ON HEMP, 141 



were accordingly paid the full price of tlie latter for it. It was 

 then made into cordage and sent to Norfolk, to be used in the 

 equipment of one of our national ships ; but before it arrived the 

 ship had sailed, A subsequent order was given to use it in reeving 

 the main and main-top, fore and fore-topsail braces of a ship on 

 one side ; the ot! er side of the ship to be fitted with cordage made 

 of the best Russia hemp ; and the experiment is now in progress : 

 of the result no doubt is entertained by the Commissioners. 



The Commissioners are sensible that, in the j)recedin^ remarks, 

 they are only reiterating the opinion heretofore frequently express- 

 ed by them. They have never entertained a doubt of American 

 2oo/fr-rotted hemp being equal to Russia, but the great ditKculty 

 has been to procure a sutiicient quantity of American waicr-roited 

 hemp to answer the demands of the Navy. The habit of dew-rot- 

 ting has become so tixed, that it is apprehended a considerable time 

 will elapse before the American community can be persuaded to 

 change it, and resort to the preferable system of watter-rotting : 

 indeed, a disposition has been manifested to experiment upon new 

 theories, rather than adopt the system successfully practised and 

 confirmed in other countries by long experience. Accordingly, 

 we find that attempts have been made to prepare the hemp, by 

 suffering it to remain twelve m6nths in stack, and then exposing it 

 to the action of dews ; by breaking it with a machine in its natural 

 state, without any previous rotting ; by subjecting it to the opera- 

 tion of pyroligneous acid, after being dew-rotted. 



The Commissioners have, from time to time, received hemp pre- 

 pared in these various modes, and have directed experiments to be 

 made of it. The results of such experiments, although not called 

 for by the resolution, will not, it is presumed, be unacceptable, since 

 their tendency is to establish the opinion entertained as to the 

 properties of American hemp in its original state. 



Cordage made of American hemp, stacked one year, and then 

 dew-rotted, was fitted on one side of the Frigate Constellation as 

 main, main-top, and fore-topsail braces, main clue-garnet, davits, 

 and stern boat falls. The other side of the ship, in corresponding 

 situations, was fitted with cordage of Russia hemp ; and, after be- 

 ing thus worn for nearly a year, it was found, on examination, that 

 the Russia rope, in every instance, after being much worn, looked 

 better, and wore more equally and evenly than the American ; that 

 the yarns of the former were rather stronger, and the number of 

 broken yarns not so great as in the American. But, although it 

 thus appeared that the Russia rope was rather preferable, both as 

 to strength and durability, yet, in the opinion of the commander, 

 " the difference between them was not so great as to warrant a de- 

 claration that the proof was conclusive in favor of the Russia ;" 

 and he recommended further experiments as necessary^ decide 

 the question. ♦ 



Of the same cordage, after being worn nearly two years on board 

 the Constellation, her commander observes, " I have given a fair 

 trial to the Kentucky hemp for rigging. If there is any preference, 

 I would give it in favor of the Russia ;" thus making it almost a 



