Survey of traditional Italian ships and boats

The author describes his research into roughly fifty types of craft used in Italian waters during the age of sail, mentioning the sources utilised and the problems which cropped up. The study includes a survey of the evolution of the Italian Merchant Navy in quality and quantity, and in relation to that of other countries. It is the opinion of the author that a truly exhaustive study of this subject can only be achieved by the systematic interchange of information with other Mediterranean seafaring countries.