Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 2.djvu/444

 condition, found it necessary to sail to the New Netherlands for repairs. It would seem that there were no facilities or appliances in Virginia for mending his vessel, so that he could not escape the expense of a long voyage. It is interesting to observe that it was at this period that Peter de Licques of Picardie presented his petition to the King. The privilege which he solicited was that of providing, in return for a certain remuneration, sufficient timber from the forests of the Colony during a course of five years, to maintain five of the royal ships in as fine a condition as when they were first completed, and on the termination of the five years, to build annually for the Royal Navy, one vessel of five hundred tons burden. This he was to continue to do until permission was withdrawn. In the interval of fifteen years between the departure of Devries in 1632, and the middle of the century, there are many evidences that numerous barks, pinnaces, and rowboats, both large and small, were built in Virginia. This activity sprang from an absolute necessity, as the plantations, with a few exceptions, were situated on rivers and creeks, and could only be reached by passing from one to the other by means of the water highway. No ships, however, were constructed. This was a cause of serious concern to many persons in the Colony, and as a remedy, Secretary Kemp recommended in a letter to Secretary Windebank in England, that a custom-house should be established in Virginia with a view to encouraging the building of large vessels. The industry required more