REPORT OF CAPT. GEORGE B. M'CLELLAN. 



273 



C and E, projected buttons for securing tlie sling ropes shown in fig. 5. 

 D, sling bolt, for sling as shown in fig. 4. 

 F, hook to which the land halter is hung. 



Fig. 4. 



Fig. 5. 



Fig. 4 represents the canvas sling used on the Himalaya. Fig. 5 represents the sling a 

 recommended by Capt. Priest, and which he intended to adopt. 



The tail board, as shown in the sketch, is permanently attached to the rear posts, and extends 

 to the floor ; it is padded nearly to the bottom ; it was intended to replace this by a board of the 

 same width as the side boards, and rounded off at top by a ^par, 4^" in diameter. 



The breast and side boards all ship in grooves. 



The side boards are padded on both sides ; the breast board on top and towards the horse. 



The material used is felt, or raw hide (the latter objectionable on account of the odor) stuffed 

 with cow's hair wherever the animal can gnaw it, with straw in other parts ; the pads were 

 from 2" to 3" thick. 



The feed trough is of wood, the edges bound with sheet iron or zinc, and attached to the head 

 board by two hooks. 



The feed troughs, head boards, and stalls, are whitewashed and numbered. 



The floor of the stalls is raised above the deck on buttons, and is divided into separate plat- 

 forms for every two stalls, so that it can easily be raised to clean the deck beneath ; 4 strong 

 buttons are nailed across to give the animals a foot hold. 



In front of each head post there is a halter ring. 



The sea halter is made of double canvas, 2" wide, and has two ropes, so that by fastening 

 one to each post the animal's head may be kept still, and he cannot interfere with his neighbor. 



The slings are of canvas, of the shape and dimensions given in the figures. On the main 

 and orlop decks, the sling ropes are attached to sling bolts ; on the spar deck, to a button. 



It was intended to adopt the arrangement shown in figure 5, as diminishing vibration. 



At sea, the sling is used only in cases of necessity — that is, when the animal shows signs of 

 weakness in bad weather ; in this case, about 1" play is given to the sling, as it is only 

 intended to prevent the animal from falling. 



The same sling, with the addition of a breast strap and breeching, is used for hoisting the 

 animals in and out. 



Whenever it is possible, a staging is erected alongside, that the horses may be walked on 

 and off the ship. 



On the spar deck, the stalls are under sheds, every 8 stalls forming a separate set, so that 

 they can readily be moved about when the decks are to be cleaned. Water-proof curtains are 

 provided for the front and rear ; a passage way of 2', as a minimum, is left between the sheds 

 and the bulwarks. 



The other arrangements are as on the other decks. 



To place the animals in the stalls, all the side boards are taken out, except that at the end of 

 the row ; a horse is then walked along the row to the last stall, and the other side board put 

 up ; then, a second horse is put in the next stall, in the same manner, &c. The horses should 

 always be placed in the stalls in the order in which they are accustomed to stand in the stable, 

 or at the picket rope. 



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