142 STABILITY OF LIFEBOATS. 



say that the standing of Professor Everett is so high that there cannot be any question as to 

 the absolute fairness in intent in carrying out and making these tests. 



Mr. F. L. DuBosque^ Member of Council: — The question at issue seems to be the fact 

 that the particular type of boat under discussion leaked and for that reason the boat was not 

 satisfactory. Undoubtedly, the gentlemen who made this test must have made some obser- 

 vations of the amount of water that came into the boat. With data showing the amount 

 there would be an opportunity of telling what effect the leaking had on the stability of the 

 boat, and whether it was important or otherwise; in other words, I think it would be of 

 value if the author of the paper would add to the discussion his observation of the amount 

 of water in the boat at the time he made the experiment. 



Mr. W. L. R. Emmet, Member of Council: — In my experience, comparative tests of 

 commercial articles are, as a rule, unfair, because you can very seldom produce the conditions 

 of practice, and I think they rarely form a proper part of the proceedings of a scientific so- 

 ciety. Tests of materials and of scientific principles are part of scientific investigation. Com- 

 parative tests of all commercial articles seldom are. I think that the paper is somewhat 

 objectionable from that standpoint. 



The Chairman : — Is there any other gentleman who desires to be heard? 

 Professor Everett, do you desire to reply in the discussion to what has been said ? 



Professor Everett : — Yes. 



The Chtairman :— Now is the time. 



Professor Everett : — Mr. Rigg's remarks about the desirability of seating the passen- 

 gers low is directly in accordance with my suggestion, and in making the suggestion I was 

 guided by the large gain which is obtained by slight lowering of the seats and thwarts. It 

 would seem as though it might be structurally possible for those who are engaged in the 

 business to arrange the seats for the passengers lower, and perhaps let the seat from which 

 the oarsmen operate remain higher. 



Professor Sadler speaks of a very large boat, but I presume that represents difficulties 

 in connection with launching which I do not care to discuss. 



The questions which involve the accuracy of the paper, and questions which involve the 

 manner of making the tests, I think are pertinent questions, and I am glad, indeed, to an- 

 swer them. 



The tests were undertaken in the normal routine work which comes to the Institute. 

 The work furnished material for theses for two members of the graduating class, and I can 

 say definitely and with assurance that the boats were treated as nearly as possible alike in 

 every case, the only favor which was shown— if you can call it that — was the favoi- given to 

 boat No. 4, of hauling out and relaunching which I mention in the paper. The boats were 

 all new and obtained through legitimate channels. The No. 4 boat, about which the discus- 

 sion seems to concentrate, was bought from the builders direct. I have the builders' certifi- 

 cate guaranteeing that boat. 



