20 VESSELS AT ANCHOR 
of two and a half inch oak was covered with a sec- 
ond of the same material ; and strips of heavy sheet- 
iron extended from the hows to the beam, as a shield 
against the cutting action of the new ice. The decks 
were double, made water-tight by a packing of tarred 
felt between them. The entire interior was lined, 
ceiled, with cork; which, independently of its low 
conducting power, was a valuable protection against 
the condensing moisture, one of the greatest evils of 
the polar climate. 
The strengthening of her skeleton, her wooden 
frame-work, was admirable. Forward, from kelson 
to deck, was a mass of solid timber, clamped and 
dove-tailed with nautical wisdom, for seven feet from 
/ the cutwater ; so that we could spare a foot or two of 
our bows without springing a leak. To prevent the 
ice from forcing in her sides, she was built with an 
extra set of beams running athwart her length at in- 
tervals of four feet, and so arranged as to ship and un- 
ship at pleasure. From the Samson-posts, strong ra- 
diating timbers, called shores, diverged in every di- 
rection ; and oaken knees, hanging and oblique, were 
added wherever space permitted. 
Looking forward to the hampering ice fields, our 
rudder was so constructed that it could be taken on 
board and replaced again in less than four minutes. 
Our winch, capstan, and patent windlass were of the 
best and newest construction. 
A little hurricane-house amidships contained the 
one galley that cooked for all hands, and a large fun- 
nel of galvanized iron was connected with the chim- 
ney, in such a way that the heat circulating round it 
might supply u.s with melted snow. An armorer's 
forge, a full set of ice anchors, a couple of well-built 
