Shrouds were used to strengthen the ship's masts and hold them in place. Starting from the base of the mast, they consisted of iron chain-plates set in the hull, wooden channels to keep the shrouds away from the ship's wall, two sets of deadeyes connected by lanyards to hold the shrouds, and finally the shrouds themselves.
Researchers were able to examine in situ complete sections of the shrouding for the Dauphine's foremast and the mizzenmast of the Aimable Grenot. They provided valuable clues in terms of the location of the masts and how the vestiges should be reconstituted.
Studying them revealed the differences in shrouding between the two frigates. Whereas the Dauphine's shrouds were carefully tarred, wormed and parcelled, those on the Aimable Grenot were not, or only very poorly. In addition, one of the mizzenmast shrouds on the Grenot showed evidence of repair-work that joined two hawsers, one with three strands and one with four.
Examination of the Natière 1 wreck showed that one end of the foremast shrouds had been cut. This provided an additional clue to the identity of the wreck as the Dauphine. We know from archival sources that the captain of the Dauphine ordered the masts to be cut when the ship began to sunk: "…stating that he Had them Thrown into the sea to Save his Guns And cut the masts & done everything possible to Avoid foundering But the frigate filled with water forthwith and Sank…" (AD35, 9B 517, f° 80R. 12 December 1704).
