stow neater, and similar to the spare 

 and sheet anchors. 



From observations which I have made on several frigates, 

 it appears to me, if the cat-heads were removed to the fore part 

 of the channels, which, in the several ships, would be from eight 

 to ten further aft than where now placed, that both stock 

 and fluke would stow perfectly clear of the ports. And when 

 it is considered that a forty-six gun frigate's two bower anchors 

 weigh four tons and a half, which, together with the stocks, 

 cat-heads, knees, fastenings, &c., cannot be estimated at less 

 than six or seven tons, there can be no doubt the removal aft 

 of so much weight would give considerable relief to a ship 

 in a head sea ; contribute to a better arrangement in stowing 

 the ship, and in many cases obviate the necessity of stowing 

 ballast too near the after extremity. It would also be 

 removing fifty per cent more weight than the two foremost 

 guns. 



There are no vessels which require easing in a sea more 

 than our brigs. The weight of an eighteen gun brig's two 

 bower anchor, stocks, cat -heads, knees, fastenings, &c. cannot 

 be estimated at much less than foar tons ; and which, by a 

 little alteration in the arrangement of the chain-plates, to admit 

 the fluke of the anchor in between two shrouds, I am of 

 opinion may be removed aft seven or eight feet, and the anchors 

 stow clear of the ])orts : as the spare anchor stows clear which 

 is placed abaft the channels, I can see no reason why the 

 bowers should not. imwh 



