War of 1812 Bicentennial

Appendix III

Some Harbours And Ports Of Canada¹

Among these, the following, with the facilities which they offer, may be mentioned:

Lower St. Lawrence.²

Gaspé (Gulf of St. Lawrence).—Here there is sufficient water to accommodate a large fleet, and access is easy. The harbour is about four and a half miles long, with a general width of one mile; depth of water, from 4 to 11 fathoms, with mud bottom. It is completely sheltered. In the future this port will probably be further developed (see p. 128).

Quebec.—The harbour affords excellent anchorage and wharfing accommodation. There is a wet dock, being an enclosed basin of 40 acres water-surface; entrance, 66 feet wide; depth, 28 feet over sill at high tide; general depth, 25 feet.

The Government dry dock is at Levis, on the opposite side of the river; 600 feet long, on blocks; breadth of entrance, 62 feet; depth of water on the sill, 26½ feet, and 23¼ feet on the blocks at high water, spring tides. There are floating docks also at Levis, owned by various firms.

Repairs can now be made to large steamers at Quebec (covering hull, machinery, and boiler repairs), and supplies, stores, and provisions can be procured. Ferry steamers cross between Quebec and Levis all the year round, being specially equipped and strengthened for ice.

For some years past the Quebec Harbour Commissioners have urged an increase to the dock accommodation for com­mercial reasons. The beam of large passenger and freight steamers is now occasionally 88 feet and over, and conse­quently they could not enter the Levis dry dock (62 feet in breadth), and had to go for dock facilities to New York and elsewhere. For this reason, and also in connection with the requirements of the Canadian Navy now being organized, the decking facilities at this port will probably be before long materially increased.

Sorel.—At the mouth of the Richelieu River, which empties into the St. Lawrence. For two miles within the mouth of the river the depth is from 4 to 5 fathoms. Good anchorage. There are four shipyards, the principal of which is a Govern­ment one, where Government and other vessels are constructed. Here the plant for deepening and widening the St. Lawrence ship-channel remains in winter.

Montreal Harbour, to which ocean vessels have access for between eight and nine months in the year, is one of the largest ports of Canada. It contains two small dry docks, for light-draught vessels only, each 400 feet long, with 10 feet of water on the sill.

Vessels from the great lakes enter Montreal through the Lachine Canal, which has a depth of 14 feet.

The ship channel from Montreal to the ocean, which is well lighted and buoyed, is now completed throughout to a minimum depth of 30 feet¹ at extreme low water; minimum width, 450 feet, except in Lake St. Peter, where it is some­what less. Supplies and materials for vessels can be purchased, and steel castings of large size are here turned out.

Montreal is a port of great commercial importance. The shipping using it in 1908 amounted to between five and six million tons, and it is well equipped with elevators and all machinery for loading and unloading vessels and handling and storing freight. From it daily and weekly lines of ocean-going steamers run to every quarter of the world; and railways to all parts of the Dominion, connecting with those of the United States.

But what the facilities of Montreal as a port will be in docks and other directions within the next few years is not to be fully estimated by the above particulars, as great energy is at present being devoted to meet the increasing volume of business, to make Montreal a great world-port, and the St. Lawrence route the imperial highway of commerce in North America.

The Port Warden of Montreal states that the adoption of the Marconi wireless telegraph system has been of great advantage in the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence in ascer­taining the condition of the ice at all times, and thus enabling vessels to use with greater safety and for a longer period the Straits of Belle Isle route.

Atlantic Ports.

Halifax (Nova Scotia).—One of the finest and safest harbours of the Dominion, and a winter port free from ice throughout the year; the terminus of the Intercolonial Railway, and in railway, telegraphic, and steamer communi­cation with many parts of the world.

Halifax, the upkeep and defence of which port has been recently taken over by the Dominion for the Imperial Government, is a naval station of consequence. There is a good dockyard, under the control of the Department of Marine and fisheries; and a graving dock, belonging to the Halifax Graving Dock Company, 600 feet long; breadth of entrance, 87¾ feet; depth, 30 feet on the sill at high water.

North Sydney (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia).—A safe har­bour, easy of access. Depth of water, over 46 feet at high tide, 42 feet at low. The water area is about twelve square miles. An important coal-shipping port. The Nova Scotia Steel and Coal Company, the Dominion Coal Company, and the Dominion Iron and Steel Company do a large business here.

