HMCo #553s Humma

"[1901-04-22] Mon 22: L[igh]t NE [wind with] showers & fog. Began setting up frames on #553, 51 footer [Humma]. ...
[1901-06-13] Thu 13: Very fine. L[igh]t S [wind]. ... launched #553, Humma.
[1901-06-16] Sun 16: Very fine & cool. Clear [with] l[igh]t N [wind] ch[anging] to S in PM. ... Mr. Maxwell [owner of #553s Humma] arrived in st[eam] y[acht] in PM.
[1901-06-17] Mon 17: Very fine & cool. SSW [wind in] PM. Tried Humma [#553s] [in] afternoon and Mr. Maxwell towed her to NY. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1901. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Note in offset booklet:] No. [blank; #553s Humma]. Dec[ember 1900.
Model changed as per figures in ink. Sheer line dropped 5" for the forward half length, aft half length dropped as per figures given. Both of rail lines to be battened out (about 4 1/2" height forward, 4" amidships, 2 1/2" at quarter." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Handwritten note (in ink) in Offset Booklet HH.4.121.] December 1900). Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"In 1901, beside[s] CONSTITUTION, [there] were built HUMMA, forty-five feet, EFFORT, thirty-seven feet, and nearly a dozen smaller sailing craft." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 68.)

"The next year, 1901, Captain Nat designed a very similar yacht [to 'Shark' and 'Altair'] named 'Humma.' She had two sets of swinging spreaders, one supported the masthead and the other the topmast. She was a very handsome boat and was sometimes called the 'Little Constitution,' for 'Constitution' also had the same spreader arrangement and was built the same year. 'Humma' was built for J. Rogers Maxwell but was afterward owned by R. W. Emmons and was a remarkable boat of her day." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 220.)

"The tug Isaac N. Veasy of Fall River arrived at Herreshoff's pier Saturday [January 5, 1901] with timber for the keel of the new 40-footer, which is to be built for J. R. Maxwell of New York." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, January 8, 1901, p. 2.)

"Humma, sloop 553, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1901.
21.72 tons; 55.5 ft. x 14.3 ft. x 8 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, June 8, 1901." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Humma.)

"About 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon the new 40-foot sloop, Humma, built at Herreshoff's for J. Roger Maxwell of New York, was launched from the north shop. She made a rapid and graceful plunge from well-greased ways, and was soon brought in alongside the head of the wharf, where her mast was stepped within half an hour after she took the water.
The Humma is of the fifty-one foot racing class and her dimensions are: Over-all length, 73 feet; water line length, 40 feet ; draught, 9 feet, and beam, 11 feet. Her frames are of steel angles and her planking of yellow pine, and she has several tons of outside lead ballast moulded to form part of the keel. The lines of the yacht resemble those of the Constitution [#551s] very closely. The Humma is painted white above the water line and green below and her companionway and hatch coamings are of mahogany. She is to be rigged immediately." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Bristol Phoenix, June 14, 1901, p. 3.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 452:]
Humma, sloop yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1901.
21.72 tons; 55.5 ft. x 14.3 ft. x 8 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head [bow].
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) June 17, 1901. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] June 21, 1901 at New York, N.Y. ([Record at:] N[ational] A[rchives, Washington]).
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] (consolidated) ([as] yacht) Aug. 4, 1911. Owner: same. Master: same. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Humma.)

