Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-30

925,6W
Wit respect to the route of importation, the
inland import in l849, as we have seen, nearly
equalld that by sea; but in 1851 the value of
sugars imported by sea wasS$7l2,408, against
$27S,4iS BY inland routes. Canadian vessels
load at the lake ports with breadstuffs and pro-
visions which they carry, without transhipment,
to Halifax or St. John, Newfoundland, ex-
changing there for return cargo of sugars, mo-
lasses, ish, and oils. This trade is of course
con6net TO British vessels and as fish and
other products of Nova Scotia and New Bruins
wick, ard the -four, provisions, &C., of Canada,
are exchanged duty-free, direct free-trade be-
tween tie maritime and agricultural districts of
British North America is now in full operation,
from which Newfoundland only is excluded
the necessities of that government forbidding
her from taking off the duty on Canada -four.
Her fish and oil are therefore treated as foreign
in the Canadian ports.
The srbjoined statement shows the progress
sive Imports into Canada Of sugars from the
British North American colonies:
ls49.. ..,,................. f2S,7l6 Sll4,S64
ls3o..-..,.......,.... ol,3l1 2O526s
....."...........-,... 67,325 100000
1t appears from the foregoing that the com
merce Of Canada is at present in state Of
transition. No certain predictions can now be
offered to show how far her efforts at CONNER
cial independence win be successful, or what
influence sle may be enabled to exert over the
general commerce of the western lakes and ad
joining disticts A short review Of her posi-
ton and resources will be the best mode of pre-
senting this question.
THE COMMERCIAL PORTS or CANADA.
Quebec.--la latitude 46o 49, north, longitude
7lo ~ west Population in 1851, 42,052.
Quebec is ne most ancient, as well as the
most important, port of Canada, and embraces
the outports q Gaspe, New Carlisle, the Mag
dalen islands, and several in the river below
Quebec. The province Of Canada extends
eastward 10 the straits of Belle-lsle, embracing
the island Of s. Paul, between Newfoundland
and Cape Bretdn,) the Magdalen islands, the
Bird rocks, anc Anticosti. In the Magadalens
q sub-collector stationed, who reported some
S226,000 worth of exports in l848; but no re-
turn imports i taken, and no duties, appa-
rently, are Levied. The other islands are occu-
pied only for lighthouses and relief stations.
The harbor Of Quebec is not unlike that Of
New York-the island Of Orleans serving as
barrier from northeast sea, and, like Long
Island, afording two channels Of approach. A
frontage of about fifteen miles on both sides Of
the river not only affords the necessary wharves,
but coyes Of sufficient magnitude to float some
thirty to forty millions Of cubic feet Of timber,
about eighty millions of superficial feet Of deals,
besides slaves, lathwood, &c. A fresh water
tide, rising eighteen feet Mt "springs," offers no
impeachment 70 the shipment Of timber, the
great business of the port, the vessels so en-
gagged being anchored in the stream, (which
affords good bolding-ground,) where their car
goes are foated to them at every tide. Thetide
extends ninety miles above Quebec, and the
water does not become Pc .iectly salt until an.
equal distance is reached below thus there is
fresh-water tide Of one hundred and eighty
miles beyond the salt water, and sea naviga-
ton TO Montreal, ninety miles farther, or two
hundred and seventy miles from salt water.
The river navigation may be said to terminate
about one hundred and fly miles below Que
bee, where pilots are first taken,) but the com
blned gulf and river navigation extends upwards
OF seven hundred miles before we reach the At
laDtic, with which IL has no less than three con-
nexions. The most northern of these--the
straits Of Belle-Isle--is In navigable order about
FIVE months, and affords passage to Liverpool
more than two hundred miles shorter than the
route by Cape Race, making the distance from
Quebec more than four hundred miles shorter
than from New York. BY using this passage
the navigable route between the foot Of Lake
Ontario and any port in Britain is as short as
that from New York harbor 10 the same port.
The middle channel, by which the Atlantis is
reached, is about Fifty miles vide, and contains
st. Paul's island, which with its two light
houses, affords an excellent point of departure.
BY this channel Quebec 10 brought nearer to
any port in Europe, Africa, or the Indian ocean,
than New York. The southern passage Is
known BY the name Of the Gut Of Canso, and is
invaluable to the fishing, cossting, and West
India trade.
The gulf Of and river 81. Lawrence have been