Dimensions of sledges.
Dr. Kane, the Arctic explorer, thus writes on this subject:—
“The dimensions and structure of the sledge are of vital importance, almost imperceptible differences cause an increase of friction equal to the draught of another man or dog. The curvature of the runners must be determined experimentally. The ‘Faith’ was even preferable to the excellent model of Captain McClintock; the dimensions of both are as under:
| McClintock’s. | Ft. | In. | ‘The Faith.’ | Ft. | In. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of runners | 13 | 0 | Length of runners | 13 | 0 |
| Height of ditto | 0 | 11½ | Height of ditto | 0 | 8 |
| Horizontal width of all parts | 0 | 2¾ | Horizontal width of rail | 0 | 2¼ |
| Base of runners | 0 | 3¼ | |||
| Other parts | 0 | 2 | |||
| Thickness of all parts | 0 | 1¼ | Thickness of all parts | 0 | 1¼ |
| Length resting on a plane surface | 5 | 0 | Length resting on a plane surface | 6 | 0 |
| Cross-bars, six in number, making a width of | 3 | 0 | Cross-bars, five in number, making a width of | 6 | 8 |
“The shoeing of large English sledges was burnished ⅛in. iron, ours were annealed 3⁄16in. steel, as light as possible to admit slightly countersunk rivets. Sealskin lashings, applied wet, were used for the cross-bars, the wood was hickory and oak, not the Canada elm used by the Lancaster Sound parties. A sledge like this, with a canvas cover on which to place and confine the cargo, would load from 150lb. to 200lb. per man. The ‘Faith’ has carried 1600lb.”
Sledges, to draw.
When manual labour is brought to bear on the sledge it is usually applied through the medium of traction, propulsion, or the two combined. The men who propel a sledge simply push behind, whilst those who draw do so by the aid of track ropes and shoulder bands, which latter contrivances are called “rue ruddies,” and are used as shown in the illustration.
The track lines are best made from twisted horsehair, but in the absence of that material Manilla rope is the next best. Each man of the tracking party should be provided with his own track line and rue ruddy, for which he should be held responsible. The sledge to be drawn is fitted at its front end with a species of bridle loop, to which all the lines are attached by rings, in such a way that as the sway or motion of the sledge inclines to either side, the rings travel forward or back on the bridle.
It is well, however, to attach one line on each side without a ring to the sledge runner outside the attachment of the bridle, in order that when the sledge has to be turned, or its line of direction suddenly changed, the power of one man on each side may be brought directly to bear. The sliding lines must be so adjusted with regard to length that the whole party of trackers may use their full powers without coming in contact with each other. The longest lines may be from 16ft. to 20ft. from ring to end.