SHIPBUILDING AND SHIPPING. 207 



larly known as the Norman style of architecture, has 

 been often likened to the over-arching boughs of a forest 

 forming a long and lofty vista, with lesser, but like vistas, 

 on either band. In Norway I met with a different account 

 of this : I found it likened to the upturned boat which was 

 used in olden times to roof an earthen house, a sepulchre, 

 or a temple a representation in stone of an ancient boat so 

 employed, commemorating with the luxury of advanced 

 civilisation, wealth and power, memories of the childhood 

 of the nation. 



While an improved and increased shipping of late years 

 witnessed in Norway is intimately connected with the 

 later development of commerce in that country, as else- 

 where, it is as manifestly an effect as it is a cause of that 

 development; and in Norway, while it has facilitated the 

 transport and exportation of timber, it has also increased 

 the home consumption of this by the demand it has made 

 for a supply of home-grown timber to be used in the con 

 struction of the vessels. 



The Norwegians may be characterised as a maritime 

 people ; and in proportion to the population, the first place 

 must be allotted to them in this respect. 



At the end of 1875 the mercantile navy of Norway was 

 composed of 7,814 vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 

 1,419,300 tons English, with an aggregate crew of 60,281 

 men. This gives for every thousand of the population 781 

 tons, while at the same period there were for every thou- 

 sand of the population of Britain 210 tons of British 

 vessels. In the United States of America the proportion 

 was 90, in Russia 10. Even in regard to tonnage alone 

 Norway took the third place, being only surpassed by Great 

 Britain and the United States of America. 



By Dr Broch there are supplied tabulated statements of 

 the number, tonnage, and crews of the Norwegian mer- 

 chant navy in I7b'7, 1792, 1800, and every five years 

 thereafter till 1850, and every year thereafter till 1876, 

 giving the number of ships, the tonnage, the mean tonnage, 



