IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I Itt Uii 12.2 ■u ■1^ L25 il.4 ■/im ' fi A :V>? -''^'^ ^r/ '/ ^^.^* CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. iV Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical Notas / Notes techniques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for fiiming. Physical features of this copy which may alter any of the Images in the reproduction are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm* le meiileur exemplaire qu'il lui a *tA possible de se procurer. Certains d«fauts susceptlbles de nuire A la qualit* de la reproduction sont notAs cl-dessous. 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L'exempidire f llm« fut reprodult grAce k la g«n«roslt« de i'Atabiissement prAteur suivant : La bIbllothAque des Archives publlques du Canada Les cartes ou les planches trop grandee pour Atre reprodultes en un seul ciichA sont fllmAes A partir de Tengle supArieure gauche, de gauche A droite et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessalre. Le diagramme suivant iilustre la mAthode : 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ' LETTERS FROM ', • HONOftABLE P. FORTIN, MP. ON TUE I V TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE ON THE UNITED STATES SIGNAL SERVICE AND ON THK NORWEGIAN TELEGRAPH SYSTEM i » „ f- .■■■ OTTAWA: PRINTBD BY MACLEAN, ROGER * 00./ WBLLINQTON STREET. 1881. _Ji<. u^Hltk^„. -a» ; 1 .'1 I Ij,'- #. > ■ C^^OOV LimiRS FROM HON. P. FORTIN, M.P. ON THE TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE SYSTEM IN THE GULF OF St. LAWRENCE; ON THE UNITED STATES SIGNAL SERVICE; AND ON THE NORWEGIAN TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. THE GULF SYSTEM. (Translalitni.) No. 19591. Ottawa, 28tli November, 1881. Sir, — In the early part of the month of May, 1815, six large steamera carrying over one tb'" leand persons and valuable cargoes in addition, were considerably delayed, so jo of them for several weeks, in thoiv course through the gulf of St. Law- rence. They were of course the vanguard of :ho fleet of steamers which enter our ports of Quebec and Montreal every year. Great anxiety resulted in Canada, in the United States and in Euro][ ), as may well be fancied. Thei^ were no means of communication whatsoever with the coasts or islands near which these vessels might be. Had they foundered on the high seaa ? Had they been driven ashore by the ice ? Or were they simply detained by an im- passable ice barrier, at the entrance of the gulf ? No one knew, no one could know. The idea of a telegi'aphic system for our coasts and the islands of the gulf, was mooted in consequence of the commotion caused in maritime circles bv fears for the safety of those vessels. I must add that it then becanr~ vident that a powerful auxiliary was needed for the navigation of the St. Lawrence. The press received the suggestion with favor, and the ship-ov-ners and seamen gave it their best support, fo" they saw that it was a new means of developing the navigation of that magni- f Qt river.* In 1876, a committee of the House of Commons, after an examination of tho proposed system of telegraphs, its advantages and probable cost, reported strongly iu favor of the establishment of the system. The Government soon took the matier in hand, for public opinion evidently demanded it ; and in 1879, a sum of $35,000 was voted by Parliament, of which 1^0,000 was for a coast lino between Halifax and Canso. The remaining $15,000 was to bo an annual permanent grant olfered in order to induce capitalists to construct and work tho telegraphic system of tho Magdalen Inlands and Anticosti. But the attempt did not succeed, for the undertaking seemed to bo a hazardous one, though it was not so in reality. In the following year, I8fc0, $iO,4^ miles of land line, f.'^ 36 " electric cable. ' For the Province of New Brunswick : ' 29^ miles of land lino, ^tW " electric cable. Total. Telegraph lines on land, SO.'iJ milos. Submarine electric cables, 119 " Total number of Stations, 65. GULF OP ST. LA WHENCE. PROPOSED LINES. The Magdalen Islands and Anticosti systems being completed and in full opera. tiOD, we must deal with the lino on tbo north shore. At first it was considered impossible to reach tho Strait of Belle-Isle, in view of the apparent difficulty of such an undertaking, at certain points on tho coast. But, in 1878, after further examination, the idea of extending tho lino to Foi'teau Bay, in the Strait of Belle-Isle, was mooted and received with favor by tho press and tho public. The more tho matter is looked into tho more it becomes evident that, inasmuch as the whole of tho steam fleet and many sailing vessels have adopted tho Strait of Bcllo-Isle as the most direct and shortest route from tho Atlantic to Quebec and Montreal, tl ly should bo afforded facilities in tho form of telegraphic communi- cation with the t ists, harbors and bays of that Strait. Now at the present moment, thcso coasts which are almost uninhabited, and which are sterile and afford no resource except the tishorioM, are still entirely without communication either by postal service or by telegraph, with tho rest of tho country. And if an accident happens to a vessel on these coasts thoro arc no moans whatever of promptly making known her dangerous position and of summoning help in time. The interests of commerce then, urf^ently call for tho extension of the telegraph line on the north shore as far as Forteau Bay, or rather to Point Amour (which is east of that bay and where there is a lighthouse and fog-whistle), to meet tho require- ments of navigation. But wo shall gain something more by the opening of this line, for when wo have a telegraph station at Point Amour lighthouhe, which will then bo in constant