8 ON THE MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS OF SHIPS. 
Southampton access is to be secured at all times for ships drawing 34 
to 35 feet. At Liverpool the minimum depth of water at low tide in the 
“cut” through the bar of the Mersey is maintained at 30 feet. On the St. 
Lawrence works in hand are intended to give a minimum depth of 35 feet 
from Montreal to the sea—a marvelous change from the minimum of 10 to 
12 feet formerly existing on that river during the greater part of the naviga- 
tion season. On all sides there is and has been recognition of the need for 
ample depth of water. 
VIII. When the foregoing particulars for locks, docks and approach 
channels are considered in the light of dimensions of ships given in Tables 
I and IT it will be seen that the margins provided in most of the recent engi- 
neering works are not very great in regard to length and breadth, although 
they are expected to prove sufficient for many years to come, because of the 
commercial considerations above mentioned. To the lengths of ships tabu- 
lated must be added about 30 to 35 feet in order to obtain the lengths 
“over all;”’ and in regard to breadths it is obvious that good working clear- 
ances in breadth are desirable for ease and safety of handling these enormous 
vessels when passing through dock entrances. This is the more necessary 
because of the modern tendency to increased height and bulk of super- 
structures in which much of the passenger accommodation is situated. The 
effect of wind on the broadside in such cases is considerable and on that 
account as well as the great effect which tidal currents may have on ships 
of enormous length relatively wide entrances are needed in order to facilitate 
docking. As to draught of water, the figures given for merchant ships must 
be supplemented by about 2 feet to ensure sufficient depth of water under 
the keels for safe passage over the ground at low speeds. For warships the 
deep load-draughts in vessels of recent construction are in many instances 
from 4 to 5 feet greater than the so-called “normal”’ draughts given in Table 
II; the displacement tonnages when fully laden require to becorrespondingly 
increased; and when vessels have been damaged by accident or in action, 
so that their draught has been increased and their trim affected, serious 
difficulties must be experienced in docking them unless there is a good 
margin of depth over the sills as compared with the “normal” draughts 
shown in Table II. 
IX. It is a fact worth noting that ships of the maximum dimensions 
now built or building are not easily accommodated or moved in the largest 
docks and harbors. The vessels are wonderfully handy, as all who have 
seen the Lusitania and Mauretania approach or leave the docks at New York, 
or the landing stage at Liverpool, will agree; but they necessarily require 
large spaces for their maneuvers because they are so long and heavy, and in 
