Could blisters explain Enterprise's wartime draft?

Could added blisters explain why Enterprise did not appear to sit deeper in the water?

Possibly, although a light stores condition could also have made her sit higher.

Two factors could explain why Enterprise's visible draft changed so little despite wartime additions. External blisters could add buoyancy as well as volume, offsetting some increase in weight. Loading condition also matters because a ship low on stores would sit higher. Both explanations remain possible.