IIO

proved. These ships receive a yearly sub— sidy from the Dominion Government for carrying the mails during open navigation.

Shortly after the province entered the Confederation in 1873, the Domin- ion Government placed the wooden steam— er “Northern Light" on the route be- tween the Island and the mainland, run- ning as long as the ice permitted between Charlottetown and Pictou, after the steam- ers of the Steam Navigation Company were laid up; and later between Georgetown and Pictou, with varying success. This serv- ice was performed as an effort on behalf of the Dominion Govemment towards carry- ing out the terms upon which the Island en- tered the Confederacy, which guaranteed “Continuous steam communication for mails and passengers, summer and winter” between the Island and the mainland.

The “Northern Light" was merely an experiment, but her performance in the ice demonstrated beyond doubt that winter communication was practicable, and in 1888 this vessel was replaced by the steel screw ship “Stanley," 914 tons, built in Great Britain, specially constructed for encoun- tering heavy ice, and a vast improvement upon her predecessor.

In 1899 the steamship “Mint0” of 1,090 tons was added by the Dominion Govern- ment to meet the growing trade, and in a further endeavor to carry out the terms of Confederation. Both these vessels have done excellent service, yet they have failed to fulfill the contract made with the province, as both of them in the winter of 1904-5 were completely prevented from making connections with the mainland for a period of nearly two months, owing to heavy ice in the Straits of Northumberland, as well as on several other occasions for

PAST AND PRESENT OF

shorter periods. It is earnestly hoped and expected that the Dominion Government will shortly construct a larger and more powerful ship for this service, so that the “Contract” with the province may be carried out in good faith. A consummation which is greatly desired and needed by the whole population of the province.

The following statement obtained from the official records of the Island will prove interesting as showing the extent of the shipping industry from the year 1830 to the present time. It has been found impos- sible to obtain information previous to that (late, although it is well known that ship- building was carried on many years pre- vious to 1830. It may be remarked that at this date the population of the Island was about thirty thousand.

In 1830 there were thirty-four vessels built, of an aggregate tonnage of 2,388. The largest vessel was of 268 tons. The goods imported that year amounted to $230,000, and exports to $180,000. The whole carry- ing trade of the province was done with Is- land-built vessels. Between the years 1830 and 1864 there were built in the province 2,362 vessels, of 405,759 tons, or an aver- age of 70 vessels each year, of about 12,- 000 tons measurement.

In 1866 there were 127 vessels built of 31,932 tons, the largest vessel being of 504 tons. The imports this year amounted to $2,162,000 and the exports $1,862,000.

In 1870 there were 53 vessels of 14,312 tons, the largest being 551 tons.

In 1872 there were 60 vessels built of 15,060 tons, the largest being 624 tons. The same year the goods imported amounted to $2,104,128.00, and exports amounted to $1,480,000.00. This year (1872) was the last before the Island entered the Confed-