It may be of interest to give here an extract from the American journal, _Rudder_, showing how these vessels came into being.[3] Although the hulls were constructed in Canada, and much of the assembling was also carried out on the banks of the St Lawrence, the engines came from the United States. It was to the organising ability of Mr Henry R. Sutphen, of the Electric Boat Company, New York, that the delivery of over 500 of these wonderful little craft in less than a year was due. Here is that gentleman's story of the "M.L." contract: "It was in February, 1915, that we had our initial negotiations with the British Naval authorities. A well-known English shipbuilder and ordnance expert was in this country, presumably on secret business for the Admiralty, and I met him one afternoon at his hotel. Naturally the menace of the German submarine warfare came into discussion; we both agreed that the danger was a real one, and that steps should be taken to meet it. "I suggested the use of a number of small, speedy gasolene boats for use in attacking and destroying submarines. My idea was to have a mosquito fleet big enough to thoroughly patrol the coastal waters of Great Britain, each of them carrying a 13-lb. rapid-fire gun. [Illustration: FIG. 1.--Diagram showing principal characteristics of an armed motor launch. _A._ Wheel-house. _B._ Searchlight. _C._ Chart-room. _D._ Navigation lights. _E._ 3 or 13 pounder quick-firing gun. _F._ Wheel and indicators in wheel-house. _H._ Hand pumps supplementing power pumps in engine-room. _I._ Hatchway leading to engine-room. _J._ Hatchway leading to wardroom. _K._ Life-boat. _L._ Officers' cabins. _M._ Hatchway leading to officers' cabins. _N._ Depth charges (2 or 4). _O._ Deck box containing life-belts. _P._ Stern petrol tanks (2). _Q._ Officers' sleeping cabin. _R._ Officers' mess-room. _S._ Galley. _T._ Engine-room. _U._ Main petrol engines (2). _V._ Reservoirs of compressed air for starting main engines. _W._ Foreward petrol tanks. _X._ Forecastle and men's quarters. _Y._ Men's lavatory. _Z._ Forepeak.] "I explained that I had in mind two distinct types. The first would have an over-all length of about 50 feet, and would be fitted with high-speed engines; such a boat would show a maximum of 25 knots. The alternative would be something around 80 feet in length, with slow turning engines and a speed of 19 knots. I added that my preference was for the larger and slower type. "He asked how many units of that class we could build in a year's time, and I told him that I could guarantee fifty. He said that he would think the matter over, and we parted.