connection with Canada, tho United States, and in fact the whole world, it will bo possible to land at Forteau Bay, which is easy of access at all times during tho season of navigation, despatches, lists of p&ssongei's, private messages, &c., &c., after a run of five days only from Moville, Ireland. This would then bo the most rapid route for tho transmission of news from Europe to America by steamer, and in that respect it would confer an undoubted superiority on Canada. It would be in a sense a realization of tho greatly desired fiveaay journey between Europe and America. , A« a matter of fact the aoa voyage can only bo eaid to last ho long as you aro on tha wide seas, and, as it wore, cut off from the world and utterly unabid to com- municate with the land, tbat is to say, during tbe ouoan voyage between ^ oville and Fortoau. Once that port made, vessels would once more be in communication with the whole world by moanH of the telegraph. What is still more, betv/oon Forteau and (Juebcc other moans of communication would be available, viz . — lat Th? telegraph stations and signal stations of the Island of Anticosti, nine in number; 2nd The stations on the south shore of the St. Lawrence from Gasp6 to Quebec, numbering ten, being a total of nineteen. It seems to mo that this is a national work, that it forms part of the system of coast telegraphs, which should bo put in operation as soon as possible if wc desire to keep pace with our noighboui*8 or compote with them successfully in the important matter of the carrying trade between Europe and America, But I have been looking at the project under one of its aspects onl}'. See what iisoful and profitublo Kcrvico this telegraph line would render to the vast and well known iishorios of Labrador and to vessels in distress on those remote and isolated coasts. NORTH SHORE TELEURAI'II LI.XE CONSIDERED AS AN ACXILIART TO THE FISHERIES. The Government has been (and I think still is) negotiating with the Montreal Telegraph Company for the extension of this line next spring from Millo Vachos to I'oinio des Mouts. Moreover, as there aro no maritime fisheries or very few in this locality, the remarks I iim about to make on the Labrador fisheries will apply only to the coast line extending from Pointe des Monts to Anse aux Blancs Sablons, the eastern limit of Canada, and Forteau is only twelve miles further east than Blancs Sablons. I shall divide the coast into two parts : — The first extends from Pointe des Monts to Esquimaux Point, the latter pulr^t being an incorporated village with over fifteen hundred inhabitants, all fishermen. '' '" ''■ " Extent of coast, 190 goographicul miles. __\ ' Number of harbors and fishing stations 2V " fishing schooners 44 " fishing boats 445 ** men employed in the fisheries 2,113 Tho second part extends from Esquimaux Point to Anse aux Blancs Sablons, the eastern limit of Canada, and thence to Forteau Bay, which is only 12 miles further. Extent of coast in geographical miles 290 Number of harbors and fishing statiors 25 " fishing schoonoi 8 22 " fishing boats 298 ** men employed in the fisheries 820 • Value of products of the various fiiheries of this coast in 1880, $1,401,288.95. — One million four hundred and one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight dollars, ninety-five cents. I take the following from the report, 1880, of the officer in charge of the expedition for tho protection of the tidhories in tho Gulf of St. Lawroaco, Dr. "Wakeham. In the chapter headed " Cod," page 7G of his repoi t, the Doctor says, speaking of the north shore : — " This fishery has been one of unusual abundance. The season was far advanced " before the fishing began, but there seemed to be no limit to the quantity of fish. " The various fishing establishments wore taxed to the utmost to handle tho fish, " and in some cases thore was a scarcity of salt for curing purposes. Had we had " telegraphic communication with the north shore, as I trust wo will have before " very long, many of our south Hbore fisberr.ion would havo abandonod the fisbioff on " the Houtb Hboro and taken tbomsolvcB and appliancoii across ,to Iho north snore " where the tittbing wns so good. *)(i>|(* >K * * ytt m " There muHt have been at least 500 schooners cod-fishing off St. Augustine And Bonne J<]Hi)«ranco Divisions." Dr. Wakoham estimates at 175,000 cwts., the quantity of cod taken by those schooners, most of which belong to the Maritime Provinces. Thus Dr. Wakoham does nothoi^itate to assert that with a telegraph line on the north shore, the south shore fishermen who for whole months took hardly anything, might have been notified by means of the electric telegraph to go to the north shore, A distance of only one day's sail, there to gather an abundant harvest, in the vast field cultivated by the hands of Providence itself, without the help of man, nnd take their share of the rich and varied yield of cod, herring and Qvory species of smaller fish upon which the former prey, which furnish an article of food so wholesome and Moea.sily shipped to foreign countries. But this is not all. On the eastern part of this coast, that is to say, from Esquimaux Point to Anse nux Blancs Sablons, the fishing schooners go from harbor to harbor, from fishing post to fishing post, seeking for cod and herring, but they are as it were groping in the dark, and when they are in one harbor they do not know what is taking place on the rest of the coast. They are simply '*' trying their luck." Sometimes they succeed. But havo I not, myself, during the sixteen years that r commanded the service for the protection of the fisheries in the Gulf of St. Law- rence, many a time seen from twenty-five to fifty schooners anchored for weeks in some harbor waiting for cod