"... One of the best classes in the whole fleet is the fifty-one-foot class, as these boats are splendid racing craft, large enough to give as fine sport as the ninety-footers, and yet small enough so that they do not require a syndicate of millionaires to maintain them as do the ninety-footers. The racing has been between Altair, a Herreshoff boat of last season, Humma, a new Herreshoff boat, and Huguenot, a Huntington fin-keel scow. Humma is the most perfect modern racing yacht that can be fond in New York waters, and there is not a detail of hull or rig that can be found fault with. The hull is beautifully modelled with very graceful and well-balanced overhangs and a good sheer. Above decks the rig is a wonderful combination of strength and lightness, and contains many of the features or wrinkles seen on the new cup defender, Constitution. In fact, the whole boat shows such a resemblance to the new ninety-footer that she is often called the Little Constitution. Her first appearance was in the Atlantic Yacht Club race, where she came to the line fresh from the builder's hands, after a tow of 170 miles, having been under sail for only about half an hour. She succeeded in defeating Altair by about two minutes, with Huguenot a poor third. Subsequent racing has proven that Altair has speed enough to defeat the new boat in some chances, as she has scored several wins and always puts up a hard fight. ..." (Source: Anon. "In New York Waters." Rudder, August 1901, p. 328-329.)

"... One of the 70-footers [#534s Yankee] has been sold to J. Rogers Maxwell, Mr. Whitney taking the 51-footer Humma [#553s] in part payment. ..." (Source: Stephens, W. P. "The Yachting Outlook." Outing, April 1902, p. 121-123.)

"... Shark [#531s] and Humma [#553s] were fast racers in their class, and designed under the old water line and sail area rule to get the most speed possible out of them. Under the new rule their lack of displacement handicaps them severely and allows the Doris [#625s], with her full body, to rate far below them in spite of the fact that her dimensions with respect to sail urea and over-all length are practically identical with theirs. Boat for boat. Doris, although entitled to a liberal handicap, goes out and beats the larger raters fairly handily, and furnishes convincing evidence of the value of the rule. Measuring identically the same on deck, with the same sail spread almost to the square inch, her snub ends give her a quarterbeam length of nearly 12 feet greater than Humma or Shark. Her big displacement rates her nearly seven feet below the two while her length and sail-area drive her faster. But Doris affords nearly twice the cabin accommodations of either Shark or Humma, thus combining utility and seaworthiness with speed to a degree that must appeal to any sensible mind. ..." (Source: Anon. "New Racing Boats Promise Fine Sport." New York Times, February 4, 1906, p. 11.)

"Robert Treat Paine 2d's 46 foot sloop Humma, which usually hauled out for winter storage each year, but this winter has been in the water, was hauled at Lawley's for a month's drying out before being fitted out for the season." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." New York Sun, April 4, 1911, p. 10.)

"BRISTOL, R I, Nov 30 [1912] --- ... The racing sloop Humma, owned by the Herreshoff's, which has been at anchor in the harbor for several weeks was laid up in the Walkers Cove boat yard Wednesday last." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, December 1, 1912, p. 51.)

"TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
-----AT THE-----
HERRESHOFF MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC.
BRISTOL RHODE ISLAND
August 21 and 22 1924
The sale will take place upon the premises on Thursday the 21st day and Friday the 22nd day of August 1924 commencing promptly at ten o'clock in the forenoon each day (Daylight saving Time) regardless of any condition of the weather and following the order of this catalogue.
...
FIRST DAY—THURSDAY AUGUST 21st 1924
...
NOTE: --- The following 23 lots are located at the Walker's Cove Yard about five minutes walk via Hope Street south from the plant and must be examined before the time of their sale as the Auctioneer will not go to them at the time of sale. They will be sold right here.
...
268 Hull of sloop yacht Humma, 44 1/2 ft. water line, 14 ft. 2 in. beam. ..." (Henry S. Anthony & Co. (Auctioneers). "Voluntary Liquidation Sale by Absolute Auction. The Plant of The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Inc." Auction Catalog, Bristol, Rhode Island, August 21 and 22, 1924.)

