242 Capt. M*=Konochie on Hie most effective Employment 



towing with an uncertain moving power, wind, over which we have no con- 

 trol, with a quantity of yards and masts aloft, frail in nearly the sance pro- 

 portion that they are precious, and which, therefore, greatly increase the 

 danger to be apprehended from occasional collision, and with, after all, only 

 a limited power of manoeuvre by tlieir means. But steam-towing is really 

 scarcely more like this than a wheel-carriage drawn by horses is like one also 

 impelled by sails. And on the contrary, a power which can be made any thing 

 in amount that we chuse to have it, which can be urged, slowed, stopped, and 

 reversed at will, embarked in a boat which can go either way indifferently, 

 and in all cases leaves a broad, smooth wake behind it, seems to me even bet- 

 ter than a horse, — it can do more, and is more docile ; — and only requires that 

 the shaft^ by which it is harnessed, shall be moderately well contrived. 



My own contrivances, then, for this purpose, I shall now detail, although I 

 am very far from feeling confident that they are the best possible ; and on the 

 contrary, am well persuaded that a little practice will improve them greatly 

 where deficient, and probably prove some of them even supererogatory, as an- 

 ticipating difficulties which will not be found to exist. Still something will 

 be gained, if professional men are thus induced to consider the subject 

 closely, even though the result be their dissent. I shall state my views in or- 

 der, as they regard towing, steering, conduct in a gale of whid, and making 

 sail in case of occasional separation, or the disabling of the tug. 



' 1. I have already said, that I think the vessels should be kept close toge- 

 ther, even to an excess in most cases, making them almost as one vessel, with 

 a flexible backbone ; my reason for which is, that immediately astern of the 

 tug a peculiarly smooth track will be always found, a sort of cradle, in which 

 the vessel astern will meet little or no opposition. Although thus closely 

 united however, some means should be provided to prevent actual collision ; 

 and I propose the simplest possible, viz. hanging a spar between the two ves- 

 sels (in the tug hung well forward, that her head may not be thrown out 

 when backing) ; which spar, when towing on end, should hang free and loose, 

 but when the vessels approach will tighten more or less gradually, according 

 to its weight, and act in all respects like the pole of a carriage, slowing or 

 backing, \vhen required. Two towing hawsers should be employed, led out- 

 side from about the chestrees of the vessel astern, and each in two parts con- 

 nected bv a hook or otherwise inside the tug, for the facility of slip[)ing when 



