148 GOODYEAR ON GUM-ELASTIC. 



use, and were first made of gum-elastic, by order of Commodore 

 Smith, of the United States' Navy, for the use of government 

 vessels. 



CAMELS, OR VESSELS' LIGHTERS. 



This use of gum-elastic is the invention of another,* as pat- 

 ented by him in the United States, for lightering vessels in shoal 

 water. They are made of corded caoutchouc fabrics, sur- 

 rounded by a rope netting, and are applied to the vessel in the 

 manner represented, plate . Several sets of these camels 

 have been ordered for the United States' vessels, for experiment. 



SUBMARINE ARMOR. 



This consists of a dress and apparatus, made chiefly of vul- 

 canized gum-elastic fabrics, an idea of which may be obtained 

 from the plate. This armor was invented and patented by 

 the patentee of the ships' camels, described above.* It was 

 designed as a substitute for the diving bell, and was also intended 

 by the inventor to be used for pearl diving, for which purpose 

 there is good reason to suppose it might be used to advantage. 

 See plate 



SHIPS' LETTER BAGS. 



These are made in the same manner, and of the same mate- 

 rials, as the mail-bags, described page , except of a larger size ; 

 the value of this article for the preservation of life and property 

 is not commented upon here, as this is more particularly 

 noticed under the head of Articles for the Preservation of Life 



* Capt. George W. Taylor. 



