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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. reta 9 lelure. 3 I2X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■S _**'■'- -!'-^»|; i^ ,. A PAMPHLET C0MPlLEi3 AND ISSUED UNDER THE AU3PICES OF THE Boards of Trade of Montreal and Qtcebec, **^-^^~»* TELEGRAPHY WITH THE COASTS AND ISLANDS or THK lulf and Lower River St. Lawrence, AXD THE Coasts of the Maritime Provinces. y^-^^^-^^-i J.TS RELATION TO THE SHIITING, TO THE FISHERIES, A AND TO THE SIGNAL SERVICE. HE78\4- .V\a . . . Cop.\ I dXJEBEC: I rniXTED AT THE " MOIININO CHT^O.VICLE" OFFICK. 1879. Sg^ ?^=,.«-S=,s-A=af: ■-^■*Ti.^^■•,■■.'r^ ^■:'«^;,- ^1- -^ If: '^^^)iaitia%.y!r~. ii':'.. ■C'^— 'V* , itRl ^>^':,'m * t^:K. ^ii-ii. ■■>^'-. v.... '.■ lit'*-' ,v(m S, , ? J'.-^t r^^^iliiifid^t H\ \ k *o A PAMPHLET COMPILED AND ISSUED UNDER. THE AUSI'ICES OF THE Boards of Trade of Montreal and Quebec. rn TELEGRAPHY Presented with the compliments ol the Bpards ol Trade ol' .Montreal and Quebec. Gulf and Lower Rivor St. Lawrence, AXI) TIIK Coasts of the Maritime Provinces. ITS RELATION TO THE SFIirPINa, TO THE FISHEHIES, AND TO THE SIGNAL SERVICE. I » ^» ■ I ♦— PRINTED AT THE "MORNINQ CHRONICLE" OFFICE. 1879. it'' •' if': ' TO / ''•I .ft j'f ''' •*''f,'^'%'^'!. 1 '^; J-?, au . ■jSlMv ■■■ te':" A PAMPHLET COMPILED AXD ISSUED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE Boards of Trade of Montreal and Quebec. «o KSfcW'Vl* rn TELEGRAPHY WITH Tin-: COi\.STS A-ISTD ISLAI^DS Ol' THK Gulf and Lower River St Lawrence, AND THE Coasts of the Maritime Provinces. ITS RELATION TO THE SHimNa, TO THE FISHETIIES, AND TO THE SIGNAL SERVICE. PRINTED AT THE "MORNING CIIEONICLE " OFFICE. 1879. ii 'A REPORT OF A Select Coniinitlee appointed by the House of Comnions of Caoada IN" 1876. The Select Committee appointed to enquire into the possibility ofestablishinfr a Submarine Telegraphic System, and into the advan- tages and necessity of such a System of Telegraphy in the waters of the River and Gulf of St Lawrence, and the waters forming the approaches to the Gulf, bog leave to report as follows : — Your Committee have obtained the evidence of several witnesses, and after mature deliberation are prepared to recommend that with a view of meeting the requirements of trade and navigation and with the view of ensuring to the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence and At- lantic coast that degree of security required for the protection of life and property, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive scheme of marine telegraphy cojinecting the islands of the Gulf and remote points , of the mainland with the telegraphic system of the Dominion. That a powerful steamer be located at some central point, such as Gaspe, in connection with- such telegraphic system. That semaphores be erected in connection with lighthouses at all important points. That light- houses at all important points be in direct communication with telegraph lines, and that keepers of such lighthouses be capable of act- ing as telegraph operators. Your Committee do not expect that the whole scheme can be carried out in one or two years in its entirety, but the necessity of such a system is so strongly felt that they would recommend the fol- lowing detailed suggestions to the careful consideration of the Govern- ment. These suggestions are divided into three divisions, placing them in the order of their importance, as follows : — I. A cable to connect the Island of Anticosti with the North Shore of the St. Lawrence, if possible, being a distance of about twenty-four, miles, at an estimated cost of about $1,500 per mile laid down ; equal to $ 36,000 "With a land telegraph from Murray Bay to Mingan, being a distance of about 385 miles, at an esti- mated cost of $110 per mile for the first seventy- live miles, and $300 per mile for the remaining 330 miles; equal to 101,250 Being a total of l?ind line and cable of.....$ 137,250 k ?>?> X H^ In case a cable could not be lai'^ by the north, we would recommend that a cable be laid })etweeii the south side of tin; Inland of Anticosti and the ooai-t of Gaspo, a distance of a])ont thirty-eight miles, at an estimated cost of :$ 1,500 per mile laid down ; equal to $ 57,000 With a land line iroui Murray Bay to Moisie, a dis- tance of about 285 miles, at an estimated cost of, $110 per mile for the lirst seventy-live miles, and $300 per milii for the remaining 210 miles ; equal to • 71,250 ^ Being- a totfil for cablo and land line $ 128,250 Leaving the interval between Moisie and Mingan, and the coast eastward, to be completed with the third division. A cable from the Magdalen Islands to Cape Breton, probably at St. Lawrence Bay, a distance of about forty-eight miles, nt an estimated cost of $1,500 per mile; equal to..... $ 72,000 Yv^ith a land line from St. Lawrence Bay to Beddeck, Cape Breton, a distance of about seventy-live miles, at an estimated cost of $100 per mile ; equal to , 7,500 A land line from Escuminac Point to Chatham, a distance of aboiit twenty-live miles, at an esti- mated cost of ?' 100 per mile; equal to..... 2,500 A land line from Miscou Point to Shippegan, a dis- tance of twenty-Hve miles, at an estimated cost of about $100 per mile; equal to 2,500 The two last lines being on the coast of New Brunswick. A land line on Prince Edward Island, from Norlh Point to the nearest telegraph station, a distance of about ten miles, at an estimated cost of $100 per mile ; equal to 1,000 Also, a land line on the same Island, from East Point to the nearest telegraph station, a distance of about eight miles, at an estimated cost of $100 per mile; equal to <, 800 A land line from Matane to Fox lliver, a distance of about 165 miles, at $110 per mile ; equal to 18,500 Total $104,800 IIL A cable from Bird Rocks to Magdalen Islands, a dis- tance of about sixteen miles, at an estimated cost of $1,500 per mile, laid down ; equal to $ 24,000 )00 !50 50 3 coast )0 (0 5 A cable from St. VawVa Island to Capo Breton, pro- bably St. Lawrence Bay, a distance of about sixteen miles, at an estimated cost of $1,500 per mile laid down ; equal to $ 21,000 A land lino on th(3 Island of Anticosti, along the cast side from AVest Toint, round by East Cape to Fox Bay, a distance of about 145 miles, at an es- timated cost of sjii^JOO ])er mile ; equal to -13,500 A land line on the Magdalen Islands, a distance of about Ihirty-oig'ht miles, at an estimated cost of $180 per mile; equal to ■ 0,840 A land lino on the north shore rf the St. Lawrence, irom Moisie to Mini-'an, a disi.cnce of about 100 milos, at an cstirniitod cost of !^30O per mile ; ^'q^i^il to ; 30,000 Total ig! 128,310 The above shows that the cost of the wholf .•n-stem will be : — 1st Division s*^ 137,250 2nd Division 104.800 3rd Division. 128340 Amounting in the whole ^ 370,300 The Committee v.'ould recommend that when survexb are made for a telegraph line on the noitli shore of the St. Lawrence, the coast be examined from Mingan ea^^t, with a view of ascertaininfT how far the line should extend. ° Your Committee cannot too forcibly impress upon your Honorable House the necessity of this work. The evidence taken shows that an annual saving, e(juivalent to the whole cost of the work, will be ac- complished I)y the establishment of this important service, while the interests of humanity call loudly for its completion as a protection to and a means of saving life The evidence taken before the Committee accompanies this report, and we beg to refer your Honorable Hou>:e to it for further detailed information relative to this project. All of which is respectfully submitted. i THEODORE ROBITAILLE, Chairman. 6 THE MIlfUTES OF EVIDENCE AND STATEMENTS. * E 3: X I?. .A. C T S . MKMOKAiNDUM for the Committee of Ihe House of Comma na on Tele/Graphic^ Communication ivitk the Lower St. Lawrence, by Mr. William Smith, Deputi/ Minister of Marine and Fisheries. The uiidersii?ned, in compliance with the request of this Commit- tee that he would give them his opinion on the advisability of estab- lishing a system of telegraphic communication between the Island of Anticosti, the Magdalen Islands and the mainland of the Province of Quebec, begs leave to submit the following statement on the subject : — Before doing so, however, he takes this opportunity of informing the Committee that he has no authority to speak on behalf of the Ctov- eniment on this question, and that the following remarks relative thereto contain his own opinion' only on the subject, and not those of his depaitment. The undersigned is of opinion that it would be highly desirable, in the interests of trade and navigation, that telegraph communication .should be extended from the mainland to Anticosti, on which Islnnd so many vessels have been wrecked, some of them having valuable cargoes on board. As there is, at present, no regular steam communi- cation between that Island and the mainland, in the case of a vessel being wrecked, great delay generally ensues before intelligence of the \v'reck reaches the mainland or the owners or agents of tW. vessel ; and in the case of wrecks taking place late in the fall of the year, either on Anticosti, the north shore of the G-nlf, or the Magdalen Islands, intelli- u'ence might not reach Quebec till the ibllovving spring, when the vessel and cargo might probably have disappeared The undersigned is also of opinion that in the event of telegraphic communication being established between the mainland and Anticosti and the Magdalen Islands, and between the north shore of the Griilf of i7,:>j(l !jil,,".;!:),'.in2 AVM. SMITH, Deputy Minister of Marine & Fisheries, Dkpautment of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa, 4th April, 1870. STATEMENT BY "W. F. WHITCHER, ESQ., OF FISHERIES. COMMISSIONER The ensiling observations are made witliont regard to the desira- bility or feasibility of establishing telegraphic communications betweeji the south-easterly mainland and the Islands and northern mainland in the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence, for purposes of commerce and navigation. They relate exclusively to the important interests of tlie Fisheries. Observations, extending over a series of years, and connected with the development of our vast maritime resources, have given promin- ence to the necessity of connecting the outlying lishing districts with some central means of prompt intelligence between markets and places of production. • This is the general nspect of the question. It presents, besides, other features, more or less of a special character, but subordinate to the larger desideratum of developing the wealth o[ our ocean boun- daries. In this development are mainly included : — 1st. Increased production for foreign commerce and domestic supply, thus enhanchiff both directly and indirectly the country's prosperity, by promoting the productive and ship-building industries, stimulating trade, and augmenting the food supply, which cheapens living, and attracts population, labor and capital to the country. 2nd. Settlement of both the coasts on which fishina: alone is practicable, and where agriculture and fishing combined aii'ord em- ployment and sustenance to the inhabitants. 3rd. Training for sea- faring life, and giving confidence and cohesion to a scattered and isolated population, who, from their preca- rious pursuits and uncertain and exposed situation, are indilierent towards, and necessarily ignorant of, those passing events which tend to nourish an intelligent national sentiment, and an independent spirit of loyalty to the country and its institutions, with which they at present maintain a mere material instead of a moral or political connection. The area more immediately affected by the proposed system is about 27,600 square miles, comprising extensive and prolific fishing grounds. "Within this area a very large amount of domestic and foreign capital is employed — probably exceeding in value eight mil- lions of dollars. About twelve millions of dollars w^ortli of the products of the sea are annually derived from this area by Canadians and foreigners. It supports between eighty and one hundred and twenty thousand of our native population. These figures may serve to suggest how great is the field, and how rich its resources lor industrial development. The3' may also suggest how essential to the progress of the coun- try is any scheme calculated to afford encourageinent or security to capitalists and laborers engaged in developing a national property of such an intrinsic value. Tb pursuit of an industry such as that of fishing within these extensive limits, is necessarily attended by many dangerous and peculiar drawbacks. m 8 Exposure of life and property is frequent. Success depends very tnucli on the seasons. Many kinds offish of erratic habits are eccentric in their movements. Plenty and scarcity may alternate in places from which the settlers depending "wholly on any fishery have no escape. Within twenty miles of settlement on a barren and uninhabit- ed coast, the fish may strike and remain without any jiossibility of their whereabouts being known. At other places they may be abun- dant beyond the capacity of shoremen or vessels to catch them, and yet fishermen not far distant be unable to procure even sulficient for their winter supply. Vessels may return empty in one season from fishing grounds where previously or afterwards the fish abound. Some may lose the greater and best jiart of each season in searching after the shoals. Still the waters teem with iish, and sooner or later they approach the shores or frequent the shallows. It seems possible for the spirit of modern improvement to devise some means of providing against these vicissitudes. That plan which strikes me as the most feasible is a telegraphic system connecting together the main points in this area. The idea of signal stations from which to observe and notify movements of fish has been carried out to some extent in Norway, Holland, Gi-ermany, Sicily, and on the coast of Cornwall. It has proved of material assistance to the fishermen, and aided consider- ably in developing the fisheries of each of those countries. There is no doubt it would prove advantageous to Canadian fishermen, and others of the coast popiilation who combine fishing with agriculture. Besides affording greater inducement and security to employers of capital, and inspiring confidence in those exposed to danger and hardships, it would undoubtedly enable us to increase production and enlarge our exports. These results would tend to augment the local population, both by prospects of greater gouis, and by reliance on the certainty of relief in cases of disasters from tempest, or privations from failure , (Signed,) W. F. WHITCIIER, Commissioner of Fisheries. Ottawa, March 21st, 1876. Sir, — Being requested by your Honorable Committee, at an inter- view on the 17th instant, to give a statement of my opinions on the most desirable and practicable system of establishing tolegraphic com- munication with the more important points on the liiver and G-ulf of St. Lawrence, and- also the opportunities 1 have had of forming a judgment on the subject. I beg leave to state, that since entering upon my duties as G-eneral Superintendent of the Lighthouses of the Dominion, I have frequently visited the lighthouses, and establishments for the relief of distressed mariners on the islands and main shores of the St. Lawrence, and am now familiar with each establishment, and also with the difficulties to be overcome, and the loss of time that generally takes place in sending for assistance when disasters occur at a distance from telegraph stations, mds very eccentric ill places have no ninhabit- ibility of be abun- ein, and icient for ioii from id. Some ling after ter they ssible for •rovidiiif)^ the most points in rve and extent in walh It consider- rhere is nen, and iculture. loyers of ger and tion and le local on the ons from isheries. J7G. ,11 inter- on the lie com- (lulf of li-ming a ities as I have •elief of ivrence, ith the y takes ce from I believe 1 may safely say that instances when assistance arrived in time to be of any great service are rare, and that this would not be the case if it could be dispatched within a few hours of the time of a vessel getting inte difficulty. Hence the necessity for telegraph stations along the coast and on islands where the majority of disasters occur. It is very important that steps should be taken to establish tele- graphic communication with the south side of the Island of Anticosti. