DESCRIPTION OF A WHALE SHIP. 191 



serves to preserve that part of the doubling wliich 

 it covers, from being destroyed by the ice. 



Fortifying, is the operation of strengthening a 

 ship's stem and bows, by the application of timber 

 and iron plates to the exterior, and a vast number 

 of timbers and stanchions to the interior. When 

 it is required to be very strong and complete, the 

 operation is generally performed somewhat in the 

 following manner. Four straight substantial oak- 

 timbers, called ice-beams, about 12 inches square 

 and 25 feet in length, are placed beneath the hold 

 beams, butting with their foremost extremities a- 

 gainst a strong fore-hook, and extending nearly at 

 right angles, across three or four of the hold beams, 

 into each of which they are notched and secured 

 at the point of intersection, by strong iron bolts, 

 with the addition of cleats on the aftermost beam. 

 The fore part of the ice-beams, which butt against 

 the hook, are placed at a small distance from each 

 other ; from thence they diverge in such a way, that 

 their other extremities divide the aftermost beam 

 under which they pass, into five equal parts. The 

 next important part of the fortification is the point- 

 ers, which consist of four or more crooked timbers, 

 fitting the curve of the ship's bow on each side ; 

 these are placed below the hold beams, against the 

 inside of the ceiling, nearly parallel with the direc- 

 tion of its planks, some butting against the fore- 

 hooks, and others passing between them. Thej*- 



