Comparative Analysis of Tidal Water-Control Infrastructure: French Royal Naval Arsenals (17th–18th Century) and the Smith's Cove Box Drains, Oak Island

Abstract The box drain structures discovered at Smith’s Cove on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, have long been interpreted within treasure-oriented narratives. However, their engineering characteristics—subsurface stone channels, timber reinforcement, fiber filtration layers, and a fan-shaped tidal orientation—invite technical comparison with known early modern naval dockyard infrastructure. This paper evaluates whether the Smith’s Cove system is consistent with tidal water-management practices employed in 17th–18th century French royal arsenals, particularly those developed during and after the reign of Louis XIV. While the study does not assert definitive authorship, it examines whether the engineering parallels suggest the transfer of maritime hydraulic knowledge to colonial North America prior to 1758.