In 1874 Canada reached its last great peak in ship-building. 496 vessels, totalling nearly 200,000 tons, were built in Canada and of these 74% were built in the Maritime Provinces.
In this year Prince Edward Island produced 89 vessels. One of these was the William Owen, a barque of 599 tons built at Dundas by John McDougall for Lemuel Cambridge Owen.
This painting shows the vessel "hove to" in a storm. The main lower topsail has been backed (that is braced around so that the wind strikes the forward part of the sail) thus counteracting the forward motion of the main lower topsail and jib. In this position the motion of the vessel is almost stopped. A boat has been launched and is going to the aid of the other vessel, presumably in distress. Unfortunately the painting is not dated and it has not been possible to find out the incident which it depicts.
Courtesy: Prince Edward Island Heritage Foundation, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
