LETTERS Periauger Puzzle The article by Alford and Babies (Sea History 109, Winter 2004-2005) makes an important contribution to the history of the humble periauger in Georgia and the Carolinas in the colonial period and early 18th century. The authors quote from the travel diaries of the 18th-century explorer John Lawson, whose notation of split-dugout construction, size, and carrying capacity of these home-built/plantation-built work boats is extremely useful in comparing periaugers of the same period and later in more northern areas. In 1994, Kevin Olsen published a study of periaugers in the NY/NJ area (The American Neptune 54, No. 3). Covering roughly the same period, he showed that, between 1780 and 1867, 17 4 periaugers were registered in the Port of New York as lighters and ferry boats, playing an important role in the trade and commerce of this port. These were plank-built vessels of a capacity between 25 and 64 tons, a length of 50-75 feet, 12-18 foot beam, and a depth of hold of 4.5-5.2 inches . Their flatbottomed hulls provided periaugers with a generous capacity and an abili ty to operate in shallow waters. Although there are hundreds of paintings and drawings of elegant sloops and schooners plying the Hudson River during this period, there are almost no depictions of periaugers. We know their physical dimensions and that they carried a loose-foo ted headsail and a mainsail fitted with a boom aft (probably for handling cargo), but the periauger, which helped build American port commerce, was an ugly duckling compared to the elegant sailboats of the period. At that time, no artist would bother to paint its picture, and if he did, nobody would care to hang it on a wall.
SAM
GERARD
Palisades, New York From the editor: According to Mike Alford, the two types ofperiauger (southern vs. the types from NY/NJ) are unrelated. In studying the periauger, at least 37 spelling variations have been found in primary documents (pirogue, piragua, periauger, petiauger, etc.). While this makes researching the craft challenging, strict attention to construction SEA HISTORY 111 , SUMMER 2005
methods and materials described, specifications, etc. help to separate vessel types from region to region.
Naval Sail in World War II The photo on page 25 of Sea History's last issue (Spring 2005) caught my eye-two World War II US Navy vessels. Surprised! They were two of abo ut fifteen sailing vessels taken into the navy for patrol and other services off the US west coast and classified as IX-a clerical designation for miscellaneous, non-combat vessels that was established after WWI. Most were, at
Ramona
Seaward
first, relics and service ships. With the outbreak of WWII, the designation was extended to cover a wide range of vessels that did not easily fit into established types. Ramona (IX-76) was acquired from S. M. Spaulding of Los Angeles in 1942. She served out of San Diego for eight months and was placed out of service in April 1943. More than a year later, she was returned to her owner. Seaward (IX-60) was acquired from
Cecil B. DeMille Productions in January 1943. She served out of San Pedro until April 1943 and was returned to her owner two years later in 1945. Other west coast sailing vessels pressed into service were: 52 Cheng Ho, 57 Araner, 58 Dwyn Wen, 59 Volador, 61 Geoanna, 62 Vileehi, 63 Zahma, 69 Puritan, 70 Gloria Dalton, 73 Zaca, 74 Metha Nelson, 77 Juniata, and 91 Goodwill. I am still looking for information on name sources and information for 52, 61, 62, and 70 and would appreciate hearing from anyone who can contribute. (Readers with information may contact editorial@seahistory. org, and I will put them in touch with Mr. Greene. -DO'R) DENNIS M. GREENE Fayetteville, North Carolina Heavy Cruiser USS Des Moines In the spring issue of Sea History, yo u refer to USS Des Moines as a battleship. There is a recent tendency for the media to interchange the terms warship (any fighting vessel) and battleship (a particular class of heavily-a rmed and armored ship, no longer in use). Des Moines is, of course, a heavy cruiser. With one exception, American battleships were named after states, cruisers after cities. The navy retains only two battleships on the register of ships: Wisconsin, on display at Norfolk, Virginia, and Iowa, in the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay, California, awaiting her turn as a museum
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