O'Boyle's site is cool but Mott's comments and the ability for the public to comment, not to mention Mott's historic information makes his site quite the mindblower.
If you like this series of photos check out this web site. http://www.oboylephoto.com/ The author did a very in depth photo essay of this site a few years back and you can see the changes that time has brought about.
You are close. This is a rack in which they would store differnet signal flags to be hoisted up the mast to send messages to other boats. Notice that there are 2 notches in the slot under each number and letter- that was to allow two flags of each to be stored on teh racks. On bigger Navy ships there would be one of these racks on each side of the ship.
These conversations really hit home....as a near drowning victim (twice), I concur with Ragdoll. The experts are correct about the sensation. Fortunately, I never developed a fear of the water, but I am claustrophobic. So, this photograph does creep me out a tad!!!
I scuba dive...alot...and have been to a few shipwrecks; however, they have all been in pretty clear water, the deepest being around 100 ft. Our dive instructors said death by drowning is actually quite pleasant...the human body won't allow you to breath underwater, therefore you pass out, while you are passed out you start to breath in your sleep and the water fills your lungs and that drowns you, but you never know...Now, how my instructors knew this, I'll never know, but I love being underwater and I promise if I ever get stuck down there and do drown, I'll come back somehow and let you know whether we should really be afraid or not...
Thank you for the boats Motts, although I like all your photographs...so...yeah...okay. Needless to say I wouldn't scuba here...