120 REPORT— 1859. 



three years, steam has been put into successful requisition to aid the daunt- 

 less and hardy mariner in the pursuit of this hazardous calling, and now we 

 have several screw steam-ships employed; and although some of them are 

 fitted with comparatively small power, they have proved to be possessed of 

 great advantage in the service, and in some instances satisfactorily to the 

 owners. 



We have had two descriptions of steam-vessels employed in the fishery : — 

 the first, the old wooden sailing ships which had been engaged in the service 

 for some years, but which were afterwards fitted with screw machinery and 

 auxiliary steam power ; the second, iron-built ordinary screw steam-vessels, 

 but which proved, I believe, almost a total failure ; the material of which 

 they were built, and the want of strength for such a purpose, proving them 

 altogether unfit to contend with the severity of the climate and rough en- 

 counters with the burgs and fields of ice, some becoming total wrecks, while 

 others returned bruised and rent, and with difficulty were kept from sinking. 

 A question here arises, how far iron ships are calculated to bear the severe frosts 

 of high latitudes ? and whether wooden-built vessels, with all their defects, 

 are not the best adapted for encountering such a climate ? The screw steam- 

 ship which was first sent from Hull or any other place to the fishery as an 

 experiment, was the ' Diana,' timber-built, 355 tons and 40 horse-power, 

 high pressure, the property of Messrs. Brown, Atkinson and Co., of Hull. 



This vessel had been some time engaged in the fishery as a sailing ship ; 

 but her spirited owners, thinking an important advantage could be gained, de- 

 termined upon the adoption of steam power, and at once had the 'Diana' fitted 

 for the spring of 1857, by Messrs. C. and W. Earle, who put in the engines 

 and made the screw to lift out in case of need. 



The experiment fully answering their expectations, Messrs.Brown, Atkinson 

 and Co. bought the ' Chase,' a fine American-built ship of immense strength, 

 and of 55S tons. She was fitted by Messrs. Martin, Samuelson and Co., 

 with condensing engines of 80 horse-power, and despatched to the fishery in 

 the early part of 1858, and with good results. 



By the application of steam, ships in this service can now make a voyage, 

 first to Greenland, and afterwards to the Davis Straits. 



In the commencement of this year several ordinary iron screw steamers 

 were despatched to Greenland, viz. the ' Corkscrew,' ' Gertrude,' ' Emme- 

 line,' and 'Labuan;' the latter only of this class, which is the property of 

 Messrs. Bailey and Leetham, had any success, but in consequence of her 

 great strength and peculiar form, succeeded in a tolerable way ; the others 

 were much damaged, and, as I have already remarked, returned in bad con- 

 dition. The ' Labuan ' is 584 tons burthen, and 80 horse-power. 



The next point of interest connected with the steam-ships of the Port of 

 Hull refers to alterations made in some of the vessels. The ' Emerald Isle,' 

 a paddle timber-built ship of 1835, the property of Messrs. Gee and Co., origi- 

 nally 135^ long, was lengthened 35 feet, with a gain of 14 inches draught of 

 water, and an increased capacity for 100 tons dead weight. The ' Sultana,' 

 iron screw steam-ship of 1855, the property of the same house, originally 

 150 feet, was lengthened 30 feet, with a gain of 10 inches draught of water, 

 and an increased capacity of about 100 tons. It is interesting to observe 

 that in both cases we have no diminution of speed through the water, and 

 that both vessels are improved as sea-boats. Daily experience teaches the 

 advantage gained, in almost every point of view, by ships of great compara- 

 tive length. 



The iron steam-ship ' Lion ' of Hull, formerly a paddle-boat 249 feet 

 long, but now converted into a screw steamer by her owners, Messrs. Brown- 



