MSCRIPTIOX OF A WHALE SHIP. 19^3 



to the larboard bow and annexed pointers. Thus the 

 whole fore part of the ship is so consolidated, that a 

 blow cannot be received on any part of one bow, with- 

 out being communicated by the fortification to every 

 part of the opposite bow ; while every part to and 

 through which the impression is communicated, 

 must tend to support that place on which the blow 

 is impressed. Every part of the bows, therefore, 

 from the stem to the fore-chains, derives additional 

 strength from the fortification. The stem itself is 

 likewise supported by such parts of the fortification, 

 as butt ao-ainst the fore-hooks; these consist of all 

 the ice-beams and some of the pointers. 



To preserve the stem from being shattered or bruis- 

 ed by direct blows from the ice, it is strengthened 

 by an extra piece applied to the front, called the 

 false or ice stem. On the sides of this are placed 

 the ice-knees, which are angular chocks or blocks of 

 wood, filling the concavity formed by the stem and 

 bow planks, and extending from about the eight 

 feet mark to the loading mark. In the best style, 

 the ice-knees are twelve to fifteen inches in thick- 

 ness at the stem, diminishing to, perhaps, six or 

 eight inches thick, at the distance of about eight 

 feet from the stem, from thence gradually becoming 

 thinner, until they fall into, and incorporate with the 

 common doubling, below the fore part of the fore- 

 chains. This makes a neat bow ; and, in point of 



VOL. IL N 



