The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-10-11 00:00:00

OILING THE WAVES.

In consequence of the experiments recently made
in "oiling the waves" at Peterhead and other places,
and the interest excited therein, the Royal National
Lifeboat Institution requested Captain Henry W.
Chetwynd, R.N., chief inspector of life-boats, to make
a thorough investigation of this subject. This he has
now concluded, and the result has been communicated
to the life-boat committee in the shape of an exhaus-
tive report- Various conditions of the sea and all
manner of oils were tested, and in reference to the
latter, Captain Chetwynd says they are all very much
alike in their effect. Only very small quantities
of oil indeed were necessary for covering a con-
siderable distance with a smooth glassy surface.
The effect of this oily film in rollers that would en-
danger the safety of small open boats was most
marked. It entirely stopped their breaking, leaving
only the undulations or roll of a harmless swell, and
thereby robbed them of their danger; but in surf of
sufficient magnitude to be of importance to a lifeboat,
or such as are ordinary encountered by them, this
effect was very much modified, and frequently entirely
absent. On more than one occasion, in a moderate
surf, which the oil was entirely killing, if a larger
breaker than the surrounding ones rose the oil was
powerless to check it, and the sea broke through it,
covering boat, gear, &c., with oil. Its want of power
to overcome the dangerous part of a heavy surf in
shoal water (viz., the break) was clearly shown on
more than one occasion, even when the oily film could
be distinctly seen on the surface between the
breakers. It seemed to fail in a very marked and
curious way to have any effect on breakers caused
by a heavy ground swell, and not by wind, on
the coast of Cornwall. To be any protection,
says Captain Chetwynd, it must be applied to the
sea from the boat or vessel in direct line from which
the seas are advancing, and at a sufficient distance to
give it time to spread and act upon the waves before
they reach the vessel to be protected. This could
only be done in a life-boat in two positions—viz.,
first,. when anchored, and lying head to sea and tide;
and secondly, when running dead before the sea for
the shore. In any other position, even supposing
the oil to be calming the sea, it would most probably
be impossible to keep the boat within its influence,
and proceed towards a wreck, or other desired point,
at the same time. This difficulty would be consider-
ably enhanced by the fact of the tide or current, on
the greater part of the coast, setting with more or
less velocity along the shore. Under these cir-
cumstances Captain Chetwynd is of opinion that
no practical advantage can arise from the use of oil
in the boats of the institution, and he cannot there-
fore recommend its being supplied to them. With
respect to its use as a protection to ordinary open
boats in (to them) dangerous surf or breakers,
the experiments appear to demonstrate clearly that,
although it cannot be considered a " spechac " certain
to insure immunity from danger in all cases, yet in
many cases it would prove a very material protection,
and go far to insure the boat's passing safely through
what would otherwise prove Nery dangerous, and pos-
sibly fatal, seas, and on that account alone its adop-
tion cannot be too strongly urged for boats having, or
likely to have, to encounter these dangers. As to the
effect of oil in the open sea. Captain Chetwynd could
not make personal experiments, but from well-
authenticated cases he believes that it is considerably
more beneficial than off shore, and he strongly recom-
mends vessels to carry oil, with perforated canvas
bags for its distribution. The application of oil at
harbour entrances is also spoken of as advantageous
to a certain extent, but there remain many practical
difficulties in the way.

A PORPOISE CAUGHT OFF LAMBETII.—One day last
week a considerable amount of excitement was caused
among the waterman plying on the river and persons
walking along its banks by the appearance of a por-
poise, which was seen to lk ascending the stream near
Westminster. An endeavour was made to shoot this
rather rare visitor to metropolitan waters, but without
success. A number of snots were fired, but it did not
appear that even a wound had been inflicted, and
ultimately the pursuit ceased with a disappearance of
its object. Later on in the day, however, with the
turning of the tide the porpoise returned
to the sea. A. porpoise, which is believed to be
the one shot at in the morning, was captured by a
bargeman, who struck it with his boathook off the
Sufferance and Providence Wharf, Lalnbeth. When
taken ashore it was found to be about five feet in
length and to weigh three-quarters of a hundred
weight.