His Majesty’s Ships of JVar, 293 
the old system the starting of a plank would be, and often 
has been, fatal. 
1 he mode of filling in these openings between the frame, 
where the width of the space does not exceed three inches, is 
by driving in slices of wood cut wedge-like ; two of which 
being driven, one from the outside, the other from within, 
form the parallel space of the opening, thereby bringing the 
parts into the closest contact. In the openings exceeding the 
width of three inches, the space is occupied by pieces corre- 
sponding with the openings, the fibre of such pieces being 
laid in the same direction as that of the frame timbers. 
These fillings occasion no consumption of useful timber, as 
one fourth of the produce of slab, and other offal now sold as 
fathom wood, would supply a sufficient quantity for the con- 
sumption of the whole navy. 
The advantages obtained by filling in the openings are 
these. To add to the strength and durability of the fabric, to 
preserve the health of the crew from the effects of the impure 
air arising from the filth which soon collects in these openings, 
to render the ship less liable to leakage, as well as to facilitate 
the. stoppage of any leak, and lastly, to increase, as it may be 
said, the thickness of the bottom from four or four and a half, 
(the usual thickness of the plank) to about sixteen inches, 
thereby lessening very considerably the danger to be appre- 
hended from getting on shore, -or foundering at sea. That it 
tends also to the durability of the ship, will be inferred from 
the following positions. 
1st. That the openings in the old principle are, after a ship 
has had any considerable length of service, choked up ia 
many parts with an accumulation of filth. 
Qq 
MDCCCXIV. 
