CHAPTER XI. 



NAVAL AND MARITIME. 



Ships' sails. Report of Captain Popham. Second report of Captain Popham. Ship lights. Tar- 

 paulins. Ships' water tanks. Hammocks. Tompion. Signal balls. Camels, or vessels' 

 lighters. Submarine armor. Ships' letter bags. Bread bags. Sailors' bags. 'Budge barrel. 

 Fenders. Navy belts. Sheaths. South-westers. Tarpaulin hats. Deck scrubs. Gun recoil 

 springs. Shot plug. Life buoy. Harbor buoy. Anchor buoy. Whale buoy. Anglers' floats. 

 Becoys. Seine floats. Sheathing and caulking materials. Bathing tubs. Ships' buckets. 

 Ships' ware and utensils. Seamens' wearing apparel. Improved hatch. Boats. Whale-boats, 

 yawls, jolly-boats, and row-boats. Long-boats. Club-boats and race-boats. Life boats. Ballast 

 tanks. 



It is not to be expected that one unacquainted with a sea-far- 

 ing Ufe, should be able to enumei'ate, and much less to describe 

 minutely, all the various articles that might be made for ships' 

 use, or that might properly be classed under this head. Those 

 who are acquainted with the subject, and the wants of seamen, 

 will doubtless suggest many other uses, as well as improvements 

 in the construction of those articles that are now made of the 

 gum-elastic fabrics. 



SHIPS' SAILS. 



The first gum-elastic ship's sail was a top-sail, which was made 

 by the writer in 1844, and was intended for the packet ship 

 Patrick Henry. After the sail was completed, it was thought 

 that the coated canvas of which it was made was so very light, 

 that it was imprudent to make trial of it. It was, therefore, stored 

 at the warehouse in New York until 1845. At this time, the 

 clerks at the warehouse, in a frolicksome mood, and not know- 

 ing why the sail had not been tried, had it bent upon the 

 Liverpool packet ship Stephen Whitney ; and, for a surprise to 



