DOCK-YARDS, certain magazines containing all sorts of
Dock-yards, of naval stores and timber for ship-building. In Eng-
Doctor. land, 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 com-
missioner, resident at the port; who superintends all
the musters of the officers, artificers, and labourers, em-
ployed in the dock-yard and ordinary. He also con-
trols their payments therein; examines their accounts;
contracts, and draw bills on the navy-office to supply
the deficiency of stores; and, finally, regulates what-
ever 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. See the plan and fitting up
of a dock-yard. See the article DOCKYARDS in the
SUPPLEMENT.