SECTION OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. 95 



shallow, while other models illusntrate the characteristics of the deeper 

 sea-goiugr schooners eu^ajicd in the general ocean traffic. 



(21) No more interesting addition has been made to this collection 

 than that of eight photograjiliic negatives of ]Kuntings of merchant ves- 

 sels of the early part of this century, from 1805 to 1845. Through the 

 courtesy of several public-spirited citizens of Newburyport, Mass., who 

 are the owners of the i)aintings, I was ]>ermitted to copy them. In a 

 succeeding paragraj)!! these will be mentioned in greater detail. 



(22) Among the acquisitions of boat and vessel equipments the fol- 

 lowing seem deserving of special mention: (1) two nickel-plated models 

 of steam windlasses, which have been iiresented by the American 

 Ship Windlass Company, of Providence, E. I. These models repre- 

 sent the highest results that have been attained in mechanical contriv- 

 ances for weighing ships' anchors, warping, &c. ; (2) a coil (100 fathoms) 

 of 8i-inch manila cable, such as is used by the New England fishing 

 vessels for riding at anchor upon the outer banks. It is an interesting 

 fact that manila has of late years entirely superseded hemi> for this 

 purpose, having been found more pliable, and in many respects prefer- 

 able to hemp for cables; (3) a full gang of standing rigging for a fish- 

 ing schooner, one-half full size, fitted in all its details, has been given 

 to the Museum by Mr. James M. Simms, of Gloucester, Mass. Proba- 

 bly no fishing vessels in the world have so much care expended on the 

 fitting of the rigging as do those of New England, and in this respect 

 they will bear favorable comparison with yachts; (4) Nathan Richard- 

 son, of Gloucester, Mass., has given a full-sized sample of "Kichard- 

 son's Challenge Steerer." This steerer, which is one of the many forms 

 of patent steering wheels now in use on American fishing vessels, is 

 one of the latest devices, and is an interesting rei)resentative type of 

 the wheels used on the schooners of the Atlantic coast; (5) a full sized 

 sample of ''Collins' Patent Fog Alarm" has been added to the collec- 

 tion. This fog alarm was originally devised for use on fishing vessels, 

 and is believed to be more powerful than any mechaiucal contrivance 

 worked by hand now in general use. It derives its chief importance 

 from the fact that there is i)robably nothing more needed by American 

 fishermen than a powerful and efficient fog-horn. Obliged to lie at 

 anchor on the fishing banks in the direct track of commerce, es])ecially 

 swift steamers, and where dense fogs prevail nearly all the time in 

 si)ring and summer, they are in (^mstant danger of being run down 

 and sunk — a danger that can only be averted by having a powerful 

 horn that may be operated by hand. The trawl-line fisheries, too, in- 

 volve the fishermen in much ])ersonal risk that (-an be obviated only by 

 the use of a horn of more than ordinary i)ower. Duiing the ])revalence 

 of the thickest fogs the fishermen must i)ut oil" from their vessels to 

 set and haul their trawl-lines, generally going <listances varying from 

 one and one-half to three miles. The style of horns commonly in use 

 cannot, of course, be heard more than a small portion of that distance 



