Captain Hall’s Account of the Dundee Ferry . 149 
weather, it sometimes takes from thirty to fifty minutes, and 
once it took an hour. During 1824, the passage was never in- 
terrupted for one whole day ; and it was only five times de- 
tained throughout the whole year, owing to hard westerly gales 
during the ebb tide. 
There are two steam-boats belonging to the ferry, one of which 
is employed at a time, except in harvest, when the reapers come 
down, or at the seasons when numerous droves of cattle come 
from the north. On these occasions, both are put in requisition, 
though not absolutely necessary, in order to avoid the possibility 
of delay. In order still farther to meet the public convenience, 
a pinnace, with four able seamen is stationed at each side of the 
ferry, for the purpose of affording a passage to travellers who 
are unwilling to wait for the periodical sailing of the steam-boat. 
These boats are also in attendance during the night, when the 
steam-boat has ceased to ply. 
As the twin-boat is very little known as yet in this country, 
an account of one may possibly prove interesting, if not useful 
to some readers. There are some material differences between 
the two boats at Dundee, but that last built being the most per- 
fect of the two, a description of her will be the most satisfactory. 
She is called the George the Fourth ; is 90 feet long over all, 
and 29 broad ; she has 6 feet 8 inches depth of hold ; and draws, 
when light, 4| feet of water, — and, when loaded, rarely more 
than 5 feet 4 inches. She is of the double kind of steam-boat, 
with a single paddle-wheel, working in the middle, between two 
divisions, or separate smaller boats, placed parallel to one an- 
other, at the distance of 8 feet apart. Over these two divisions, 
are placed horizontal beams, covered by a deck, the planks of 
which, instead of being placed fore and aft, in the usual way, 
cross the vessel from side to side, and thereby contribute greatly 
to the strength of the whole. To a person standing on the deck, 
she appears to be but one vessel. At each end, there is a space 
railed off for cattle, one 33 feet by 27 J, the other 27 \ by 21. 
From 80 to 90 head of cattle is her average load ; but, upon one 
occasion in fine weather, she actually carried 103 cattle, and 3 
horses. In the middle part of the deck, between the spaces al- 
lotted for cattle and carriages, there is ample space for foot pas- 
sengers, for whom also, in rainy weather, there are two conn no- 