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed,) J. TOMLINSON, Gen. Supt. of Lighthouses. Hon. Dr. Robitaille, M.P., Chairman of the Select Commitcee on Submarine Telegraph System in the St. Lawrence. J. U. Q-RECIORY, Esq , Agent, Department Marine and Fisheries, Quebec, made the following statement : * I look upon the establishment of a telegraphic system, connecting the islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence with the mainland, and also connecting with telegraph wures on the north and south shores of the River St. Lawrence, as of vital importance to the shipping interests of Canada. A steamer, if stationed at Gaspe, would render eminent service in saving life and property when being near at hand to any wrecks that might occur, and in a neighborhood in which it would be in communication. From my own personal knowledge, and from information I have gathered from experienced navigators having a good knowledge of the north shore, there appears to be no difficulty in building a telegraph line from Quebec to Point des Monts, and lower, with the except''^n of the district in the neighborhood of the Godbout River, which becomes a matter of maintenance. I believe many vessels wrecked, and among others the "Shandon," wrecked on Anticosti, could have been saved had it been possible to get a powerful tug-steamer within twenty-four hours ; and if this system of telegraphic communication had been in practice, a steamer stationed at Gaspe, could, in the case of the "Shandon," have rendered assistance with ten or twelve hours. The news of the wreck of the "Shandon" could not have .eached Quebec before the communication could be crossed over in a sailing vessel to Gae^ie, and the time occupied in this would be according to the weather and wind, and to the fact that a sailing vessel w6uld be there to convey the news. I believe the news was only reported at Quebec in nineteen days , In many instances, like the "Royal Charter," at Fox Bay, Anti- costi, and the "Doctor Juris Judson," Norwegian vessel near Caribou Islands, north shore, both vessels with valuable cargoes of wines and liquors, the saving to the revenue of the opuntry would bo very great, from the amount of duties collectible on mese cargoes. ¥ • 10 Hon. G^EORQE HowLAN, Senator, Prince Edward Island, ship* Wilder and ship-owner, gave evidence as follows : — I carry on an extensive fishing business in the Gulf of St. Law- rence. I am of opinion that the telegraphic system proposed for the Gulf is one that will commend itself to all. It would be the means of reducing the rates of insurance fully one-half. As matters now stand in England and in the Dominion, ships bound for the ports within the Gulf or up the River St. Lawrence, have to pay two rates — one for outside the Gulf, the other for inside ; and there are many companies that will not take a risk at all for the Gulf after the 1st November Last year a vessel of 460 tons went ashore at North Cape, and if a system of telegraphy had been in operation, and by this means imme- diate assistance obtained, she would not have become, as she did, a total wreck. Similar cases are occurring all the time, and it is highly important that something should be done to lessen the loss of life and property. ,, A. J. Yko, Esq., M.P., Prince Edward Island : I am of opinion that there should be an extension of the tele- graphic sj'stem to the North Point and East Point of Prince Edward Island, and also to the Magdalen Group, Bird Rocks, &c. This I con- sider of great importance. About three years ago a barque loaded with deals and oats, 400 tons, sailed from Richmond Bay, Prince Edward Island, for Bristol, England. She went ashore on Magdalen Islands in November. Six men w^ere lost ; there were five men saved ; they had to remain all winter on the Island. The vessel remained nearly all winter on the ground ; she had touched, and only became a total wreck some time after she touched. The distance between Richmond Bay and the Magdalen Islands is about seventy miles, and a straight line between Prince Edward Island and Magdalen Islands about forty-five miles. Had there been a telegraphic communication between Magdalen Islands and Prince Edward Island, there is no doubt that we could have sent a steamer to the rescue of the barque, and she could have been saved. At North Cape, Prince Edward Island, a large ship came ashore last summer twelve months Had there been telegraphic coBimunica- tion she could have been saved, but the consequences were she was a total loss. A cable from St. Paul's Island to the mainland I consider verv iiecessarv. House of Commons, March 28rd, 1876. Dear Sir, — As requested, I now submit, though very briefly, for the consideration of the Committee, my opinion in reference to the es- tablishment of submarine telegraphic communication with the Magdalen Islands. That the establishment of such communication between these Islands and the residue of the Dominion would be of mutual benefit, I think admits of no doubt whatever. Codfish, mackerel and herring .^ <•■ and, ship* f St. Law- ed for the Q means of mow stand within the ! — one for jompanies ember 3, and if a ins imme- she did, a is highly f life ajid ' the tele- Edward his I con- ided with Edward slands in they had early all a total Islands Edward ere been I Prince steamer ashore rauniea- 3 was H onsider 76. ?fly, for the es- h the I these mefit, I lerring 11 frequently strike in at these shores in great plenty for short periods, sometimes continuing no longer than a week. The run is generally over before its existence becomes known to the fishermen on the mainland. "With telegraphic communication the fishermen of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswisk and Prince Edward Island would know when fish had struck in, and could at once proceed on and be very likely to secure a part of them, This telegraphic communication would also prove of very great benefit to the shipping interest ; for, besides the vessels owned in the Islands, and there are several, a large num- ber resort there during the fishing season, and many of these frequently get on shore and otherwise disabled. I think it was in the gale of August, 1873, that over forty vessels were driven on shore in Amherst Harbor alone. Some of these were American vessels, others of them belonged to different parts of the Dominion. The owners in most cases had to be communicated with, but for want of the telegraph two to three weeks elapsed before this could be done and assistance or instructions received by those in charge. Any one having any knowledge at all of the fishing, shipping and general business of the Magdalen Islands, and which are growing in extent and importance every year, will, I feel sure, admit the great desirability of the proposed telegraphic communication. As I have already said, it would prove of great benefit to the fishing and trading interests outside the Islands, and of paramount advantage and convenience to the inhabitants, and would, most cer- tainly, be highly appreciated by them. Yours, &c , (Signed,) Hon. T. ROBITAILLE. Chairman, Submarine Telegraph Committee. POWER, M.P., for Halifax. Hon. William Muiriiead, of Chatham, Miramichi, Senator, Saw-mill Owner and Ship-builder, gave evidence as follows : I load and ship from forty-five to fifty-five ships yearly with lum- ber from Chatham, N B., to ditlerent ports in Europe ; I consider the establishment of a telegraphic system in the lower part of the Elver and Gulf of St. Lawrence of great importance to trade, p.nd a valuable medium in the saving of life and property. Connection with St. Paul's Island, a very dangerous place, and right in the course of navi- gation, will prove of immense benefit to shipping A vessel of mine went aground on the Horse Shoe, Miramichi, sprung a leak, and was afterwards wrecked on Langley Island ; had there been any means of communication between the Magdalen Island group and the mainland, the captain could have stopped at one of ihese islands for orders ; could have telegraphed me their position, and I could have sent him immediate assistance, and thus saved my vessel ; the vessel was worth $55,000. I know of many vessels that have got ashore on the Magdalen Islands in the last ten years that could easily have been saved if timely assistance could have been obtained ; under present circumstances it requires about a fortnight 12 for information to be conveyed from the Maj^dalen Islands to Mirami* chi, and much damage in that time may be done to the vessel, much property and many lives lost ; v/ith the proposed system perfected communication will be so prompt that vessels wrecked in the Gulf will receive almost immediate assistance ; the erection of semaphores with our lighthouses will prove very useful I am of opinion that in connection with this system the steamer should be stationed at Gaspe that is now used in connection with our lighthouses, called "Napoleon," as that port is about the centre of the system, and immediate assistance would almost be obtained at any time from there. The rates of insurance, if this system was carried out, would be much Ipwer than they now are, as navigation would be rendered safer and more satisfactory. Mr. Tremaine, M.P., Victoria, of Beddeck, gave evidence as fol- lows : — A telegraphic system connecting the various islands of the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence with the mainland will be of great advantage to navigation, especially in connection with a steamer l)laoed at some central point. He states that eight vessels were lost on St. Paul's Island, between the 3'^ears 1870 and 1875 D. A. Smith, M.P., Selkirk, called and examined : I consider the establishment of telegraphic commun cation between the Islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the maink ad of the great- est importance to the trade, as w^ell as to the fishing and shipping interests of our country (Signed,) DON. A. SMITH. Report of Hon. D. E. Price, Senator, (tvrilten at the request of the Select Committee on Submarine Telegraphs.) Telegraphic communication along the coast of both the north and south shores of the Eiver St. Lawrence, and cable connection with all the islands of importance in the Gulf of the St. Lawrence, has now become one of the great questions of the day, in the interest of the Dominion,— if the River St. Lawrence is to be the great water commu- nication from and to the West? The advantages of telegraphic communication along the North Sh(>re and the Island of Anticosti, among many others, would be : — 1st. That in case of shipwreck, relief can be sent within a very short time, and not only could valuable vessels, cargo and property be saved, but perhaps many lives, if the disaster should take place late in the fall of the year. The calm weather that always follow^s gales that are the cause of these, wrecks, are often of a w^eek's duration, during which time many a vessel and her cargo could be saved by aid of a steamer. 3rd. The iishing interests of the Gulf are largely on the north shore of the St. Lawrence and on the south side of the Island of Anti- costi, and if telegraphic communication existed, the trade could be 13 s to Mirami- essel, much m perfected in the Gulf semaphores the steamer 311 with our :eiitre of the ned at any 1^, would be be rendered ence as fol- lands of the be of great L a steamer s were lost ion between )f the great- id shipping " SMITH." of (he Select e north and on with all 3, has now srest of the ter commii- the North ouid be: — 1 very short y be saved, late in the es that are ring which a steamer. the north id of Anti- j could be more than doubled with the same fleet, those receiving timely need where to find the fish as they strike the shore in immense shoals at different time and places It is a national undertaking, and should be carried out by the Government of the Dominion with as little delay as possible. Humbly submitted, (Signed,) DAVID E. PRICE, Senator. Senate, Ottawa, 4th April, 1876. Number of vessels stranded or wrecked in the Gulf and Lower St. Lawrence below Bic, in 1875, 30. Hon. Mr. Thibaudeau, M.P., for Quebec, called and examined :— I have no hesitation in saying that a liberal telegraphic system in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, placing the various islands in the Gulf in connection with the mainland, and placing a steamer in the centre of the system, say Gaspe, will make navigation much safer, and reduce the rates of insurance. It would be the means of saving many wrecked ships, and much property, and would diminish in many cases the suffering of the crews. "■ Ottawa. March 23rd, 1876. Sir, — The advantages which will be secured to the Dominion by the inauguration of marine telegraphy, as suggested by the Hon. P. Fortin, cannot be too highly appreciated. From an experience extend- ing over a term of 25 years in the surveying and raising of vessels wrecked in the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, I am able to state that the greater number of vessels totally wrecked in these waters, would have been taken off, had there been means of securing immediate assistance by telegraph. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed,) E. ^V. SEWELL, Member of the Harbor Commission of Quebec. To the Chairman, Committee on Submarine Telegraph. Answers of Narcisse Rosa, Esq., Shipbuilder, to the Quest.iom pxtt to him hy the Committee on the Improvement of the Nnvigation of the River St. Lawrence. 2. An extension of the telegraphic system would have the effect of reducing the rates of insurance, with the advantage of saving ships in distress as well as life and property , , 14 4, With this system perfected, and one or two Government vessels stationed at Gasp6 with instructions to afford help on the first signal, many ships, with their cargoes, and, what is still more important, the lives of their crews, wonld be sj^ved. T). The best counsel I can offer to your Committee is to urge you to put forth your utmost efforts lor the improvement of the navigation of the St. Lawrence. This would secure the prosperity of Canada for the three reasons following, namely : — First. — Our Gulf of St. Lawrence is the terror of many foreign sea- men, who are unwilling to come to our waters, because, as they assert, - there are not signals enough on our Islands, nor even on the mainland, to render navigation safe ; and the result is that the total loss of vessels and their crews is too frequent to justify them in risking the navigation. I myself found, in my voyages to France and Italy, that many captains refused to come to Canada, because of the insufficiency of lights, &c., &c., in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and because the Insurance Companies demanded increased rates of premium. Second. — This would have the effect of largely increasing the resort of foreign ships to our ports, from which everyone would derive great benefit. Third. — It would have the effect of diminishing the rates of insur-- ance. Here is an instance showing that Insurance Companies are greatly influenced by improvements : A vessel is ready to sail from Quebec in the fall, w^hen the rates of insurance advance. You engage a steamer to tow your vessel to Bic, and j'^ou ask the assurers to give you a remi sion of premium. The result usually is that they return you one-half, and in some instances even the whole of what you have paid for your steamer, as I myself had it returned to me on different occasions 6. Inswer to this last question, I can state that, if there had been a telegraph line on the South Shore, in 1870, I should have saved one of my vessels, the "Eleonora," with her cargo. The captain was forced to let go anchor off Fox River, and he sent ashore in order to telegraph to me and ask for the assistance of a steamboat, for without it he would suffer total loss. I only received this despatch three days after its date. Negotiating with J. U. Gregory to secure the "Napoleon 3rd," sending her off and reaching the place where the vessel lay in distress, required the loss of three days more, which made up a total delay of six days. Unfortunately, two days before our arrival, the vessel was exposed to a tempest which caused her total loss, together wnth that of the cargo, for it was condemned to be sold on account of those concerned. Now, if a telegraph office had been established at Fox River, I should have received my despatch one hour or two after the boat reached the land, and I should have had time to save my vessel before this tempest, which raged for two days previous to our arrival at the place of disaster, whereas we had taken six days Likewise, semaphores must not be forgotten, for, gentlemen, sema- phores are of the greatest use to the sailor. I have had occasion in my I i. jnt vessels rst signal, artant, the urge you lavigation se reasons reign sea- ley assert, mainland, tal loss of isking the lat many sieney of [nsurance ising the Id derive 1 of insur- « inies are sail from a engage 5 to give sy return ou have different lad been ived one is forced >legraph le would after its ion 3rd," distress, ielay of sel was I that of •f those iiver, I le boat 1 before at the 15 travels to appreciate the value of a semaphore. On two 'difierent occasions, I found myself in a position on the coast of France, when, but for the semaphores which are placed all along the coast, we should have been lost body and baggage. It is only when one has seen danger face to face, that ono can appreciate at its just value the apparatus which has causiHl us to avoid a disaster. The whole humbly submitted to vouv Committee. (Signed.)' N. liOSA. Quebec, 29th March, 1876. , sema- 1 in my Quebec, 30th March, 1870. Sir, — In answer to your various questions with reference to the establishment of a submarine telegraph system in the (lulf of the St. Lawrence, I beg to state : — 1st. That the building of lighthouses, placing of guns and fog- whistles in the lower part of the liiver St. Lawrence, has very materi- ally lowered the rate of insurance. In 1856 I paid ten guineas per cent., on the hull of my new ship "Scotia," valued at ^£10,000 sterling, for the voyage from Quebec to Liverpool. A like risk can now be covered at .£6 per cent 4th. I am of opinion that the present "rates" of insurance would be reduced "ten" per cent., if all the proposed telegraphic system were carried out ; a steamer placed at Gaspe, to assist vessels when in distress ; a iog-whistle placed in connection with the lighthouse on Egg Island, and the light-ship at Manicouagan Shoals be a steamer capable of assisting vessels off the shoals in case of grounding there, and being a steamer she could remain later in the fall in her place. 