"Humma, the last sloop designed by Herreshoff for the old 46-foot class, has been sold to a representative of the Hacinta Espanola Corporation of San Domingo, to be used as a mail and passenger vessel between West Indian ports, and now is being fitted out for her 1400-mile voyage to her new hailing port. A San Domingo skipper is expected at Providence in June to take command and will ship a crew of six men.
This old racing sloop, built by Herreshoff in 1901 for J. R. Maxwell, has a history equaled by few existing craft. In her day she won her full share of prizes in the 46-foot class. She was flagship of the Eastern Yacht Club, 1913-1915, during the terms of Commodore Robert Treat Paine 2d, and was owned also by Robert W. Emmons 2d, manager of the Resolute in the America Cup match of 1922.
Of composite build, that is, wood planking on steel frames, the Humma, in racing trim, was 72 feet overall, 46 feet 6 inches waterline, 14 feet beam and about 8 feet draft, with a flush deck and rigged with double head sails, and rated as a cutter in her racing days.
In the first decade of the present century the fastest yachts were soon outbuilt, and Humma, like many others, became an 'also ran.' About a dozen years ago she was hauled out at Herreshoff's, apparently for all times. During the war her heavy lead keel was removed and she was cradled alongside the big shed in which Resolute was stored.
When the Herreshoff plant was sold at auction late in 1925, Humma went under the hammer as 'a 44-foot waterline sloop.' as is. The boat and the auctioneer were separated by about a quarter of a mile, and apparently few of the bidders had taken the trouble to find out anything about her. Although she probably cost close to $50,000 to build, the bidding started at $2.50, went to $25 on the second bid and the second bidder was dumbfounded to find that he had bought a yacht.
He sold her where she was shortly afterward to Everiste Larrivee, who made such repairs as were necessary to make her tight and launched her, and soon sold her to Capt Franks, mate of the steamer Georgia, who brought her up through Point-st Bridge and moored her to one of the wharves on the east side of the Providence River.
Since her sale to the Spanish corporation considerable work has been done on the old yacht, to get her in shape for the long voyage down the coast, and her rig has been changed from sloop to yawl." (Source: Anon. "Humma Sold Into the Trade." Boston Globe, May 22, 1927, p. A24.)

"1924. ... It had been rumored in 1923 that the Herreshoff plant was to close down, but the actual closing and sale did not take place until August of this year. Including real estate, machinery tools, material, office equipment and sundries, the auctioneer's catalogue listed 1087 lots. ... A 35 foot work boat with no engine was sold for $35 and the hull of the once-famous racing sloop Humma was sold on the second bid of $25. The first bid was $2 by a junk dealer who didn't know the difference between a 44 1/2 foot racing sloop and an ash-sieve. The buyer, incidentally, had gone to the auction with $700 in his pocket for the sole purpose of buying the famous old boat. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 21.)

