76 ALL AFLOAT 



hundred tons, and the New Brunswickers four 

 hundred. If the Lakes, Prince Edward Island, 

 the rest of Canada, and Newfoundland are added 

 in, the total tonnage built in the best single year 

 is found to be close on a quarter of a million. 

 Allowing for the difference in numbers of the 

 respective populations, this total compares 

 most favourably with the highest recent totals 

 built in the British Isles, where the greatest 

 shipbuilding the world has ever seen is now 

 being carried on. 



It was the change from wood to metal 

 that caused the decline of shipbuilding in 

 Canada. It was also partly the change to 

 steam ; but only partly, for Canada started well 

 in the race for building steamships. What 

 proves that the disuse of wood was the real 

 cause of the decline is the fact that Canada 

 never even attempted to compete with other 

 countries in building metal sailing vessels. If 

 Canada had developed her metal industries a 

 generation sooner she would have had steel 

 clippers running against 'Yankees,' ' Britishers,' 

 and German ' Dutchmen ' ; for there was a 

 steel-built sailing-ship age that lasted into the 

 twentieth century and that is not really over 

 yet. Indeed, even wooden and composite sailers 

 are still at work ; and with their steel comrades 



