86 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



of 1812-'15; 5 oil paintinf?s of modern vessels; 1 sketch and 2 prints of 

 vessels; 1 model of a life-car; and 1G5 accessions of boat-building mate- 

 rial and boat fittings. Many of these last accessions, though mentioned 

 under a single number, contain a dozen or more objects which make up 

 a complete set. 



The following objects may be alluded to as being of the greatest im- 

 portance among the accessions to this department : 



(1) A collection of 4 rigged models, a fishing ketch, chebacco boat, 

 ])inkie, and square stern Marblehead banker, showing the early forms 

 of vessels used in the fisheries of this country from its settlement up to, 

 and including, the first quarter Of the present century. These are espe- 

 cially interesting, not only as an illustration of certain degrees of evolu- 

 tion in the form of fishing vessels, but also to show the peculiarities of 

 the schooner, rigged in its more primitive form, after it was first invented 

 at Gloucester, Mass. 



(2) A series of builders' models, illustrating the changes in the form 

 of fishing vessels, from 1835 down to the extreme clipper of the present 

 day. This collection is divided into three groups : one illustrating the 

 development of the cod-fishing schooner, or Grand Banker, which is 

 generally somewhat fuller than other fishing vessels ; a second group 

 showing the changes made in the " medium-sharp " type, and the other 

 group is composed of models which were the extreme sharp vessels of 

 the several periods when they were built. 



(3) A sectional model of the schooner " Gertie Evelyn," of Gloucester, 

 Mass., which illustrates very fully the interior arrangements of a modern 

 fishing schooner. In my opinion no object in the collection under my 

 charge is more Instructive than this.* 



(4) A rigged model of a three-masted cod-fishing schooner, such as 

 are now used from some of the New England ports, and which are the 

 largest vessels employed in the food fisheries on the Atlantic coast. 



(5) A builder's model, mounted in medallion, of an ideal fishing schooner, 

 made deeper and somewhat narrower than the average New England 

 schooner, and designed to secure greater safety in rough weather, par- 

 ticularly when employed in the winter fisheries. This model is of especial 

 interest at the present time, since it is believed by competent authority 

 that a very considerable percentage of the losses of life and property 

 which so frequently occur in the fishing fleets of New England, might 

 be obviated by the employment of vessels of greater depth than those 

 now in use. A fruitful source of disaster is doubtless the liability of the 

 present type of schooner to capsize or to be tripped by a heavy sea, and 

 its inability to right again, owing to the lack of a low center of gravity, 

 which only depth can give, and an unusual length and weight of spars.t 



" Reference' is made to the descriptive label of this model, appended to this report, 

 which will give a better idea of its value, 

 t See descriptive label which is appended, for detail of this model. 



