model, the added Icnmli of the July being gained Ijy 

 placing additional IVanics amidships or by spacing 

 out the frames, common practices in the Essex yards. 



The half-model represents a pinky ha\'ing less sheer 

 than was usual and an uncommonly short overhang 

 to the pink stern. The entrance is rather full but 

 well formed; the run is short but also well formed. 

 The floor rises sharply, with a rather marked turn 

 of the bilge amidships. There is a strong drag in 

 the keel, the model showing a draft of about 8 feet 

 at the sternpost and 4 feet 9 inches at the bow. 



Given by the \J . S. Fish Commission. 



FISHING SCHOONER, 1836 

 Builder's Half-Model, usnm 54449 



This old half-model of a fishing schoouer iKiilt at 

 Essex, Massachusetts has the name Mount Vernon 

 painted on the stern. A schooner by this name, 

 built at Essex in 1834. had registered dimensions of 

 59 feet between perpendiculars, 16 feet 7 inches 

 beam, 8 feet depth of hold, and 68^^95 tons. At a 

 scale of J2 inch to the foot, the half-model measures 

 58 feet 2 inches between perpendiculars, 16 feet 3 

 inches moulded beam, and about 6}^ feet depth of 

 hold, drawing about 7 feet lOJ^ inches at post and 6 

 feet forward. The schooner smack Glide, built by 

 the father of the donor at Essex in 1836, had about 

 these dimensions. It is believed the half-model was 

 used to build this schooner rather than the Mount 

 Vernon, which was built by a member of another 

 Essex family. 



The model shows a full-ended and Ijurdensome 

 schooner of moderate sheer, having a slightly rising 



floor, a slack and well rounded bilge, and an upright 

 topside. The stem rabbet is curved and the stem 

 fitted with a very short and heavy head, the stern is 

 wide and square, with slightly raking sternpost, the 

 run ends in a round tuck, with an upper and lower 

 transom, and the entrance is short and full, as is the 

 run. The vessel had a short, low quarterdeck. 



According to Museum records, this model was 

 stated by the donor to be one of the very early half- 

 models made at Essex with lifts; formerly hawks' 

 nest models were employed. Smacks had been in- 

 troduced into the New England fishing fleet in co- 

 lonial times but did not become numerous until 

 after the construction of railways at Boston in 1836, 

 and at Gloucester, about 10 years later made it 

 possible to transport fish quickly over land from pier 

 to market. 



Given by Jeremiah Burnham, shipbuilder, Essex, 

 Massachusetts. 



FISHING SCHOONER, 1834-40 

 Rigged Model, usnm 76245 



Mount Vernon 



This model was reconstructed for exhibition pur- 

 poses to represent a typical New England codfishing 

 schooner of 1835-45. Apparently the rigged model 

 was based upon the builder's half-model USNM 

 54449 and both were given the name Mount Vernon; 

 their dimensions were quite close to those of that 

 schooner; her registry describes her as having a square 

 stern and billet head, and of measuring 59 feet be- 

 tween perpendiculars, 16 feet 7 inches beam, 8 feet 

 depth of hold, and 68^)95 tons. The rigged model at 

 Y2 inch to the foot, scales about 60 feet 3 inches over 

 the rail, 16 feet 6 inches beam, and indicates a draft of 

 about 8 feet 6 inches at post. 



The model shows a burdensome schooner having a 

 short, low quarterdeck, a short and very full entrance 

 and run, some drag in the keel, a short and hea\y 

 head, a square stern, and a round tuck with upper and 

 lower transoms. 



These schooners, from fore to aft, had a wooden 

 windlass and a wooden jib-sheet horse extending from 

 rail to rail forward of the foremast, a eompanionway 

 slide hatch, fish hatch, mainmast, wooden pumps, an 

 after fish hatch, and a break to the quarterdeck, on 



Sail Plan of the fishing schooner Congrta, about 1 845. 

 From a copy of the sailmaker's plan in the Watercraft 

 Collection. 



186 