Sydney (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia).—An important har­bour, entirely land-locked, with a depth of water of from 6 to 10 fathoms, the area of water between 6 and 7 fathoms deep being about 2⁸/₁₀ square miles. The Dominion Coal Company have two piers here (known as the International Piers), at which four steamers can be berthed, loaded, or bunkered at one time, and the Dominion Steel Company two piers.

St. John (New Brunswick), where the St. John River enters the Bay of Fundy.—A safe, commodious harbour, and always accessible, as the rise and fall of the tide keeps it free from ice. The depth of water in the eastern channel (which is being further deepened) is from 22 to 30 feet. There are fifteen water berths for ocean steamers, and the anchorage grounds in and adjacent to the harbour extend over a wide area. The port is an important winter one for the ship­ment to Europe of lumber, grain, cattle, and agricultural products.

St. John is the terminus of several steamship lines in winter, and the Intercolonial, the Canadian Pacific, and the New Brunswick Southern Railways have many wharves and sheds here.

Pacific Ports.

Victoria (Vancouver Island, British Columbia).—Good anchorage, in some 12 to 20 fathoms of water, in the Royal Roads, but the entrance to the port is rather intricate. Materials for shipbuilding and repairs can be obtained. Two miles off is

Esquimault (British Columbia).—Good anchorage and shelter in water of from 5 to 10 fathoms deep. Here there is a graving dock, about 480 feet long and 430 feet on the blocks, 65 feet wide at entrance, and 26½ feet of water over the sill at high tide.

Large vessels can be repaired here. The maintenance and defence of this port has recently been taken over by the Dominion from the Imperial Government.

Vancouver (British Columbia), within Burrard's Inlet.— Easy of access, and inside the narrows is a fine, spacious, and secure harbour, from 15 to 36 fathoms in depth. The Government of Canada has entered into an arrangement to subsidize a steel Heating dock, to be equipped with all modern appliances, and of sufficient capacity to take any size of steam vessel trading on the Pacific coast.

Vancouver Harbour is the western terminus of the Canadian Pacific (trans-continental) Railway.

The Great Northern Railway from Washington, D.C. (United States), runs into Vancouver, and the city has com­munication by steam with China, Japan, and Australia.

All kinds of ships' stores can be procured here.

Prince Rupert (British Columbia, east of Queen Charlotte Island) is the selected terminus of the Grand Trunk Pacific (trans-continental) Railway, and one of the best harbours on the Pacific coast, having great depth of water.

It will no doubt rise greatly in importance with the approaching completion of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (see p. 131).

Upper St. Lawrence and Lake Ports.¹

Kingston (on the St. Lawrence River, at the northeast extremity of Lake Ontario).—The Cataraqui River empties into the St. Lawrence at Kingston, and the mouth of it forms part of the harbour.

The extent of the harbour from west to east is about three and three-quarter miles, the depth of water being from 12 to 20 feet at the wharves to 40 feet opposite the city, in the St. Lawrence River. Good wharf accommodation. There are two dry docks for repairing vessels: one small one, belonging to Government, is 305 feet long by 70 feet wide at coping level, 47 feet at floor level, with 13 feet 7 inches over the sill; the other (Davis's lock), for vessels of light draught, is 175 feet long by 32 feet at the entrance, and depth of water 4 feet 6 inches over the sill.

Desoronto (north shore of the Bay of Quinté, near Kingston) affords good shelter and anchorage. There is depth enough at the wharves for vessels up to 14 feet draught, and the channel from Desoronto to Lake Ontario (going east) is of good depth and safe for navigation. Fair repair facilities for wooden vessels, in a well-situated shipyard, can be obtained.

Toronto (north shore of Lake Ontario; area, about two and a half square miles) is land-locked, a formation of sand, called the "Island," extending the whole length of the southerly limit of Toronto Bay. The average depth of water in the harbour is about 20 feet, and 14 feet along the wharf frontage.

The shipbuilding industry is carried on at the Polson Iron Works and at the Toronto shipyards, in which steel and wooden vessels are built. Extensive repairs of all kinds can be carried out, and ships' stores and matériel purchased. In the Polson Iron Works shipyards four canal-sized steamers can be laid down at one time.

Hamilton Harbour (Lake Ontario) is practically Burlington Bay, at the extreme west end of the lake. The harbour is approximately six miles long by one mile wide, and is land-locked; the anchorage good, in 50 feet of water. The Hamilton Steel and Iron Company have works here.

Port Dalhousie (at the northern entrance of the Welland Canal).—Good anchorage, in a depth of water of 18 feet. One small dry dock, capable of taking canal vessels up to 200 feet in length.

