102 THE EVOLUTION OF THE LIGHTSHIP. 



Lanterns of this type proved so successful that they were adopted for all 

 lightships, and only in the past few years have they been generally superseded by 

 fixed lanterns at the masthead. 



The anchor of the Pharos weighed about one and one-half tons. It was of the 

 mushroom type, and, to quote Mr. Stevenson, it resembled "in form, as nearly as 

 may be, the vegetable from which it takes its name." Fifty fathoms of i^-inch 

 chain and 120 fathoms of hempen cable were supplied, the cable being veered out in 

 unfavorable weather. 



The vessel was placed on her station in July, 1807, and after several months' 

 test was duly advertised as an aid to navigation. The lights "when seen from either 

 side have the appearance of a triangle, but if seen end on, they appear as two 

 lights, the one above the other." Thus a distinctive light was obtained. The day 

 signal consisted of a blue flag with a lighthouse in the field, and a bell was tolled 

 as a fog signal. 



The full-bodied form of the fishing vessel, the absence of a cargo, and the 

 weight of the lanterns aloft caused the vessel to roll violently. In spite of this the 

 vessel held its station, burned its lights, tolled its bell, and produced revenues until 

 the completion of the lighthouse early in 181 1. 



The Pharos was another striking demonstration of the efficiency of the light- 

 ship. In fact, the Pharos may be considered a developed lightship. After this 

 date improvements came thick and fast, and the history of further development 

 must consist in the general description of typical ships. 



The lightship may be considered as made up of the hull, the moorings, the il- 

 luminant, the lighting apparatus, the fog signal, and the means of communication 

 with the outside world. The evolution of the hull is made the chief subject of this 

 paper, and it may now be traced to the present status. 



Before taking up these details, however, we may find it interesting to note 

 how readily other nations followed in the use of the lightship with lanterns and 

 apparatus similar to those on the Pharos. 



In the United States, lightships were first authorized early in the year 1819. 

 At this time Congress made an appropriation for two vessels to be stationed at 

 the Wolf Trap Shoal and Willoughby Spit in lower Chesapeake Bay. The vessel 

 for the latter station received first consideration. As it was the "first object of the 

 kind in the United States" great care seems to have been given all preliminaries. 

 Many persons were called in consultation, and a strange variety of opinions was 

 obtained. These ultimately resulted in the award of a contract on September 2, 

 1819, to John Pool, Hampton, Va., for the construction of a vessel to make the 

 "first attempt to establish a Floating Light." In accordance with the contract it 

 was "to be of 70 tons burthen ; copper fastened, and coppered, * * * : to be 

 provided with * * * ^ cabin with at least four berths, * * * . a,nd an 

 apartment for cooking; spars, a capstan belfry; a yawl and davids, * * *," 

 and so on in considerable detail. Chain moorings were supplied and some 30 tons 

 of ballast carried. There were certain changes in design and delays in construe- 



