Lightning Conductors in Ships. 161 



verified in the damage so constantly happening at sea during 

 lightning storms *. 



13. The necessity of providing the best possible security 

 against tlie effects of lightning on ship-board has been long ad- 

 mitted ; but continuous and fixed metallic rods have been 

 deemed inapplicable to ships, in consequence of their masts, the 

 only parts to which they can be attached, being exposed to 

 chances of injury, to motion in a variety of ways, to frequent 

 elongation and contraction, and to the necessity which frequent- 

 ly arises for removing the higher masts altogether, and placing 

 them on deck. It was probably from these causes that the 

 small flexible chains or links above mentioned were employed. 

 Such conductors, however, will probably, on examination, be 

 found less applicable than fixed continuous lines of metal, and, 

 in every point of view, inefficient substitutes for them. Their 

 great want of continuity, as well as their want of mass and sur- 

 face, is very unfavourable to the transmission of severe explo- 

 sions, the electric matter becoming sensible at the points of 

 junction, as is evident by the sparks which appear upon them 

 at the time of the discharge, so that in some instances they have 

 been actually disunited : they are likewise objectionable as be- 

 ing liable to every species of injury incident to a ship's rigg- 

 ing, and much difficulty is experienced in keeping them in 

 their position, and unbroken, more especially during gales of 

 wind, and at night, when the ship is under sail, and when it is 

 perhaps required, as is already observed, to remove some por- 

 tion of the higher masts. It has therefore been long considered 

 desirable to apply, if possible, a permanent conductor, which 

 should be always in its place, and ready for action ; and various 

 attempts have been made and suggestions advanced, at different 

 times, to apply fixed lightning-conductors in ships, as the sub- 

 ject from tirpe to time has demanded further consideration. 



14. To protect a ship effectually from damage by lightning, 

 it is essential that the conductor be as continuous and as direct 

 as possible, from the highest points to the sea — that it be per- 



" Case (/.), p. 158. A minute account will be found in the Liverpool 

 Commercial Chronicle, in May 1827. Tlie conducting chain, at the time of 

 the first explosion, was stowed away in its box below, although set up in 

 time to prevent the cfiects of the second explosion. 



APRIL JUNE 1831. L 



