FISHERIES OF THE UNITED STATES. 131 



CLOTHING. 



Water-proof suits — Continued. 



pose of producing a water-proof joint. The bottom of the pants termi- 

 nates in boots. 



The important features of the dress are, first, that it protects the 

 wearer entirely from contact with the water, and, being inflated with a 

 stratum of air two or more inches in thickness about the vital parts, 

 protects the wearer also from cold, even in water amongst ice. The 

 floating capacity of the dress is about ;W0 pounds, which enables a per- 

 son to ride securely upon the surfiice of the water. The natural posi- 

 tion of the wearer is lying upon the back, and by means of the arms and 

 hands used in overhand motion as oars he can propel himself head fore- 

 most at the rate of about one mile per hour. It is found imdcr ordinary 

 circumstances that a man tolerably well skilled in the use of the dress 

 can propel himself and carry a line from a beach through the snrf over 

 a bar, when it would be very difticult if not impossible to go with 

 an ordinary surf boat to a vessel in distress. It is claimed that a mau 

 equipped in one of these dresses can leave a stranded vessel with a line 

 and pass through any surf to a sand beach. A boat can be pulled by a 

 person clad iu this dress with no more inconvenience than if in heavy 

 winter clothing, and the dress can be put on in from two to four min- 

 utes, so that a man can go where and as he pleases in it in water, no 

 matter how rough or cold, stay as long as lie wish, and come out dry, 

 warm, and comfortable. 



These dresses have been in use iu the United States Life-Saving 

 Service eight years, and the cost of repairs on those same dresses has 

 been but 9 per cent of their original cost after eight years regular service. 

 3947.5. Life-preserving jacket. New York. H. D. Ostermoor. 



Oil-skin clothing. 



42756. Long oil-cloth coat, worn chiefly by captains, or men on watch. 

 Gloucester, Mass. 



29543. Cape Ann coats. J. F. Carter, Gloucester, Mass 



29544. Cape Ann pants. " " 



Boots, moccasins, leggings, shirts, &c. 



26015. Fishermen's red cod boots. Jonathan Buck, Harwich, Mass. 



26015. Fishermen's red-leather slippers. " " 



26014. Fishermen's black boots. " " 



25823. Slippers made of slieep-skiu, with the wool on the inner surface. 



Worn by iishermen inside of their boots. A. R. Crittenden, Mid- 



dletown, Conn. 

 42845". Black rubber wading trousers, stocking feet. U. S. Fish Commission. 



(C. B. &M.) 



42846. Black rubber wading stockings. U. S. Fish Commission. (C. B. 



&M.) 

 42852. One pair oil dressed waterproof shoe packs with hobnails for wading. 

 Manufactured by Thomson & Sons, Bergen, N. J. U. S. Fisli 

 Commission. (C. B. & M. ) 



42847. Silesia wading stockings. U. S. Fish Commission. (C. B. &M.) 



42848. Finest quality wading-stockings with improved rubber and cork 



soles to prevent slipping. U. S. Fish Commission. (C. B. & M.) 



42849. Same as above ; full length trousers for salmon fishing. U. S. Fish 



Commission. (C. B. & M.) 



