122 report— 1859. 



vessels, and with a considerable amount of success. I may here mention the 

 mode of Mr. Ralph Peacock, of New Holland, Hull, for which he has taken 

 out a patent; it consists, as shown by the plan (No. 1), of a double furnace- 

 door, the chamber or space between the inner and outer surfaces being 5 to 

 6 inches in width. The inner plate is perforated very full of small holes ; 

 and in the outer plate a revolving ventilator is inserted, which is on the 

 principle of that invented by Dr. Hale, to supply close places with fresh air. 



The apparatus is in use on board the ' Helen Macgregor,' one of Messrs. 

 Gee and Company's large sea-going steam-ships, and has given very general 

 satisfaction ; for by the report of the Chief Engineer, Mr. M'Andrew, a 

 saving of fuel is effected, and the steam better sustained. Another great ad- 

 vantage, as reported by the Master, Captain Knowles, derived from this in- 

 vention, is that in running before the wind, they are never now annoyed and 

 endangered by a dense cloud of smoke in the direction of the ship's course, 

 which, particularly at night time, creates so much risk of collision. This ap- 

 paratus is also in use on board several other steamers, viz. the ' Yarborough ' 

 and ' Grimsby,' belonging to the Anglo-French Company, the ' Alert ' of 

 Hull, and also a number of river steam-boats. 



I have great pleasure also in noticing an improvement introduced on board 

 the ' Queen of Scotland,' another ship belonging to Messrs. Gee and Co., for 

 the same object, by the Chief Engineer, Mr. Smith, and having furnaces of 

 ample capacity, answering the purpose in a most satisfactory manner. Mr. 

 Smith's mode consists simply in keeping a few inches of the front ends of the 

 bars quite clear and clean from side to side of each furnace ; thus admitting 

 at the right place a sufficient amount of air. The report of the Master, 

 Captain Foster, is very satisfactory. I have witnessed also the effect of this 

 mode in the furnaces of stationary boilers with perfect results. 



I have now to refer to the application of Silver's Marine Governor (see 

 Plan No. 2), as applied by Mr. John Hamilton of Glasgow. Several of these 

 ingenious and efficient instruments are now in use on board steam-ships in 

 the Port of Hull, giving the highest satisfaction. They are so sensitive in their 

 action, that the slightest pitching motion is at once indicated, and the steam 

 admitted or excluded as the case may be. By the use of this governor, the 

 full power of the engines is in immediate and constant requisition, producing 

 the effect of saving of time, saving of fuel, and preventing of accidents by 

 what is termed racing, and otherwise. The ordinary mode in the absence of 

 the governor, is for the engineer, in stormy weather and heavy seas, con- 

 tinually to stand at the throttle valves, or to save himself this trouble, to 

 throttle the engines, and thereby, when the full power of the engines is most 

 required, it is frequently reduced to one-half or less, and consequently there is 

 occasioned a loss of time on the voyage, and a risk of falling on to a lee shore. 

 The following is a brief statement of the tonnage, &c. of steam-vessels be- 

 longing to, or trading from, the Port of Hull at the present time : — 



1st. Sea-going steamers belonging to the Port, 22,290 tons register ; horse- 

 power, 5824. 



2nd. River steamers belonging to the Port, 1050 tons register; horse- 

 power, 450. 



3rd. Sea-going steamers trading to Hull, but belonging to other ports ; and 

 although many changes have taken place remaining much the same ; as shown 

 in my last Report, viz. about 21,200 tons register; horse-power, 5300. 



4th. River steamers trading to Hull, but belonging to other places, 2450 

 tons register ; horse-power, 1200. 



The number and tonnage of sea-going steam- vessels belonging to Hull have 

 increased since my last Report. The river steamers belonging to the Port re- 



