162 ANCHOR 



Mr. Kodger proposes, under another patent, dated July, 1833, to alter tho size and 

 form of the palms ; having found from experience that anchors with small palms \rill 

 not only hold better than with large ones, but that the arms of the anchor, even 

 without any palms, have been found to take more secure hold of tho ground than 

 anchors of the old construction of similar weight and length. Ho has accordingly 

 fixed upon one-fifth of the length of the arm, as a suitable proportion for tho length 

 or depth of the palm. He makes the palms, also, broader than they are long or deep'. 



Previously to the introduction of Lieutenant Rodger's small-palmed anchor, ships 

 wore supplied with heavy, cumbersome contrivances with long shanks and broad palms 

 extending half-way up the flukes. So badly wore they proportioned, that it was no 

 uncommon thing for them to break in falling on the bottom, particularly if the ground 

 was rocky. But, if once firmly imbedded in stiff holding ground, there was consi- 

 derable difficulty in breaking them out. The introduction of the small palm, there- 

 fore, forms an important era in the history of anchors. 



The next important introduction was Porter's anchor, with moveable flukes or 

 arms. One grand object sought to be attained here, was the prevention of fouling by 

 the cable. It was considered, also, that as great injury was frequently occasioned by 

 a ship grounding on her anchor, the closed upper arm would remedy the evil. It was 

 found, however, that the anchor would not take the ground properly as at first con- 

 structed, and hence the ' shark's fin ' upon the outside of each fluke. 



Rodger's invention was for some time viewed with distrust ; but, from time to time, 

 improvements were introduced, until the patent, which gained the Exhibition prize, 

 was brought out. On this the jurors reported as follows : 



'Many remarkable improvements nave been recently made by Lieutenant 

 Ilodger, R.N., insuring a better distribution of the metal in the direction of tho 

 greatest strains. The palm of the anchor, instead of being flat, presents two inclined 

 planes, calculated for cutting the sand or mud instead of resisting perpendicularly ; 

 and the consequence is, that these new anchors hold much better in the ground. The 

 committee of Lloyd's so competent to judge of every contrivance likely to preserve 

 ships have resolved to allow for the anchors of the ships they insure a sixth less 

 weight if made according to the plan of Lieutenant Rodger.' 



The original Porter's anchor has also undergone considerable modification; and, 

 under the name of ' Trotman's anchor,' has now a conspicuous place. 



Another invention is that of Mitcheson's, which, in form and proportions, strongly 

 resembles Rodger's ; but the palm is that adopted in Trotman's, or Porter's anchor. 

 It is a trifle longer in the shank than Rodger's, and has a peculiar stock, which 

 although original in its form lacks originality in its design, since Rodger had pre- 

 viously introduced a plan for an iron stock to obviate the weakness caused by making 

 a hole for the stock to pass through. Mr. Lenox was the inventor of an anchor which 

 differed somewhat from the Admiralty's anchor a modification of Rodger's in 

 being shorter in the shank and thicker in the flukes, the palms being spade-shaped. 

 Mr. J. Aylen, the Master-Attendant of Sheerness Dockyard, modified the Admiralty's 

 anchor. Instead of the inner part of the fluke, from the crown to tho pea, being 

 rounded, as in the Admiralty plan, or squared as in Rodger's and Mitcheson's, it is 

 hollowed. An American anchor, known as Isaac's, has a flat bar of iron from palm 

 to palm, passing the shank elliptically on both sides ; and from the end of the stock 

 to the centre of the shank two other bars are fixed to prevent its fouling. 



With the anchors thus briefly described the Admiralty ordered trials to be made at 

 Woolwich, and at the Nore. The results of those trials the particulars of which need 

 not be given hero were, that Mitcheson's, Trotman's, Lenox's, and Rodger's wero 

 selected as tho best. 



A competent authority, writing in the United Service Gazette, says : ' The 

 general opinion deduced from the series of experiments is, that although Mitcheson's 

 lias been so successful, the stock is not at present seaworthy. Trotman's has come 

 out of the trial very successfully, but the construction is too complicated to render it a 

 good working anchor. When once in the ground, its holding properties are very 

 superior; in fact, a glance at its grasp will show that it has the capabilities of an 

 anchor of another construction one-fifth larger. There are, however, drawbacks 

 not easily to bo overcome. Its taking the ground is more precarious than with other 

 anchors ; and if a ship should part her cable, it would scarcely be possible to swoop 

 the anchor. It is also an awkward anchor to fish and to stow. Yet there are other 

 merits which render it, upon the whole, a most valuable invention, and no ship should 

 go to sea without one. Of Lenotfs it is sufficient to say that it has been found equal to, 

 and that it has gained an advantage over, Rodger's ; but so strong is the professional 

 feeling in favour of the latter, that it will over remain a favourite. Our recom- 

 mendation would bo thus : Lenox and Rodger for bower anchors, Mitcheson for a 

 sheet, and Trotman for a spare anchor.' 



