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Mr. JEX was very glad to hear that that had been done. 
One boat had been exhibited of a carvel-build ; but it was 
not at all suitable for carrying fish to the carrier, because a 
man ina short sea would very often drop a trunk of fish 
in order to save his life, and the edge of the trunk coming 
down upon one of the planks, the boat would become water- 
logged, and she would sink up to the buoyancy that was in 
her. The boat had cork all round between the gunwale 
and the thwarts, and if such a boat was upset the leverage 
being on the top, it would take six of the strongest men 
to right her. Saving life at sea was one of the most 
important subjects of the Exhibition. It was well known 
that many of the lads fell over in dipping a bucket of 
water, or from the vessel giving a sudden lurch, and if any 
means could be devised for saving these lives, it would be 
a step in the right direction. He had provided life-belts 
for the men on his vessels, but they would not wear them. 
Rev. Mr. BERTHON said he stood before them as a 
theoretical inventor; but as the canvas boat which had 
been invented by him had been proved to be the very best 
boat yet brought out, he thought that would be a sufficient 
excuse for his addressing the meeting. His canvas boat might 
be banged against the ship’s side without hurting it, as it 
would at once bound off, and it would go through any sea 
without sinking. One of these canvas boats would not 
occupy more than about a foot of the gangway of a 
smack, and it could be instantaneously opened, when 
it at once presented the form of a very perfect lifeboat with 
enormous air cases at the end, by which the boat would 
right itself in the event of its being capsized. When used 
as a ferry boat for the conveyance of fish from the trawler 
to the carrier, the boxes would be entirely encased in 
wood. The thwarts were made to collapse or not, and the 
