244 Capt. McKonochie on the most effective Employment 



under command ; and although, when towing, accidental separation should be 

 impossible while there is room along the whole length of the two vessels for 

 jjreventer hawsers, still, in such an extraordinary case, or, in the event of a 

 man falling overboard, or any other contingency which may make it desira- 

 ble to slip at short notice, the tug would thus be especially ready to dart 

 ftstern. 



These views, then, appear to me plausible ; and they are fortified by the 

 fact, that, in some late experiments on the Forth and Clyde Canal, this mode 

 r)f steering was found to answer perfectly, and have indeed singular power. 

 But they are not thus altogether confirmed notwithstanding ; in a sea-way, for 

 example, a rudder forward may be too much exposed. I do not think, however, 

 that this would necessarily be the case. Upon this plan, it might be made much 

 smaller, and be more strongly secured ; or it might be differently hung, in 

 a way which appears to me calculated to obviate the difficulty altogether ;— 

 in a word, all this remains to be seen. In the mean time, suffice it to add, 

 that if the rudder is aft, the tow lines should lead from before the midships of 

 the tug, — if forward, from abaft them, — ^in both cases, to lengthen the lever 

 with which the helm acts *. And, in a steam-boat, its power can be always 

 reinforced by a moveable weight on deck ; which, by raising or sinking one 

 or other paddle-wheel in the water, can so increase or diminish its force, that 

 a small steam-boat can be thus brought round, almost on its heel. 



3. In a gale of wind, it may sometimes be desirable to increase somewhat 

 the distance between the vessels ; but never, I think, very much ; because 

 the intervening pole and steady headway of the tug would always prevent 

 actual collision ; and the momentum with which the vessel astern would 'scend 

 aft, not being reinforced by the weight of masts, nor by the wind they hold, 

 she would always tow comparatively easy, and a long scope would never be 

 required. In a very heavy sea, it would be a relief to lay the head in the 

 easiest direction, and lay to, as it were, for a few hours, keeping steerage 

 way on, and not much more. When bearing up before a very heavy wind 

 and sea, it would appear proper to slip the intervening pole, and have a good 

 scope of hawser in hand before commencing the operation; then get the 

 steam-boat well off", and with good way on her, before beginning to tug ; and 

 in a very extreme case, a jury mast up, and square sail, ready to shew, as 

 soon as it will draw, in the vessel astern, would make her more lively and 

 alert in falling off". It would be an annoying task to tow with a heavy 

 beam-sea, which would occasion rolling, whatever the form of vessel em- 

 ployed :— but in such cases, a small deviation from the course will give re- 

 lief; and other similar resources will always suggest themselves on occasion. 

 In anchoring on a lee-shore, the paddles kept gently going would ease the 

 cables ; and if, on the other hand, the danger from drifting was not great, 

 but the steam-boat rode uneasily, exposed to a heavy sea, she might be 

 brought under the lee of the other vessel, and there secured. In all cases 

 there would be much comfort and safety in the two hulls, and the double 



* In the annexed wood-cut, the towiug-mast is placed as though the tug were steering for- 

 ward, my opinion leaning to that method. But I have not shown a rudder at cither extremi- 

 ty, meaning thus to leave the point open- When steering aft, the tow-lines should come from 

 where the funnel is in the cut. 



