3 
took very little cargo, and was what sailors call 
very wet, i. e. continually dipping her bow into 
the sea. She was lengthened amidships by 
making a part in her middle perfectly straight, 
that is, where the second, or second and third 
waves rise up, leaving the third or fourth to 
fall in behind. The consequence was that she 
attained the same speed, with the same power 
and draught of water, and took 200 tons extra 
of cargo. 
Since then the A. S. N. Company have 
lengthened several of their steamers in the 
same manner, and all with advantage. I have 
been told that none have been more improved 
than the Clarence for being lengthened. I 
noticed the Boomerang at the wharf the other 
day, and she looks quite another vessel entirely 
from what she did before being lengthened. 
I will now refer to a boat — the Meeanchin — 
I had built about a year ago for a special pur- 
pose, viz., light draught of water, and speed. 
When doing so, I thought I would carry out 
this principle. I, however, overstretched the 
mark. She is too full aft for any speed that 
can be attained by pulling. A few days ago I 
had the opportunity of trying her with a sail. 
I had another boat with me. Going before 
the wind, about five or six miles per hour, the 
two kept very near each other. But when the wind 
blew a little stronger the Meeanchin went away 
from the other ; but as if she had never moved. 
The resaon was that the second wave rose at 
the straight part, and the third wave fell in 
behind. 
With reference to the double boats of the 
Islanders, that go at eighteen to twenty miles 
per hour, the principle is the same. The 
wave formed by the bow is reflected by the 
little boat on the weather side, and falls in 
behind. 
♦ 
Printed by G. Wight, “Guardian” Office. 
