COLIN ARCHER. [nobw. pol. exp. 



versely as the size. For this reason the Fram was made only sufficiently 

 large to enable her to carry the necessary supply of coals, provisions, and 

 other stores for a period of 5 years, and to afford accomodation for her crew. 

 The peculiar shape adopted for her cross section, coupled with the desire to 

 cut down the length as much as possible — great length being an element 

 of weakness — necessitated a greater beam than would be desirable in a 

 seagoing ship. Considered merely as a safe home for her crew while drifting 

 with the ice, even a greater approximation to the circular or bowl form, than 

 that adopted, would have been preferable; but as the vessel would have to 

 sail or steam a long distance before she could be frozen in, and again 

 after emerging from the ice, it was not thought judicious to depart too far 

 from the proportions between the extreme dimensions usually found in sea- 

 going ships. 



The principal dimensions are: 

 Length of keel 103.3 feet = 31.50 metres, 



do. „ waterHne 119 „ 36.25 „ 



do. extreme 128 „ 39.00 



Breadth at waterline 34 „ 10.40 „ 



do. extreme 36 „ 11.00 „ 



Depth, moulded 17.2 „ 5.25 „ 



Displacement at 15.6 ft. (4.75 m.) draft, 800 tons. The measurements 

 are taken to outside of planking but do not include the ice sheathing. By 

 customhouse measurement she was found to be 402 tons reg. gross, and 

 307 tons nett. 



It was estimated that the ship with engines would weigh about 420 

 tons. At the draft of water given above, 15.6 ft. which leaves a freeboard 

 amidships of 3 feet, there would thus be a margin for cargo etc. of 380 tons. 

 Actually this weight was exceeded by more than 100 tons, leaving only about 

 18 inches freeboard when the vessel started on her voyage. This extra im- 

 mersion could not but act prejudicially when among the ice, as it would tend 

 to retard the lifting process on which, it was believed, the safety of the ship 

 would largely depend. Not only was there a greater weight to lift, but the 

 manifest danger of the walls of ice, that would accumulate against the ship's 

 side, tumbling over the bulwarks and filling her decks before the ice under 

 water could take effect, would be greatly increased. She would, however, be 