or herring ? But the shoals of fish had struck the coast elsewhere, and whilein neighboring harboi-s, great takes wore being mode, these vessels were waiting their chance, not knowing, and quite unable to know, wliut was taking place at other points of the coast on eitlier side of them. The unfortunate fishermen were meantime a prey to depression and weariness during tho.se days of enforced idleness, which destroyed their brightest hopes. But the telegraph would completely alter the face of things in these waters, since the fishermen whether residents of the coasts or belonging to schooners frequenting them yearly for the purpose of fishing, would know on what part of the coasts, near what harbor, the shoals of fish abound and where the bait run in. In short they would follow the trail of the fish as the hunter follows game on land. I may say, moreover, that all who are well acquainted with the north shore and the coast oi Labrador are firmly convinced of the utility or rather the necessity, of a telegraphic line on this coast. Now with regard to theercction of this line, I leave it to those who are skilled in such matters to say whether wo can or cannot reach Forteau all the way by means of lines erected on land along the coast. I may say, however, that between EHquimaux Point and Forteau there are many serious difiiculties in the way of erecting a line of the kind, on account of the islands and rocks bordering the coast; atsome points the islands extend as far out as twelve miles from the shore. Now, telegraph or signal stations can only be of use when located on the islands in the offing, where the harbors used by the fishermen are located. Within the last few yea»'s great improvements have been made in sub-marine cables, and the cost has been much reduced, so that submarine lines might be used for a great portion of this telegraphic system. From Point dos Monts to Esquimaux Point there can bo no serious difficulty whatever in the way of erecting a land telegraph the whole way along the coast, so that telegraph and signal stations can be placed at all the chief harbors and fishing stations. Between Esquimaux Point and Forteau, if submarine -electric cables have to be used, as will probably bo the cose, the cables may be submerged along the coast, in many places inside the outer islands and rocks and be made to connect ono important harbor or fishing place with another. 8 As the result of my own study of the matter, of the information I have gathered and of my experience derived from sixteen years of cruising on this coast, I woald point out the following as the harbors or fishing stations where the submarine cables ibouUl touch and where there should bo telegraph or Hignal stations : Milet. 1. Esquimaux Point 2. Nataskuan (the Harbor) 65 3. Coacoachou t6 4. Little Meoatina 48 , 5. Great Mecatina • 18 tf. LaTabatidre 6 7. St. Augustin 2& 8. Bonne Esp^rance.... 36 9. Bradoro Bay.. . .-. 15 10. Anse aux Blancs Sablons 8 n. Bny of Fortcau 12 13. A station at Nataskunn Point connected with the Harbour of Nataskuan. 0BORT DESCRIPTION OF THE SByCRAL HARBORS ABOyE KENTIONED. 1. Esquimaux Point is an excellent harbor, capable of sholtering twQ hundred or more vessels of any tonnage. The village has over 1500 inhabitants, all fishermen, owning twenty-three (23) schoonoi's and a large number of fishing boats, all employed in catching seal, cod and herring in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 2. The harbor of Nataskuan is capable of affording perfect shelter to 200 fishing Ecbooners. There is also an anchorage for vessels of the largest tonnage. Along the Nutaskuan Coast, in the vicinity, and on the banks in the offing, cod is always to be found in abundance. Nataskuan has always been considered one of the best fishing grounds of the whole north shore. It is in consequence resorted to each year by a largo number of fishing schooners, chiefly from the Maritime Provinces. There are several fishing establishments in the harbor, and the population consists of some fifteen families. At a distance of three miles towaixls the south, is the well known Nataskuan river, one of the most productive salmon rivera of the north shore. 3. Coacoachoo, at the entrance of the river of that name, is one of the best harbors on this coast. It is capable of sheltering a whole fleet of large vessels. It is situated a few miles west of Cape Whittle, which is at the entrance of the Strait of Belle Isle. Though there are no important fisheries in the vicinity of this harbor, still it would be an advantage to connect it with the telegraphic system, for it might serve as a port of refuge for the large steamers navigating these waters in case of their being disabled. 4. Little Mecatina Island has two good harbors for fishing-schooners, and there are good cod-fishing grounds in the vicinity. Moreover, it stands high out of the sea and is visible from a long distance, and vessels navigating the strait may require to run in there for shelter. 5. Great Mecatina is also a lofty island easily identified from a distance off, and ia its vicinity is the harbor of Bay des Moutons, one of the best and most frequented of the whole coast. A large number of schooners from the Pi-ovince of Quebec and the Maritime Provinces resort to it every year, and the fishing banks of the vicinity are excellent and easy of access. Bait is also, generally eppaking, abundant. 6. La Tabatidre (Fish Harbor) is one of the best seal fishing grounds of the Trholo coast. It is also inhabited by several families. 7. St. Augustin consists of a group of islands lying oif the m'^uth of the river of tl a g tl tl 8 I h 1 F f a t B f f 8 ■. ( that name, and not loes than twolvo miles from the main land. It has always been an important centre for the seal, salmon, cod and herring fisheries. There are several good and well known harbors in this group of ittlands. 