'To take shipping' definitions:

Definition of 'To take shipping'

From: GCIDE

Shipping \Ship"ping\, n.
1. The act of one who, or of that which, ships; as, the shipping of flour to Liverpool. [1913 Webster]
2. The collective body of ships in one place, or belonging to one port, country, etc.; vessels, generally; tonnage. [1913 Webster]
3. Navigation. "God send 'em good shipping." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Shipping articles, articles of agreement between the captain of a vessel and the seamen on board, in respect to the amount of wages, length of time for which they are shipping, etc. --Bouvier.
To take shipping, to embark; to take ship. [Obs.] --John vi. 24. --Shak. [1913 Webster]