 He was active in a number of areas, building and expanding the dockyard and promoting important hydrographic surveys and the construction of canals.Between 1819 and 1820 Captain Barrie, as Flag Officer of the Great Lakes, built the Stone Frigate in Kingston Royal Navy Dockyard to house the gear of the warships of 1812 laid up in Navy Bay.His instructions were to expedite the repair of the vessels at the bases in case of any emergency.