[5] On this point, they (the English) openly defy all other nations and believe themselves to be unequaled on the ground of shipbuilding. [6] _Western Influence on the Cultivation, Mode of living and Agriculture of the Children of the North (Norwegians and other Scandinavians) in the Time of the “Vikings”_, by ~Alexander Bugge~. [7] It is the opinion of most authors that the Frisians have the honor of having made shipbuilding flourish again in the Netherlands. [8] “How _cogs_ were built in the past, and how much they have changed with the passage of time, just as in our day (the time of the writer) furthermore, the shape of ships is seen to be undergoing constant modifications.” (P. 364.) [9] The _statie_ was a sort of secondary bulwark at the stern, rising quite high above the rail. The tiller swung from side to side in an opening made in the bottom plank of the _statie_ and above the rail at the stern. [10] The “arcasse” includes the sternpost and the transoms. It belongs to square-sterned vessels only. [11] The best and surest means of avoiding a too great draught of water consists in widening the ships. An endeavor should be made to realize this programme, seeing how shallow our passes are. According to the opinion of experienced pilots who have sounded the passes conscientiously, it is not possible to bring ships drawing more than 20 feet through the “Goeree” pass, or ships drawing about an equal amount through the Texel, or more than 13 feet through the Meuse. This is why it has happened more than once that war vessels of the State, of fine lines and deeply ballasted so as to facilitate manœuvering under sail, could not gain the open sea at low tide or in calm weather, to the great detriment of the country, while outside, the lowest tier of guns could not be used because it was too near the water. [12] Several years ago, by reason of the shallowness of our rivers and passes, an attempt was made, so far as it was possible, to raise our large, deep draught ships by means of empty casks, so that they could reach the open sea. But this process required an infinite time and great labor just to put the casks into place. [13] “The vessel which sails to the West or the South shall have the bow covered with copper to protect it against the teredo”. [Illustration: 3]