TRADE. 411 eries ; but the business at this place has never been conducted on the systematic plan, which long-estab¬ lished usage has made peculiar to the latter colony. From fifteen to twenty cargoes of timber have been annually exported for some years, from Sydney, and from harbours within the Bras d'Or, to England . The ships that took out emigrants, brought back cargoes of timber. Some vessels have also been built on the island, but the present low value of shipping will arrest the further progress of this business. Plaster of Paris, or gypsum, was, for many years, exported from the Gut of Canseau to the United States of ; but the Americans are now supplied with that article from the Bay of Fundy. Live cattle, butter, cheese, potatoes, and oats, have become articles of export, for some time past, to Halifax and ¬ foundland. Coal has also been an article of export to the neighbouring colonies for some years. The vessels belonging to , about 150 in all, are principally shallops and schooners from 30 to 80 tons, and a few vessels that register from 100 to 200 tons. The shallops and schooners are chiefly the property of the Acadian French, who also own probably more than half the fishing boats. The num¬ ber of the latter may be estimated at 600, exclusive of those used for the double purpose of fishing and passage boats, by the Highland Scotch. If had not been demolished, it is very probable that would at this time have been a populous and flourishing colony. To the level¬ ling of that town and fortress may justly be attributed