The operation of putting them on was tedious, but, when on, the calking was easy.

The outward edges stood slightly open to receive the calking, but the inner edges were so close that I could not see daylight between them.
All the butts were fastened by through bolts, with screw-nuts tightening them to the timbers, so that there would be no complaint from them.

Many bolts with screw-nuts were used in other parts of the construction, in all about a thousand.

It was my purpose to make my vessel stout and strong.
[Illustration: Cross-section of the _Spray_.] Now, it is a law in Lloyd's that the _Jane_ repaired all out of the old until she is entirely new is still the _Jane_.

The _Spray_ changed her being so gradually that it was hard to say at what point the old died or the new took birth, and it was no matter.