Our merchant marine, the Rip Van Winkle of the sea. Illustration shows Rip Van Winkle, his beard long and his clothes tattered, asleep near an abandoned ship building yard, an overturned jug labeled High Protective Tariff at his side and a sign behind him that states Prohibitive Cost of Construction; probably refers to the high cost of American products due to protective tariffs against the importation of less expensive foreign products. Date 1911 November 15. Our merchant marine, the Rip Van Winkle of the sea. Illustration shows Rip Van Winkle, his beard long and his clothes tattered, asleep near an abandoned ship building yard, an overturned jug labeled High Protective Tariff at his side and a sign behind him that states Prohibitive Cost of Construction; probably refers to the high cost of American products due to protective tariffs against the importation of less expensive foreign products. Date 1911 November 15.