8. Bonne Esperanco is one of the best known and most frequented harbors of the coast, like Bay des Saumons, whose waters flow into it. It lies off the mouth of the river St. Paul or Quitzaqui, a river of considerable magnitude and renowned as a salmon river ever since the dipcovery of Canada. In former days large numbers of Esquimaux and Indians lived on this part of the Labrador coast, and when Jacques Cartier visited it for the first time, the French had already a stone fort erected and mounted with cannon to meet their assaults. This fort had been built at the head of a largo bay, which was then called tbo " Port de Brest." It is now " Old Fort Bay," and is situated a few miles to the west of the St. Paul Kiver. The cod fisheries of Bonne Esp6rance and Baio dos Saumons are about the most productive on the north shore. 9. Bradoro Bay has long been celebrated for its seal, herring and cod fisheries. The Spaniards had largo fishing establishments hero, before the French entered these waters. Bradore has always been an important centre. There are here two harbors for vessels of every class. A largo number of fishing vessels resort to this locality every year for the cod and herring fisheries, the latter being the well-known Labrador herring. In the vicinity of Bradore, at Anse des Dunes, I have seen as many as six hundred (600) barrels of herring taken in one haul with a seine. S 10. Anse aux Blancs Sablons is a celebrated and well known locality. | There are several large fishing establishments there, and it is the yearly resort ' of some two or three hundred fishing schooners attracted by its cod and herring fisheries, which are generally speaking most productive. Blancs Sablons Bay is sheltered by two islands. He ^ Bois and lie Yerte. At this 1 place, I have often seen boats manned by two men only, take as many as one thou- sand cod and even more in a single day. A large number of fishing schooners gather in this harbor every year. j The eastern boundary line of Canada, is at the head of this bay near the mouth { of a small river. Beyond is Labrador, under the jurisdiction of Newfoundland. 11. Forteau Bay is one of the finest on the whole coast, it offers great facilities for the cod and herring fisheries. There are a number of residents engaged in fishing and hunting. The largest vessels can run in hero at all times, day or night, while the navigation is open in the Strait of Belle-Isle. There is a good anchorage and good shelter from all winds. On the east side is Point Amour, on which stands one of the finest lighthouses in America. It is a lofty tower built of stone, brick and cement, furnished with a Fresnel dioptric light, which is visible from the other side of the strait, a distance of over 15 miles. It is also furnished with a steam whistle for the guidance of vessels in foggy weather. This is the point I recommend as the terminus of the North Shore telegraphic line. Before concluding I would point out that the whole network of sub-marine cables starting from Esquimaux Point and extending towards Forteau, and in its course connecting all the harbors and fishing stations I have enumerated, can nearly every- where, bo submerged inside thb outer islands, and will therefore be sheltered from the ice which sometimes grounds on the coast. It may not be out of place to mention hero that on the 30th June, 1862, when on board the " Napoleon III," I found an iceberg agi'ound at the entrance of Forteau Bay, where it lay for over a month, in twenty-five fathoms of water. It stood at least seventy (70) feet above the water. Its total height was therefore two hundred and twenty feet. I climbed the iceberg with four of my crew. The telegraphic systems above mentioned on the island of Anticosti.the Magdalen Island and Grand Manan Island, were commenced, completed and put in operation under your administration. To you, sir, also should fall tho honor of completing, by „*. JIJL 10 the extension of the north shore line to Forteau, the coast telegraphic system of the gulf of St. Lawrence, which will be of such vast service to shipping, to trade and to the fisheries of Canada. Tou will doubtless have no difficulty in obtaining from Parliament the means for prosecuting energetically the work of construction already begun on tbis north shore line, so that it may reach Forteau within a few years. I cannot conclude without calling your attention to a number of short telegraphic lines which should bo erected in order to connect several important points on the sea coasts of the Provinces with the telegraphic system of Canada. I would mention specially : 1. A line about 16 miles in length to connect the east point of Prince Edward Island with the telegraphic system of that island. 2. A line one tenth of a mile in length to connect Cape North Lighthouse on that island with the same f-ystem. 3. A line of 20 miles in length to connect the lighthouse at Point Escuminac, the southern point of Mii'amichi Bay, with the telegraphic system of New Brunswick. 4. Another line of about Ifi miles in length to connect the extreme eastern point of Cape Sable Island with the port of Barrington, Nova Scotia. ^^1: COAST LINE TELEGRAPHS IN THE UPPER LAKES. .■.