458 WHAI-E-FISHEKY. 



a little way, tlie motion ceased. The tackles on the 

 ice being then hauled tight, the heeling position of 

 the ship was pi*eserved, until we mounted the high- 

 er part of the deck, and ran to the lower, as before. 

 At length, after a few repetitions of this manoeuvre, 

 though the weight of men suddenly passing from 

 side to side, could not be less than 8 tons, no im- 

 pression whatever was produced *. 



On account of the peculiar buoyancy and stabili- 

 ty of the shij>, it hence appeared, that the plan of 

 upsetting her was not practicable, without the aid 

 of some other ship to assist by additional purchases ; 

 and, as no other ship could with safety be brought 

 to us, this method was at length relinquished. 



The situation of the ship being now desperate, 

 there could be no impropriety in attempting to re- 

 move the keel and garboard-strake, which prevented 

 the application of the fothering : for, whatever 

 might be the result, it could scarcely be for the 

 worse. Putting, therefore, the bight of a hawser 

 over the end of the detached part of the keel, we 

 fastened one end to a timber head, and, with the 

 other at the capstern, soon hove it asunder ; but im- 

 mediately slipping cut of tlie rope, it sunk f . The 



• The frontispiece to Vol. I. represents the state of the 

 Esk at this juncture. — See the Explanation of the Plates, Ap- 

 pendix, No. X. 



t This piece of keel was 22 feet in length. 



