NARUATIVE OF A VOYAGE TO SPITZBERGEN. 479- 



became almost useless on account of the heeling posi- 

 tion of the ship, and the accumulation of the water in 

 the lee-bilge. The bilge-pumps, therefore, became of 

 essential importance. Steered S. S. AV., with a velo- 

 city of 3» to 7j miles j:;^r hour, under three courses, 

 the top-sails and jibs. The John carried much 

 more sail. 



The swell continued, with some variation, during 

 the two following days, though the wind was, in ge- 

 neral, moderate and fair. On the 15th, our lati- 

 tude was 71° 40' N. 



I now made some experiments to ascertain the 

 quantity of water discharged by the pumps, from 

 which some interesting deductions were made. I 

 first gauged two tubs that had been used in bail- 

 ing, one of which was found to be of the capacity of 

 18 gallons, and the other of 20. The foimer, I 

 found on trial, was, at the common rate of pumping, 

 filled with eight strokes from one pump. Shortly 

 after the accident, I had observed, that from 55 to 

 75 strokes were made by each pump j^cr minute ; 

 but I shall not consider the mean number more 

 than 60. Therefore, as this tub was filled by eight 

 strokes, and sixty were made in a minute, it would, 

 of course, be filled 7^ times in a minute. Hence, 

 7^ multiplied by 18, (the contents of the tub in 

 gallons), gives 135 gallons, as the quantity of water, 

 usually discharged by one pump in a minute. From 

 tliese data, together with the estimation of the 



