CATALOGUE OF THE WATERCRAFT COLLECTION, 9 



pendence of the United States, vessels trading in the Mediterranean, 

 in the West Indies, and in some other regions, were in danger of 

 being attacked by pirates, and it became necessary to combine a 

 considerable degree of speed with reasonable carrying capacity. 

 The War of the Revolution, the restrictions put upon American com- 

 merce by England in the years that followed the conclusion of peace, 

 when an American vessel usually had to fight or run, and the build- 

 ing of privateers to engage in the War of 1812-1815, taught Ameri- 

 can designers and builders many useful lessons in the construction 

 of ships in which speed was necessary. 



" A permanent impression had been made upon the form and rig 

 of American vessels by forty years of war and interference," writes 

 Hall. " It was during that period that the shapes and fashions 

 which prevail to-day were substantially attained. The old high 

 poop decks and quarter galleries disappeared with the lateen and 

 the lug sail on brigs, barks, and ships; the sharp stern was per- 

 manently abandoned ; the curving home of the stem above the hawse 

 holes went out of vogue, and vessels became longer in proportion 

 to beam. The round bottoms were much in use, but the tendency 

 toward a straight rise of the floor from the keel to a point half 

 way to the outer width of the ship became marked and popular. 

 Hollow water lines fore and aft were introduced ; the forefoot of the 

 hull ceased to be cut away so much and the swell of the sides 

 became less marked; the bows became somewhat sharper and were 

 often made flaring above the water, and the square sprit sail below the 

 bowsprit was given up. American shipbuilders had not yet learned 

 to give the vessels much sheer, however, and in the majority of 

 them the sheer-line was almost straight from stem to stern. Nor 

 had they learned to divide the topsail into an upper and a lower 

 sail, and American vessels were distinguished by their short lower 

 masts and the immense hoist of the topsail. The broadest beam 

 was still at two-fifths the length from the bow. Hemp rigging, 

 with broad channels and immense tops to the masts, was still 

 retained; but the general arrangement and cut of the head, stay, 

 square, and spanker sails at present in fashion were reached. The 

 schooner rig had also become thoroughly popularized, especially 

 for small vessels requiring speed, and the fast vessels of the day 

 were the brigs and schooners, which were made long, sharp on 

 the floor, and low in the water, with considerable rake to masts. 

 The changes made in those forty years of perilous enterprise were 

 chiefly introduced for the sake of speed and ease in handling the 

 sails and the vessel. A merchantman was always liable to be called 

 on to fight or to run away, and quickness in maneuvering and 

 ability to slip away from an armed cruiser were qualities of the first 



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