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NORTH AMERICA and WEST INDIES STATION.
LIST of Important Docks.
Dimensions.
Place.
Name of Dock.
Remarks.
Length. Breadth.
Depth on Sill ¡at H.W.
British.
Feet.
Feet.
Fect.
Halifax
Graving Dock Company
548
80
Harbour Commissioners
445
62
Quebec
Wolfe's
300
64
St. John's (Newfoundland)..
Angel and Co.
658
84
Bermuda
Government, floating
381
83
22222
30
Admiralty have
priority.
25
18
25
25
Foreign.
French-
Martinique
Banish-
St. Thomas
United States --
Port Royal
Government
393
85
Floating
250
70
Government
496
80
Newport
Norfolk
..
"
•
565
92
290
60
9.
500
85
Baltimore Philadelphia
New York
Columbian..
Simpson's .. Government Floating
437
80
2 2 222328
274
251
390
67
20
300
79
251
350
--
100
21
330
80
"
20
Government, woɔd
557
64
28
No. 1
380
66
25
Brooklyn
"
No. 2..
500
79
251
Handren and Robins, No. 1
310
100
22
No. 2
600
85
25
Government
405
60
25
Boston
Portsmouth Portland
Simpson's
465
68
19
Floating
337
90
23
Wood
387
81
23
There are large British interests on this station, both floating trade and Colonies, and under certain conditions a very considerable fleet might be required.
In the north there is a first-class dock at Halifax to which the Admiralty have prior rights of entrance. A dock at Quebec and at St. John's, Newfoundland, where large cruisers (but not "Hawkes") can be squeezed in.
In the centre, the floating dock at Bermuda will take vessels of fairly deep draught, but not modern first-class cruisers, which are too long for it.
In the West Indies there is nothing, and should anything happen to the flagship she must go 2,300 miles to Halifax.
The absence of docking accommodation in the south and the restriction of the capabilities of Bermuda would be very serious with war in these waters.
Jamaica, where the nucleus of a dockyard already exists, which holds a commanding central position, and the strategical value of which will be even increased should a canal to the Pacific ever be completed, appears to be the best point to choose in the West Indies. The other defended coaling port, St. Lucia, being at one extremity of the Carribean Sea, is not so suitable.
Increase in docking power at Bermuda, where a considerable dockyard exists, is much needed. The floating dock was established as an economy, the expense of a
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