328 On ih<B Stowage mid Sailing 



In cutters I have had the cat-heads so far aft, that the crown 

 of the anchor has stowed close to the fore shroud ; they have 

 stowed perfectly easy, and I observed that the copper about 

 the bows has been less injured, than in vessels which had their 

 cat-heads further forward. 



It is in our smaller and sharpest vessels its effect would be 

 greatest, but there can be no doubt of its advantage in all ships ; 

 and should the experiment be tried, I have no doubt it will be 

 extended to all. 



In many ships, and all our smaller vessels, the coal-hole is 

 also very far forward ; and as the coals are a considerable 

 weight, and not speedily consumed, I should recommend stowing 

 them further aft, and water where they are now, and to use 

 this water first. 



There is also a very great weight in the fore extremity of a 

 hne-of-battle ship ; the gunner's, boatswain's, and carpenter's 

 stores, which it appears tome may be stowed nearer the centre 

 the ship, by the following arrangements. 



Where those stores are now stowed, to build a room to 

 receive part of the bread from aft, keeping a clear wing passage 

 round the bows, by which means the bread would be as well 

 preserved as if in the after bread-room. The bread forward 

 can be used first, or it can be taken from forward and aft 

 alternately, as the trim of the ship may appear to require. The 

 remaining space to be divided into store-rooms for marine- 

 clothing, slops, beds, and such light weights as are at present 

 stowed in the after cock-pit. 



All the mates, midshipmen, and assistant-surgeons to mess 

 in the gun-room, a much more healthy and airy situation than 

 the cock-pit, and to have a store-room in the cock-pit for the 

 mess-utensils and sea-stores. 



By the removal of bread forward the after bread-room may 

 be considerably reduced, and the surgeon's and purser's cabins 

 removed further aft. By such an arrangement there would 

 be sufficient space abaft the cable-tiers for the reception of 

 the gunner's, boatswain's, and carpenter's stores ; and which 

 would not be much abaft the centre of the ship. 



In frigates also, and smaller vessels, similar arrangements 

 should be made as far as possible; and if. those were carried 



