54 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[Jan. 20, iS 



OIL ON THE TROUBLED WATERS. 



FOR centuries these words have been used in a 

 figurative sense, writh little thought concerning their 

 origin. Yet surely, unless oil had at some time or other 

 been found to have the effect of calming disturbed waters, 

 no such expression could ever have arisen. But though 

 the proverb survived, the use of oil in this sense was for- 

 gotten, and when in quite recent days it was first asserted 

 that the fury of the sea might be greatly moderated by 

 this means, the announcement was received with 

 iilcredulitj', or even with contempt. 



Yet a natural phenomenon, not unknown to sea-faring 

 men, might have sufficed to draw attention to the calm- 

 ing effects of oil half a century ago. Along the Malabar 

 coast there is a certain tract whe.-e the water is always 

 remarkably tranquil, even during strong south-westerly 

 monsoons. The sea shows a kind of oily scum, which, 

 as it has been ascertained, is derived from springs of 

 petroleum at the bottom, and which prevents the forma- 

 tion of breakers. 



Incredulous as many persons might prove, the appeal 

 to experiment was duly made. The trials on ponds and 

 lakes in rough weather succeeded ; the waves were 

 rendered flatter, and ceased to break and fall over as 

 they came in contact with the shore. Still, that any such 

 trifling agency could prove successful on the ocean seemed 

 very doubtful. But here, also, the trial was made by 

 captains of ships on encountering dangerous storms, and 

 the results were encouraging beyond all expectation. 

 Paragraphs notifying the success of these experiments 

 went the round of the papers, and public attention was 

 thoroughly excited. The Hydrographic Office at 

 Washington made a collection of duly authenticated cases 

 of the use of oil, and finally Vice-Admiral Cloue, of the 

 French navy, gave in a formal report on the subject to 

 the Paris Academy of Sciences. From this report we 

 shall extract a few facts which are most characteristic of 

 this newly-discovered, or rather, re-discovered method 

 of saving life and property at sea. 



The arrangement for the diffusion of oil, as commonly 

 adopted on board ship, consists of a bag of strong sail- 

 cloth large enough to hold about two gallons, and filled 

 with tow well soaked in oil. More oil is poured upon the 

 tow, the bag is sown up, and its bottom is pierced with 

 several holes made with a sail-maker's needle. When 

 sailing before the wind one such bag is suspended at 

 each angle of the stern and allowed to trail in the water. 

 Another bag is fixed a little forvt-ard on each side. 



The effects of this simple process are allowed to be 

 surprising. All the numerous reports collected agree 

 that the oil diffuses itself over the water with extreme 

 rapidity, and that, even when the waves previously 

 seemed ready to swallow the ship, there at once appears 

 a broad tract of smooth v.-ater, within which all breakers 

 are svippressed. 



Among the most decisive cases of ships which have 

 been saved in this manner may be mentioned that of the 

 Stockholm City, which, on its passage from Boston to 

 London, encountered a terrible westerly gale, raising the 

 waves to an enormous height. The ship was loaded 

 above her water lines, and the deck being encumbered 

 with two hundred head of horned cattle, it was found 

 impracticable to bring her head to the wind. The only 

 resource was to drive before it, but this manoeuvre 

 became exceedingly hazardous. The captain, therefore, 

 resolved to make use of oil. A bag, filled as has already 



been described, was suspended at each angle of the 

 stern, two others were placed amidships, and others at 

 the bows. The action upon the waves is reported as 

 instantaneous ; the most dangerous breakers were 

 converted into a harmless swell, and whilst thus driving 

 for about one hundred and seventy miles before the 

 storm, not a sea was shipped. 



A second instructive case is that recounted by Captain 

 Bailey, of the Nehemiah Gibson. Foreseeing a hurricane 

 whilst sailing with the wind astern, and with a heavy 

 sea which became constantly more violent, he took two 

 sail-cloth bags, each holding half a gallon, pierced with 

 holes and filled with porpoise oil. The bags were sus- 

 pended so as to dip in the water, and the oil produced 

 the desired effect. The huge waves which rushed into 

 the ship's wake with their breaking and dangerous 

 crests, and which, rising much higher than the vessel, 

 threatened to overwhelm her, were suddenly pacified as 

 they reached the tract of smooth water produced by the 

 oil. Their crests disappeared and they passed harmlessly 

 under the keel. No fewer than eighty-one such cases of 

 ships driving before the wind have been reported. 



Seventy-two successful cases are also on record where 

 vessels have encountered a head-wind. Captain Rollin, 

 of the Emily IVhitney, in a violent storm on August 25th, 

 1886, having made use of oil, found the sea rendered 

 smooth to a distance of fifty yards around the ship. 

 ' Perhaps the value of this method appears most sig- 

 nally in cases where it becomes necessary to rescue the' 

 crew of a vessel in distress. For some years already the 

 life-boats on the Australian coasts have succeeded in 

 crossing the reefs in bad weather by dint of diffusing oil. 

 This they do without incurring any danger and without 

 shipping a drop of water. The oil forms amidst the 

 breakers a smooth track, on each side of which the 

 waves roll over with violence. Crews have been saved 

 out at sea during storms by very small vessels without 

 any danger ; the two ships lying to as close to each 

 other as possible, when oil diffused by the one to wind- 

 ward formed between them a broad, smooth track, offer- 

 ing perfect security for the boats. Several vessels loaded 

 with the crews of other ships which had foundered or 

 had been destroyed by fire, owe their safety entirely to 

 the use of oil, of which there was fortunately a supply 

 on board. 



Captain Greenbank, of the Martha Cobb, sailing from 

 Newfoundland to Europe, rescued by this means the crev/ 

 of a vessel about to founder. His own cargo was 

 petroleum, and as some of the casks leaked considerabl)' 

 he was able to smooth the sea by merely working his 

 pumps. Bringing his ship as near as possible to the 

 wreck, he was able to carry off the crew in safety in a 

 very small boat, which would otherwise have bee« 

 instantly swamped. He considers that in any tempest 

 or heavy sea persons may be safely conveyed in boats 

 from one vessel to another, provided the one to the wind- 

 ward makes a judicious use of oil. 



The best oils for the purpose are those of the seal and 

 the porpoise. Mineral oils have been used with success, 

 but they are too light. Certain vegetable oils, such as that 

 of the cocoa-nut, congeal too quickly in cold seas. The 

 hourly consumption of oil for this purpose need not exceed 

 half a gallon. 



The only remaining question is whether the lesson 

 thus learnt is to be turned to practical account, or 

 whether, like too much of our knowledge, it is to be 

 neglected. 