6th. If my suggestions in No. 4 are carried out, I think little further is needed to make the navigq.tion of the St. Lawrence safe. 6th. If my suggestions, as stated in No. 4, had been carried out some years past, I am of opinion a great many vessels and their cargoes would have been saved. I name the following which could have been saved : The iron ship •'Glenallan,' at Cariboo ; iron steamship '-Edith Emily," at Point du Monts ; ship "Bethia Jewett," in Moisie Bay ; brigantino "Wasp," on Manicouagan Shoals; steamship "Delta," at Cape Chatte ; N. Rosa & Co.'s new ship at Fox Kiver, that lay at anchor several days w^aiting for the steamer from Quebec ; new ship "Fleetwing," near Fox River ; ship "Royal Charter," at Fox Bay, at Anticosti, loaded with a general cargo of champagne and other valuable merchandise; ship "Giant's Causeway," on Anticosti I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed,) HENRY DINNING, Shipbuilder and Shipowner* THfcODORE ROBITAILLE, Esq., Chairman, • T lit IC Quebec, Slst March, 1876. Dear Sir, — Your favor to hand, and though I am not able to answer all the six questions in as full a manner as I should wish, yet I will do what I can. Knowing the urgent need there is for telegrapnic communication in the Gulf of tho St. Lawrence — having been on the coast during tho latter end of November and the month of December, 1868, and the greater part of January, 1869 — I was sent down by Government to take charge of a couple of crews of shipwrecked i^nilors 2. The placing of telegraphic lines to a certain point on the north and south shores has had the very decided effect of saving valuable lives and property, especially in the fall of the year, when navigation is so uncertain I might add, in conclusion, that 1 consider it a disgrace to any civilized country having such a long line of coast, at the entrance of a river so largely used by shipping, left without means of telegraphic communication and appliances necessary for rendering aid to ship- wrecked vessels. Hoping that my mite may help the construction of a telegraphic system, I have the honor to be, dear Sir, , Your obedient Servant, (Signed.) Theodore Robitaille, Esq , Chairman, Select Committee. C. S. PARKE, M.D. Theophile Girouard, Lumber Merchant and Manufacturer, called and examined : Telegraphic communication between the different islands of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence and the mainland, would be of great ad- vantage to trade in general, and a system of that kind in connection with the presence of a steamer to render assistance to wrecked vessels would render the navigation of those waters much safer by diminishing the loss of life and property. Last fall, in October, the barque "Argo" went ashore on the sand- bank at Betsiamits. There being no telegraphic communication from that point to Murray Bay, the captain of the barque had to send a schooner across the St. Lawrence to the south shore at Rimouski, 45 miles, to send a telegram to Quebec for assistance. Three days elapsed from the time the "Argo" went aground until the news reached Que- bec ; two or three days more before a steamer reached her, and thus it was a week before the barque received any assistance. When the steamer arrived it w^as low tide, and she had to wait another week be- fore the barque could be got afloat. In the meantime strong easterly winds prevailed, and damaged the barque to the extent of twenty-five thousand dollars, and afterwards the loss of having to winter in Quebec : \ i, . I.I sh, 1876. lot able to wish, yet elegrapnic len on the December, ; down by ipwrecked I the north ? valuable navigation ice to any ranee of a elegraphic d to ship- ;le«:raphic M.D. ufacturer, ds of the ■ great ad- unnection id vessels ninishing the sand- tion from to send a ouski, 45 s elapsed hed Que- id thus it Vhen the week be- ;• easterly enty-five winter in 17 Simon Xavier Cimox, Contractor, Murray Bay, Charlevoix, called and examined : A telegraphic system connecting the islands of the lower part of the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence with the mainland, in connection with steamers located at dilTerent points, would render navigation of those waters safer for life and property, and would tend to lower the rates of insurance (No. 7.) Quebec, April 4th, 1876. Sir, — I have received your favor requesting a reply to a number of questions relating to the advant igo and necessity of establishing n submarine telegrajjh system in thr. Gulf of St. Lawrence, feel truly I honored by said request, and have great pleasure in conforming to the i same to the best of my ability. , 1. They have either been the means of reducing rates or counter- ; acting other influences tending to arise in the same. 2. In my short experience of only two seasons as Agent for I Scandinavian Underwriters at this port, I have substantial reason for I believing that to the credit of these lines may be charged the saving of one ship Irom total loss, and considerable reduction in expenses for other vessels. 3. Presuming all other items having effect upon insurance rates to remain unaltered, it would Undoubtedly in course of time have the effect of reducinc: such rates to a considerable extent. 4. It is impossible to name a figure, but, without doubt the reduc- tion would be considerable. 5. Insurance rates being simply the figures arrived at by calculat- ing the percentage of losses during a certain period qu the whole amount of business, added to which, such reasonable and legitimate proht as competition will allow, every legitimate underwriter will keep a record of risk and losses in certain boxes, and in certain seasons, and with the assistance of such records and other available authorities and information on the subject, calculate the probable loss, and charge premium accordingly. AVith the assistance of these lines now under consideration, it is evident that masters of vessels in distress in these localities, in many instances, would have it in their power to call timely assistance, by which means losses in many instances would be reduced. Also, underwriters, or their agents, would, though these lines were without advice from the masters in question, get information in time to step in for the safety of the property. My experience as a sea-faring man, having been about 20 years ship-master, and for the last ten years always connected with maritime insurance, has given me more than sufficient proof that the great value of telegraph and semaphores along the coasts for the prevention or reduction of maritime losses can hardly be over-estimated. 6. As above, my personal experience in connection with disasters in these parts only dates back to the last two seasons, through which I have heard of several instances in which telegraph would have been 8 ' i1 Nil 1 1 J • 18 of great use in the saving' of vossels in distress, or lessening exponscH ; but I am only in possession of facts respecting the following cases : — (a.) In tlie fall of 1874, the "Longus" stranded on the Island ol' Anticosti, under such circumstances that she would undoubtedly have been saved if the requisite assistance had been near, or the master could instantly have called such assistance from Gaspe. She beeamo a total loss; value probably about $15,000, (b.) The "Norge" stranded near Cap Chatte in the early part ol' last season, might possibly have been saved from a total loss; of which I am, however, doubtful, she being an old and very weak vessel. (c.) In the case of the "Ottalina," stranded at Cape Bondesir, about the middle of last season, the expenses would probably hav«* been considerably reduced if a telegraph station had been near. (il.) The same applies as regards the "Argo," stranded last fall near Bersirais. If a telegraph station had been convenient, this vessel would most probably have been got off with the first spring-tide after stranding, and with comparatively small damage and expense, and in time to have had repairs finished before closing of navigation. As it was, she was not got ofi' until next spring tide, every day suffering more or less damage, and in the greatest danger of total destruction. She was eventually got off with an expense of about ^3,50 J, towed to this port, where she is wintering, and repairing damage estimated at about $11,000. I am of opinion that the loss sustained by this accident taking into consideration the loss of employment during about six months, cannot be calculated less than $17,000 to $18,000, and then the greater part thereof, say $10,000, is duo to want of convenient telegraph communication. In conclusion, I beg to say that I have felt boun(J to confine my- self to most direct replies, but will not omit to mention that I am of opinion that the construction of the lines," &c., now under considera- tion, is only a line in the system desirable, without which the Dominion will not reap the full benefits of its exertions to provide means for safe navigation. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient Servant, (Signed,) W. A. SCHWARTZ, Consul Creneral to Sweeden and Norway. Hon. Theodore Robitaille, Chairman, House of Commons, Ottawa. LLOYD'S AGENCY AT QUEBEC. We find by a list 112 vessels wrecked in the Gulf and Lower St. Lawrence, during the years 1870, '71, '72, '73, '74, and '76, with remarks, extracted from the Journals of the Lloyd's Agency at Quebec, by the kind permission of Messrs. Henry Fry & Co., Lloyd's Agents, that many of these vessels would have been saved had timely assistance been given, and that it took from eight days to six month's to report to the Agency at Quebec the wrecks which had taken place on the Magdalen Islands, on the Island of Anticosti and the lower river St. Lawrence. lessening expenses ; following cases :— ed on the Island ol' 1 undoubtedly have ear, or the master ispt'. She became I the early part ol' total loss; of which '■ weak vessel, at Cape Uondesir, uld probably havi " 2Qth 80s. a 11 " 25th 90s. 1. 11 " 1st October. 5 gs. n 11 " 10th " 6gs. (1 11 " 20th " 1 gs. (. (1 •* 1st November. 8 gx- it (1 i after " the Gulf and '73, 74, and '75, >yd'8 Agency at 7 & Co., Lloyd's aved had timely rs to six month's lad taken place I the lower river Memorandum of rates of Insurance (Quebec offices) from Quebec to Ports in Great Britain. .Tune, July and August 1| to 11 per cent, with deckload. August 31st to Sept. 15th 1| to 2i " September 15th to 30th 2^ to 3i- " October 1st to 15th 3J to 4i '• no deckload. October 15th to Slstf. 4^ to 5i " November 1st to 10th 5^^ to 6| " " After 10th Novejpiber rates change daily, according to appearance of weather. 20 t Rates of Insurance for Vessels, Cargoes', &c., &c., from Quebec Ports in Great Britain. FROM CARBRiLY Jc ROUTII. Per cent. May, June, July and Aug-ust li to 2 j September 2^ to 3 I On cargoes in sail* October • 3| to 5 ( ing ships. November 6 and upwards, sometimes 10 J li Montreal Assurance Office, Montreal, 27th March, 1876. Sir, — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 23rd, asking for certain information regarding rates of insurance between Europe and America, and would be very happy to comply with the request of the Committee, could I tabulate anything likely to be of service to them. But nothing that I could put in the shape of a statement of insurance rates, covering the lield you indicate, could possibly be considered reliable, inasmuch as practically the rates are never fixed. They depend on many circumstances which the underwriter iiao always to take into account in determining a rate for any individual risk, a id at this port they rary very much from year to year with the amouut of competition existing among the foreign agencies. Ocean marine rates depend on the routes, the season of the year, probabilities of weather, class of vessel, character of owners and masters, nature of cargo, and kind of insurance wanted, w^hether against all risks or free of average. So that fixed tariffs are an impossibility. Assuming, however, that your object is to compare rates as be- tween the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Port of New York, I may say, that generally, — From Liverpool to Quebec or Montreal, by the early spring fleet, the rates on general merchandise will average by first-class steamers, I to 1 per cent., by iron clippers, li to 1| per cent., and by ordinary »r w'ooden ships, 2 to 3 per cent. To New York, sailing about the same time, the rates would be : steam, | per cent., iron sail, 1 to H per cent., wood, 1 1 to 2 \}er cent. In midsummer, to Canada, steam, J to ^ per cent., iron sail, 1 to II per cent, w^ooden sail, li to 2 per cent. To New York, not much difl'erence ; by Cunard steamer rates are very low, ^ to g per cent. After 1st September, inward rates begin to rise rapidly on the St. Lawrence route, especially by sail, during that month they are as high as in April, and keep advancing weekly. Sailing from Montreal, after the 25th to 31st October, the high rates by sailing ships begin to tell very severely. The rates •'bout 1st November, on grain, will be by steam, 1^ to 2 per cent., by sail, 3 to 4 per cent. ; about 10th November, steam, 2 to 2| per cent., sail, 5 to 6 per cent., and when we get to the 20th November, steam will be probably 3 per cent, and sail a fancy rate, anything between 6 and 10 per cent., according to appearance of weather. 21 Quebec !s in sail' liips. ib, 1876. f the 23rd, e betweeu with the ly to be of itement of Jssibly be 3ver fixed, '^riter iiac* individual [• with the s. Ocean jbabilities nature of ks or free ites as be- ' may say, 'ing fleet, steamers, ordinary f ould be : er cent, ail, 1 to not much cent. )n the St. e as high real, after n to tell all be by ovember, (•et to the a fancy arance of From New York, at similar periods, steam rates will be J to J per cent., and sail 1 to 1 j per cent. Kates to and from Halifax and St. John, N.B., are practically no lower than to Montreal. If the hazard at certain seasons is less, the business is so much smaller that the competition is less also ; of course I do not allude here to our specially high rates for November sailing. It would have afforded me pleasure if I could have given you any fuller information likely to be of use. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most obedient Servant, (Signed,) A. MURRAY. T. ROBITATLLE, Esq., M.P., Chairman, Submarine Telegraph Committee, Ottawa. Distances between Gaspe and the several prominent Ports in the lower part of the River and Uulf of St. Lawrence. From Gaspe Basin to Quebec 380 nautical miles. do Halifax 398 do do Cape Chatte 140 do do Point des Monts 160 do do Seven Islands 145 do do West Point, Anticosti. 85 do do South do . 60 do do East do 115 do do Bird Rocks 125 do do AVest Point, Magdalen Islands 140 do do Point Miscou 60 do do Point Escuminac 115 do do North Cape, P. E. I... 118 do do East Point P. E. 1 178 do do St. Paul's Island 180 do do Cape North, C. B 180 do do Sydney 235 do It will be seen by the above statement that a steamer stationed at Gaspe Basin, will, when called to go to the assistance of wrecked crews and vessels at the above named prominent places, at the speed of ten knots an hour, reach one-half of them in less than twelve hours and the most distant in twenty-four hours. I\i( I !( li 1: I I EX J. WITH THE COASTS AND ISLANDS OF THE GULF AND LOWER RIVER ST. LAWRENCE AND THE COASTS OF THE MARITIME PROVINCES. ITS TiELATION TO THE SHIPriNa, TO THE FISHERIES. AND TO THE SIONAL SERVICE. In response to an invitation extended him by the Quebec Board of Trade, Hon. Dr. Fortin delivered an interesting- lecture yesterday afternoon, 10th December, 1878, at the rooms of the Board, upon his system of telegraphy with the Coasts and Islands of the Gulf and Lower River St. Lawrence, and the Coasts of the Maritime Provinces., Notwithstanding the disagreeable condition of the weather there was a very large attendance of merchants, shippers, and other promi- nent citizens, amongst whom we noticed the following : — Messrs. J. Shehyn. M.P.P., President of the Quebec Board of Trade ; — Langelier, M.P.P. ; A. H. Murphy, M.P.P. ; Dr. Rinfret, M P.P. ; Hon. P. Garneau, A. Joseph, President of the Dominion Board of Trade ; W. Rae, (Vice-President B. T.) Jas. G. Ross, John Ross, E. L. Montizarabert, J. Laird, F. Billingsley, M. Stevenson, A. Woods, W. Schwartz, (Consul for Norway,) J. Lane, jr., F. Johnson, D. Rattray, J. H. Clint, Benson Bennet, Edwin Pope, \V. M. McPherson, F. Gour- deau, Alex. Pope, Dr. Marsden, John Auld, H. McBlain, E. Laroche, B. Eppes, A. F. A. Knight, S. Drum, H. Budden, B. Verret, C. J. Robi- taille, N. Lemieux, (President Chamber of Commerce,) John Glass, A. D. Webster, F. Colley, W. Hossack, John Wilson, Jas. Hossack, H. Lenfestey, E. R. Frechette, H. O'Connor, A. F. Belleau, G. Tanguay, J. G. Clapham, — Simmons, Harbor Commissioner, Levis. Mr. Jos. Shehvn, M.P.P., President of the Board of Trade, occu- pied the chair, and introduced the lecturer to the meeting, enlarging upon his ability to cope with the subject, and the energy with which he had promulgatecl his views upon it. Hon. P. Fortin, who was received with loud applause, rose to address the meeting, expressing his thanks to the Board for their invi- tation to him to lay his views upon the matter before the meeting. .This ho proposed to do in a three-fold aspect. 24 First, to speak of the contemplated system of telegraphy to the Lower St. Lawrence as auxiliary to navigation, shipping and com- merce ; secondly, with respect to its connection with the fisheries ; and thirdly, in its connection with the signal system, including mete- orological observations and weather forecasts. This country, that is Canada proper, without the North-West and the Lower Provinces, had been described as a narrow strip of land tra- versed by a large body of water. We might reverse the proposition, and say that Canada consists of an immense and magnificent water- course, with a strip of land on either side. This magnificent sheet of water, composed of the lakes, of the river and gulf of St. Lawrence, is the pride and hope of Canada. By it the early pioneers of Canada were enabled to penetrate in the very heart of the country and discover the great North- West territories, and through it civilization spread from the East to the West, from the Atlantic lo the Pacific, and up the valley of the Ottawa. The motto of this city and seaport is " Natura forfis, induslrin crescit" We should be able to say of the magnificent St. Lawrence water-course : " Nalura potens, indiistria crescit.'