Life at Sea

Part of a panorama photograph of the Chincha Islands, off the coast of Peru, where there were tremendous guano deposits. The ships are waiting their turn to load guano for European and North American ports. The photo is taken from Middle Island, looking at the remnants of the guano heaps on North Island.

In changing sails, the new sail has to be hoisted up the mast. This view shows the crew pulling together to hoist the sail, so it can be "bent on" or attached to the yard. The photograph was taken by the captain's daughter aboard the bark Carrie Winslow.

Ships often changed sails so that they used older sails where there were light winds (near the equator) and newer, stronger sails where there were typically heavy winds. The crew is "bending on" or putting on a new sail. The photograph was taken by the captain's daughter aboard the bark Carrie Winslow.

This is a detail of a nautical chart of the west coast of South America, "Peru: Independencia Bay to Begueta Bay." Though published in 1864, the original date of publication was 1836, and it was surveyed by Capt. Robert Fitz Roy, who was captain of the Royal Navy ship Beagle on which Charles Darwin sailed. The detail shows where the Chincha Islands are, off the coast of Peru and outside of Pisco Bay. They are about 120 miles south-southeast of Lima. The Chincha Islands had tremendous deposits of seabird guano, which was mined for fertilizer.

The carpenter and a mate aboard ship. The carpenter on a larger ship did not stand watch but helped with the operation of the ship when called upon to do so. Here he is holding a plane. The mate was in charge of the men in one watch, one mate for each watch.

Captain's cabin, perhaps on board the bark Harvard, Capt. Lincoln Alden Colcord. Note the berth for sleeping, the built-in drawers, and the fancy day bed. This photograph was taken when the ship was in port by Capt. Colcord's brother-in-law.

The ship William H. Conner was the largest and last full-rigged ship built in Searsport. Built in 1877 she cost over $100,000. Apparently in three voyages she earned her construction costs, but that was the exception; 15% was closer to the rule. Marlboro Packard was her master builder, working at the Carver yard. The Museum has his half model of the vessel. Listed in the Register until 1898, finally turned into a barge and sunk off Sandy Hook.

Cabin plan of the 640 ton bark Egeria, built in Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1864. The plan was drawn by Ellen Cutter Starrett, wife of Capt. Henry A. Starrett. The Starretts were from Belfast. Note that Ellen's and their daughter Annie's rocking chairs are drawn into the sketch. The sketch is from 1868 when Captain Starrett first took over the bark which he commanded for four years.