59 



west, and the barges which transfer freight up and down 

 its river — all of these constitute a market for home-built 

 boats. 



Eleven woods were used last year by Florida boat build- 

 ers, and longleaf pine constituted about seventy per cent 

 of it all. Some vessels are built almost wholly of this 

 wood, and all that was used was grown in Florida. It 

 makes both inside frame and outside covering. It pos- 

 sesses the required strength, and its lasting properties 

 insure long service. The price of longleaf pine is higher 

 in this than in any other industry in Florida. High- 

 grade material was demanded, and price goes with grade. 



Cypress is next in quantity, and is higher in price than 

 longleaf. It is used for finish and deckwork. The dif- 

 ference in price between it and longleaf is largely re- 

 sponsible for keeping cypress below that wood in quantity 

 in boat building. 



White pine, which is soft, white, and expensive, is em- 

 ployed only when some customer demands it. 



Live oak is reported to the amount of 30,000 feet, at 

 $60 a thousand. It was made into rudder stock, and is 

 bought in hewed logs eighteen inches square. These logs 

 are sawed into heavy stuff for rudders. Live oak is hard 

 and strong, and lasts well under water. 



Nearly 27,000 feet of mahogany is reported in this in- 

 dustry, and more than a third of it is native of Florida. 

 This is the species cut in the West Indies and Mexico, 

 and it is not found growing in any other State than Flor- 

 ida. This and other expensive woods listed in the boat 

 industry show that high-class work is being turned out 

 of the yards. 



