170 
BOATS AND HOUSING. 
six feet long, with seven feet beam, and three feet deep. 
These were strengthened with oak bottom-pieces and a 
long string-piece bolted to the keel. A washboard of 
light cedar, about six inches high, served to strengthen 
WHALEBOATS AND HOUSING 
the gunwale and give increased depth. A neat housing 
of light canvas was stretched upon a ridge-line sus¬ 
tained fore and aft by stanchions, and hung down over 
the boat’s sides, where it was fastened (stopped) to a 
jack-stay. My last year’s experience on the attempt 
to reach Beechy Island determined me to carry but 
