sary alterations. She was built in Dundee
in 1876, but though by no means young was still in good condition and
capable of buffeting with the pack for many a year. Also, she was not
without a history, for in the earlier days she was amongst those vessels
which hurried to the relief of the unfortunate Greely expedition.

The hull was made of stout oak planks, sheathed with greenheart and
lined with fir. The bow, fashioned on cutaway lines, was a mass of solid
wood, armoured with steel plates. The heavy side-frames were braced and
stiffened by two tiers of horizontal oak beams, upon which were built
the 'tween decks and the main deck. Three bulkheads isolated the
fore-peak, the main hold, the engine-room and the after living-quarters
respectively.

A hull of such strength would resist a heavy strain, and, should it
be subjected to lateral pressure, would in all probability rise out of
harm's way. However, to be quite certain of this and to ensure safety
in the most extreme case it is necessary that the hull be modelled after
the design adopted by Nansen in the 'Fram'.

The principal dimensions were, length one hundred and sixty-five feet,
breadth thirty feet, and depth eighteen feet.

The registered tonnage was three hundred and eighty-six, but the actual
carrying capacity we found to be about six hundred tons.

The engines, situated aft, were compound, supplied with steam from a
single boiler. The normal power registered was ninety-eight horse-power,
working a four-bladed propeller, driving it at the rate of sixty or
seventy revolutions per minute (six to ten knots per hour).

Steam was also laid on to a winch, aft, for handling cargo in the main
hold, and to a forward steam-windlass. The latter was mainly used for
raising the anchor and manipulating the deep-sea dredging-cable.

The ship was square on the foremast and schooner-rigged on the main and
mizen masts.

Between the engine-room bulkhead and the chain and sail locker was a
spacious hold. Six large steel tanks built into the bottom of the hold
served for the storage of fresh water and at any time when empty could
be filled with seawater, offering a ready means of securing emergency
ballast.

On the deck, just forward of the main hatch, was a deckhouse, comprising
cook's galley, steward's pantry and two laboratories. Still farther
forward was a small lamp-room for the storage of kerosene, lamps and
other necessaries. A lofty fo'c'sle-head gave much accom