PREFACE TO EIGHTH EDITION

A large part of the present edition of Modern Seamanship has been entirely rewritten and the remainder carefully revised. At all points it has been as completely as possible brought up to date. A comparison with the Seventh Edition will indicate that the most extensive changes are, as would naturally be expected, in the earlier chapters; that is to say, in the chapters which deal with materials rather than with principles. Important changes have, however, been made in the later chapters and considerable new matter has been added. The chapters on Submarines and Subinarme Chasers and the final chapter, on "Assistance by Public Vessels to Vessels in Distress" are entirely new, and that on Destroyers is practically so.

The Rules of the Road have been re-arranged to provide for easy comparison of the Inland with the International Rules.

Much care has been taken in the arrangement of plates to bring each one as close as possible to the text with which it is

associated.

In the preparation of this, as in that of other editions, assistance has been sought from many sources, and the author acknowledges with high appreciation the help received from a large number of his brother officers of the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marine.

The Officers of the Seamanship Department of the Naval Academy have contributed suggestions of much value, based upon experience in the use of the work as a text book.

Captain W. L. Littlefield of the Bureau of Construction and Repair has been untiring in his interest and helpfulness. A large part of the material in the chapters on Ground Tackle and Boats has been supplied by him, with the approval of the Chief of

Bureau.

The Chapter on Destroyers, in its new form, is chiefly the work of the Lieutenant Commander W. W. Smith; that on Submarines is by Lieutenant Wilder D. Baker, and that on Submarine Chasers, by Captain A. J. Hepburn. It is believed that these three

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