Port Colborne (at the entrance, near the eastern end of Lake Erie, to the Welland Canal).—There is a depth of 22 feet of water in the outer harbour, and 16 feet over the remainder and into the canal. A great extent of wharfage (three miles). The harbour is closed by ice from about the middle of December to the end of March. The harbour was originally made by a corporate company, and is not among the harbours controlled by the Government Department of Marine and Fisheries.

Amherstburg (near the mouth of the Detroit River, where it enters Lake Erie).—A naval port in the war of 1812–14; now chiefly used as a coaling station. There is a channel 600 feet wide, with 14 to 16 feet depth of water, and over 20 feet for about 1,300 feet between the shore and Bois Blanc Island. Anchorage opposite the eastern end of this island, on the Amherstburg side:, depth of water, about 19½ feet; well sheltered.

Collingwood (south side of the Georgian Bay, in Notta­wasaga Bay, Lake Huron).—A capacious, well-protected harbour, with 22 feet depth of water. The docking accom­modation superior to that of any port on the Canadian side of the great lakes. One is 545 feet long, 75 feet wide, average depth of water over sill 16½ feet; another, 400 feet long and 100 feet wide; and a third is contemplated. Also a landing slip, 1,000 feet long, for further mooring accom­modation of vessels while undergoing repairs. Good wharfage facilities and complete shipbuilding and repairing plant. Marine engines are here constructed, and steel, composite, and wooden hulls of large-size vessels built,¹ heavy castings and forgings made, and boiler-plates turned for boiler-con­struction.

Midland, with suburb of Tiffin (south-east side of the Georgian Bay, in Midland Bay, Lake Huron).—The harbour is spacious, well-sheltered, and with, except on the middle shoal, ample depth of water (25 to 100 feet), and good anchorage. No storms interfere with loading and discharging, and many large steamers put in here.

There are no dry docks, but one is said to be contemplated. Good wharfage accommodation.

The Canadian Government is stated to be making of "Midland-Tiffin" the finest port on the Canadian Lakes; and the Canadian Pacific Railway are building a new ter­minus in Victoria Harbour, a continuation of Midland Bay, which will be very complete in coal-receiving plant, freight sheds, etc. Tugs of the Midland Towing and Wrecking Company are employed in keeping open navigation as far as possible by making passages in the newly-formed ice. Good repair facilities. The works of the Steel Works and Canada Iron Furnace (Company are of a substantial character.

Owen Sound (southern end of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron).—Eight miles wide at the entrance. Well sheltered; anchorage good; depth of water, 6 to 7 fathoms. No docks.

Port Arthur (north-western shore of Lake Superior, in Thunder Bay).—The inner harbour is artificial but safe, having been formed by the construction of breakwaters, which it is proposed to extend so as to unite with the harbour of Fort William (see below). The basin is being gradually dredged to a depth of 25 feet.

Port Arthur is a very important grain port¹ and railway centre, the Canadian Pacific, Grand Trunk Pacific, and Canadian Northern all running through it. A dry dock is contemplated here; an efficient wrecking outfit is maintained; repair facilities and wharfage accommodation are good. The port is kept free from ice later and opened earlier in the season by means of a powerful ice-breaking tug.

Fort William (adjoining Port Arthur [see above], on the northern shore of Lake Superior):-An important grain port, vessels carrying cargo of all kinds to it being sure of a return one of grain. The bay is a fine sheet of water, having a depth from about 3½ fathoms; at the mouth of the Kaminis­tiquia River (where the harbour is situated) to 40 fathoms out in the bay.

The towns growing up at Fort William and Port Arthur, and adjoining each other, are practically twin ones. The arrangements for breaking this ice, etc., are similar to those at Port Arthur.

In conclusion, it may be mentioned that the Department of Marine and Fisheries of the Dominion has its ice-breaking fleet of strong steel steamers-the Stanley, the Minto, the Montcalm, the Lady Grey, the Champlain, the Earl Grey, etc.—for cutting channels through the ice of the River St. Lawrence and of various harbours, and keeping the navigation open longer than without them would be possible. What could be done in this respect in Hudson's Bay and Straits may be eventually of consequence. These steamers are able to break with ease ice forming in harbours, bays, and rivers, and what is called "field ice"; but the difficulty is with ice piled up layer upon layer, either by currents or wind, and called "rafted" or "piled" ice.

At Ottawa there is a large factory for the manufacture of acetylene buoys and beacons, and there are over twenty wire­less telegraph stations on the east and west coasts of the Dominion and the St. Lawrence River.