SEA TRANSPORT. 247 



To ascertain roughly the 7iumber of horses which can be carried on a To 

 deck, cut off all portions where there is less than 12 feet clear out from ascertain 

 the ship's side, and the remaining length in yards, will give the ^^P^^i y. 

 approximate number of stalls. 



Speed should be good, so that the voyage may be shortened as far as Speed, 

 possible ; the longer the journey, the more condition is unavoidably lost. 



The increased steadiness obtained from the fitting of bilge keels is 

 such an advantage, that preference should always be given to a vessel 

 with them. 



A bilge keel is a broad flange, projecting from the lower part of the A bilge 

 hull and running the length of the ship, which helps to steady rolling by ^^^'• 

 the increased resistance it offers to the water during this motion. 



Breadth of beam is essential, as it gives room and probably indicates Breadth ( 

 steadiness, and a calculation of the actual size of boat required may be beam, 

 made on a basis of 8-12 tons according to length of voyage (gross 

 tonnage) for each horse to be embarked, e.g., a boat of 4,000 tons will, if 

 otherwise suitable, carry from 320 to 500 horses. 



Hatchways should be at least 10 feet square to be of any use for Hatch- 

 horses, and the longer they are the better, to admit of sufficient head ways, 

 room for fitting " brows." 



A brow or ramp is a gangway sloping from one deck to another to A brow, 

 allow horses to pass up or down. Hard wood battens are screwed 

 across the floor at intervals of 9 inches to give foothold, and the sides 

 are boarded up high enough to prevent horses attempting to jump 

 over. 



Watertight doors are those doors which, when closed, divide the Water- 

 ship into watertight compartments. In some ships these doors are not tight 

 fitted, the boat being built in compartments which do not communicate, doors. 

 In a horse ship this would entail much extra trouble, and only 

 ships with communicating watertight doors should be considered 

 suitable. 



Ventilation. 



Too much importance cannot be attached to the provision of ample 

 means for ventilation. It is at all times difficult to ventilate lower decks 

 and holds which are beneath the water line, and especial care should be 

 taken to provide methods both for withdrawing the foul air, and for 

 pumping in a fresh supply ; this is especially necessary in the vicinity of 

 stalls which are furthest removed from the neighbourhood of the 

 hatchways. 



