10 COLIN ARCHER. [NORW. POL. EXP. 



the screw aperture, the others, one on each side of the two posts and the 

 keel, and bolted together laterally. 



In whaling and sealing ships, intended to work among ice, it is the usual 

 practice to amass quantities of timber in the bows, so as to make them dis- 

 proportionately strong as compared with other portions of the hull. These ships 

 generally have more powerful engines than the Fram, and they have fre- 

 quently to force their way through the ice, going at it full speed. The bows 

 have then to bear the brunt of the battle. In our case on the contrary 

 where n nipping" was the chief danger to be apprehended, it was impossible 

 to say where the blow might hit the hardest, but it was probable that the 

 broadside, as presenting the largest target, would be exposed to the most violent 

 attacks. But the broadside is evidently, both structurally and from its shape 

 which approaches nearest to a plane, the weakest part of the hull. It was, 

 therefore, necessary to adopt extraordinary measures for strengthening this 

 part of the vessel. The plan adopted will be best understood by referring 

 to the plans of sections shown on pi. II. Under every beam in both decks 

 were fitted diagonal stays of yellow pine 6 ta X 10*" (15.2 X 25.4 cm.), placed 

 nearly at right angles to the ship's side, and securely fastened to the side and 

 to the beam with wooden knees. Of these diagonals there are 68 distributed 

 over the ship. There are, besides, under each beam three rows of upright 

 stanchions in the between decks, and one row in the lower hold from the 

 keelson. These are tied by iron straps to the keelson, to the beams, or to 

 each other. The whole interior of the ship is thus filled up with a network 

 of braces and struts, so arranged as to transmit the pressure from outside, and 

 give rigidity to the whole structure. As will be seen from the drawings, the 

 arrangement of the stays had to be somewhat modified in the engine room, so 

 as to allow the boiler and engines to be placed in the middle line of the ship. 



All bolts, spikes, and other fastenings, as well as all wrought iron work 

 for hull, spars and rigging, with the exception of the heaviest forgings, such 

 as riders, breasthooks, rudder pintals and gudgeons etc., are galvanised. 



For lifting the anchors - - which are Trotman's patent - - there is a 

 Clarke and Chapman's windlass worked by hand or by a steam winch, placed 

 on the main deck just abaft the foremast. The hold is divided into water- 

 tight compartments by two bulkheads, one immediately abaft the foremast, 

 the other in front of the engine room. Besides two ordinary hand pumps 



