I 



182 VOYAGE TO THE POLAR SEA. October 



' downtakes,' had to be closed up again. Openings 

 made in the stove funnel near the beams were con- 

 stant and most valuable ' uptakes.' 



On the lower deck everything that prevented the 

 free circulation of the air was removed, the dividing 

 bulkhead shifted farther aft, and free communication 

 arranged for between the fore and after parts of the 

 deck. 



After these improvements were completed and the 

 upper deck covered with a layer of snow two feet in 

 thickness, the lower deck beams were fairly dry in all 

 ordinary weather : but in the immediate vicinity of 

 the ventilating hatchways and in the parts most distant 

 from the warming stoves, and more especially during 

 the coldest weather, constant sponging was necessary. 

 Although the captain's cabin and the wardroom were 

 perfectly dry, the officers' cabins opening into the ward- 

 room, not permitting a free circulation of the air, 

 were as usual the dampest parts of the ship, and each 

 officer was obliged to construct a waterproof covering 

 over his bed to catch the frequently falling drops. 

 The only remedy appears to be to remove as many 

 bulkheads as possible. 



It has been proposed that the air necessary for 

 ventilating the ship should be passed through a warmed 

 chamber attached to the stoves ; but when it is con- 

 sidered how quickly all air-tubes become choked with 

 the accumulation of frozen moisture, it will be under- 

 stood how difficult such an arrangement would prove 

 in practice. 



A stove fitted with water-pipes was tried on board 

 the ' Discovery ' with an excellent result, the warmth 



