OF TILE STOWAGE OF SIIIPS.
On this important subject, we cannot do better than introduce to our readers Mr. Morgan's valuable paper, contained in the first number of his useful periodical work, named, " Papers on Naval Architecture." 'By the stowage of a ship is meant the disposition of the ballast and stores. The great effect produced by different modes or stowage, renders this subject one of the most important connected with naval architec ture. Most of the properties of a ship depend in some measure on the situation of the centre of gravi ty, which is determined by the disposition of the moreabie weights on board. The great difference found to exist in the qualities of the same ship at dif ferent times arises principally from alterations in the stowage and trim. The astonishing improvements smictimes said to be made in ships by the removal of small weights might appear questionable; but as the present state of this branch of the science of na val architecture is not sufficiently known to fix w ith certainty the best sailing trim, the numerous facts re lated on the authority of men of experience arc to he received with the greater credibility, if not admitting the degree, yet establishing the principle.
This subject has received the attention of many eminent scientific men, as well as experienced naval officers, through whose labours very valuable infor mation has been obtained. In France the best me moir on the stowage of ships was several times made the subject of a prize by the Academy of Sciences. Daniel Bernouilli received the prize in 1757. Euler divided Ow. prize of 1739; and Bossut and the younger Euler divided the prize of 1761.
As the situation of many of the weights in a ship are unavoidably fixed by circumstances, the advan tages to be derived from an investigation of the stow age of ships can relate only to the moveable weights: the ballast, and pact of the stores.
The quantity of stores am] ballast in a ship is the first consideration in the stowage. The number of months for which vessels should stow provisions de pends on their class and general service. No ship
should. however, be incapable of stowing four months' provisions with the ordinary complement of stores.
The quantity of ballast is dependent on some of the qualities of a ship: chiefly the stability and the later al resistance opposed to calling to leeward. An in crease of ballast must always produce one disadvan tage, an increase of the area of direct resistance, which. exteris pa•ibus, would reduce a ship's veloci ty in the water. By the increase of ballast, however, judicially stowed, the stability of a ship is frequently increased, so that she will carry so much more sail, that the moving power is increased more than the resistance, and consequently the velocity of the ship is increased. The question arising from this consi deration is, whether the advantage produced by an in crease of ballast could not be obtained by other means -without an equal attendant disadvantage? The sta bility could be increased in a ship to be built by an increase of breadth preserved above and below the wate•'s surface, so far as the immersion and met sloe. caused by the inclination, and ex 'ending considera bly forward and aft. The lateral resistance to pre vent the ship's falling to leeward. might be increased by the form below, and forward and abaft. By these means it would not he to increase the quan tity of ballast so much as is frequently done. This sub stitution offo•m for an increase of ballast, cannot, how ever probably be carrried so far, but that a consider able quantity of ballast will be necessary. To what extent the quantity of ballast in ships may be reduced might probably be ascertained by experiment.
The properties of a ship which are chiefly affected by the stowage are, the stability, rolling, pitching, holding a steady course, ardency or tendency to fly up in the wind, going about, action of the rudder, and the strain of the materials. The manlier in which the stowage influences these properties will be best seen by considering them, as far as is possible, inde pendently of other circumstances.