THE EVOLUTION OF THE LIGHTSHIP. Ill 



have the advantages of more air, lighter, fresher, and drier quarters, while the 

 lower platforms are given over exclusively to stores. Not only does the spar deck 

 improve the vessel in this respect, but also the higher freeboard adds greatly to 

 the range of stability, and thus assures a safer and drier ship in times of severe 

 weather. 



Beyond this point improvements have been made in all the lesser features of 

 design adding to the comfort of those on board the vessel. On a first-class U. S. 

 lightship, there is little lacking that could add to comfort and convenience in so 

 small a vessel. There is a stateroom for each officer and each two of the crew. 

 The vessel is steam heated throughout ; fresh and salt water is carried throughout 

 the ship in the most modern plumbing, for cleaning and sanitary purposes ; baths 

 and toilets are fitted ; and it is quite safe to say that the crew find conveniences equal 

 to, if not better, than those in corresponding positions in other employments. 



U. S. Lightvessel No. 94, Plate 53, which has been mentioned in the preceding 

 text, may be taken as an illustration of the degree to which this type of craft has 

 been developed. It was completed and placed upon station at the Frying Pan Shoal, 

 N. C, in 191 1, and still remains the latest and most highly developed addition to 

 the fleet, although new vessels are now imder construction which will be equipped 

 throughout with internal combustion main and auxiliary engines. 



The vessel was designed under the direction of Mr. George Warrington, Chief 

 of the Division of Marine Engineering, U. S. Bureau of Lighthouses, and pos- 

 sesses the following general dimensions and characteristics : — 



Length over all 135 ft. 9 in. 



Length on the sixth water line, from the after side of the stem to the 



forward side of the stern frame 1 12 ft. 11 in. 



Beam, moulded 29 ft. o in. 



Depth of hold from top of main deck beam to top of keel amidships. 15 ft. 4 in. 



Displacement (moulded) at 12 feet 9 inches mean draught in salt water, 660 tons 



Signal light fixed white: 



Elevation above water 68 ft. 



Range of visibility 14 miles 



Candle-power 2,900 



Fog signal: 



Steam chime whistle 12 inches 



Blast 5 seconds 



Silent 55 seconds 



Hand and submarine bell. 



The lines of the vessel, Plate 54, are the development of many years' observa- 

 tion on the performances of these small vessels as signal light platforms when 

 moored at sea. The character of the body plan is such that the wedges of immer- 

 sion and emersion in transverse rolling are nearly equal and the usual impulse of 



