DOCK-YARDS, certain magazines containing all sorts of
Dock-yards, of naval stores and timber for ship-building. In England, the royal dock-yards are at Chatham, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Deptford, Woolwich, and Sheerness. His majesty's ships and vessels of war are generally moored at these ports during the time of peace; and such as want repairing are taken into the docks, examined, and refitted for service.
The principal dock-yards are governed by a commissioner, resident at the port: who superintends all the musters of the officers, artificers, and labourers, employed in the dock-yard and ordinary. He also controuls their payments therein; examines their accounts; contracts, and draw bills on the navy-office to supply the deficiency of stores; and, finally, regulates whatever belongs to the dock-yard, maintaining due order in the respective offices.
These yards are generally supplied from the northern crowns with hemp, pitch, tar, rosin, canvas, oak plank, and several other species. With regard to the masts, particularly those of the largest size, they are usually imported from New England.