"1927. ... Two old timers left the bay. The old racing sloop Humma, which George Armitage bought at the Herreshoff auction in 1924, after passing through two other owners, was bought by the Hacinta Espanola Corporation of San Domingo, and sailed away under a short yawl rig to carry mail and passengers in the West Indies. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 36.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] telegram notice: please wire how [#553s] HUMMA would come out under new measurement just adopted" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Correspondence (telegram notice) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19710. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1901-11-27.)
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"[Item Description:] [J.R.] Maxwell offered to trade #553s HUMMA for #534s YANKEE on a basis that would have been agreeable to both Mr. Whitney and me when I suddenly ran across the enclosed rule, I want HUMMA simply for racing, I would not think of her if she would be much handicapped as I am afraid she would be as far as I can work it out, am afraid this rule will knock HUMMA out, please look rule over, I must let Maxwell know before I go South, I wish I would[?] like racing YANKEE again but we had such an unpleasant year [apparently due to the structural weaknesses of the boat and associated costly repairs] that I don't want to go in for that cost of thing again, incl. newspaper clipping describing rule that yachts launched before Jan 1, 1902 (HUMMA had been launched June 13, 1902) were entitled to race in class in 1902 but at the new 1902 rating" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19670. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1901-11-29.)
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"[Item Description:] telegram notice: could not boat be built that would beat [#553s] HUMMA under measurement, without doubt?" (Source: Duryea, Herrman B. Correspondence (telegram notice) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19720. Correspondence, Folder 52, formerly 48, 49. 1901-12-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Replying to your favor of the 31st ult and your inquiries, I would state that to the best of my recollection the EFFORT [#552s] had considerably the best of the luck in the first round of the triangle and the ALTAIR [#539s] and HUMMA [#553s] the worst and that the ALTAIR was in no shape to show her best speed.
The measurements of your boats in the table by the new rule were taken by me from the figures furnished by you to the measurement committee in one of your letters and the rating given for EFFORT in the same was 50ft.
The measurements of the Schooners were furnished by Mr. [A. Cary] Smith from his drawings but it seems to me that these boats must measure up higher than these figures upon actual measurement although their big displacements for length reduce their ratings considerably.
The light wind at the start was favorable to the smaller boats and although it freshened up after the first round of the triangle had been sailed it was not at any time stronger than a good whole sail breeze.
Had the wind been strong from the start, I am quite certain that the YANKEE [#534s] would by the corrected time under the new rule have won and the others been placed with but one or two exceptions in the order of measurement with but little time between the winner and the last boat in the table.
I think that in order to fully appreciate how well the new rule works out, it is necessary to take into account the exact conditions which prevailed and the advantages which some of the boats obtained over the others and that with these things taken into consideration, the rule seems to me I thank you for your very interesting letter which I will show to the other members of our committee.
Wishing you a very prosperous and successful new year and trusting that your health may be maintained to accomplish satisfactorily the very great work you have in hand for the defense of the America Cup, ..." (Source: Lawton, N.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72060. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-01-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Since writing you last I have received a letter from Mr. A. Cary Smith, a copy of which, I enclose to you herewith.
I have also had a talk with Mr. Gardner and he has acquiesced in the recommendation of M.Q.B.L. for L with LWL eliminated from the rule.
I have prepared a measurement rule in harmony as far as possible with your own views and the views of Mr. Smith and Mr. Gardner and enclose to you herewith a copy of the same.
The classification suggested, reduces the number of the present classes and seems to me to fit the measurements as far as practicable of the present racing boats.
I have appended a few examples giving the approximate ratings of the racing boats which though not strictly accurate are near enough for our purposes.
I would esteem it a very great favor if you would furnish me the exact measurements under the rule, of the MINEOLA [#529s], HUMMA [#553s] OR ALTAIR [#539s], EFFORT [#552s], LEDA [#541s] or COUNTESS [#538s].
The measurement of sail as you know by the present system reduces the ratings of all the boats to lower figures than if the sail were measured by the English method, and as I desire to make up a correct table under the rule suggested I would like to have the accurate measurement of these boats under the suggested rule as figured by you.
