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SUCCESSFUL USE OF OIL TO CALM KOUGH SEAS. 
means of diffusing oil upon the water ; and they do this 
without incurring any danger, and without shipping a drop of 
water. The oil forms amidst the breakers a smooth track, at 
each side of which the waves roll over with violence. Crews 
have been saved out at sea during storms by very small vessels 
without any danger ; the two ships, lying-to as close to each 
other as possible, and oil diffused by the one to windward, 
formed between them a broad smooth track, affording perfect 
security for the boats. Several vessels loaded with the crews 
of other ships which had foundered, or had been destroyed by 
fire, owe their safety entirely to the use of oil, of which there 
was fortunately a supply on board at the time. 
The Hydrographic Office, at Washington, has made a 
collection of duly authenticated cases of the use of oil; and 
Vice-Admiral Clone, of the French navy, has given in a 
report upon the subject to the Paris Academy of Sciences, 
from both of which the above-named cases have been taken. 
As many as eighty-one such cases of ships safely driving before 
the wind have been reported, and seventy-two successful cases 
are also on record where vessels have encountered a head 
wind safely by the use of oil. 
The best oils for the purpose are those of the seal and the 
porpoise ; mineral oils have been used with success, but they 
are too light ; and certain vegetable oils, such as that of the 
cocoa nut, congeal too quickly in cold seas. The hourly 
consumption of oil for this purpose need not exceed lialf-a- 
gallon. The arrangement for the diffusion of the oil, as 
commonly adopted on board ship, consists of a bag of strong 
sail-cloth, large enough to hold about two gallons, and filled 
with tow well soaked in oil. More oil is poured upon the 
tow, and the bag is sewn up, and its bottom is then pierced 
with several holes made with a sail-maker’s needle. When 
sailing before the wind, one such bag is suspended at each 
angle of the stern, and allowed to trail in the water, and 
another bag is fixed a little forward on each side. 
The effects of this simple process are surprising. All the 
numerous reports that have been collected agree that the oil 
diffuses itself over the water with extreme rapidity, and that, 
even when the waves previously seemed ready to swallow the 
ship, there at once appears a broad track of smooth water, 
within which all breakers are suppressed. 
There is a natural phenomenon, not unknown to sea¬ 
faring men, that might have sufficed to draw attention to the 
calming effects of oil half a century ago. Along the Malabar 
coast there is a certain track where the water is always 
remarkably tranquil, even during strong south-westerly 
