PORTABLE FIRE-BUCKETS. 71 



as the buckets before described. The fabrics are made of that 

 degree of flexibility that the bucket may be compressed into a 

 small space for transportation, and yet so firm and elastic that 

 it will resume its shape when unpacked. For this, among other 

 reasons, it is a useful bucket, particularly for coachmen and 

 wagoners. See plate , fig. 



FIRE-BUCKETS. 



Caoutchouc whalebone and leather are suitable materials for 

 fire-buckets, from which they have been made, to considerable 

 extent, in the United States. 



In the early stage of the manufacture, coated canvas was used 

 for water and fire buckets, which did not give satisfaction on 

 account of the gum peeling from the canvas, but since the above 

 articles have been substituted for the canvas, a good article has 

 been obtained. See plate , fig. 



PORTABLE FIRE-BUCKETS. 



It is oftentimes necessary, and especially on board of vessels, 

 to carry a number of water or fire-buckets, to which there is a 

 great objection on account of the space which they occupy. A 

 kind of bucket which it is proposed to manufacture of caout- 

 chouc leather, is represented in plate , fig. . The shape of 

 this article appears to be objectionable, as it does not open so as 

 to be round like other buckets, but it is supposed that the advan- 

 tage arising from the compactness of stowing them, may more 

 than counterbalance the objections to their shape. When in 

 use they are kept open by a brace at the top. See plate , 

 fiss. 



