334 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND . with little difficulty, which in too many instances has led to drunkenness, poverty, and loss of health. A trade from which the island has derived, and will probably continue to receive, considerable benefit, is that of supplying Newfoundland with schooners for the seal and cod fisheries, black cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, oats, potatoes, turnips, &c.; the returns for which are made either in money, produce, or such other articles as may best answer. Agricultural produce is also exported to Halifax , Miramichi, and other places in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick . Beef, pork, sheep,' hams, cheese, oats, potatoes, flour, and fish, are occasionally exported to Bermuda. The branch of trade in which the largest capital has been invested, and that which has given employ¬ ment to the greatest number of men, while it has at the same time been of great benefit to the colony, although to none of the merchants engaged in it, was the building of ships for the British market. More than one hundred and fifty ships, registering from one hundred and fifty to six hundred tons, have been built within the last few years in different parts of the island. It must be admitted, that many of these ships have been built by careless and unprin¬ cipled workmen; but the greater number are fine substantial vessels, sailing now principally from the ports of , Liverpool, Bristol , and Plymouth. The wood of this colony used in ship-building is, if allowed proper time to season, of superior quality, although a most unfair prejudice has been hatched