On Docks— Dry, Wet, and Floating. 199 



The term dock may be considered as a generic term, 

 embracing all enclosed spaces for the reception of shipping. 

 I say enclosed spaces, for although an area similar to that 

 now in process of construction on the new ground in the 

 rear of the Franklin Wharf will practically have all the 

 advantages of a dock, yet as it is open to the sea, and as 

 the tide will flow in and out uninterruptedly, it will be 

 properly termed a tidal basin. 



Docks, then, are enclosed spaces for the reception of 

 shipping ; and it is usual to classify them under the two 

 heads of wet and dry docks. 



The first of these is generally a large area where ships 

 are always kept afloat. The second is not in general larger 

 than is necessary to receive one, or at most two vessels ; and 

 arrangements are made to allow all the water to be withdrawn 

 from the dock, so as to leave the vessels dry to enable ship- 

 wrights to work upon them, and to execute all the necessary 

 repairs. 



The wet dock presents but few features of interest to 

 the inhabitants of Hobart Town. Our harbour is, in fact, 

 for all practical purposes, a large wet dock capable of 

 containing any number of vessels. The rise and fall of the 

 tide is too small to afiect to any extent the arrangements which 

 may be made on the wharf for the convenience of loading 

 or discharging cargoes, and there is always depth of water 

 sufficient alongside the wharf to float the largest vessels. 



At Launceston, however, it may be desirable eventually to 

 enclose an area in which vessels may always be kept afloat. 

 The tide in the Tamar rises from 10 to 12 feet, and vessels 

 alongside the wharf are aground at low water, and are 

 liable, therefore, occasionally to receive some damage. 



I propose, however, to limit myself at present to the 

 subject of dry docks. 



The object of these being to facilitate the repairs of 