•*l I have not spoken as yet of the great lakes, that unbroken chain of inland seas which crablts us to penetrate to the hear*^, of the continent of North America, as a field to which the system of coast telegraphs might be applied with advantage. It is not that I am unwilling to admit their usefulness for our inland navigation, but it is hardly two years since the Government began the erection of coast telegraph lines, and it seemed to mo to bo proper that the coasts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, our great commercial highway, should receive before all othei-s, the benefit of this jwwerful agent which annihilates time and distance. But no\r that the telegraphic systems of the Gulf of St. Lawrence have been in good part constructed, and we are in hopes of seeing the whole completed within a few years, it is natural that public attention should bo directed towards the groat lakes, the inland and not least important portion of the great highway of the St. Lawrence. Canada holds the north shore of the following great lakes : Erie, Ontario, Huron, and Superior. Now the following is the approximate length of the Canadian coast of each of these lakes, in English miles : Lake Ontario 250 miles. :". •. " Erie 230 •' ... , 1 , . ,, '' Huron, including Georgian Bay 620 " • , ;^, V. " Superior ....400 " ^ ^ ' .^ V ', ,',,,': J'.; ; ,. Total 1,560 miles. I must say that I have not as yet full}' informed myself as to the real require- ments of navigation on these lakes, as to coast telegraphs, but I can at least recom- mend what is most urgent and necessary, namely, telegraphic lines starting from the lighthouses erected on the most prominent points and their connection with the nearest telegraph line, thus placing these lighthouses, which would all serve as points of observation, in permanent connection with the telegraphic system of Canada. I would mention specially Long Point, Rondeau Point, and Point Pelee in Lake Erie ; Salmon Point on Lake Ontario, &c., &c. Once the system of coast telegraphs is put in operation on the shores of the lakes, the signal system will follow of^itself and in a short time the whole lake fleet will at last adopt the international code of signals. Thus vessel owners on the one band will be enabled to follow their vessels from point to point, and the vesseU themselves will be enabled to call promptly for all needed assistance in case of accident^ grounding, &c., &c. I append to this letter a testimonial in favor of the coast telegraph system and H ile further oxtensioti along the north coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, signed by all the agents of Maritime Insurance Companies at Montreal, and two others, one from J. B, F. Paine hand, Collector of Customs of the Mngd»len Islands, and the other froTQ. Messrs. Eitchie & Co., relating to services vondored to shipping by the telegraph system of the Magdalen Islands. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant. To the Honorable Sir Hector L. Langevin, K.C.M.G., C.B., Minister of Public Works. P. FORTIN. {Translation.) Magdalen Islands, Ajiiierst Harbor, Vid PiCTOU, Tth December, 1881. Sib, — In the interest of the telegraphic lines established on these islands, I have the honor to send you the enclosed letter just received from the important mercantile house of D. & J. Ritchie & Co., of Newcastle, N.B., showing the service rendered to them by the line, when their vessel, the " Jardine Bros.," went ashore in September, on these iulands. The same was the case with the ship "Governor;" and if I was enabled to transmit the message to the master and give him the instruction received it was thanks to the telegraph line. With the help of good counsel, these vessels whose safety was imperilled, were enabled to escape from difficulties which might have been fatal, and as shewn by the letter, the " Jardlne Bros," and " The Governor " •were floated without serious damage. You are at liberty, Sir, to make use of this letter and even to publif^h it, if you consider it useful to do so, in the interests of the telegraph, which it is now evident we could not do without. I have the honor to be. Sir, ,\,. Your most obedient sci'vunt. ;...t v.; vV :v i^A ... .. V, . J. B. F. PAINCHAUD, ; , ■ Collector of Customs. Hon. P. FoRTiN, M.P. Newcastle, N.B., 2Sth November, 1881. Dear Sir, — We write you at present to state that we desire to bear you our testimony to the very great value we attach to the cable and telegraph lines estab-* lished and connected with your islands, and which in our opinion is likely to prove a great boon to shipping interests generally and especially of the Dominion. We have to acknowledge the very material benefit we have received from the said com- munication on the occasion of the stranding of our vessel the " Jardine Brothers " on the Magdalens in September last. Owing to the established line we were enabled to get immediate advice from our captain and could at once communicate with him and send such instructions which, together with the assistance rendered, probably saved said ship from becoming a wreck, but which in this case was floated without any serious damage or expense attending. The writer had the opportunity of being on the spot at the time and had the satisfaction of seeing the ship proceed on her voyage from England to Newcastle, N.B. There is no doubt that the established telegraph lines connecting with your islands is of the highest importance to all ship owners and others who may be similarly circumstanced as ourselves, .and you are at liberty to publish the above if you wish. Wo remain, dear sir, v. :: Yours truly, D. k .T. RITCHIE & CO. F. B. F. Painohaud, Esq. ^ Collector of Customs, * Magdalen Islands. # UNITED STATES SIGNAL SERVICR. Ottawa, 28th November, 1881.. Sir, — I think it my duty to lay before 3'ou the following letter which General Hazf^n, Chief of the United States Signal Service, did me the honor of sendinfj to mo in the month of Aupfuxt last. After merely glancing at the chart which accompanies it one can form an idea of the magnificent signal system which exists in the United States. In Canada we are progressing in the same direction. Let us