The rates were two dollars per trip for each passenger with 40 lbs. baggage; anything beyond that weight is charged three cents per pound at which rate a commercial traveller had some¬ times to pay thirty dollars for conveying his samples. Ladies and male passengers who prefer ease to money are hauled in the boats for double fare being at the rate of over a half dollar per mile. When walking passengers are attached to the boats by leather straps, which answer as traces and also are helpful should one break suddenly through. The ice-boats belonged to the federal government, each was 17 ft. long 4 ft. wide and shaped like a Norwegian skiff, the bow slanting upwards. A metal runner on each side of the keel en¬ ables the craft to be used as a sled; outside the boats are all sheathed with stout tin. Since 1885 each boat carried a com¬ pass, two paddles, some food and the means of making a fire. On smooth water or glib ice a sail can be used. There must not be fewer than three boats in company. Each boat had a crew of six men, one of them denominated the captain; next in rank are two bow-men so named from their forward position. Besides the boat captain there is a head man or pilot whose word is law and who has charge of the fleet. Every day before starting, each of the crew is bound to obedience by his manual sign. The entire force consists of 48 men, all picked for strength and endurance. The head captain or pilot receives $75. a month; each subordinate captain gets $55.; the bow-men, each receive $50, and the rest $45. each per month. Intoxicating drinks are not allowed while the men are on duty Along each shore in winter there usually extends an im¬ movable border called the board-ice; on arrival here the boats are hauled to a building where before a good fire all the equip¬ ments are made perfectly dry. When not in service the boats are kept in this building. The ice boat service at the Cape was begun by the late Louis Muttart and Arthur Irving and in those days there was no boat house or any accomodations for the housing of the boats. A small field know as the gully and being a part of the farm of the late Thomas Bell was used for many years or until such time as the boat house was built at Cape Traverse wharf This field was bought in 1878 by Mr. Muttart and it is on the land that the first cable house was erected this being the starting point for the Northumberland Strait cable from Cape Traverse to Cape lor- mentine 1878 Thos. Bell deeded land to Louis Muttart . THE RAILROAD About 1884 the branch railway was built from Emerald run¬ ning through Carleton to Cape Traverse . The tanks were the railroad engines got water supply were in Carleton. This pro¬ vided a great convenience for people in the district so they had time to get off or aboard the train in those days when the tram was used so much for travel. There was also a switch where rail- —14—