Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1906 — An Occupation That Is Gone. [ARTICLE]

An Occupation That Is Gone.

Twenty-five years ago the ship carver's trade flourished in all the ports of Maine and Massachusetts, but to-day his occupation is gone, for the chief product of his art, the figurehead, has almost disappeared from the merchant maripe. The profits* of sea freighting are counted in larger figures now, but the present age is altogether practical and utility has driven romance forever from the blue water. Men of middle age can recall the day when nearly every vessel was ornamented with some sort of figurehead, bfft now one might search for days along the docks without seeing anything of tho kind. The\owners of vessels have an eye only to profits, nnd no money is spent for fancy carving of eagles itj'J goddesses and horns of plenty to be nsnmted over the outwaters. to give craft , finishing touch and endow them with distinct personality. The fignreliends of tiie old fleet afforded an interesting study. Some were Illustrative of tho vessel’s -name, others whims of the owners or the captains. and others syhibolic of events occurring at the time the vessels were built.