Joshua Dewis ran his hand along the hull of the half-brig, freshly made out of reliable Maritime yellow birch. His face broke out into a smile of satisfaction. It was May 18, 1861 and his shipyard was launching its very first product. It had been a year since the industrious businessman had formed a consortium to establish his venture on the shores of Spencers Island, Nova Scotia and less than that since the keel for his inaugural contract was laid. Joshua waved his hand to the men handling the ropes and yelled out the command to release the craft down...