I would also like to know if the suggested rule comes near enough to your ideas to be recommended by you for adoption.
I regret the necessity of troubling you further in this matter but I am very anxious that whatever is recommended by our Committee shall go before the Club with your approval. [Incl NGH draft reply:] I have yours of 16th inst and am glad to know that you as well as Mr Smith and Mr Gardner have looked into the 'MQBL' again and approve of it as I recommended it.
As to the matter of measuring sails, I cannot agree with Mr Smith, that it cannot be improved upon. I certainly think it can be and be improved, but the bad results of the present method are not so important as other things under consideration are. Yawls are very unfairly measured under the present method. In the English method they are correctly measured and in the English method there is no occasion to monkey with throat or peak halyard blocks to give all possible sail spread for the measurement. They (the Englishman) can put in as long or short mast head as they please and have all the drift they want on the throat halyards, or as much doubling to the masts as is necessary to hold them, without affecting the measurement of the sails. There is one thing, however, I think your committee should do if they do not think it wise to change the present method of measuring sails, and that is to add the excess of area of club topsails over the maximum size of the working topsail and not rule club topsails out when racing.
In using 5. as a constant in the formula (L*sq-rt(S)) / (5*cube-rt(D)), the resulting racing length is larger than we are accustomed to, and I would suggest using instead 5.5 for the present measurement, or 5.5 (possibly 6) for the Y.R.A. measurement or the NYYC with clubtopsail added as an illustration I present the following calculations for some of our one-stickers: [Table with data for DEFENDER [#452s], COLUMBIA [#499s], MINEOLA [#529s], (NEOLA), ALTAIR [#539s], WASP [#414s], GLORIANA [#411s], EFFORT [#552s], COUNTESS [#538s], Newport 30s, Buzzards Bay 30s follows.]
In closing I hope your committee will not overlook the importance of changing the time allowance tables to the full theoretical amount as I have already suggested. You[?] it is very important that the present idea that the largest boat in the class is the best one should be exploded." (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71670. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F07, formerly MRDE15. 1902-09-16.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table, untitled, listing schooner classes (from A to EE) and sloops & yawls classes (from F to Q [and R and S]) and their ratings. With separate note showing rating factors 'with excess of rig' for CORONA [#435s ex-COLONIA], GLORIANA [#411s], WASP [#414s], IROLITA [#591s], HUMMA [#553s], COLUMBIA [#499s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s] and SPASM [#538s]. On verso unidentified sketches. Undated (the latest boat on this list was built in 1903)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01380. Folder [no #]. No date (1903 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] If you can do so without too much trouble will you kindly send me as soon as practicable the measurements of the MINEOLA [#529s], HUMMA [#553s], EFFORT [#552s?], COUNTESS [#538s] and INGOMAR [#590s] under the formula (L * sq-rt(SA)) / (5.5 * cube-rt(D)) or any of the other[?] boats of these named in the place of the ones mentioned, also the area of the working topsail and of the largest clubtopsail.
I only want approximate figures as nearly accurate as possible.
The Measurement Com. of the NYY Club and the Com. on Rules require these figures to determine the questions of classification and rules to be recommended to the club for adoption at the next meeting.
I am particularly anxious to get the MINEOLA & HUMMA classes and the INGOMAR and if I could have these it would be that I would require although I would be glad to get the others as well. I am... [Incl penciled NGH reply / notes:] [Penciled table with data for MINEOLA, ALTAIR [#539s], EFFORT, COUNTESS, INGOMAR showing quarter beam length, sail area, displacement in cubic feet, and measurement using above quoted formula.]" (Source: Lawton, N.D. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69740. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F03, formerly MRDE15. 1904-01-26.)
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"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] I went to the meeting in New York, and the entire evening was occupied in the discussion of amending the rule on length. Louis Clark, unfortunately, could not leave at the last moment, and I was the only member from Boston. I told the other three that Clark and I had agreed if a change from the rule was necessary, and all the New York men and others favored it that we were not prepared to object, and would favor amending to A as suggested by you. This does not seem to satisfy Poor and the New York men. Their formula which they desire adopted is 'The L in the formula shall be load water line length, but if the quarter beam length shall exceed 93% of the L W L, 2/3 of such excess shall be added to the L W L'.
The Committee have very strong letters from young Maxwell and others, owning some of the older type of boats, and while I do not want to suggest that they are influenced, it seems to me they are very anxious to have the change in order to make the old boats more nearly equal, while I do not care to appear to be favoring the other side on account of 'Avenger' [#666s], as I intend to sell her, and would in the course of time probably build another boat.