^ What has been the hope of this country from the beginning ? It is that by means of this water-course we may become the carriers of the trade of the Far West. That has been the hope of Canada, and if we acquire that, we acquire wealth and power. What has been done to improve this great highway ? While the. country was 5|pung, and its finances not yet in a prosperous condition, we commenced to im- prove the seaports and navigation of the St. Lawrence, to construct canals and to deepen channels, all with a view to further that idea. Apart from such efforts, however, this magnificent water-course had been to a great extent neglected, and that at its very door. He did not desire either here or at any point of his lecture to blame anybody or any party for this neglect, the cause for which may probably be found in the fact that the part of the country in question was sparsely settled and is inadequately represented in a numerical sense. Only three counties existed there, one on the north and two on the south side, of the river, and there was therefore bat three members to directly re- present that district in Parliament. It was true that Quebec, Montreal and Ontario were equally interested in the improyement of the navi- gation of the lower river and gulf of St. Lawrence, but here as else- where, the rule held good that people desired as much as possible to have the public funds expended in the vicinity of their own cities or towns. For years there had existed only one or two lighthouses in , the whole of the gulf and lower St. Lawrence, and when he first visited Anticosti, in 1852, there w^ere but two. He had met fishermen who remembered when no light-houses at all had been established, or any other institutions to aid vessels in distress. 'If time would permit he could have recited many instances in which emigrants coming to this country and the crews of vessels were victims of the country's neglect in this particular, and might also relate scenes of cknnibalism which would not have taken place had this part of the country been taken proper care of. The following case is recorded by a corres- pondent of the New York World this year ; but twenty years ago an old Magdalen Island captain, Mr. Renaud, had related to the lecturer 25 )hy to the and coin- fisheries ; ding mete- i-"VVest and Df land tra- >roposition, ent water- cent sheet Lawrence, of Canada id discover ion spread md up the 3 "Natura lagnificent ning ? It carriers of ida, and if been done pung", and led to im- constntct that idea, ourse had Fie did not Ddy or any found in sly settled nly three outh side, irectly re- Montreal the navi- •e as else- ossible to I cities or :houses in , II he first Bshermen dished, or Id permit 3oming to country's tiuibalism iitrv been a corres- rs ago an ) lecturer % the same mournful tale, and he could well do so, as ho had been him'- self in the hut and had seen the human carcases hung up : — " In 1828 the passengers and crew of the "Grrampus," from Quebec to the Cove of Cork, experienced even a more deplorable fate on Anti- costi Island. They were wrecked, forty souls in all, near the south point. Some were drowned, it is believed, while the rest set out for Fox Cove, where there had been a provision depot. It had been removed, however, and the castaways found only an empty hut and an iron pot. Of their sufierings there is no record, for none lived to tell the tale, but the G-overnment schooner on its visit in the spring gathered the main facts. The beams of the hut were shambled like a butcher's stall with human carcasses ; the pot, containing human flesh and bones, hung over an extinct fire, while round about lay the skeletons of the guests of this infernal feast. One skeleton was found in a hammock, and by its side a bag containing 48 sovereigns and a note in pencil, signed "B. Harrington" — one of the passengers — requesting that the money, if found, should be sent to "Mary Harrington, Barrack street. Cove, as it was the property of her son. Two skeletons were also found in the woods, where it is supposed the living men went to avoid the scenes in the hut." This is but one of the hundreds of wrecks this desolate shore has witnessed. After a time, however, certain works progressed and in Mr. Baby's time, several good lignthouses were built. For several years, how- ever, before Confederation nothing was done. After that great event, dawned a new era, and more lighthouses were built, where the need of them was most felt, and strong steam whistles attached to warn mariners of approaching danger during fogs and snow storms. Even with the lighthouses and fog whistles, however, vessels in distress have always been in a state oi" helplessness, as those who have visited the (rulf can well testify. The entrances to the Gulf and River St. Lawrence are three in number. One is north of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle, another is south of that Island, and the third is by the Gut of Canso. Sailing vessels come in by the main entrance generally, that is south of Newfoundland. From the time that a ship reaches Cape Ray, the south-west point of Newfoundland, there are dangers in the way. First comes St. Paul's Island, then the Magdalen Islands, and after- wards, and most dangerous of all, the Island of Anticosti. These the lecturer indicated on a large chart behind him, and then exhibited a map of the Island of Anticosti, drawn by Mr. Tfitu, lighthouse-keeper on the Island, showing, in some places, as thickly as they could be dotted down together, the scenes of various ship- wrecks upon its subtle coasts. Near the east and south points there were clusters of wreckl which were really astounding. The lecturer stated that since 1870 no less than fifty vessels had been wrecked upon the Island of Anticosti. The chart, he said, show- ing the different wrecks, spoke more eloquently than words or books. If a vessel comes through Belle Isle, and steamers take that route now because it is the shortest, it has this Island in its way, almost right across; and from that circumstance arises so much danger. Two steamships had been wrecked there during the past year, one was tho 4 r^ ii ■l(, HI' rc'poi •' froi " wh •' the >' up i:n 26 ill-fated "Lake Megantic,*' the other was wrecked at the N. E. end, Isonld Anticosti cleared, we have the coast of Gaspe in the way and after- Jbv'as i wards the coast from Point des Monts and Seven Islands, which lies nearly right across and where, on account of an eddy made by Point des Monts and strong and teacherous currents, vessels are taken out of their course, and there are nearly as many wrecks there as upon tho Island of Anticosti. Having described the water courses and having spoken of the works that have been done in order to assist navigation in the way ol| lighthouses and fog whistles, the lecturer said he would come to another means of assistance. Notwithstanding the lighthouses and fog whistles of which ho liad spoken upon these dangerous coasts, and which he considered as great helps to vessels to guide them out of danger, the lecturer reminded his audience that accidents would happen in so dangerous a gulf and a river, the currents to which he had already made allusion, being of extreme rapidity, and there being little means of a mariner ascertaining their condition or velocity beforehand. As an instance ot the force of these currents. Dr. Fortin mentioned that fishermen wero often unable to fish for cod in them, in the spring tides, for days to- gether, though they employed a sinker weighing four pounds upon a forty fathom line. It often happened that the sinker would almost float upon the top of the water. These currents were often aided by prevalent winds, so that mariners, no matter how clever, could not but 'I** an anticipate accidents during fogs or snow-storms especially. Then there arises the necessity of sending intelligence to Quebec or elsewhere, in order that aid may be sent to a ship in distress. The lecturer contended that Canada owes so much to emigrants arriving here, and to commercial men doing business in the country, and to the crews of vessels coming to trade with us, that it should provide means to ensure their safety when sailing in our waters, and for this reason he would first regard the necessity for a complete system of telegraphing with the Lower St. Lawrence, in a humane light ; then from the standpoint of security to property, to ships and their cargoes. The present state of affairs was well-known to those, who like himself, had seen the suffering that was endured for want of pro- per communication with the Q-ulf. Without desiring to distinguish between parties at all, he could not but consider that Government had been very negligent when so much money had been spent elsewhere, to do so little for the very entrance of our navigation. It was well-known that now, even in summer, and under the most favorable circumstances, if a vessel is wrecked upon Anticosti, the Magdalen Islands or the North Shore, it takes seven or eight days to communicate with the outside world and send news to the owner or agent of the vessel, while under less ftivorable circumstances, a fortnight or a month might elapse, and if in the fall, six or seven months, before the owner could hear from the captain or crew. He would be less likely to get news, in fact, than if his vessel had been wrecked on the coast of Australia or Japan. The lecturer alluded to a case which had occurred when he was engaged in a Government steamer in the Gulf for the protec- tion of the fisheries. It was reported he was dead, and bis friends poi vin N^ r*Ke I*' bet |«' fro; I" pa] ^" 75( I" a t ;;" est ?•' lor f • Gi J" fis /'" Sc " in " 40 '«' to " sh •' ve •' pe " ve " ill II 27 thaN. D. end, vay and after- Is, which lies lade by Point "6 taken out of 5 as upon tho ipoken of the in the way ol rould come to of which he considered as the lecturer so dangerous made allusion, of a mariner an instance of jhermen were !, for days to- •ounds upon a would almost ften aided by, could not but ;ially. Then :o Quebec or > in distress, to emigrants the country, that it should ' waters, and >r a complete in a humane to ships and . to those, who want of pro- distinguish rernment had tit elsewhere, s well-known ircurastances, slands or the ate with the tf the vessel, month might owner could to get news, ; of Australia curred when )r the protec- L his friends jould obtain no information from him for three weeks, although he ,'as in constant communication with a good many vessels on the coast. This is the state of things that exists now and which has been the juuse of the loss of an amount of property which it is almost impos- sible to estimate. It can only be judged of by a knowledge of the raXixe and extent of Canadian commerce. When examined before a 2ommittee of the House of Commons upon this matter in 1876, he had jiven statistics from trade and navigation reports of the country, ihowing that in the year 1874-5, the amount of property that passed lihrough the Gulf, up and down, and along the shores of the Maritime Provinces, was $336,248,556, and the total number of men on board all dnds of vessels passing through the Grulf and along the coasts ot the Maritime Provinces was 204,975. i The lecturer cited the following statement he had made in that Ireport :-r- I " "Well, I have taken the paiiis of gathering statistical information I?' from the Trade and Navigation Reports, ending 80th June, 1875, I" which I have annexed to this in the shape of statements. I find that I" the number of vessels with crews, their tonnage and value, passing ;|*' up or down the Lower River or Gulf of St. Lawrence, to or from !•• ports of the Province of Quebec, to and from the ports of the Pro- M" vince of Prince Edward Island and the Gulf Ports of Nova Scotia I** and New Brunswick, is as follows : — • No. of Vesseli- 4,045. Tonnage. 2.738,376. Value. $129,184,000. No. of Crew. 77,027. •' I have not been able to procure from the Trade and Navigation Reports the number of coasting steamers and sailing vessels plying between the Maritime Provinces and Quebec and Montreal; but from what I have been able to gather in reports published by news- papers, the number of those vessels up and down cannot be less than 750 steamers and sailing vessels, with crews amounting to 5,500, and a tonnage of 150,000 tons. Their value with the cargoes cannot be estimated at less than $5,000,000. If we add to that the vessels be- longing to the Province of Quebec engaged in the fisheries of the Gulf, numbering about 50, with 350 men, valued at $7,500; the fishing vessels from the Maritime Provinces, especially from Nova Scotia, which resort annually to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to engage in the herring, mackerel and cod fisheries, to the number of 300 or 400 at the least, with 4,500 men ; and the American vessels, which to the number of from 500 to 1,000, with 10,000 men, visit the same shores also for the purpcse of fishing, we have another amount for vessels and cargoes of $5,000,000, which will be found by competent persons, but a fair, if not an under, estimation of the value of those vessels and their valuable fish cargoes. " The grand total of vessels of all kinds tonnage " men, tonnage and value of their " in the amount of exports and imports by the sea will be the lollow- with their number of cargoes, whicji is comprised mg: — 28 No. of VesiselH. Tonnage. Sea-goiug 4,045 ... 2,788,376 f. Coasting 750 ... 160,000 Fishing vessels (Quebec) 50 ... 3,000 Fishing vessels from Maritime Provinces... 350 ... 21,000 do do United States 750 ... 52,000 6,945 8,061,876 Vuluc. Xo. of Crews. Sea-going vessels .-^129,184,000 ... 77,000 Coasting " 5,000,000 ... 5,500 Fishing " (from Quebec) 7,500 ... 550 " " (from Maritime Pro- vinces and United States) 5,000,000 ... 14,300 |l39,191,500 97,350 " Add to the amount of value of vessels, of cargoes of coasting and " fishing vessels, the value of imports and exports of the Province of " Quebec, of the Province of Prince Edward Island and of the Gulf " Ports of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, by the sea-going vessels, ** and we come to the following results : — Value of Vessels .' $139,191,500 do Imports , 40,307,953 do Exports 36,782,570 $216,282,023 " This is thou the total value of the property that passes through " the G-ulf and Lower River St. Lawrence during every season of na- " vigation — that is during seven months ; but what in our time we " should look at more, is the fact that 97,350 human souls pass through " those waters and along those dangerous coasts every summer. " Should we endeavor to adopt the means of coming to their assistance " when they are in distress ? " The navigation along the shores of the Atlantic coasts of the " Maritime Provinces is no less important than that of the G-ulf, and •' if we look to the dangerous nature of their coasts, the prevailing fogs " in summer, the snow-storms in winter, we will find that we cannot " do too much to render those coasts secure by lighthouses, and to " adopt the means of relieving the distress of poor wrecked sailors and " saving wrecked property. " I now give a statement showing the number of vessels arriving from or proceeding to saa, in the Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, deducting the number of vessels arriving at or proceeding from the ports of the said Provinces situate in the Gulf of St. Law- rence. " Total number of vessels, &c., proceeding to and arriving from sea in the Atlantic ports of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick : — ii Tonnage. 2,788,876 f 160,000 3,000 21,000 62,000 5,061,876 of Ci'ews. 77,000 5,500 550 14,300 97,350 isting and 'rovince of the aulf g vessels. pOO >70 )23 i through on of na- time we I through summer, ssistance ts of the rulf, and ling fogs 3 cannot h and to lors and arriving' id New ceeding >t. Law- ig from- / 29 / Vc'HBcU. Tonnugc. Value. Crew. Nova Scotia > 7,052 1,556,632 $46,698,960 67,908 New Brunswick... 4,657 1,263,935 37,918,050 39,717 11,709 2,820,567 $84,617,010 107,625 •' By adding together the value of the imports and exports of these Provinces, deducting tha value of the exports and imports of the ports of those Provinces situate in the G-ulf of Ht Lawrence, and adding the sum thus obtained to the value of the vessels, &c., we have the follow* ing :— Value of vessels $81,617,010 Nova Scotia— Exports 0,636,171 do Imports - 11,127,680 New Brunswick— Exports 5,030,693 do Imports 9,064,979 $116,466,633 •'As the Trade Returns do i.ot mention anything about the coasting trade, I must make a rough estimate of its value. If I place it at one- half more of what the coasting trade in the G-ulf amounts to, I do not think I shall be far astray. This then will give us $2,600,000 for vessels and cargoes. If $1,000,000 are added for fishing vessels not counted as belonging to the Gulf, and that portion of the products of the fisheries that does not appear in the exports, we will then have Total as above $116,466,533 Coasting Trade 2,500,000 Fishing Vessels, &c., &c 1,000,000 Grand Total. 