g COLIN ARCHER. [NORW. POL. EXP. 



pine knees (root and stem) of which about 450 have been used in the ship. 

 Wooden knees were as a rule preferred to iron as being more elastic. A 

 considerable number of iron knees were, however, also used, where wood was 

 less suitable. In the boiler- and engine-room the lower deck beams had to 

 be raised about 3 feet to give sufficient height for the engines. The upper 

 deck was similarly raised from the stern to the mainmast forming the poop, 

 under which the cabins are situated over the engine room. On the poop, 

 immediately in front of the funnel, a deckhouse was built in which was fitted 

 a chartroom, and from which the companion steps lead down to the cabin, 

 one on each side. 



Independent of the ice sheathing, the outside planking is double and all 

 oak. The two first (garboard) strakes are, however, single, 7" 1 (17.7 cm.) 

 thick, and bolted transversely through the keel as well as to the frames. The 

 first or inner layer of planking is 3 in (7.5 cm.) thick, and fastened with spikes 

 only; outside this comes a course of 4 in (10.1 cm.) plank, fastened with oak 

 treenails and through bolts in the usual manner. The two top strakes are 

 again single, 6" 1 in thickness. The ice sheathing is greenheart, and covers the 

 whole side from keel to within 18" 1 of the shear strake. It is 3 in thick at the 

 keel gradually increasing to 6" 1 at and above the waterline. It is fastened 

 with spikes and bay bolts only. Each course of planking was caulked and 

 paid before the next was put on. The keel is thus inclosed by the planking, 

 all but 3 4 m which project below it, and this part of the keel is rounded off 

 so as not to obstruct the ice in passing under the ships bottom. The interstices 

 between the frames were filled with a composition, consisting of coaltar, pitch, 

 and sawdust, boiled to a consistency and poured in hot, the ship's side thus 

 forming one compact mass varying in thickness from 28 32 inches (71 81 cm). 

 In consequence of all open spaces in the framing being filled, there was no 

 room left for bilge water under the ceiling. A loose floor was, therefore, laid 

 a few inches above the ceiling on each side of the keelson, to give room for 

 any water that might collect in the ship. In order still further to strengthen 

 the side and more especially to prevent stretching, iron riders were fitted on 

 the ceiling extending from the shelf of the upper deck downwards, well over 

 the floor timbers. 



The stem consists of three massive oak timbers, one inside the other, 

 making over 4 feet (1.22 m.) of solid wood in a fore and aft direction, by 



