In this print, war artist Arthur Lismer depicts two ships in the waters off Halifax.

Canada built over 100 small drifters (foreground) during the war to help protect against German submarine attack. Wooden-hulled, lacking experienced sailors, and outgunned by German U-Boats, the drifters still offered some protection to the east coast. Their very presence convinced some U-Boats to hunt in safer waters to the south after the United States entered the war in April 1917. The big freighter (background) wears dazzle paint, a type of camouflage.

The Little Drifter and the Big Freighter
Print by Arthur Lismer
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-0353