4 $119,966,633 " The amount of property^ then, that passes every year, in the shape of vessels, exports and imports, through the Lower River and Gulf of St. Lawrence, up and down, and along the shores of the Maritime Provinces, will amount to Through the Gulf $210,282,023 Along the coasts of Maritime Proviiice.s 119,966,533 $336,248,556 The total number of men on board uf vessels is as follows : — Through the Gulf 97,350 Along the coasts of the Maritime Provinces 107,625 Total 204,975 •' These arcthe figures that he has taken from the trade reports of 1874-75, and he believes them to be correct." " It follows, then, that the system recommended will bo of service, in an efficient manner that no one can deny, to over two hundred thousand of our kindred, who are exposed to all the dangers of a diffi- p. j,lltll 30 cult Kca-faring life along dangerous coasts. Many lives now lost Avould be saved, and the sufferings of thousands be relieved. Another matter of great importance, will be the confidence this ame- lioration will inspire in all those who visit our shores, especially for- eign captains. How often have I heard it said that many foreign captains actually refuse to come to the Gulf of St Lawrence, because thery are aware that if they should have the misfortune to bo wrecked on the islands, in the Gulf, they need not look for assistance, and if this disaster should happen in the latter end of November, neither their owners or families may hear anything about them for six or seven months afterwards. I think that from a humane point of view I have said enough in favor of the project. The lecturer then gave another extract of the report above allud- ed to. " Let us look now at the undertaking from a financial point of view. There can be no doubt that when this system is put in operation, many vessels now wrecked on the coasts above mentioned and totally lost would be saved. Hence this would be a great boon to the shipowner. It would also have the effect of reducing, according to the best authorities, as may be seen by memoranda hereto attached, the rate of insurance, at least 25 per cent., and some well vursed in such matters say as much as 50 per cent. Let us say that of the $336,000,000 (in round numbers) only one-half (and there must be a great deal more) is insured. Then we have $168,000,000 insured. The rates are according to the season of the year (in the fall being very high for the gulf), and range from i to 10 per cent. P'or my calculation I will take an average figure, say,. 1 per cent, on ships and cargoes, which is certainly not too high. At that rate $1,680,000 is paid annually for insurance. If, by the introduction of coast line telegraphs and semaphores, we reduce the rate 25 per cent., we gain yearly the handsome sum of $420,000 ; even if it is only reduced by 12i^ per cent., that is, if instead of paying an average rate of 1 par cent, we pay l per cent., we will still be gainers by $210,000. If any one will compare this great gain with the cost of building and keep- ing up a system of coast line telegraphy, I am sure they will not in deciding, hesitate that such a system should at once be inauguratcJ. As regards the property exposed, it has been seen that it was of a very large value, and the Government was bound, he contended, to do all in its power to protect it, either afloat or stranded. He had already said that Canada expected from this magni- ficent water-course W'hich takes its source in the very heart of North America, a large part of the carrying trade of the great West. But in trying to carry out that idea, we have, however, a formidable rival 'in the port of New York, which takes by far the greatest part of this trade. "We have been trying to compete with that port for the last thirty years, and if we are to succeed in the struggle, how is it to be done ? By carrying cheaper than our rival. What is the charge in the cost of carrying that can be reduced ? We cannot cut down the expense of building a vessel or the wages of a crew to a lower figure than at present, but we may attempt a reduction in the cost of insurance upon our goods and our ships, and this, it seemed to the li 31 SIX or view allud- lecturer^ was what the Government should try to bring* about, by giv- ing greater protection to vessels, when afloat, but not less so when stranded. The ])Ost means to be adopted lor this end, was, ht* believed, the construction ol" the system of toloirraphy in question. He would toll them concerninj^ this system, how it was brouiyht about. For sixteen years he had charj^^ ot the service Ibr the protec- tion of the fisheries. lie saw and knew how defective the system of communication on the sea coasts of Canada was, but if he had spoken then, hardly any one would have listened to him, und he made up his mind to brinij it before the public at the lirsl favorable opportunity. That opportunity occurred in the spring of 187'), when seven steam- ships with more than 1,000 people on board were cani^ht in the ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and no tidina-s of them could be had for a fortnight. It could not be known whether they were safe or not, or exactly where they were, and all would remember the terrible anxiety experienced in this city, all over the country and in the United States. He then wrote a letter on the subject, and advocated a system of telegraphy for the Gulf and Lower St. Lawrence, which was most favor- ably received. Ho also had a chart delineated in explanation of his views on the matter, and induced his friend and confrere, Dr. Robitaille, to bring the matter up in the House of Commons. Dr. Robitaille, to whom very much credit .was due for the interest he had manifested in the subjept, moved for a committee, of which he was the President, and sent for persons who could give the best and most reliable testimony. The result was the printing and circulating of the report which he had in his hand and the accompanying chart, which illustrated the system and showed the public the necessity which really existed for such a scheme. He was glad to be able to say that part of the system he recommended had been carried out, and that a line was now really in existence from Matapediato Fox River, and from Matane to Fox River, girding the whole of Gaspesia, and enabling the different stations, nearly fifty in number, to report a passing vessel every three hours. The line from Metapedia to Fox River was built thanks to the good-will and energy of the inhabitants of the counties of Bonaventure and Gaspe. who furnished the poles gratuitously to the Telegraph Company. The Local and Federal Governments con- tributed for the other hne. Much of this was duo to the energy of Dr. Robitaille, and the assistance of the Quebec and Montreal Boards of Trade, and on these lines we now have stations nowhere more than 20 miles apart, so that from any point along the coast, a report from a wrecked vessel may be sent to Quebec or any other part of the world within at the most three hours. H^ not only desired to see the same system extended all over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Anticosti, and the Magdalen Islands ; but also on the sea coasts of the Maritime Provinces. The people of the Maritime Provinces are a very important element of the maritime wealth of this country, and we know that, for the number they represent, they carry on a larger maritime trade than we do. They also require a telegraph along their coasts, and the system recommended applies to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as to Quebec. i If 32 The system which he recommended is composed of a certain number or land lines to connect all lighthouses with the telegraph system already in existence, and of submarine lines to connect the Island of Anticosti, the Magdivlen Islands, and other islands upon which there are lighthouses with the mainland, The following are the different lines suggested :— PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 1st line.— From Tignish to the lighthouse at the North Cape, dis- tance about 10 milf's. tind. — A line from the nearest station to the lighthouse of the East Point, distance about 15 miles. NOVA SCOTIA. Ist. — A line, submariuo, from Cow Bay, ou the north side of Capo Breton, to connect wifh this lighthouse ou the north-east endof Scatari Island, distance about 12 miles. 2nd. — A line from Halifax to Capa Canso, to connect with the telegraph system of Nova Scotia, all the liglithouses and all the sea ports of that part of the eastern coast of that Province, which extends on a distance of about 140 miles. 8rd. — A line from Cape Sable Island, south-east extremity of Nova Scotia, to connect with the port of Barrington, distance about 16 miles. 4th. — A line from Digby to the lighthou.se on Brier Island, south side of entrance of the Bay of Fundy, distance about 40 miles. oth — A su]>marine line to Sable Island. NEW LUUNSVriCK. 1st. — A line from tlie lighthouse of Point K.scumonae, south side of entrance to Miramiohi Biy, to the nearest telegraph station, dis- tance about 20 miles. 2nd. — A line to connect the Miscou lighthouse, south part of the entrance to Bale des Chaleurs, to the nearest telegraph at Shippigan, distance about 18 miles. rUOVlNCi: OF QUEBEC. lat. — Line, submarine, from Prince I'dward Island or Cape Breton to the Magdalen Islands, distance ])y tba first route 45 miles, by the latter 48 miios. Land line througli ib j Magdalen Islands, connecting each port together, from Amherst Island to the east point of Coffin Island. Line, a submarine, to connect the Bird Rock lighthouse with the Magdalen Islands telegraph system, distance 16 miles. 2nd. — A line to connect the Island of Anticosti with the Graspe telegraph system, distance about 38 miles, and a land line along the South Shore of the said Island, extending from the lighthouse at the east point to the lighthouse at the west point, distance about 130 miles, with stations at the following places : 1st, lighthouse at west point ; 2nd, Elis Bay ; 3rd, Becscie River ; 4th, lighthouse at south-west point ; 5th, Pavilion River ; 6th, Jupiter River ; 7th, lighthouse at south point ; 8th, lighthouse at Heath point ; 9th, Fox Bay, north side of Island, by a line touching from south point, distance 20 miles. •mmmmm 88 f a certain e telegraph connect the lands upon lowing are I Cape, tlis- of the East Je of Capo I of Scatari with the II the sea 'h extends y of Nova p 16 miles. W, south >uth side tion, dis- Pt of the 'ippijran, 3 Breton by the inectinor f Coffin •se with Gaspe 'ng the at the miles, point ; point ; point ; d, bya 8rd. — A line from Murray Bay to Mingan, along the North Shore of the river St. Lawrence, with stations at the following places: Ist, Pointe & Pic ; 2nd, Tadousac ; 3rd, Les Escoumains ; 4th, Sanlt au Gochon; 5th, Miile Vaches; 6th, Bersimis ; 7th, Manicouagan ; 8th, Godbout River; 9th, Point de Monts ; 10th, Trinity Bay, 11th, Egg Island lighthouse ; 12th, Cawee Island; 18th, Seven Islands; 14th, Moisie River; 16th, Shallop River; IGth, Sheldrake ; 17th, Thunder River; 18th, Magpie Bay ; 19th, St. John River; 20th, Long Point; 2l8t, Mingan Harbour, distance about 305 miles. From Mingan this line ought to be extended as early as possible after the completion of the foregoing lines, first to Natashquan and afterwards as far as Forteau lighthouse, at the narrowest point of the Strait of Belle Isle. This line would have the most beneficial results, both as regards the prosecution of the fisheries in those ports and the assistance to shippins^ and navigation ; distance about 300 miles. There could be established on that line about 30 telegraph stations. The system includes besides several small lines of one or two miles in length necessary to connect all the lighthouses with our tele- graph system. When all this would be completed the head of the sig- nal service in Canada would be able to know in a short time what takes place on any part of the coasts of Canada. The lecturer contended that he need not go over again the argu- ments in the papers and in the report already referred to, to prove how many vessels might have been saved had such a system of tele- graphy as that above suggested been in existence. It frequently hap- pened that they went ashore during fogs and when there was verv little wind. If assistance could reach them before the first or even sometimes the second storm after they ran ashore, there would be a good chance of hauling them safely off before their keels were broken. In the course of his 27 years experience in the gulf and river St. Law- rence, sixteen of which he was in command of the service for the pro- tection of the fisheries, he had known many cases in which this might have been done and thousands and thousands of dollars saved, if only there had been speedy and sure means of communication with Quebec or elsewhere. With a proper system of telegraphy in existence, and a steamer rigged with proper appliances stationed at G-aspe Basin, enough would be saved annually by it to commerce, to pay for its first cost, and maintain it in working order four or five times over. In 1805, when the lecturer was in command of the government Cutter " La Canadienne," the " North Briton " was wrecked on the south coast of Anticosti. He proceeded immediately to the scene of the wreck and found the people there without shelter, exposed to the inclemency of the weather, to the sun and the flies, having some dfniculty in getting food, and yet they were kept waiting there nearly a month for assistance to arrive, though with proper telegraphic communication it would have been forthcom- ing in three days, and the telegram from the captain to the owners of the steamer that he took back to Perce, had to be sent from there to the nearest telegraph station at Metapediac, a distance of 170 miles, which took nearly three days. But now a line is built along the coast I have said before and there is a telegraph station at Perce. 5 34 1 1 III The lecturer then referred to three cases that Lad occurred during the present year. The " Lake Megantic " had been wrecked with a full cargo of grain and 270 cattle from Montreal, by being driven ashore by the velocity of unknown currents, after the captain, who was a man of ex- perience, and had done his best under the circumstances, had believed himself quite clear. The vessel wa-s stranded at the distance of 00 miles from Cape Gaspe in the vicinity of which there is a telegraph station, yet it took eight days before his despatch for assistance reached the station, and five days more elapsed before a steamer from near Cape Rosier arrived to render relief to the passengers and crew. Another vessel went ashore at Fox Bay, north-east point of Anticosti, and the captain contrived to send a message to Quebec for assistance. The necessary machinery, &c., was dispatched by the agent in this city, but after so long a delay, owing to the late receipt of the mess!»ge, the vessel in the meanwhile had been righted and floated by fishermen at the scene of the wreck. The s. s. " Memphis" broke her shaft in the vicinity of Anticosti, and seven days after found her way into Douglastovvn under sail, the s. s, " Teutonia," which had received instructions to look out for her, spending seven days in steaming about the Gulf in the search. Dr. Fortin here read the following letter published in the Chronicle of 10th September last from Mr. Yarker, one of the " Teutonia's " passergers, giving par- ticulars of the cruise, and arguing very strongly in favor of a line of telegraph from Quebec to the Gulf. Sir, — I was a passenger along with 27 others by the s.s. "Teu- tonia," of the Dominion Line, on her recent voyage from Liverpool, and upon arriving in Quebec yesterday morning I learned that her un'^xplained detention gave a good deal of anxietj'' to friends in the West who were not aware of the utter lack of telegraphic advantages in the lower part of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence. The alarm of friends is a small matter compared with the help- lessness of captaius'of vessels navigating the Gulf, through this amazing defect in the facilities of communication. My experience as a passenger in this instance gravely brought this want before me, illustrating it in a most aggravating way. The "Teutonia" left Liverpool on the afterncon of Thursday, the '22nd of August, and making a t^plendid run reached Anticosti early on the morning of Saturday, the 81st, thus due to arrive at Quebec on .Sunday night, which would have been a very satisfactory voyage. But just east of the Island of Anticosti we picked Tip froiii a small boat an ollicer and four seamen belonging to the s.s. "Memphis," and learned that their vessel had broken her main sliaft on the "Wednesday preceding. These poor men were about and upon the island, where there are plenty of lighthouses, for four days unable to communicate with any points where assistance could most likely be obtained, and hence the disabled steamer, passengers and cargo were at the mercy of the sea and storms all that time. But worse than even that, the "Teutonia" instantly steamed ofl'in the direction of the lately prevailing winds in search of the missing steamer. She made circles of the Gulf N.E., E. and S.E. of Anticosti 1^ I nel thi p-^ as^ mi SI exl re| a' \o\ o"i n . al "I ro ■f 85 a rred durinir 11 cargo of lore by the I man of ex- lad believed tance of 00 telegraph assistance a steamer ngers and st point of Quebec for »ed by the late receipt righted and Memphis " days after Teutonia," ding seven I here read September giving par- 'f a line of s.s. "Ten- Liverpool, d that her '"ds in the idvantages the help- is amazing passenger ating it in rsday, the ti early on iuebec on i'age. But II boat an d learned ednesday id, whore munieato ned, and lie mercy led off' in missing A.nticosti for many miles. She crossed over near Labrador and passed dowri near the Strait of Belle Isle, keeping a sharp lookout every hour of the long and tedious days, and sending off rockets, &c., at night. Our gallant captain then ran his steamer up the coast of Newfoundland, passing several lighthouses. At Cape Ray a boat's crew was sent ashore, expecting io obtain telegraphic information, but even this pro- minent place disappointed u.s. We then passed on ten miles, and at a small village, stupidly known by the misleading name of Channel, we found the wires, and learnt that the ''Meniphis," through the great exertion and skill of Captain Mellon, had managed, in seven days, to reach Gaspe under sail, and on Thursday evening, September 5tn, the "Teutonia" took her in tow, and in a little over two days, safely lodged her in the harbor of Quebec. With captain, officers and crew greatly fatigued, and steamships being almost powerless under sail alone, it is distressing to imagine what might have happened had the "Memphis" encountered stormy weather and been driven upon the rocks oir Gaspe Point, about two miles from which she must have passed. Had there been a cable from Anticosti to Gaspe, about 100 miles, and overland wires from end to end of the Island, about 120 miles, the "Memphis'' would have obtained assistance at the latest the day after the accident, aiid thereby much valuable time and property saved and anxiety of passengers and crew speedily relieved. Surely this question of telegraphic communication in the Gulf cannot be taken up too soon, if this noble outlet to the Atlantic is pro- perly valued by Canada. The art is so simple and easily learnt th t the lighthouse keepers or their sons or daughters could perform the duty, and thus no expense for labor and skill is necessary. At promi- nent points such as Anticosti, Belleisle and Cape Ray a system of sight signals could be arranged to give information to passing steamers, without even stopping them, and the value of such an advantage as enabling a steamship to quicldy reach a vessel in distress can haidly be estimated, particularly when it is remembered that much more danger is apprehended in sight of land than in the open sea. What interest and joy to the lonely lighthouse people to ))e in communication with the more favored parts of the world and to be active and instru- mental in saving life and property ? Might not, say, $500,000 be well appropriated in this work, so that in a short time hence every lighthouse in the Gulf would be u telegraphic station ? And who can estimate then the enhanced value to the Dominion of this great natural route, to say nothing of the cd- vantageous fact that travellers and ships would be heard from fivo days aftc leaving Londonderry ! I hope some one more interested will tuko up this important matter and agitate it to a successful is.me. I have trespassed upon your space too much perhaps already, but I would like room for another, though a trifling matter. After our search it would appear that at times, at night, we were within fifteen or twenty miles from the "Memphis," and had she put fire baloons in- siead of rockets, must we not have seen her ? What say those who Icnow? 