<P> The size of vessels in Virginia had steadily been increasing as well, and the craftsmanship had been improving, such that in a letter to Lord Arlington, Secretary of the Colony Thomas Ludwell boasted: "We have built several vessels to trade with our neighbors, and do hope ere long to build bigger ships and such as may trade with England ." Such was the astonishment at how quickly New England's shipbuilding had rapidly progressed that an article was submitted in the English News Letter of March 12, 1666 describing "A frigate of between thirty and forty (tons?), built in Virginia, looks so fair, it is believed that in short time, they will get the art of shipbuilding as good frigates as there are in England". As early as 1690 Dr. Lyon G. Tyler in The Cradle of the Republic wrote that ships of 300 tons were built in Virginia and trade in the West Indies was conducted in small sloops . </P> <P> Regardless of the increase in timber production, the commodity was not as profitable as Richard Hakluyt had hoped . The cause was due in part to the higher wages paid by freeholders compared to their serf counterparts in Europe, as well as the cost of transatlantic shipping . While Boston ports charged forty to fifty shillings, the Baltic ports only charged nine . </P> <P> That changed when England awoke to a timber crisis after commercial competition with the Dutch came to a breaking point . The Navigation Acts of 1651 had greatly limited imports into England, prompting Denmark to prey upon British ships as they sailed to and from the Baltic Sea transporting their timber cargo . It was at this time, on the eve of the first Anglo - Dutch War (1652--1654) that the Admiralty considered a plan to develop a North American source of timber and masts, and forgo possible crisis as a result of impending lengthy repair of battle - shattered masts . </P> <P> North European fir had been the Admiralty's timber of choice for its mast construction . However, finding its supply chain obstructed, the Admiralty's second choice was the North American white pine . A shipload had been received from Jamestown in 1609 and another in 1634 from Penobscot Bay, both of which were found to be agreeable . There is disagreement amongst scholars about which variety was the strongest, however the North American white pine was considered more resilient, one fourth lighter in weight, and exponentially larger; reaching a height of 250 feet, several feet in diameter at the base, and weighing in as much as 15 to 20 tons . Accordingly, the Admiralty sent a fleet of mast ships in 1652 and thus began Britain's steady importation New England masts . </P>

Where does most of our lumber come from