OILIXG THE WAVES. 27 



the oil cannot at once subdue the great waves that are already 

 formed, but may prevent their formation if applied in time. 

 Even the great waves are moderated by the oil stopping the 

 action of the wind which sustains and augments them. 



Quite recently, Captain David Gray made some experiments 

 at the north bar of Peterhead, where a very heavy surf breaks 

 over in rough weather. On a rough day he dropped a bottle 

 full of oil into the sea. The oil, floating out of the bottle, 

 converted the choppy waves over a large area " into an 

 expanse of long undulating rollers, smooth and glassy, and so 

 robbed of all violence that a small open boat could ride on 

 them in safety/' 



This result is quite in accordance with what we are told 

 respecting the ancient practice of the fishermen of Lisbon, who 

 were accustomed to empty a bottle of oil into the sea when 

 they found on their return to the river that there was a danger- 

 ous surf on the bar, which might fill their boats in crossing it. 



As regards Peterhead, it is proposed to lay perforated pipes 

 across the mouth of the harbor, and to erect tanks from which 

 these pipes may be supplied with oil, and thus pour a contin- 

 uous and widely distributed stream into the sea in bad weather. 

 The scheme was mooted some time ago, but I am not aware 

 whether it has yet been carried out. Its success or failure 

 must mainly be determined by the cost, and this will largely 

 depend upon the kind of oil that is used. A series of well- 

 conducted experiments upon the comparative areas protected 

 by different kinds of oil would be very interesting and practi- 

 cally useful, for until this has been ascertained, a proper 

 selection cannot be made. How long will it last ? is another 

 question. 



I have frequently seen such tracks as Franklin observed out 

 at sea, and have climbed to the masthead in order to sight 

 the ship that produced them without seeing any. Several of 

 such smooth shining tracks have been observed at the same 

 time, but no ship visible, and this in places where no sail has 

 been seen for days before or after. The poet's description of- 

 " the trackless ocean" is by no means " founded on fact." 



The Plymouth Breakwater contains 3,369,261 tons of stone, 

 and cost the British Government a million and a half. The 

 interest on this at 4 per cent, amounts to 60,000 per annum. 

 If the above statements are reliable, some of the wholesale oil 

 merchants who read this might contract to becalm a consider- 

 able area of the Channel for a smaller amount. 



