26 Alec Wilson on 



appearance in public at the Naval Review at Spithead in 1889. 

 The present Kaiser came to inspect her, and it is said that he 

 si)ent so much time investigating the " Teutonic " that the whole 

 of his plans for the rest of the day were upset and five British 

 battleships remained unvisited.' 



Then came the " Olympic," after many boats had been built 

 gradually growing in tonnage. In this case the rapid growth 

 in size of first-class boats was well indicated. When the 

 Belfast Harbour Board decided to build a new dock, which 

 was begun in 1903, they made enquiry as to the probable require- 

 ments of builders in the future. The dimensions decided upon 

 were 886 feet long by 100 feet wide. There were some delays in 

 the construction, so that it happened that the ''Olympic" was the 

 first vessel that entered the new dock. She measured 882 feet 

 9 inches over all, so that the very first vessel to use the dock 

 filled it so tightly that there was scarcely room to work upon her. 



Records were again broken when the second " Britannic" 

 left the stocks. The growth in dimensions may be realized 

 when it is remembered that "Britannic II" was ten times 

 the tonnage of her earlier namesake, and that the latter was a 

 giant ship at the date of her launch. 



Some extraordinary repair work has been done upon the 

 " Island," which deserves mention. Thus the South African 

 mail boat "Scot" was cut in two and lengthened. The saloon 

 Avas too far forward and the hull was too short. She was there- 

 fore cut in two amidships ; the deck houses were left attached 

 to the after portion, while the forward end of the hull was hauled 

 out from under the saloons. In some ways this was the prettiest 

 bit of lengthening which has ever been done, especially as the 

 boat was rather famous for her good looks and many people 

 tliought the lengthening Avould spoil her. In point of fact, it 

 actually added to her appearance, and no one could tell by looking 

 at her that she had ever been different. 



Another nice job was the "Stievic" she ran aground at the 