8d Allow me in conclusion to say that the passengers on this "voyage well clothed, well fed, warmly dressed, 40 &c. He hoped and he had no doubt that his appeals in favor of so useful and deservin;? a class as the fishermen would find an echo in the heart of every Canadian. Signal Service. Ill speaking- of this telegraph system as applied to the signal sys- tem, Hon. Dr. Fortin explained that he alluded not merely to the signalling of vessels, but also to the signal service as established in the United States, under the direction of General Myer, and in Canada, with a head office presided over by Professor Kingston. As illustrative of the great value of this service in the United States and the degree of accuracy to which it has attained, the lecturer read the following extracts from an interesting article in Frank Leslie's popular Monthly, from which it appeared that the meteorological observations deduced from reports received by General Mver, frequently showed 82 per cent, of accuracy. It also appeared that the reports from all the signal stations scattered throughout the States, were frequently concentrated at Washington r space of 40 minutes. ♦' The Sign * , " e of the United States owes its development and present impor'anctj very largely to the ability and and efforts of General Albert J. Myer, v;ho, in 18G6, after distinguished services in the war of tin ivb Mion ; s made Chief Signal Officer in the Army. Under an Act of Congios!^;, np^^roved in February, 1870, he was charged with the special duties of the observation and giving notice, by telegraph and signals, of the approach and force of storms on the sea-coast and norlhern lakes, at the military posts in the interior, and at other points in the States and Territories. *' Addressing himself with genuine enthusiasm to the work assigned him, and foreseeing, apparently, results of which the average mind had no conception, he at once organized the meteorological division of the signal office on an efficient basis. By a subsequent Act, he was charged with the special duties of telegraphing, etc., being authorized to establish signal stations at lii^ht houses, and at such of the life-savinfi: stations as are suitable for the purpose, and to connect these stations by telegraph with such points as may be necessary. "The Acts providing for the meteorological work necessarily require the duties of the service to be performed militarily, the officers and men being instructed for the different- branches of the service at a signal school of instruction at Fort Whipple, in Virginia, some three miles from Washington, and at the central office in that city. The term of enlistment is for five years, and the service is open to any American citizen of good character who can face the rigid tests of the preliminary examination. The coarse of instruction includes the use of meteorological instruments, the modes of taking observations, and the forms and duties required at observation stations and for the display of storm signals. The men are also taught telegraphy, and are drilled with arms and in the usual duties of soldiers — the design being to qualify them for any possible exigency that may arise. *' The Signal Service as now organized consists of IScommis'-ioned officers, 150 sergeants, 30 corporals, and 220 privates. This force has the management of ^17 stations, extending from the Dominion of Canada a4 >ii ror of so echo in ^nal sys- T to the d in the Canada, strative degree lowin^ Tonthip, educed 82 per i signal ntrated o ent and brts of ices in Army, ^e was notice, on the and at signed mind ivision le Was orized savhifT ms by Jquire s and e at a three The ' any )fthe use dthe splav •illed S to >ned has nada ^1 . to the Ttio Grande, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Of these stations, 143 take meteorological observations, 24 are known as sunset stations, 11 as display stations, 24 as special river stations, 12 as commercial stations, and 3 as printing stations. Telegraphic and mail reports are also received from 4 stations in the AVest Indies, and ID in Canada. At stations furnishing telegraphic reports, the men are re- quired to furnish tri-daily, on each day, the results of observations made at three fixed hours, and embracing in each case the readings of the barometer, the thermometer, the velocity and direction of the wind, the rain-guage, the relative humidity, the character, quantity and movement of upper and lower clouds, and the condition of the weather. These observations are taken at such hours, at the dilTerent stations, as to secure absolute simultaneity — allowance being made for the differences between the lixed time (7.35 A.M , 4.35 PM., and 11 p.m.,) and the local time, at the different stations. Three other observations, at 7 AM., 2 P M., and 9 p.m., local time, are also taken and recorded at each station, and a seventh and special observation is taken and re- corded at noon on each day. When such instrumental changes are noted at this observation as to cause anxiety, the fact is at once tele- graphed to the central office at "Washington. An eighth observation is taken at the exact hour of sunset at each station, and this, embracing the appearance of the western sky, the direction of the wind, the amount of cloudiness, the readings of the barometer, thermometer, and hygrometer, and amount of rainfall since the last preceding report, is communicated to the central office, with the midnight report. So perfect is the discipline, and so trustworthy the work of the force, that, the reports from the stations, covering the whole expanse of the con- tinent, are frequently concentrated at the central office at Washington, in the space of forty minutes." " It is upon the data thus accumulated at the central office that the daily official deductions, or it'caflier forecasts, and the especial deductions in pursuance of which orders are issued for the display of cautionary signals, are ba.'-.ed. The tri-vveekly synopses, which are found in all the daily papers, show the meteoric conditions existing over and near the territory of the United States for each period of twenty-four hours immediately preceding the publication of the report. The "Indica- tions," or "rrobabilitie.s," foreshadow the changes which seem to be suggested as probable by a study of the charts, in connection with the meteorological rules and generalizations which experience has more or less clearly established. Eight charts, exhibiting the date of the observation reports, as to the barometric pressures, relative humidities, cloud-conditions, dew-point variations, etc., are draughted and exam- ined before, and are essential to, each official announcement. The * statements designed for publication, issued thrice daily, are telegraphed at the moment of their issue to the principal cities, and reach, it is believed, fully one third of the entire population of the country. The average per centage of verifications of statement comprising the pre- dictions of the barometric pressures, temperatures, wind directions, and character of the weather to be expected in the districts to which they had reference, was, during the year 1877, just 86.16 per cent. The percentage of accuracy, however,limitedtothepre-announcement m 42 m of the weather to be expected, exclusive of the other conditions named, was 90.05 per cent. That such a degree of perfection has been achieved, with only seven years of labor, is certainly remarkable ; but the Chief Signal Officer gives it as his opinion that it would be possible to do much more, and predict, with almost absolute precision, the weather conditions for each individual State, were t/ie tiumber of stations to be so multiplied as to enable him to command local and neighborhood observations ^ " The confidence which the uniform accuracy of the announcements of the Signal Office has inspired among shippers and sea-faring men, affords a very conclusive testimony as to its utility and value. The danger signal of the Service is not, indeed, infallible, but it is seldom disregarded — and when it is, the consequences are not unfrequently disastrous. These signals are displayed at the different lake and sea ports, and upon the coasts in pursuance of orders from Washington, based on the reports of observers indicating threatening weather. Thus, a red flag with a black centre displayed by day, or a red light shown by night at Norfolk, or Buffalo, or Sandy Hook, or Detroit, or elsewhere, indicates a probability of stormy or dangerous weather for the particular port or place, or in the vicinity of the place in which it is so displayed. " The vessel which goes to sea with the cautionary signal flying, simply braves possible disaster. The United States' Steamer Huron, last November, with strange perversity, ignored the warning signal at Norfolk, and ship and crew, caught in the terrors of the storm which that signal foretold, perished at Kitty Hawk. "The Huron had a crew of 135 men and she was worth $700,000. "Carefully compiled statistics as to the benefits which have accrued to commerce from this branch of the Signal Service show that, since the introduction of the system, hundreds of vessels, by remaining in port in obedience to the warnings given, have avoided peril and loss ; that, in a word, the annual average of disasters occurring at or near ];)oints at which cautionary signals have been displayed, has been vastly lessened during the years in which such displays have been made. " But it is not alone in the display of cautionary signals that the Signal Service sustains a most important relation to the commerce of the country. The distinctive Sea-coast Service, as connected with the Life-saying Service, is entitled to special mention. The Service has under its direct control 543 miles of telegraph wire, extending from Sandy Hook to Cape May, from Norfold to Hatteras, and from "Wil- mington to the mouth of the Cape Fear River— the most frequented, and, in some places, the most dangerous coasts of the United States. " These lines and the signal stations, located for the most part at lighthouses and life-saving stations, are directly on the coast. The observers command a full view of the sea, and disasters by shipwreck cannot escape their eye. They have from Washington, at all times, the latest reports of the weather conditions all along the coast, and of the sea itself as far as they are attainable. They are able, therefore, to warn by signals of coming danger, all vessels passing withiii their view. mi 4Z been but bible the \er of and leuts " Bdng practiced in the sig-nals of the International code, ships ol any nationality in distress can communicate with them, and so com- mand instant help. Many instances of the service rendered in this way mi«]fht be given, as illustrating^ the expedition with which the men at these stations perform their work. It is mentioned that, on the occurrence of the wreck of the brigantine Nipoli, a telegraphic station communicating with Washington was opened on the scene of the wreck, and had reported the facts to the central office before the life-boat, brought from a station comparatively near, had reached the grounds. " A notable illustration of the usefulness of the Coast Service was furnished in March, 1877. On the iilst day of that month, a storm of unusual severity was signaled from the central office, as threatening the middle Atlantic coast. On the morning of the 22nd, when the fog had lifted, the sergeant in charge of the station at Cape Henry discov- ered a large vessel stranded on a dangerous shoal off' that station ; he at once notified the wreckers of Norfolk, and reported the fact to the main office. Nothing was known at that tiine of the nationality of the vessel, the port from %vhich she had sailed, her cargo or condition. The life-boat from the life-saving station w^as driven back while attempting to reach her. " "With the earliest light the sergeant displayed at his station the attention-flags of the International code. The answering signals soon flew from the stranded ship, and it was telegraphed by flags of the International Code that the vessel was the English ship Winchester, which had sailed from Liverpool in ballast, bound for Norfolk, with a crew of twenty-seven men. The captain further desired that two steam-tugs should be telegraphed for at the nearest port to come to his assistance. " This message was at once sent to Norfolk by electric telegraph, by the men of the Signal Service, who were keeping up at the same time communication by code-flags with the endangered vessel. The official signature of the sergeant in charge of the station was a sufficient authority to the wrecking steamers telegraphed for to start to the rescue. By the same electric wires the facts were at the same time telegraphed to the central office at "Washington, whence, being com- municated to the Life-saving and other departments, the whole fotce of the United States could, if needed, have been brought into action. " The work w^ent on at Cape Henry, the vessel asking by signal that a safety-line might be fired to them, and the Life-saving service making the attempt. The range was, however, too great. Later in the day, a line was floated ashore from the ship, a life-car put in operation and a number of the crew landed. The crew were reported all safe. Before sundowm, as the storm diminished, active efforts to save the ship had commenced. A part of the crew remaining on board, a plan of night-signals was arranged, which, shown from the vessel, should call for the launching of the life-boat to bring them off in case of need in the night. " The next morning, March 23rd, the captain of the vessel came on shore, the life-car being still kept working to the vessel. The men of the crew were sent back to aid tho wrecking parties as soon as the 44 sea should permit the steamers to approach the vessel. The work commenced on the 23rd and was continued on the 24th. On the latter day the cautionary signal was again ordered up at the station, another storm-area then approaching: from the southern Atlantic coast, and especial warnings were sent to the ship and those employed on her to take such precautions as would enable them to land in case of danger. '• On the evening of March 25th a violent storm, with very heavy soa-swcll, had reached Cape Henry, On the next morning it still continued, and with the light the sergeant in charge of the station discovered three barks stranded near the Winchester, all within a mile of each other. The storm continued violent, The wreckers at Norfolk were at once notified of the now disaster, and the facts related to the Chief Signal Office at Washington. The "attention signal" was again llown for the bark which seemed most in danger. No attention was paid to it. Soon after the main and mizzen masts of the bark were carried away. The life-boat could not reach her. Later her name was wad by a telescope, as the Panlzer, and the crew of the life-saving .station succeeded in firing a life-line over her. But, strange to say, while the danger seemed great, the crew neither recognized the signal kept flying, nor hauled in on the life-line, their only chance for satiety. A surf-boat from the wreckers succeeded in boarding the other strand- ed barlvS, and found them to be the Italian barks Franceshino and Monte Tabor. Telegrams were then sent by the Signal Service men to Baltimore, asking for additional aid, anchors, cables and tugs, " Late in the day, and some time in the afternoon, the Panlzer jshowed the "answering signal" of the International Code. The vessel was then ascertained to be a Norwegian bark, and it is supposed her crew had not })eforo realized that on a foreign coast she could ask for aid. Almost immediately after her signal was answered, the Pantzer signaled. "Please send a life-boat." In response to this the signal station shewed the signal, "Haul in on the line ;" it seeming that in all the danger the crew of the bark were not aware of the uses of this line, which had been fired across her deck early in the morning. " The line was at once hauled on board the Pantzer, the crews of the life-saving stations had made the life-car ready, and by nine o'clock at night her crew, eleven men all told, were safely landed. In the