=67- had been held in taverns; Souris could claim no such dis¬ tinction for her public house, but it was a popular meet¬ ing place in a jrear when Prince EdYmrd Island consumed a gallon of rum for eveiy man, woman, and child of her population. On December 22, 18385 the Scuris mills operated and owned by the Brothers MacGowan commenced work;' it was an ambitious project for that pioneer day, consisting of grist millf saw mill, kiln, smith's forge, barn and dwelling house. Shipbuilding on the Island was near its peak in I84O0 Souris shipwards had their quota of ships (about 85 per year) in the launchings of that year. The sealing industry contri¬ buted a share to the prosperity of the community—sealing vessels being owned by Joseph Dingwell , Donald Beaton , and Messrs. Deagle & Chaisson. One of Souris West 's prominent citizens was Alex. Leslie, a thrifty Scot, born in Aberdeen¬ shire, Scotland who emigrated to Prince jJJlward Island in 1833, settling in Souris West . The first church in Souris was a year old in 1840- the 41th churchj called St . Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel, 13 today in much the same location as the first in 1839• Father John MacDonald celebrated the first mass in that year. Pres¬ byterians went by wagon, boats horseback or even shank's mare all the way to Bay Fortune where services were held by Rev. Robert Douglas who also ministered at St. Peter 's Bay and Covehead . There may have been a school at or Souris West , but there was one in Souris East . The very next day after the first Fair in 1840, Col. Lane, Adjutant General for Prince Edward Island , came to inspect the militia, so to the small boy in Souris that week in July must have seemed the best ever. At both the militia muster, and the first Fair, many of Bay Fortune 's leading residents were not present—they had been convicted on serious charges of riot and assault on His Majesty's peace officers. The trouble stemmed, as much did arise then and later, from friction caused by the Landlord system of that day. The owner of Lot 43 was Flora Townshend , widow of the late Wm. Townshend, the Island's first customs officer, and for many years a member of the Executive Council. Town¬ shend had acquired Lot 43 by sheriff's deed at a tax sale. The settlers had long term leases of 999 years. If they, because of crop failure, or for any good or bad reason, did not pay their rents, they were liable to having their ef¬ fects seized and sold. Flora Townshend levied on the cattle of Joseph Dougals to recover monies due her; the other ten¬ ants on the Lot thought that Douglas was not getting a fair