This section is from the book "The Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia", by Luke Hebert. Also available from Amazon: Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia.
A frame erected on the shore of a river, or of the sea, and in the large establishments in the inside of docks, for the purpose of building ships. It generally consists of a number of solid wooden blocks, ranged parallel to each other at convenient distances upon a very firm foundation, and with a gradual declivity towards the water.
 
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