rough weather which followed, this vessel went to pieces. " Of the others, the ship Winchester was safely floated after some days' labor, and the two barks Franceshino and Monte Tabor, saved without great difficulty. " Commenting on these incidents, the chief signal officer says : "Had no Signal Service existed, there would have been no telegraphic wire to Cape Henry ; had there been telegraphic wires to Cape Henry without the Signal Service there would have been no men capable of at once working the electric wares and of communicating with vessels by international signals. Had either of these been w^anting, it is quite likely that very valuable vessels would have been totally lost, because aid could not have been quickly enough called for from adjacent ports, nor could the efiorts of the salvors have been wisely or safely directed without the constant knowledge of the weather changes, had, as they work >ii the tation, coast, ed oil case ol' a^^am 46 Were, during all the time the vessels were endangered. The crew of tho Panlzei could not have learned how to draw on board of their vessel the life-car, and might have peiished. The wreckers would not have been present, as Ihey were, to aid in tlie unusual case of four vessels stranded together, and the crews of the life-saving stations could not have had, f.s they did, the immediate supervision of their chief (the chief of the Life-saving Service) at "Washington. As a test uf skill exercised in communication, it is pleasant to consider that vessels of two diiferent nations, the English and the Norwegian, sailing from distant ports, and iding themselves together in distress on the coast of tho United States, found also such in-ovisiou there made, that each could make known his wants, each in his own language, as if on their own coasts at home. TJiey wore, perhaps, even more promptly succored than they would have been on a loreiirn coast."' " Recently, the observer at Barnegat, tel^*gra])hed to the central oflice, "Vessel has just come ashore. Help wanted.' In twenty minutes from the time at which the despatch left the Barnegat station, it had rea'^hed its destination, and an order had gone to the nearest wrecking-steamer at Sandy Hook to proceed to the relief of the dis- abled vessel. It may be added, as showing the perfection of this branch of the Service, that in cases where the telegraphic wires have been broken at inlets or in violent gales, communication has been maintained uninterruptedly, for considerable periods, over extensiv<' reaches of land and water, by Hags and torches, used as signals. " The importance and value of a service of this character on our dangerous coasts are obvious. Could the lines of communication be extended from New York to the Gulf, with capable observers and life- saving crews at every available point, the losses from shipwreck would speedily be reduced to a minimum. As it is, the benefits resulting to commerce are almost beyond estimate. " With a view of promoting the efficiency of the Service, a perman- ent committee is established with each Board of Tra J(? iu the principal cities of the country, which undertakes to state monthly to the Chief Signal Officer the condition and character of the Service in that city and vicinity — whether it is well conducted, has been useful, and can be improved in any way suggesting itself to them, for the benefit of the cities and populations they represent. Similar committees are established, so far as is practicable, with diiferent agricultural societies throughout the United States. As these committees are ( riupcsed of prominent men, resident at the places and in the districts ihoy repre- sent, and interested in whatever may benefit them, their formally stated opinions are of peculiar value. "Such is tTie record, and such are some of the results, of the American Signal Service ; but, great and illustrious as their achieve- ments are, they are only prophecies of grander and wider results which are yet to be accomplished in the field of meteorological inquiry. "What has been done here may be done everywhere ; and wdth the development and expansion of the international work, as advised by the Vienna Congress of 1873, we may reasonably expect that before the close of tho present century, all the nations north of the equator will enjoy, interchangeably, approximately accurate daily reports of ^6 the meteoric conditions which distinguish each. This international work at present covers the territorial extent of Algiers, Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Central America, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, East Indies, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, British North America, the United States, the Azores, the Bermudas, the Aleutian Islands, Sandwich Islands, "West Indies, and South America— one uniform ohsorvation, of such a character as to be suited for the preparation of .synoptic charts, being taken and recorded daily at stations in each of these territorial divisions. The average number of daily simultaneous observations so made in foreign countries is 293 ; while the whole number of stations from which reports are regularly entered in tiio bulletin is 468. Of these stations, 44 are on British territory, 43 in France, 20 in Germany, 23 in India, 33 in Italy, 27 in Russia, etc. ^' The Signal Service is, as our readers see, one of the great triumjihs (if our century, destined, a.s time perfects experience and instruments, to be instrumental in antifijniling and averting disaster in all parts ol' the country' The benolit resulting to the shipping and navigation of the United States by the signal service is oftentimes very great. Cautionary storm signals are never disregarded at seaport towns and it almost invariably happens, as in the Ciise of t)ie ill-fated "Huron,"' that a vessel which is dari)ig onoiiu'h to bviive the danger and go to .sea in defiance of such a .signal, meets witli disaster, Tlie following are extracts from the valuable report of Professor Kingston, Superiutond(Mit of the Dominion Meteorological service: — To the Honorable The Minister of Marine and Fisheries. Sir, — Having described in detail in former IJeports the objects of our Meteorological System, it will be sufficient here to repeat in brief terms a statement of those objects, and to shew the extent to which they have been advanced during the year. The objects of the system are twofold : — I. The collection of Meteorological Statistics (including the statis- tics of storms), and their arrangement in forms adapted for the discu.s- sion of sundry physical questions ; the combination of materials col- lected in a series of years, and the deduction therefrom of the climatic character of difterent parts of the Dominion ; and the furtherance of a knowledge of the facts and principles of climatology generally, and of Canadian climatology in particular. II. The practical utilization of the facts and principle,s thus ac- quired, especially for the prognostication of the weather. Telegraph Stations. — There are fourteen stations in all, where observations are recorded and reported by telegraph to Toronto, three times a day, at 7.25 a.m., 4.25 and 10 50 p.m., Toronto mean time. Publishing Telegranh Stations. — I. Cautionary storm-signal stations. — These stations (of which there are thirty-nine) are places to which di 47 warnings of the probable approach of storms are sent, on receipt of which the agent in charge hoists a storm-signal, and posts a notice stating that a storm may be expected, and what places are warned. Proffnosticalion of the Wcullier. — The data on which predictions are based are received by telegraph throe times a day from certain stations in the Dominion and the United States. The times at which these observations are taken are 7.25 a.m., 4,2o p.m., and 10.50 p.m., Toronto mean time. The information contained in the reports consists of the following: The reading of the barometer reduced to a temperature of 32 ® Fahren- heit and to sea level ; the reading of the thermometer; the relative humidity ; the direction and velocity of the wind ; the state of the sky, and, lastly, the quantity of rain or snow, if any. The morning reports contain a record of the minimum temperature recorded since last ob- servation. Reports are now received fro .n 41 stations in the morning, (U in the afternoon, and 24 at night. Storm warnings, based on the informiilion above mentioned, are despatched to the various cautionary storm-signal stations throughout the Dominion ; also, on the receipt of a storm warnuig from Washing- ton, the warning is forwarded or not at the discretion of this office. A warning is sent to any port whenever, in the opinion of the person whoso duty it is to attend to the prognostication of the weather, it is considered that a storm will probably occur within a distance of one hundred miles, by water, of that port; so t!iat when a port is warned, it is not intended to be understood therefrom that the storm will necessarily rage at that port ; but it is intended to warn those connected with shipping that a storm will probably rage within such a distance that ships leaving port might bo allected by it. The importance of issuing th(^ warnings us promptly as possible, has been shewn on former occasions. Out of the olO warnings which were verified, 48;{ were issued in full time to give notice of a storm's approach. In only a fe\\r instances, owing to delay in telegraphic transmission, did they arrive after the commencement of the storm. At twenty-seven places the storm had begun before the warning was issued from Toronto ; but in seventeen of those cases the storm con- tinued to increase in violence after the warning was forwarded. roi'centugo Veritied. D^tviil. NU' IS;slU'(l. s C Zf Lukes ; **•> St. Lawionco Kivor andi ! Gulf ■ I y-' Ocean Total. .; 7^1 1.". .' t;;! Ill ii.> ii>j:.... l.^7 t;tt 4'jo No. \urili''i,l. c r* ut o w « „- Ci ^ n -.T' CI OW| 1, """ ' 1 2(i 1S8' 262' '.) 2fir! :>: "4."! 57] 07i h: 105 8i:. ifl7|rs- 1 il .-iCil 510 78-1 '■ ' 1 1 r>7'.^'.')5* 09-2 c. Sj'1 51'lUi-9 •1-f. Ol-SjOl-O (!t5'0i82'.-. r-l'6;68T> 48 Reports have been received of nine storms for which no -warninj? was issued. Five of these were purely local, and four more general. The above table ffives the number of warnin fs issued for each quarter of the year, and for the whole year, and the percentage of their verifi- cation. The percentage in the St. Lawrence and ocean districts is low ovvinir to lack of sufficient stations from which telegraphic reports are received. As regards the St. Lawrence, this fact was pointed out last year. Telegraphing reports and stations are needed on Magdalen Islands, Anticosti^ North Shore, Newfoundland, (and the proposed system would supply them) a. T. KINGSTON, Si/perintendent of Meteorological Service Dominion of Canada. Dr. Fovtin stated, that he had wrttton to General Myer and to Professor Kingston to know if results of observations taken at the me- teorological stations that would be hereafter established on all the coasts and islands of the Gulf, by means of the projected telegraph system, would prove of service in the deduction of their meteorological forecasts. In reply he had received the following letters, which he read : To the Uon. P. FoRTIN, Represenlalioe in the House of Commons, Presi- dent of the Quebec Geographical Society, Quebec, Canaia. SlR,--I have received and examined with much pleasure the papers and the chart you sent me. I am always and everywhere in favor of the extension of sea-coast telegraph linos. The use of such lines on the coaat of the United States has demonstrated their value, and we need only the money and the force to extend their scope. The year just passed has been crowded with instances of their utility Writing, as I do, from an oflico which converses, when need be, with wrecked ships anywhere on the coast from New York Harbor to Cape May, and from Norfolk to Smithville, with the memories yet fresh of the instances of the "Metropolis," the "Huron," and more re- cent disasters, it is hard to conceiA'e that any one who thinks can fail to favor them. I forward to you a copy of my annual report tor the year ending June 30, 1877, in which you will lind reference to this branch of the service. I will also forward to you, when printed, the rei)ort of the year 1878. The chart you send me is b.niutifully illusiralive and is already filed among our valued papers. With many thanks for your courteous attention akd many wishes for the success of your plans, I am, with sincere respect and regard, Very truly vour obdt. Servant. * ALBERT V. MYER. ' Brig.-Genl. (Brt. Assg,) Chief Signal Officer of the Army. AVar Department, Office of the Chief Signal Officer, Washington, DecT 2, 1878. 40 Letter of Professor Kiiij^ston giving- his views upon the proposed telegraphic extension, and its probable relation to the Signal Service of the country : — To Hon. V. Fortin, Quebec :— Sir,— In reply to your letter of the 29th ult., asking for my views regarding the proposed extension of the telegraphic system to the North Shore and to the islands of thu (xulf of St. Lawrence, I beg to state that the benefit to be derived from this riovement has been olten before me and that some time ago I ex- pressed myself in favor of such a scheme to the Dominion 13oard of Trade. The i^roposed extension would be valuable to the Meteorological Service in a two-fold manner : — 1st. It would enable us to receive ad- ditional reports by telegraph, on which to found our prognostications of weather in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Nova Scotia. Reports from the North Shore would be particularly important in connection with prognostication, as at present we have no means of foretelling changes which are approaching from the North. If telegrams in con- nection with the Meteorological Service were allowed to pass over Government wires free of charge, as is the case in other countries, your scheme would extend the usetulness of the storm warnings by fur- nishing ^' ■'US for giviu!!- information of the approach of storms to all the lighthou'-es on the islands and on the coasts, and thence to passing shipping and fishermen. I may further state that if the temperature of the sea water were systematically telegraphed to this office, from lighthouses on the coasts, it would furnish data by which, according to opinions expressed by recent writers, the probable arrival or departure of various kinds of fish might be foretold. 1 hope I may soon be able to congratulate you on the completion of this important undertaking. I am, Sir, Your obedient Servant, G. T. KINGSTON, Supt. of Meteorological Service, Dominion of Canada. Meteouological Office, Toronto, Canada, Dec. 9th, 1878. The lecturer continued, explaining that there were three different methods of maldng signals to shipf^ from a signal station. When there was sufficient wind to stretch them out, Hags were used in accord- with the provisions of the Internationaf Code, but when there was no wind, balls and pendants had to be used. A better .system than either was the use of semaphores, which are now extensively used in France, Spain, and which are beginning to be used in England and elsewhere. On application to tlio French Government, while he was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the honorable gentleman had received, for the use of the Parliamentary library in this city, a descriptive book of instructions upon the semaphore system, with charts and plates, which he laid before the meeting. The semaphore consists of a high mast with arms upon each side which are moved with chains and cranks 7 50 from below, and when placed at certain'angles, and in certain relations to each other, represent ciphers which indicate the names of ships or constitute the words of a message, according to the International Code, the books of which are translated in the languages of all civilized jiations. At St. Malo, in France, the lecturer witnessed the working of a semaphore in 1868, and described to the meeting how the signal man in the course of a very few minutes received a signal from a passing vessel in the. roadstead, and transmitted it in reply a telegram which was waiting its master from the owner, ordering it to Antwerp to unload. So that this vessel coming from a distance had been able to get an order from her owner in the space of about fifteen minutes, without anchoring, without sending a boat ashore, paying ship's dues, &c, &c. He did not desire immediately the adoption of the semaphore system in this country, but thought that at first the service might be I^erformed with balls and pendants. The lecturer said he had been going down the river and Gulf of St. Lawrence for twenty-seven years and he would tell how thmgs wore there as regards signalling. While there were a number of lighthouses in the Gulf and Lower St. Lawrence, there was only one, so far as he knew, (Father Point), whore a vessel might signal herself and receive signals in return. Not even at Cape Rosier the most projecting point on the south coast, and where there is a lighthouse that has cost perhaps !