endeavor to bo their rivals and even their superiors if such is possible in increasing the extent and efficiency of such works, which have as their object the succoring of our follow men, and the lessening the losses to those engaged in navigation, occui-ring through shipwrecks. I have the honor to be. Sir, "; Your obedient servant, P. FORT IN. The lion. Sir Hector L. Lanqevin, K.C.M.G., C.B. Minister of Public "Works. W*.R DEPARTMENT. y Office OP THE Chief Signal Officer, ^ ^ • Washington City, 5th August, 1881. Sib, — I have the honor, in compliance with your letter of the 12th ultimo, to enclose a description of the sea coast telegraph lines of this service, connecting the life saving stations, with a map of the longest sections of the line. The connections with Ulock and Thatchers Islands, referred to in the text, are BO short that I have not thought it necessary to send a map of them. I shall be very glad to furnish any further information, if that enclosed shall bo found insufficient. With assurance of my regard, believe me, ► , ,• ^,. . , Very truly, yours, . ..:.-* ^ ' .','J, 'I': ' ':. Z.'^''S 'Xu:.\. , .V':-";'.'' %-^ W. B. HAZEN, , V , ^vr, ,: , , ,; ., Brigade and Brevet Major General, V . , V.': , ., ,, Chief Signal Officer, U.S.A. Mr. p. KoiiTiN, M.P., Member of the House of Commons, ,. J; j:] < Canada. f'l', DESCRIPTION. f On March 3, 1873, Congress authorized the establishment of signal service stations at lighthouses and life-saving stations on the lakes and sea coast, and mado provision for connecting the same with telegraph lines or cables. Since that date lines have been built from Sandy Hook, New Jersey, south along the coast to Cape May, New Jersey; from Delaware Breakwater, Delaware to Chin- coteaqui, Va. ; from Norfolk, Va., vid Cape Henry, Va,, Kotty Hawk, Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout and Wilmington to Smithville, N. C, the total distance is about 510 miles. In order to connect these with tho office of the Chief Signal Officer, wires aro^ leased from the Western Union Telegraph Co., viz:— from Capo May, N. J., vid Philadelphia, Pa., Baltimore, Md., and Washington, D. C, to Norlolk, Va., and from Delaware Breakwater, Del., to Philadelphia, Pa. 19 The following have been built and are operated by the Bignal service, but are merely connected with the Western Union Telegraph Company, viz : — from Narra- gansett Pier vid Point Judith to Block Island, R.I., and from Rockport to Thatcher's Isiand, Mass. All are operated on the Morse system. The following ai'e the stations whore meteorological observations are takers and cautionary signals displayed on the above, viz: — Thatcher's Island, Mass; Sbint Judith, New Shoreham and South East Light, Block Island, R.L; Sandy Hook, Barnegai, Atlantic City and Cape May, N.J.; Delaware Breakwater, Del.; Chinco- teaqui, Norfolk and Cape Henry, Va.; Kitty Hawk, Hatteras, Portsmouth, Fort Macon, Wilmington and Sraithvillo, N.C. Repair stations are located at Manasquan and Little Egg Harbor (Life Saving Station No. 23), M.J. ; Ocean City, Md.; Life Saving Station No. 6, (near False Capo), Cape Lookout, New River and Sloop Point, N.C. From Cape Henry to Kitty Hawk, there is a second line which connects the eleven intermediate Life Saving Stations with them by telephone, thus bringing the two branches of the (jrovernmout service (Treasury and War) into united relations to each other. The stations on the coast line arc fully equipped with meteorological instruments for observations and signal apparatus for communicating with vessels passing or in distress. The practical result of the system is, first, to warn passing vessels of approaching storms, so they may seek shelter; seconc, in case of vessels being in distress to quickly summon the aid of the Life Saving Crows and the Wrecking Co, and to notify interested parties ; third, Hatteras is a valuable station for first feeling the effect of a hurricane approaching the coast from the south and south-east. During the building of the Cape Henry-Kitty Hawk section a vessel having a <5argo of tea was stranded. The aid of the Norfolk Wrecking Co. was at once sum- moned. Both the vessel and cargo were saved, in advance of a severe storm which swept the coast. The value of the cargo was more than three times the cost of that section. In case of vessels in distress temporary stations are opaned abreast the same on the beach for the purpose of giving such personal assistance as may be possible, and for transmitting all information without any delay by wire to this office, to Wrecking Companies, Boards of Trade, Chambers of Commerce, &c. It was found necessary to introduce into the lines drawn on accompanying map, twenty-seven lengths of submarine cable, to cross inlets which are navigable to small craft, and where on account of the low banks and the necessities of navigation, a suspended wire could not be used. The total length of these cables is eighteen miles, the shortest single length is thirteen yards, the longest forty-five hundred and eighty- one yards. Thatcher's and Block Islands on the Now England coast are connected with the shore by cables which are respectively twenty-six hundred and forty yards, and ten miles in length. The average cost of building the line, the labor having been done by troops, is about seventy dollars per mile. The average cost ot establishing the stations is one ' hundred (100) dollars per station ; the yearly average cost of maintaining station is three hundred (300) dollars ; yearly average cost of maintaining lino is thirty-six hundred and four f 3,604) dollars for a total of about five hundred and forty (540) miles. This is exclusive of pay of troops and operators. No rent is paid at Lile-Saving Stations. All signal service men are instructed in telegraphy, and the sea coast lines are operated on the Morse system, excepting the telephone line from Cape Henry to Kitty Hawk. The accompanying Chart shows all U. S. linos operated by the signal service. All other signal service stations of observatians, &c., than those on the sea coast telegraph lines, are in telegraphic communication with this office through the lines of the Western Union (principally) and other telegraph companies. ' . 