SECTION OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE 99 



be possible, eveu if it were desirable, to display so comprebensive a 

 collection of rigged models of mercbaut craft and men-of-war as we 

 now liave of tlie tisbing vessels of tbis and otber conntries, bnt it is 

 seemingly in tbe bigbest degree desirable tbat tbere sbonld be procured, 

 wben tbe opportunity is afforded, a number of models rejtresenting tbe 

 more important types, at bast of mercbaut vessels. One tbiug sbould 

 be done, or 1 migbt say sbould be tbe aim of tbis department, and tbat 

 is to get togetber material wbicli, added to tbe collection already gatb- 

 ered, may fully and fairly represent tbe development of naval archi- 

 tecture in tbis country, from tbe discovery of America up to tbe pres- 

 ent time. Tbe fisbing and commercial marine, as well as tbe Navy, 

 bave jdayed a most imi)ortant part in the bistory of tbe United States. 

 It seems eminently fitting, tberefore, that in a National Museum, estab- 

 lished in tbe capital of tbe country, a collection sbould be gathered 

 wbieli may form a comi)rebensive illustration of tbe i)rogress of ideas 

 and enterprise in the various branches of maritime affairs in which 

 our people have engaged. While it may not be practicable or even 

 desirable to do tbis by gathering together a large collection of rigged 

 models, it is undoubtedly a fact that tbe plan I have so briefly alluded 

 to migbt be carried out to a great extent by the use of jnctures dis- 

 ])layed on flat screens, and from a study of which one could obtain a 

 very fair idea of tbe many types of craft, as well almost as from seeing 

 tbe models, and tbere would be tbis additional advantage, that exhibits 

 of this kind could be so displayed as to occupy the smallest possible 

 sj)ace. It is my opinion tbat there can be very much done by the use 

 of builders' models to show the development of naval architecture. 

 These can be mounted at small expense and painted in the style of the 

 vessel they represent, while by attaching a small illustration of the ship 

 to tbe descriptive label, showing the rig and general appearance of the 

 vessel under sail or steam, one could gain not only an idea of the shape 

 of tbe vessel, her lines, «S:c,, but would bave impressed upon bis mind 

 her general appearance under sail. A great deal, i)erhaps, may be done, 

 with tbe aid of tbe Navy Department, by getting togetber and proi)erl5- 

 monnting some of the many builders' models of war ships, which are now 

 little better than old lumber in tbe cock-lofts of the navy-yard buildings. 

 It is tberefore desirable, whenever it can be done, that pictures of vari- 

 ous rigs and styles of water craft should be obtained to add to those 

 which we now have. The im})ortance of getting together such a collec- 

 tion bus already been referred to, so far as it relates to its being a record 

 of tbe past bistory of commerce in tbis country. 



By bringing together a mass of material of this character we are able 

 to compare one ty])e with another, and it may serve as an important 

 scliool for tbe historian as well as for tlie naval architect. The latter 

 may derive useful and valuable knowledge and suggestions from a 

 study of foreign vessels, and by an intelligent combination of tbe best 

 qualities of the craft of other countries with those of our own he 