The New Yorkers are very anxious now to come to Boston this week and meet Charlie Adams, Howard, Clark and one or two others and myself, representing the Eastern Club here, with the idea of trying to convince us of the advisability of the change. This would then, be suggested by joint Committee as a change that was going to be adopted by the New York and Eastern Clubs regardless of the Conference.
I would like very much your opinion on the above change in the rule, and if you really think it is better to make a change now or leave the rule as it is. I would be pleased to have you come to the meeting if you could get away, which will probably be Friday night at the Somerset Club. Incl NGH reply: I have your very interesting letter of 2nd. It has been my endeavour to have a yacht measured for what is valuable to give her speed for racing --- putting a limitation on nothing but the proportion of sail area to size of hull so that any yacht so limited will be fit for cruising any where in summer weather. I donot believe in laying down rules that will define the proportion or form of a yacht in any way, but to take account of each measurement taken in such a way. That will give for example a HUMMA [#553s] the same chance as an AVENGER [#666s] for winning, when rigged so that each could carry sail equally well in outside sailing.
I realize that our present rule had developed yachts which prove too fast for the older type, but are splendid craft in every way. I see no reason for putting a limitation on ratio of QBL to LWL. Of course, if L is limited to 93% of LWL, with penalty to over reaching, every new boat designed will be stereotyped by having QBL = 93% of LWL and boats now built with ratios lower will be outclassed.
There are these[?] highly scientific men on the New York end of the Committee, and it is strange that they would propose a limitation rule instead of searching for the correct value of the relationship[?] of QBL to LWL and appetry[?] it in the rule so that a design is not tied down to any pro potion.
It appears to me that proportion[?] of making L = (QBL + LWL) / 2 will in the end prove very much more satisfactory[?] then making L = LWL + (2(QBL - .93 * LWL))/3, minus value neglected, and is certainly much simpler.
I have made a study of these things for many years and have spent a good deal of time trying to introduce my ideas to the yachting rule committees, but with little use & really feel it is time for the younger ones to try a hand at it. I thank you most kindly for your invitation to meet the committee but decline.
I am sending you the dimensions of a few yachts of our build, so you can see how the proposed changes in the rules will work. I have not the figures for Mr. [Charles Lane] Poor's yacht [MIRA, a Class M sloop designed by William Gardner and built by B. F. Wood in 1899], but think my number[?] of QBL & LWL will work a little more favorable to her than the 93% limit does --- as is the case with HUMMA and MINEOLA [#529s].
[Incomplete table listing SENECA, New York 30s, Newport 30s, SPASM, GLORIANA, ALTAIR, HUMMA, AVENGER, DORIS, WINSOME, MINEOLA, QUEEN, INGOMAR, but not providing data for them.]" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69290. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1908-11-02.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§11: Work Order [For] #209p, #511s, #552s, #553s. J. B. Carr galv. chain cable (1901-03-01)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03460. Folder [no #]. 1900-02 to 1909-10.)
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① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕ ㉖ ㉗ ㉘ ㉙ ㉚ ㉛ ㉜ ㉝ ㉞ ㉟ ㊱ ㊲ ㊳ ㊴ ㊵ ㊶ ㊷ ㊸ ㊹ ㊺ ㊻ ㊼ ㊽ ㊾ ㊿
① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ ⑪ ⑫ ⑬ ⑭ ⑮ ⑯ ⑰ ⑱ ⑲ ⑳ ㉑ ㉒ ㉓ ㉔ ㉕

Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #553s Humma even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Humma (HMCo-made index card)
• Humma (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.

Name: Humma
Type: Cutter
Length: 44'6"
Owner: Maxwell, J. R.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Humma
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Humma
Type: 44' cutter
Owner: J. Rogers Maxwell
Year: 1901
Row No.: 286

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Month: Dec
Day: 20
Year: 1900
E/P/S: S
No.: 0553
Name: Humma
LW: 44' 6"
B: 14' 2"
D: 10' 2"
Rig: Cutter
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: 16000.00
Notes Constr. Record: 51' R.L.
Last Name: Maxwell
First Name: J. R.

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

"Built in 175 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $91/day, 336 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area (3667 square feet, old sail measurement).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Rating of Yachts under the New Rules Passed by Conference of Yacht Clubs Dec. 2nd." Bristol, R.I., December 6, 1908. Original handwritten document held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, R.I.)

"[Displacement (920 cubic feet).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Rating of Yachts under the New Rules Passed by Conference of Yacht Clubs Dec. 2nd." Bristol, R.I., December 6, 1908. Original handwritten document held at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, R.I.)

"Reported abandoned due to age or deterioration by the 1930 List of Merchant Vessels." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. December 28, 2021.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.