14 • :„. THE NOHWEGIAN TELEGRAPniC SYSTEM. (Translation.) Ottawa, 28th November, 1«'S1. Sib, — The task which I have imposod upon myie:/, and which I hove the honor to bring before your notice, would be incomplete if I did not send you the ioUowio,^ ' short notice upon the telegraphic systora of Norway. A country which in respect t<> its Climate, the industrial occupations engaged in there, the fisheries, the timber ' trade, the extent of water communication, the coasting trade, the oonfiguratlon of its sea coasts, much resembles our Maritime Provinces and the Province of Quebec. L^rwayhas a sea coast of over 1500 nautical miles in extent, measured in a direct line, hut by following the indentation r"its bays and fiords, some of which ai-o 60 miles in depth, the figure of 2,000 miles, a^ least, is reached. This coast lino fairly bristles with points, capes, &c., girt about with rocks and islands, some of which are forty miles in the offing. All these taken together go to make the coast navigation of Norway very dangerous. All the prominent points on these coasts whether parts of the mainland, of an island, or of a rock, are united by telegraph wires or cables forming part of tho Telegraphic System of Norway. What study, what wc-rk of genius I may say, was required to conceive and carry out such system, and to keep it constantly in thorough working order, it is almost impossible to express. ^ As the work of seamet. it is ono worthy of the descendants of the Norsemen. I cannot state in what year this telegraphic system was perfected, but the following extract from a report of the Englisn ViceConsul at Christiania would make it appear that in 1866, the greater part of the system was already in operation. Extract from the report of the Vice-Consul General of Her Majesty at Christiana upon the cod and herring fishery in Norway, for the year 1866. " That part of the population directly or indirectly interested in the fisheries numbers about 150,000, and the number of fishermen regularly employed at the present time is 60,000. " These latter in their boats come and go along the coasts, according to the reports which reach them as to the signs or prognostics, for example the appearance of the strftw-herring, sea birds, whales, &c., «c., and formerly, before they had the telegraph wire to procure speedy information for them, the impossibility in their position of verifying the correctness of the reports, and the great distances they had to traverse to reach the neighborhood of tho fishing banks, were the causes of numberless disappointments and deceptions, and otten thn catch was not as great as it might have been owing to the lack of hands to take the fish. All this has greatly changed since, especially as coneerns the herring fishery. \ " There are telegraph stations already constructed, and others are in course of erection at the principal points along the coast, and the inspectors require that directions should be every day posted up at each of the stations upon the appearance , and position of tho banks, and they keep up a constant communication with all the stations in operation. " Field telegraphs are always ready to connect with the main line, and in this way the slightest movements of tho banks of fish are attentively watched and promptly signalled, and it is a curious sight to see the sudden exodus of thousands of fishermen, with their accompanying train of buyoi's, saltors, &o., with their : equipage of boats, barrels and apparatus pushing forward towards a distant spot at the summons of the telegraph wire. The men seem to extol highly this important i assistant, and in the cases where the success of the fishing is owing to its interven- ; ,. tion they call their fish telegraphic herrings, Tho inspectors post up every j ! morning in the various stations a statement of tho quantity of fish taken tho day •I i, before, and at tho same time they quote tho price per barrel and they carry on this 15 4aty until aftor the spawning oeoHon, which is easily ascertained by the water assuming the colour of the milt. "This fishery laets for three months, but the profitable fishing only lasts six weeks or about that, during which iLey tnko from ten thousand up to twenty thousand tons each week. "Tn« cdvantagoa w.lch the telegraph will probably secure are incalculable, for it will not be confined to rendering greater tne produce of the cod and herring fishermen, but will permit the inhabitants scattereu her- and there along the coast and the banks of the great Fiord, to gather at places determined upon, during other seasons of the year, and to give close attention to other fiHheries less important but very numeroxis in this country, and especially the summer herring fishery, a very fat fish and highly esteemed, which, for its delicacy of flavor and its size, rivals successfully the Dutch and Northern herring." The short description which follows displays, on one hand, the numberless diffi- culties which require to bo overcome to carry out a similar work, and on the other hand the extent and perfection of the works which ensures a perfect action through- out the whole system, even to the most retired parts of Norway, as far as the 70th degree and 35 minutes of north latitude, that is to say, fourteen hundred (1,400) geographical