the ship, which pressure was transferred to the transverse frames
and thence by means of the several lift wires to the keel. In
this way all the stresses set up by the gas were brought finally
to the keel in which we have already said lay the main strength
of the ship.

The hull was divided by the transverse frames into seventeen
compartments each containing a single gasbag. The bags were
composed of rubber-proofed fabric lined with gold-beater's skin
to reduce permeability, and when completely full gave a total
volume of 890,000 cubic feet. Two types of valve were fitted to
each bag, one the Parseval type of valve with the pressure cone
as fitted in No. 1, the other automatic but also controlled by
hand.

To distribute the pressure evenly throughout the upper
longitudinal frames, and also to prevent the gasbags bulging
between the girders, nets were fitted throughout the whole
structure of the hull.

The whole exterior of the ship was fitted with an outer cover, to
protect the gasbags and hull framework from weather and to render
the outer surface of the ship symmetrical and reduce "skin
friction" and resistance to the air to a minimum. To enable
this cover to be easily removed it was made in two sections, a
port and starboard side for each gasbag. The covers were laced
to the hull framework and the connections were covered over with
sealing strips to render the whole weathertight.

The system of fins for stabilizing purposes on No. 9 were two--