§100,000, can this be done, though Norwegian vessels, accustomed to this elsewhere, had frequently remained iu front of the lighthouse giving signals but receiving none in reply. He had been told by the keeper of the Bird Rock lighthouse, that ho could not signal and had no international code or signal book. This too was a situation where sometimes for two or three days together, and . often much more, no landing could be effiected by reason of the sea breaking upon the rock. He mentioned this to show how far this country was behind in this respect, and what had to be done to place our coasts on a par with those of Great Britain, Norway, France, and all civilized countries. The lighthouse keepers might' be made to understand the system of signalling well, and to remain at their post ready to signal passing vessels or to receive signals from them. " When the sj-stem recommended is in full operation, we will have at the projecting points of nearly all our sea coasts which lie in the track of vessels (as may be seen on the chart I have prepared and handed to the committee) telegraph stations, ready nt all times to re- port any wrecks or accidents to shipping occuring in the vicinity of such a station, stating the circumstances and assistance required. With a steamer such as the '-Napoleon," provided with a steel cable tow-line and other appliances for assisting wrecks, stationed at Gasp^ Basin, which is nearly in the centre of the system for the Galf and Lower St. Lawrence, that timely assistance so much needed by distress- ed crews, and of such importance in the saving of property in peril, would be rendered in most cases in twenty-four hours alter the acci- dent had occured. On the coasts of Prince Edward Island, Nova Sco- tia and New Brunswick, the vessels stranded, or in distress, can be aided in about the same time. The semaphores, on the other hand, would be of great use in reporting the vessels passing at Gasp6, the 61 raspe and Bird Rocks, Capo North, Scatari, on Cape Breton Island, Cape Canso, Cape Sable and Briar Island, in the same way i>s it is done now at Father Point." It appeared to him that money spent in building canals, deepen- ing channels, improving harbors, &c., would not be profitably spent unless the navigation oi the G-ult'and Lower St. Lawrence was made as secure as possible, and the best and most complete means adopted of sending assistance to ships sti-anded or in distress. A word on life saving establishments. "We have no life saving stations on the sea-coasts of the Dominion of Canada either kept up by the Government or at private expense ; and he is not aware that any organization has ever been made at the lighthouses with a view to assist in a prompt and efficient manner, except on Sable Island, shipwrecked crews and passengers in the vi- icinity of lighthouses. It is true that there might be some boats there, but they are not life-boats, nor rigged nor equipped for the saving of life ; and were they so rigged and equipped, there are, at several of the most important lighthouses, keepers totally unfit to manage a boat and to go to the assistance of the distressed sailors and passengers. With the telegraph along all our sea-coasts, a life-saving system could be organized with competent lighthouse-keepers who could then render to a certain extent the same kind of assistance that is given so ably, and so nobly by the life-boat service in England and other Europenn countries and some ports of the United States. Fancy the despondent ideas which are depressingly agitating the minds of the poor sailors and passengers who are in danger of being cast away on our shores during a tempest. If it were on the coast of England, they know that there are, at all the most important places, all kinds of appliances in readiness to help them and save their lives if possible. The telegraph will call for the needed assistance, and by- and-by the life-boat with its crew of heroic men comes in sight and extends them the succoring hand, On the coast of Canada, principally on the deserted coast of Au- ticosti, part of the Magdalen Islands and the coast of Labrador, there is no organized assistance for the distressed mariner. As had been well said by Mr, Cramp, the President of the Montreal Harbor Commissic::, "It was of no use making improve- ments in the upper waters of Ihe St. Lawrence, and deepening the channel between Montreal and Quebec, unless the lower por- tion of the river and Crulf of St. Lawrence were equally well served." He also slated at the same meeting that as the representative of the Harbor Board of Montreal, that body would support Mr. Fortin's views. G-oing back again to the subject of our competition with New York for the carrying trade of tho (rroat West, the lecturer referred to the 3. 4, i). G and even 10 per cent, insurance rates sometimes paid on freight to Quebec, as compared with the 1| or IJ paid on a similar cargo via New York sailing vessels, and acknowledged that he him- self, if an insurer, would not care, as he knew the helplessness of ships in distress in the G ulf, to insure them for less than the present Quebec rates. Even their cargoes were not at all times in safe keeping for their owners. As an illustration, be alluded to the barque "Cameo," 52 wliich loaded here last year Avith a cargo of tho best oak timber, esti- mated at a value of $16,000. The vessel having beeh wrecked upon Anticosti, the cargo was bought by the well-known firm of Messrs. .Tulien & Co., for the purpose of shipping it when brought back to this' port to England. Mr. Julien had already sent for two schooner loads of the cargo which had been brought to Quebec, but in September, two strange schooners, supp6sed to belong to one of the Slaritime Provinces, came to the ship, beat off her guardian, took forcible posses- sion of the property and having loaded with the best of timber, made off with it for parts unknown. On account of the defective means of communication, a month elapsed before this strange fact for a civilize'd country was made known to the proprietor, Mr. Julien. Although that gentleman has used every means in his power to identify the thieves, by communicating with Collectors of Customs at various ports, his efforts have met with no favorable result. Had there been tele-j graphic communication, such as suggested by this project, it is likely this bold robbery would not have been attempted, and if perpetrated, telegaaph news would have been sent all over the country to watch and detect the thieves, even probably belore they could have entered their own port. If our ships and cargoes, for ships have been robbed in the same way as the cargo of the "Cameo," can be exposed to such robberios at our very door, how can we expect to bring down the rates of insurance at least on a par with New York ; and without accom- plishing that how can we expect to compete successfully with that port, which is only twenty-one miles distant from the Atlantic, while this port is distant 840 miles from Cape Ray. Tho lecturer concluded by expressing his thanks for the attention manifested during his remarks, and solicited the assistance of the Quebec Board of Trade and of the merchants and shippers generally in carrying out the project which he was confident was fraught with j^o much importance not only to Quebec, but also to the whole world. Hon. Dr. Fortin sat down amidst loud applause, having spoken {'or nearly two hours. Mr. A. Joseph, President of the Dominion Board of Trade, said that the thanks of the meeting were largely due to the lecturer lor the interesting address he had given them upon a subject which he had made a life study, and he therefore felt that all present would gladly ac(iuiesoo in the resolution he lield in his hand. He then moved, j^econded by James G. Koss, Esq. : " That the thanks of this meeting are due to the Honorable P. Fortin, M.P., for his very able discourse on the subject of a more ex- t'.'nded telegraphic communication in the Eiver and Gulf of St. Lawrence, an undertaking which is of the greatest importance to the shipping and commercial interests, not onlv of Quebec, but of the whole Dominion." Mr. James G. Koss was inuth ploasod and irratified with the lec- ture, and hoped that irood would result from it. He trusted to see more interest taken in matters relating to Quebec. Our commerce was decaying, and what Uttle trade we had seemed to hd goincr from us. He urged that the merchants of Quebec shoitld oftener met and discuss matters afiecting their common interests. There was the question ot 53 leP. ex- St. the the lec- see iwas UiS. ot the fisheries for instance, which to many poopio in Qucher, was little more than a myth. Thinp^s had j,'radually come to such a paHS that he trusted some chanjyo would shortly occur to prevent tho Iosh of all our trade, and to furnish employment to our youn^ men and thus keep them at home. Hon. P. Garneau sugi^ested that the Board of Trade should invito Hon. Dr. Fortin to be one of the d«;legates from this city to the Dominion Board, where he would meet the intcllii^ent dejerfates from the Lower Provinces and be able to personally pre»^'nt his ideas upoii this very important matter. The President declared the vote of thaiiljs uuanirnonsly adopted, and tendered the same to the hon. lecturer. Hon. Dr. Fortin in reply, returned his thanks, for the compliment paid him, and with reference to the sui'-i,'estion of Jlon. P. Oarneau, said that if necessary, he was prepared to 1.^0 to Ottawa in any capacity whatever in support of his enterprise. He favored the carryins? out of the whole system at once, with the csception of the Labrador line, which might be built afterwards. To (insure this the, })etter, he sug- gested that a pamphlet be ])ublish<-d, eiahodying extracts from the report of the committee of the House of Commons, testimonials and other statements in favor ot ihe projer;t, with the ehart, which he con- sidered the most important ol" all. This pamphlet shonW be distributed to Members of Parliament, fieuators. I'oards of Trade and the Press. With regard to the cost, he said that tht; lanrl lines could be built as the Matane and Fox River line, by means of a Governraent subsidy paid once for all. while the building and working of the sabrnarino lines would be secured by an annual subsidy. "With regard to the ways and means, he \\ ould say that part of the expense of the .■^cheme could be taken IVom the fishery award, meaning that portion of in intended to bi-nefir, the fisheries. That award, he mu.st say, for the twelve years" lease by the Americans of our fisheries, over an t-xtent of 0,160 miles of coast, represented the dearest interests of the fi.shing population of the Dominion, and should be applied for the encouragement and development of the lisheries, in the manner best suited to supply the pressing needs of those engaged in that important indu.stry, such as an etfectiv; system of protection of the fisheries, the building of piers, break-waters and other improve- ments to benefit the fisherie.s aiui tlie fi.shermen. He would not recom- mend the laying our of the capital, \>\\t the sum mici'ht go into the Treasury as a special fand. ;ind the interest applied rothr- obji-et above stated. The AmHri<;;ms do non seem v^-ry much inclini-d to renew a lease of our fisheries undt-r the same conditions, since they paid under protest, and it might be that no treaty Wi^uld be hereafter made for Granting permission to the- Americans ri:» u.se our fisheries, Li that case we would require a numlier of steamers to protect our fisheries by excluding the Americans from our municipnl waters, and a large .iraount of money would be required for that object. It is therefore a vvi^e precaution to have th(> means in re.-idines.s. Ir must b<> ri^membfr- ed that "it was the orivincr up to the .Vmerican.s of the T^anadian fisheries from l^^.j-t to Idt-jt]. that secured their reciproeity tre.aty, which was so profitabli? to the oommerciai and agricultural portion of the population 54 of the Dominion, while the Canadian fishermen received nothing in return, but the contested advantage of selling their fish in the States. Dr. Marsden said he was convinced that the Government would do as requested m the matter so soon as the subject was represented to them. ^ The meeting then broke up about 4.15 VM. • • 65 [CopV.] MEMORIAL OF THK COUNCIL OF THK MONTREAL BOARD OF TRADE. Okfice Board of Trade, Montreal, Nuv. Ulh, 1878. Hon. J. C. Tope, Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Ottawa. Sir, — The Council of this Board have long had under considera- tion the very important question of connecting by telegraphic com- munication the Island of Anticosti and the Magdalen Islands with the main lines on the shores of Gaspe, Prince Edward Island, Capc^ Breton. &c. This subject, which in the opinion of this Council is one of the most important thaff could engage the attention of the Government, was prominently introduced by the Hon. Pierre Fortin at a meeting of this Board, at which were present also members of the Harbour Commission. The details of his scheme, illustrated by a carefully prepared map showing the proposed routes to be taken, were fully developed and clearly explained by the honorable gentleman. The Council feel that they cannot too strongly urge upon your Honorable self, as the specially appointed guardian of the shipping interests of the Dominion, the great importance of this subject, and in so doing would beg you to note that total and partial wrecks are of yearly occurrence on the Island of Anticosti, a list hereto appended giving the names and dates of twenty of the most disastrous that have hap- pened since the year of 1860, twelve of which were entirely lost. One vessel mentioned on this list, the Royal Mail Steamer " North Amer- ican," went ashore on the 26th of June, 1867, and remained there more than two weeks before tidings of the disaster reached Quebec and Montreal, the passengers and crew meanwhile living in tents or huts on the Island. In other cases vessels have been cast ashore late in the fall and supposed to have been lost with all on board, but the follow- ing spring the survivors of their crews were found on the Island, and they have proved that had it been possible to have made known the situation of their vessels in time, all could have been saved, many of them remaining ashore but slightly injured for five or six days, and afterwards brokeA up by storm.s. It may suffice to particularize one other instance : the steamship " Lake Megantic," of the Beaver line, left Quebec on the morning of the 20th July last, and at midnight of the 22nd went ashore on Anticosti, seven miles east of its southern point ; there were some eighty souls on board, and a cargo valued at about $200,000 ; fortunately a small and unseaworthy schooner was found at the south point, on board of which the Captain of the Steamer and a few of his crew embarked on the 26th, reaching Gaspe, after a perilous voyage, on the 29th J uly, from whence the owners were telegraphed. It is of course well known to you that this fine steamer, valued at about $300,000, became a total wreck. Additional 56 instances might be cited of vessels becoming totally lost that in all probability could have been saved by timely assistance, the money value of any one of which was greater than the estimated cost of the I)roposed telegraphic scheme. The premium of insurance on outward and inward bound cargoes in the fall of the year forms a very serious item against exporters and importers by the lliver St. Lawrence, frequently operating as an effec- tual bar to shipments by this route, but there is every reason to be- lieve that provided with such ready means of succor in the event of disaster as would be secured through the proposed telegraphic sys- tem, marine risks would be so far diminished that rates of insurance would decline, and thus the country would be benefitted far beyond any probable cost of the telegraphic scheme. The Council, in conclusion, would say that they earnestly hope that the subject which they now have the honor to lay before you, may engage the early attention of the Government, and they trust that the commercial community may see this important work placed under construction at the earliest possible date. * I have the honor to be, Sir, Your o])e(lient Servant, (Signed,) HENRY LYMAN, President. List of principal wrecks of O.-oan Vessels on the Island of Anticosti since 18G0. Lord Warrish wrecked Dec. 11, 1860. Commerce " May 2, 1861. Neva " May 29, 1863. James G-lasson " Sept. 16, 1863. Able Seaman " April 12, 1864. Ship Shard " Aug. 6,1865. S. tf. North American " June 26, 1867. Tadousac " Nov. 4,1867. Tanari " July 25, 1870. Clutha " Sept. 25, 1870. Russia " Dec. 6,1870. Lake Huron " No^•. — , 1871. Tadmor :... ' May 5, 1872. Royal Charter ■' May 5,1872. Barque A gda " Aug. — ,1872. ShipShandon " Oct. 1>, 1874. Barque Northumbria " Nov. 6, 1877. S. S. Lake Megantic " July 22, 1878. City of Manitowac " Aug. 19, 1878. S. S. Vindolana " Aug. 20, 1878. Of the above, twelve were total wrecks. 57 [COPY.J MEMORIAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE QUEBEC BOARD OF TRADE. Office of the Quebec Board of Trade, Quebec, 2Slh December, 1878. Sir, — On behalf of tlie Council of the Quebec Board of Trade, I beg to address you on tho subject of telegraphic communication to Anticosti and other Islands in the Clulf and River 8t. Lawrence, and on the north shore to Forteau ; an undertaking of tho greatest impor- tance to the shipping and commercial communities of the Dominion. It would be needless here to detail at length the disasters and enormous losses which have taken place during the past decade, through wrecks C'l tlie Island of Anticosti, and in the Lower St. Lawrence, many of which it is supposed would not have occurred had a general system of telegraphy existed, but the Council cannot refrain from laying before you the desirability of adopting measures in the establishment ol some such comprehensive system of telegraphic connection as that proposed by the Honorable P. Fortin, as will tend to lessen marine losses, ensure greater safety to life, and improve the navigation of our great waterway. Respectfully praying that tho foregoing subjo(?t may receive your serious consideration. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient Servant, (L.S.) (Sig'ned,) JOSEPH SHEHYN, President. To Hon. J. C. Pope, Minister of Marine & Fisheries, Ottawa. mm^^mmmmmm 1 i k *~ -^m 66' es' «•*• 6.?' Si' (IKsrrrniian H ■ /"^ c bV bVl ■"'.., •y ;.v .-.o .•V'' cV ^v i€ K X r ■/',' / /^ lie '/hnnsiitlantic Suhmc''"'^ »•/"•' y 4S* W> W H /I4// Itncs in ill cut f i:rtsti//^ trlvt/rupfi lines . Yellow linct aidicalf pro/edftl (rliufiuiph lines Hliick liiu\t i»u'w(flf onlinuNj Inidi of' nessels . bnzr X !•: w r jv s \v Km Wai-t I «■ A I. Mii.r.M ■*$ - +■ ■fit ^^ >• /^ Jy GrtiiiJ Sliiii,!! 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