STILLING THE WAVES WITH OIL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 121, 26 May 1881, Page 3

STILLING THE WAVES WITH OIL.

TO THJ! EDITOB OT THB EVENING POST. Sib — I had hoped to soe a few more t opinions expressed in your columns on the snbJGcfc of throwing oil on the sea for the ' purpose of preventing a heavy break. I will, with yonr permission, relate a circumstance that occurred in the year 1802, while I was on a homeward-bound passage in an old whaler (a leaky old tub). We left the Bay of Islands, and had a tolerably stormy passage to the Horn. We had a fair wind and were running with a high sea. Suddenly • (as is often the case in that locality) a most tremendous sea came tumbling after us ; I had never before, nor have I since, Been the l s ke. The master and mate deemed it unsafe, for Beveral reasons, to heave the old tub to ; what to do was the question. The mountains of water threatened to poop us every moment. The captain was an old, experienced whaleman (a Yankee, of course) ; he did this : — He caused us to break out and set on dock a cask of sperm oil, lash it to the rail, t by a scupper-hole, aft, bore a large gimlet-hole, and let the oil trickle overboard in a small stream. The result was simply astounding. In a minute, no longer, the wake of the ship was as smooth as glass, and the ship rolled along as easily as an old arm chair. For sixteen hours tniß waß the oaae, when, as we had Apparently run out 'of the very heavy Bea, the oil was stopped. Many a good ship and many a good man have gone to the bottom, I believe, when a few pounds worth of oil would have saved them. Once since I have seen oil used, and that was crossing the Mahukau bar under ordinary circumstances, merely as an experiment. The result was— no break, a perfectly smooth surface. Not 'wishing, sir, to set my opinion against those who may be more experienced than I am on this head, I must still say that I am afraid that in so far as breakers (among rocks or on a beach) are concerned, the result would not be bo favorable, but I speak subject to correction, and sincerely hope that other experiences may be given in this truly important matter.— l am, &c, An Old Whaleb.