Seine River Steamers early vessels meant that positive traction by pulling on a chain against a deadman or anchor was much more effective. In the 1830s river travel was considered dangerous, so much so that insurers would put a 25 percent premium on cargoes and vessels travelling the route. The Seine is divided into three sections, the lower or Oise section, middle or Paris Section, and upper or Marne section. Ships enter the river at Le Havre through a bad tidal bore. (Victor Hugo's favourite daughter was killed while travelling in a small boat across the bore.) Oceangoing ships can travel to Rouen,
Seine-et-Oise Seine-et-Oise Seine-et-Oise was a "département" of France encompassing the western, northern, and southern parts of the metropolitan area of Paris. Its "préfecture" (capital) was Versailles and its official number was 78. Seine-et-Oise was abolished in 1968 as part of the reorganization of the départements of the Paris metropolitan area. Seine-et-Oise was created on 4 March 1790. Its name comes from the two main rivers (Seine River and Oise River) flowing through it. At its dissolution in 1968, Seine-et-Oise consisted of 688 suburban and rural communes completely surrounding the Seine "département" although it was at its narrowest just east of Seine