The purpose Of this book is to present in convenient form the most important general principles of ship design, with which every naval architect should be familiar, and to describe the various processes in connection with the building Of ships. Its nature is intended to be practical rather than theoretical, it being assumed that the principal problem with which the reader is concerned is the quick production of seagoing vessels from plans already in exist ence rather than the preparation of new plans. The recent unprecedented increase in shipbuilding in the United States has resulted in a corresponding demand for workmen, draftsmen, and naval architects. It has there fore become necessary for many engineers and technical men, who have never before been confronted with ship building problems, to transfer their activities from the fields of the various other engineering professions to those of the marine engineer and naval architect. These men are ia miliar with mechanical processes and have the necessary groundwork in theoretical and applied mathematics to fit them for duties in connection with the production Of ships, but lack familiarity with those matters that are peculiar to shipbuilding. It is hoped that this book may aid in furnishing, in compact form, some of the more essen tial parts of this information. It should also be of value to workmen in shipyards who have only such knowledge of the shipbuilding industry as they have gained from practical experience, and who desire to fit themselves for higher positions.