74 WAVES OF THE SEA 



which on the Beaufort scale of o- 1 2, is equivalent 

 to a wind-velocity of 44 statute or 38.2 geo- 

 graphical miles per hour, and is termed " a strong 

 gale/' An interesting photograph was taken at 

 the after-end of the promenade deck, with camera 

 26 feet above the sea level, showing a neighbouring 

 wave following the ship and eclipsing the distant 

 horizon. Captain David writes : 



" With regard to the lengths and heights of the 

 waves at the time of the photograph, I did take 

 quite a few observations, more particularly of the 

 heights, which ranged from 38 to 45 feet, 

 though I have a vivid recollection of one which I 

 think was quite 50 feet in height. Standing on 

 bridge at 50 feet above sea level, the crest of this 

 wave appeared level with the eyes of jigger rigging 

 just before ship's stern commenced to rise. The 

 height of rigging from the horizontal line drawn 

 from bridge rail to jiggermast taken from scale 

 slightly exceeds 50 feet. This was, of course, 

 an exceptional wave, and I felt quite glad when 

 it passed without doing any damage. Referring 

 to their length from crest to crest, I would not 

 be quite so definite, though an average would be 

 about 600 to 750 feet during the worst part of 

 the storm and indeed afterwards." (The length 

 of the Corinthic is 500 feet.) 



