100 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



may be able to devise the very highest types that it is possible to con- 

 struct. Already something of this kind has been accomplished, the 

 result being a modification of the form of the fishing vessels. Within 

 the present year fishing schooners have been built in New England 

 much deeper than any that have previously been in common use, and 

 judging from the results alread5^ attained, they will be much safer, and 

 otherwise more serviceable, than the ordinary type we have been accus- 

 tomed to during the past. 



While the foregoing shows what is desirable, so far as adding to the 

 collection is concerned, I cannot refrain from stating in this place the fact 

 that it seems of the utmost importance that the material we now have 

 should receive more attention than it has been possible for me to give it. 

 Since my time is so largely occupied with other duties, in connection with 

 the Fish Commission, &c, I hope it will not be out of place if I humbly 

 suggest the importance of my having more assistance when at Wash- 

 ington to aid me in arranging and classifying the material in this de- 

 partment, as well as in doing other necessary work. Unfortunately, as 

 the case now stands, in spite of the utmost efforts I have been able to 

 put forth, a considerable portion of the material of this department 

 has not been entered on the catalogue, neither have there been prepared 

 proper descriptive labels for many of the objects. The identification of 

 many of the models depends solely upon my memory and the knowledge 

 of the various craft, &c., which I have obtained by study and experi- 

 ence. It has been my wish to place the collection in such shape that it 

 would be perfectly practicable for some one else to take control of it and 

 go on with the work without any trouble or hindrance. This seems emi- 

 nently desirable, since, as all men are mortal, the value of any portion 

 of such a collection ought not to depend so much on any single indi- 

 vidual. 



It seems proper in this place that mention should be made of the im- 

 portance of having descriptive and historical labels for each object. In 

 no other way, in my opinion, can a collection be rendered so instructive 

 and valuable as it can be by having attached to each article a somewhat 

 comprehensive label. This having been done, a visitor to the Museum, 

 even a child, may acquire all the more important facts respecting 

 anything he may be specially interested in, while to the student these 

 labels will prove invaluable. Generally a label should not only give an 

 idea of the form of the object described and its dimensions, but it should 

 also contain what it is used for, and the locality from which it comes, 

 etc.; in a word, all the knowledge that one ordinarily cares to obtain. 

 More fully to illustrate the point which we are trying to make, we insert 

 the following samples of labels prepared for objects in this collection: 



FISHING SCHOONER GERTIE EVELYN, OF GLOUCESTER, MASS. 



Sectional mode], port side, scale 1 inch to 1 foot. This model shows the exterior and 

 interior of the port side of a clipper fishing schooner, such as are now employed in the 

 general deep-sea fisheries of New England. It is specially designed to show the ar- 



