ANDREW MICHAEL MCCANN, examined by Mr. Smyth, stated: I am a shipwright, shipbuilder, and general contractor, and have had over thirty years’ experience as such. I have had about thirteen years’ experience at sea in sailing vessels and steamers. I have been ship’s carpenter, second mate, and chief mate. I was partner in the firm of Campbell, Sloss & McCann, and shareholder in Robison Bros. & Co. I knew the _Alert_ since she arrived in the colony. She was engaged in the trade between Melbourne and Geelong, inside the Heads. During that time my firm did several jobs on various occasions to the vessel. I have made trips to Geelong in her as a passenger. She was a fast boat in the Bay. She was very low down aft, and carried her cargo foreward. I put that wooden awning on myself about ten years ago. It was intended as an awning. In a small boat it would not be beneficial outside the Bay. I don’t think the tendency would be good in a boat of this kind. It would take the wind pressure and incline the vessel over and keep her there. Canvas is admitted to be the proper awning, so that it can be furled, and it should be furled when the wind increases. There is a difference in the dimensions of vessels. I know the length and depth and beam of the _Alert_ approximately. From the model I know where the engines were placed. They were abaft the midship section, and would have a tendency to bring her down aft. I can only give an estimate that the engines, boiler, water, and coal would weigh about one hundred and forty tons. In ordinary fine weather, the _Alert_ would be sea-worthy with forty-four tons of cargo. There is a likelihood of heavy weather at any time outside Port Phillip Heads. In consequence of the general construction, the small freeboard, and the want of aft canvas to assist in fetching her up in the wind, if necessary, I do not think the _Alert_ was suitable for heavy weather at any time, and in my opinion she was never constructed or intended for sea voyages. The great number of times her length exceeds her beam and her depth makes her unsuitable for sea going purposes. She would make bad weather even in the ordinary weather got in the Straits outside. That means she would be a very wet ship in bad weather. She was very finely built, and was fine all round. A second mast would enable the helmsman, or master, to have more command over the ship. For the safety of the vessel more canvas would have been of great assistance, and the helm would have had more effective power. If she had after sail, and they had taken the head sail off her, it would have had a tendency to fetch her up to the wind.