Smoking aboard royal ships was strictly regulated by the 1689 Ordonnance pour les armées navales de 1689 : "His Majesty prohibits any person from smoking tobacco before sunrise, or after sunset, or while Holy Mass is being celebrated or while prayers are being said; those wishing to partake during those hours when smoking is permitted shall do so by the foremast, & shall not do so elsewhere, & shall have before them a bucket filled with water to prevent fire accidents" (Book IV, Paragraph III, Regulations aboard ships, Art. XIX). Fear of fire no doubt also explains the popularity of snuff and chewing tobacco aboard ship. And yet, a number of clay pipes were found on both ships, proof that snuff did not replace the art of the pipe – far from it.
The two wrecks contained a number of tobacco-related objects. A tobacco rasp found on the Aimable Grenot was large and apparently used collectively, while the one from the Dauphine was sculpted, no doubt by one of the crew, in the shape of a small boat. A tin tobacco box, complete with press, was also found aboard the Aimable Grenot. Finally, an extraordinary pipe-case was found on the Dauphine – it was meticulously crafted in the shape of a pistol, and still contained its owner's pipe!
