head and main-yard a little outside of the derrick, frap them together, and ease up the lift. Next lash a purchase-block round the derrick head, letting the block hang below and at the fore part of the yard, and reeve a good fall. I would, also, rig a derrick over the main hatchway, with a tackle on the head of it, and good guys from the derrick head to the fore and mainmastheads, resting the heel, with a piece of wood under it, on a beam abaft the main hatch, and lash it securely. I would use both tackle in hoisting it up and lowering it into the hold. Q.-Some prefer a pair of shears instead of a derrick for lowering the weight into the hold, describe how you would proceed when taking out a heavy weight. A.-I would rig a pair of shears over the hatchway, placing one leg at the port forward corner and the other leg at the starboard after corner. Guy the shears to the hawse-pipe forward and quarter hawse aft. Untruss the main-yard and lash it to the mast, having mats to prevent chafe. Have another pair of shears placed in the gangway, lay the main-yard in the shears, and lash all together. Use the shears over the hatch to lift the weight until it is high enough to clear the rail, then put on the yard-arm tackle, ease out, and, when clear of the rail, lower away. Q.-You find the shear leg giving, what would you do? Q.-The shear legs are all right, but the yard-arm seems to be giving. A.-Haul on the shear tackle, and get preventer lift up to the yard-arm. Q. You are lying in a roadstead, the ship is rolling heavily, and you are discharging this piece of machinery, what purchases would you rig to keep it steady, supposing it is hove up to the level of the hatchway. A.-Hook the yard-arm derrick purchase to the piece of machinery and heave taut, which will steady it from going over one way. From the other yard-arm have a gun-tackle purchase to it, this will steady it from going over the other way. Q.-Supposing the ship were pitching instead of rolling, what would you do then? A.-Have a guy from the foremast-head to the boiler, to keep it off the derrick as the ship pitches. Machinery should be placed in the vessel before taking in any other part of the cargo, both on account of its great weight and to afford the opportunity of securing the several pieces properly by beds and chocks. Such articles as cog-wheels and castings of similar shape, will be lashed vertically or edgeways to the mast, proper care, of course, being taken to chock them on each side with cases of goods, well dunnaged. NAVIGATING THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, &c. Q.-Coming from the westward, in what latitude would you endeavour to make the channel? A. The best parallel for entering the channel is between 49° 15′ and 49° 25', according to the inclination of the wind; because it is between these limits that the relative situation of my vessel can with the greatest certainty be ascertained, as well in respect to depth of water as to quality of ground (or to the distinction between the ooze and sand), and which cannot be so well defined in any other latitude. The keeping on this parallel is rendered still more necessary, in consequence of the rotary motion and northerly inclination of the tide to the westward, S.W., and southward of Scilly. On the parallel of 49° 15′ and 49° 25′ the edge of channel sands will be found in the longitude 11° 18', and 65 leagues from Scilly Islands. Q.-How do you know when you are on the French coast in thick weather? A.-By having deep water, with large stones and red sand. Q.-What soundings do you get in the fairway of the channel? A.-White sand, small yellow stones, with black specks and broken shells. Q.-In coming into the channel from the westward, in thick weather, how do you know if you are too far to the southward or northward of the fairway? A.-Red sand and coarse gravel indicate an approach to the French coast; mud and oozy bottom, in the stream or to the northward of Scilly; but white sand, with black specks and small shells, in the fairway of the channel. LEADING LIGHTS IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, &c. Name of Light. Fixed or Remarks, &c. Fog Signals. Day Marks. IR I Showing 3 quick flashes, Siren, 3 blasts 1 red ball. Start Point when within 10 miles. blast every 3m. |