Discussion of Industries 63 
Sure anp Boat Buitprng 
Ship and boat building is another important wood-using 
industry in the State, the consumption of nearly 63 million feet 
for this purpose placing this branch of trade seventh from the 
top when considered from the standpoint of quantity of wood 
consumed annually. New York is normally the leader among 
the shipbuilding States. Possessing the finest harbor in the 
world and with the Hudson and other large rivers, the Barge 
Canal, and the Great Lakes supplying water transportation for 
passengers and freight from border to border, it is not strange 
that such craft, ranging in size from enormous battle cruisers 
and palatial passenger steamers to the innumerable and expen- 
sive private yachts, are the product of her shipyards. In fact 
there is every reason why ship and boat building in this State 
should stand at the forefront. 
In the table southern yellow pine (mainly longleaf) leads, 
contributing over 50 per cent of the raw material used in the 
industry. This wood goes largely into ships, its availability 
in large structural sizes, its strength and hardness recommend- 
ing it above homegrown woods. White oak is used in large 
quantities (especially at this period) in construction of wooden 
shipping for the U. S. Shipping Board. Douglas fir comes 
cntirely across the continent to supply ships with spars, while 
mahogany, teak, Circassian walnut, lignum-vitae, and balsa 
(cork) wood are imported from foreign countries, the balsa 
being important in the equipment of boats with life preservers. 
‘The foreign woods are generally used for decorative parts of 
ships and yachts, but not always so. Lignumvitae, for example, 
is used for steering wheels, tackleblock wheels, and pulleys. 
Teak is a fine material for wooden decks, as is also white oak, 
but neither of these woods has been easily obtainable in recent 
years in lengths desirable for the purpose. Douglas fir is being 
used as a substitute, as well as southern yellow pine. For this 
purpose, as well as for planking, the hard pine is preferred 
to the softer fir because it resists denting better. 
For small craft, such as rowboats, the southern white cedar 
is considered the finest of woods, because it is light, can be 
