NO. 15.] ORIGINAL ACCOUNTS. 15 



"On Sept. 20th 1884, Wind slight SW., I left Kristiansand with a laden barque, 

 "Carla", 502 tons and drawing about 4'9 m. We had a steamer attached to the bow, 

 and we already had good speed, when all at once, the ship took dead-water off Odder 

 Island. She did not answer her helm, and the water followed at the stern, as if it were 

 clinging to the ship. On account of her great inertia she moved right through it, but her 

 velocity was almost entirely gone when we finally got rid of the dead-water. 



"One day in the summer of 1890 (or 1889?) I saw a barque of about 600 tons go out 

 light, towed by a powerful tug. The wind was gentle SE. breeze. Though previously go- 

 ing at a good speed, the barque took dead-water at the same place as the "Carla", and 

 she stopped so quickly that it looked as if she had dropped anchor again. Both the ships 

 were new-coppered, so that the friction must have been a minimum." 



Effect of dead-water on sailing vessels. 



No. 5. Mr. Colin Archer of Larvik, sent me a letter, from which, by 

 kind permission of the writer, I make the following extract. 



"It has often occurred to me that it would be an extremely interesting problem to 

 investigate that very peculiar phenomenon which we call "dead-water", and which has not 

 yet, as far as I know, been made the subject of systematic investigation. 



"We have here on our fjord a very good opportunity of observing the phenomenon. 

 Two rivers fall into the fjord; and it often happens, when out for a sail, that the boat 

 suddenly loses her way and is held fast, almost as in a vice, in spite of a fair breeze 

 which, in the open sea, would give her a speed of two or three knots. The boat seems 

 to drag after her a broad belt of water which follows in her wake. At the same time 

 a system of sharply defined but small waves is generated on each side. These may be 

 compared to the side waves set up by a steamer at full speed but, of course, on a di- 

 minutive scale. I enclose a sketch (Fig. 11, PI. IV) showing approximately the shape of 

 this wave-system. The waves are small and short, and resemble, in some degree, the 

 ripples caused by a gentle breeze; but they form a simple succession, as shown by the 

 sketch. 



"All this is no doubt caused by the layer of fresh water — which is spread over the 

 salt sea — having a motion of its own independent of the underlying water; but the con- 

 nection between this cause and the singular effect it produces, is not very evident. The 

 dead-water often appears in quite still water, as in closed basins of ports (though in com- 

 munication with the sea), where no considerable currents can be supposed. 



"Whether the shape of the vessels cross section has any marked influence on the for- 

 mation of dead-water I am not able to say; but I have observed that the drag (i. e. the 

 difference of draught forward and aft) plays an important part, more particularly as regards 

 steering. If the drag be great, the salt water gets a hold on the deepest part of the ves- 

 sel's keel, and the surface current will carry her head round in its own direction. The 

 rudder loses all, or nearly all, influence on the steering." 



No. 6. Admiral C. Sparre of the Norwegian Navy, often experienced 



dead-water in the Kristiania Fjord 1 during cruises in his own yacht. He 



told my the following and kindly revised it, when written. The sketch (Fig. 

 12, PI. IV) is made by Admiral Sparre himself. 



See the map Fig. 1, PI. HI. 



