SECTION OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE 99 



be possible, eveo if it were desirable, to display bo comprehensive a 



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

 now have Of the fishing Vessels Of this and other countries, but it is 



seemingly in the highest degree desirable that there should be procured, 

 when the opportunity is afforded, a number of models representing the 

 more important types, at Least of merchant vessels. One thing should 

 be done, or I might say should be the aim of this department, and that 



is to get together material which, added to the collection already gath- 

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

 tecture in this country, from the discovery of America up to the pres- 

 ent time. The fishing and commercial marine, as well as the Navy, 

 have played a most important part in the history of the United States. 

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

 lished in the capital of the country, a collection should be gathered 

 which may form a comprehensive illustration of the progress 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 this by gathering together a large collection of rigged 

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

 To might be carried out to a great extent by the use of pictures dis- 

 played on flat screens, and from a study of which one could obtain a 

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

 the models, and there would be this additional advantage, that exhibits 

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

 space. It is my opinion that there can be very much done by the use 

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

 Thoe 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 the 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 the vessel, her lines, &c, but would have impressed upon his mind 

 her genera] appearance under sail. A great deal, perhaps, may be done, 

 with the aid of the Navy Department, by getting together and properly 

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

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

 It is therefore 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 importance of getting together such a collec- 

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

 of the past history of commerce in this country. 



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

 to compare one type with another, and it may serve as an important 

 school for the historian as well as for the naval architect. The latter 

 may derive useful and valuable knowledge and suggestions from a 

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

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



