In order to elucidate the free surface phenomena around the ship bow, experiments of simple wedge-shaped models are conducted in the towing tank. It is found that the surface tension has a remarkable effect on the free surface shape around the model. It is shown that the surface activator is very effective in order to eliminate the effect of the surface tension. Free surface configurations free from the surface tension observed by photographs after application of the surface activator are examined in detail, and the mechanism of the inception of wave breaking at the bow is discussed under the light of rational hydrodynamic theories.