The invention of the CROW'S NEST in the form now universally used by the
British Arctic whalers, and adopted generally by our discovery ships,
deserves, from its convenience, comfort, and importance, a special record.
For the safe and effective navigation of the Arctic ices, as well as for a
due watch being kept for the discovery of whales, an elevated position on
the mast, as a station for the directing or "look-out" officer, is
absolutely necessary. In seas covered over with numerous masses of ice, or
in positions where the navigation is at once encumbered, difficult, and
perhaps dangerous, it is impossible for the officer _on deck_ to perform
the duty, at all adequately, of directing the ship's course and progress.
From time immemorial, therefore, the captains of whalers, or other acting
officers, have always been wont to take their station occasionally, and
when necessity required, at the mast-head, or rather on the main top-mast
"cross-trees." For the benefit of a little shelter from the piercing
breezes in this exposed situation, some ships were provided with a canvas
screen of about three and a half or four feet in height, passed round the
sides and fore-part of the top-gallant rigging, from the top-mast
cross-trees upward. This, with a sort of wooden rail for a seat, extending
betwixt the aftermost shrouds of the top-gallant rigging, afforded the
_best crow's nest_ hitherto made use of; a shelter tolerably effective when
the ship was sailing by or near the wind, but altogether useless when going
with the wind abaft the beam. It was not very safe either, as accidents
from sleepiness, or the giving way of the very inadequate seat, sometimes
happened. Besides, when top-gallant sails were set, this contrivance was
all but useless. But a far inferior sort of protection than this was in
frequent or ordinary use at the time of my first experience in the Arctic
seas. For years, I remember, we had nothing more for sheltering behind but
bits of canvas on either side of the top-gallant rigging and round the
top-mast head, without anything in front; and in some voyages still
less,--a slip of canvas bound round the head of the top-mast and heel of
the top-gallant mast, spreading some eighteen inches to two feet wide, and
perhaps three and a half feet high, being all that the poor officer had to
shield him from the most penetrating severity of the Arctic winds. Often
have I myself sat, when a little boy, by the side of my Father for hours at
a time, in this wretchedly exposed position, shivering with cold generally,
and with hands and feet frequently in severe pain, whilst he habituated me
in his superior practice of navigating amid dangerous ices.
The consequences of this deficiency of protection were,--that the proper
navigation of the ship was often neglected, the discovery of many whales
sufficiently within view from thence was prevented, and the success of the
adventure was much restricted.
The greatest boon, therefore, of modern times, ever given to the Arctic
navigator, it may be safely, I think, said, was my Father's invention of
the _round top-gallant crow's nest_. It was in May, 1807, I believe, in
which the first of these was built. It was placed, in the first instance,
at the top-mast head, but ultimately, when the invention became perfected,
it was perched, like a rostrum, on the head of the main top-gallant mast,
with nothing whatever above.
This structure, as most approved by the inventor, is about four and a half
feet in height and two and a half in diameter. The form is cylindrical,
open above and closed below. The frame-work of the cylindrical part is
covered with leather or canvas. The entrance is by a trap-hatch at the
bottom. Arrangements are made for the depositing (sheltered from the
weather) of various pieces of useful apparatus, such as speaking-trumpet,
telescope, signal-flag, perhaps a rifle for shooting narwals, compass, etc.
For the more effectual shelter of the observer when standing up, a moveable
screen, two or three feet wide and adding a foot to the elevation, is
placed on the windward side, and shifted whenever the ship is tacked, or
the course materially changed.
The protection thus obtained from the chilling action of the wind is most
perfect. Not a breath of air stirs within this elevated rostrum. The
observer has free use of all his limbs, and, being safe from the
possibility of falling, has nothing to disturb him in giving his entire
attention to the navigation of the ship and the look-out for whales. Being
perched, too, on the most elevated part of the mast, there is nothing to
interfere with his view of the whole area of the circle of vision, having,
in clear weather, a diameter of twenty to twenty-two geographical miles. So
supported, and so effectually protected, with the means of sitting, and
space for moving about when standing, there is no particular hardship, in
tolerable weather, in remaining at the mast-head for some hours together.
Often has this elevated position been occupied by my Father, (and often by
myself, too,) during ten or twelve hours, and sometimes fourteen hours or
more, within the twenty-four.
This invention has not only added unspeakably to the comfort and security
of the officer at the mast-head, but has, no doubt, contributed greatly
both to the safety of ships navigating the Arctic ices, and, in respect of
its position for "a good look-out," in no inconsiderable degree to the
prosperity of their adventures.
The attainment of this position during storm and snow, or when the rigging,
as not unfrequently happens, is covered with glassy ice, is the chief
matter of discomfort, difficulty, and risk. The frigid northerly blast
feels as if blowing quite through and through you. The ascent, by the
ordinary rigging and ratlings, conducts you to about three-fourths of the
elevation of the top-mast; you then step into midships, upon a series of
battens extending betwixt the top-mast backstays; and, finally, when
approaching the cross-trees, you proceed up a vertically stretched ladder
of ropes and battens,--ropes on the sides, and battens as steps,--until you
make lodgment within the crow's nest by the trap-hatch, which, being then
put down, forms a part of the close and secure platform.