NARRATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 449 



gition of the keel, rendered fothering impracticable, 

 or at least in a great measure ineffectual ; we, there- 

 fore, endeavoured to stop some of the leak, by thrust- 

 ing bundles of oakum down to the place by means 

 of poles and tubs, a part of which remained beneath, 

 and seemed to do some little service. A sail was 

 next applied to the place, but, owing to the circum- 

 stances just mentioned, without producing any ef- 

 fect. 



In consequence of the vigorous assistance of about 

 150 men from the John, North Briton, Don, Supe- 

 rior, Elizabeth, Perseverance, &c. the water, though 

 it could not be wholly withdrawn, was yet so kept 

 under in the hold, that, for the space of twenty-four 

 hours, it fluctuated between the depth of four and 

 six feet. As, however, the pumping and bailing 

 could not possibly be continued by our own ship's 

 company, it was necessary to make use of some means 

 to attempt a speedy remedy, whilst our assistants 

 were numerous. The different plans which I con- 

 ceived might be adopted in the present case, or 

 which I knew had been adopted to stop a leak in 

 fonner cases, were the following, viz. 



I. To fother. — I proposed to attempt to pull the 

 keel entirely away, that the plan of fothering might 

 be adopted with a better prospect of success. This, 

 however, was strongly opposed by some able carpen- 

 ters, who conceived, that the removal of the keel 

 VOL. n. Y f 



