Editor's Log Sea Day is celebrated in these pages with a review of the working sailing ships taking part in a four-day visit to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn waterfront to people, in New York. Next year, we hope it will be celebrated in other seaport centers across the land . "Sea Day," said a Connecticut editorialist some years back , "is about the things it takes more than one generation to learn. " We essay some thoughts on that kind of learning at the end of " Letters " in this issue . Clio will go on with her immemorial work, we may be sure : the theme of this discussion is that what we make of our days might surely be made more lovely in Clio' s eyes. There is cause for some rejoicing in what we have to report on the campaign to return to Ernestina ex-Ef fie M . Morrissey to the United States-a ship now called "the Cape Verdean Mayflower" in the newspapers-but only for concern and redoubled effort to achieve breakthrough to save the Alexander
Hamilton, " White Swan of the Hudson ," last paddlewheeler on the East Coast. Frank Carr utters a stirring summons to move out ahead of tragic loss in "Towards a World Ship Trust" in this issue, and we report on progress under the Maritime Preservation Program of the National Trust-with a note on interesting possibilities from the National Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. "Sail Training" reports the remarkable national-and international-program of the American Sail Training Association, which, Chairman Waldo Johnston of the National Trust's Maritime Committee recently observed, gives the lead and the structure for real achievement in this vital kind of sea learning. And two new sections, "The Seaport Experience," and "Marine Art, " open other doors, we hope, that many may walk through to make their own explorations. As with all things in SEA HISTORY , we look to readers to
let us know what they think .... Advertisers are letting us know, and making this new work possible through their increasing presence in our pages. To reinforce this support for SH and for all our work, we are launching, on our last page, a campaign to enroll Patrons of the Society. Those who have led the way in this with contributions of $100 or more are listed. Any who wish to lend a hand are invited to be in touch! PETER STANFORD PS-On peril of missing a grand sailor in a great ship joining battle with Cape Horn, do not miss Irving Johnson's "Peking Battles Cape Horn," from his forthcoming book of that title to be issued this summer by the National Society. (And we are striving to import James Gaby's Mate in Sail-for reasons you'll appreciate when you read his memoir on seagoing food .)
LETTERS "On Top of the Pile" To the Editor: I've followed the Society very loosely over the past couple of years so I'm not familiar with any of the politics involved, but it seems to me that there is a real need for an organization "on top of the pile." The NMHS is that organization. The questionnaire you sent around some months ago is an example of the kind of activity that most of the maritime museums around the country could not do. They do not have the resources or the perspective to take on projects of national scope. All are interested , though, in how the others are doing. I've been looking at the problems I have in the day-to-day maintenance in the Falls of Clyde as well as those coming up in the new restoration planned for the next year. The product research I'm doing to solve these could be shared with other museums through some central, interested, question-asking, filekeeping, xeroxing location. Many of the problems I have could be solved by the research Jim Williams in Balc/utha or Steve Hopkins in Wavertree or. .. have already done. As it is, I have written letters all over the world for opinion and suggestions,
many of them are unanswered and I have a large investment of time in this "non-productive" work. A set of files on the basic problems faced by all of us, and by new museums trying to get under way, might save a lot of time and energy that could go into the ship or building being worked on. "Simple" problems like hull protection can be very difficult for a museum faced with financial and exhibition demands. Another service that could be provided would be to organize some form of "personnel exchange program" among the museums. You would get support from some of us, I know. Federal assistance is available to maritime museums and might be available to you. Federal Assistance for Maritime Preservation: an Introductory Catalog, published by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation ( 1511 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005) offers some suggestive programs. Your organization might make an effort to sort out what programs are functional, what kinds of requests gain approval, and then make this known to all of us around the country. This might prove more valuable than all the other things I've suggested. ls any of this appropriate to the
framework you're establishing for the National Society? JOHN EWALD Manager, Falls of Clyde Bernice P . Bishop Museum Honolulu, Hawaii We're indeed interested in every topic you raise, and in informal ways we've begun to supply some of the information exchange system you suggest. Our beginnings are very sketchy and support is needed if we're to make that system function as it should. We're passing on your letter to the Council of American Maritime Museums and Maritime Preservation Committee at the National Trust, both founded somewhat at our initiative. Let us hear from others on this, define the tasks, sort out the roles, and get on with this vitally needed work!-ED.
Sailing in the Public's Eye
To the Editor: Congratulations on the opening of your new national headquarters situated along the banks of the East River. I am sure the sight of the world's ships passing by the location will provide your staff with the inspiration needed to