The schooner barge was the final development of the working sailing ship. The design originally evolved in the 1870s on the Great Lakes, where it was found that sailing ships could be more profitably towed from place to place than sailed. No longer subject to the vagaries of the wind, such trips could be made on a scheduled basis, and with reduced labor costs. The idea spread into general use, resulting in the conversion of many sailing ships into barges. Ironically, most of the vessels that were converted to schooner barges were not actually schooners, but square-rigged ships. Square-riggers, with their large and expensive crews of skilled sailors, became uneconomical to operate in the face of ever-improving steam power, while more efficient schooners managed to compete for a few years longer.
More: Schooner Barge ...
This is a fascinating big wreck of a wooden schooner barge. The broken stern is upended, forming a hollow pyramid that is full of fish. The sides and keel extend north from there to the bow, from which extends a chain which reaches to another much smaller wreck, which is known as the "Inshore Tug."
More: Inshore Barge/Tug ...
More: John C. Fitzpatrick ...
More: Marion ...
More: Plymouth ...
More: Pocono "Rudder Wreck" ...
More: Pocopson ...
Nearby are the remains of several other barges.
More: Ramos ...
Very low-lying wooden wreckage of unknown origin. Just a single line of ribs, with nothing off to either side. If sanded-in ( as usual ) this spot can be a complete waste of time.
More: Ridge Schooner ...
Here is an abbreviated classification or taxonomy of all the organisms presented in this website, as well as a few others of interest. This is not meant to be a complete listing of all living things, nor even a completely correct one, since these classifications change as new theories come into favor. One should realize that every one of the groupings presented below is a judgment call representing collective scientific opinion, rather than a hard fact.
The classification of living things into groups depends not only on their differences and similarities but also on the degree to which they are studied and understood. For example, lesser-studied types such as mollusks tend to be lumped together into broad classifications, while popular and easily-studied types tend to be divided into fine distinctions. For a prime example of this, pick up any field guide on birds, and see how many Warblers there are in it. Birds are widely considered to be "over-split" - divided into many different species and families that are really not different. Coincidentally, bird-watching is an extremely popular pastime among scientists and laymen alike. Conversely, mollusks are probably "under-split", but then mollusk-watching is no fun at all.
More: Classification of Marine Organisms ...