miles further nonh than Quebec. DESCRIPTION. This system may be divided into three classes : The first includes the telegraphic lines of the interior, of which the most im- portant are found between tho capital Cbristiania and Trondhjon, about HOO miles in length. In the second place there are the railway lines about 500 miles. In tho third place the sea or coast lines, nearly 2,000 miles in length. Commencing at the boundary line of Sweden, the coast line telegraphic system, composed at times of several lines, and again of a single line, makes the circuit of the fiord at the bottom of which Cbristiania is built ; then it reaches the coast, by proceeding in a westerly direction, at the Bay called Skager Rack, which separates Norway from Denmark, as far as Stravanger, on the Atlantic—the North Sea — having a length of 370 miles. A submarine cable of 15 miles in length crosses the entrance of a great fiord and the line proceeds from Skudesnces to Bergen^ one of the great sea ports of Norway, a distance of 100 miles. Within this circuit two large islands are connected with the mainland by sub- marine cables, 15 miles and 12 miles long respectively. These islands are Utsire and Rovojr. Brandesund, an island situate thirty miles further to the north, is also connected by a submarine cable with the mainland line. From Bergen, the telegraphic line runs along the coast, sometimes crossing the mouths of fiords by means of submarine cables, . at other times going round them, and it reaches Christiansund after a course of about 300 miles. On the route it crosses over eome fifteen fiords by means of cables of from I to 3 miles in length. Several islands and rooks which occupy important positions on this part of the coast are joined to the principal line by cables varying from two to ten miles in length . Eighty miles further on the line passes into Trondhjon, a sea port' situate on one of the largest fiords in all Norway. About 330 miles further to tho north, the lino reaches Lodingen, an important sea port on a large fiord which lies on tho G8lh parallel of north latitude. In this circuit there are several branch lines, each from 20 to 40 miles in length, which connect islands, rocks, ports or places with the main line. At Lodingen, wo find ourselves opposite to the famous group of the Lofoden islands, about IcO miles in length, especially notablo for its cod and herring fisheries. A system of land lines and sub-marine cables, about 200 miles in length, connects .^>tLj 16 All the iaIaDds of thiH groap wilh one uDOtber as woU as all the ports, Lai bora ."jtd fishing looalities where the iishtng boats betake tl ^mselves, and the who re joined to Lodingen. AVe have already reached c point which is about twelve hundred (1,200) nautical taihs more uortberly than Quebec, fiut the coast line tele^^raph system of Norway does not end here, it contiruos to girdle the coftHtasfar as Hammerfest^ which we know to bo the most northerly sea-port in the world. Then it proceeds across Laponie up to within a few miles of the iVimous North Cape, the most northerly portion of the main- land of Europe. It is in north latitude 70 degrees, 30 minutes, — fourteen hundred and ten ^1410) miles further north than Quebec, and eleven hundred and forty (1140) miles than Forteau Bay in the Straits of Belle-Isle. In all there are about 2,o00 miles of telegraphic lines of all kinds. Some sixty flub-maniie cables of from 1 to 20 miles in length, form connecting links in this aystem. There are on the coast linos more than 130 telegraph and signal stations, of which 15 are upon the Lofoden islands. OONCLUDINO STATEMENT. The telegraph offices may be placed in sevei-al categories : — There are offices, of the permanent service. " " ofthe full day. " " of limited service. " " open during the winter, that is during the fishing season only. " " attached to railways. Such, in a few words, is what a nation, of an especially maritime character, having a population of 1,760,000 and a territory 121,000 square miles in extent, (two- thii'ds the size of the Province of Ontario), has done in aid of its shipping, and its fisheries. It seems to me to have sot an example, wel' worth following by such a country as Canada, which possesses such an extent of sea coast and fisheries so varied and so important. I have the honor to be. Sir, Four obedient servant, P. FORTIN. The Honorable Sir Hbctok L. Lanobvin, K.C.M.G.,C.B. Minister of Public Works. (Translation.) Ottawa, 8th December, 1881. Sir,— The coast-line telegraphic system of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the shores ofthe Maritime Provinces, has already been made use offer purposes of great consequence to the mercantile navy, the commerce and the fisheries of Canada. But there is still another not previously mentioii<itieH, i.s alrctuly in uxo in other oountriuH. Thirt will bo (iono with tho u id of the couHt lino ti-lo^ra)>h atationn, of vvhich the Govern ni.»?nt owns nourly forty on tho Hhoroi nn'i i>l:in(l!i of tho Gulf of St. Lawionoe. Tho manner of lux'ompliMhiiig it will bo nHfo!low^ :— Tho /^overnmotit will ^iv* notice in ndvanco, tit tho ciistoui houHO of tho jji'lnoipal inarititno counti'iuH of the world, that tho now Horvico in in 0| oration at ernch and hucK tolegraph and Hignal elationH, tho numoH of which would be given in tho notice. Tho Hhip ownorH who sond tho vosmoIs to Canada, in bulla^t, to obtain cargooi of timber there, will give inHtructionn to thoir ciiptaiim to Htop opposite one of those sigDal HtatioHH, when thoy havo entered the Gulf St. Lawroni-e, to lio to at a ruasonublo distance, to Hignal tho tiumoH of their vom^oIh by inuann of the Internniional co.leof Hignah, and to eiKpiiro for any dospiitchort there may be f>r them at tho Htution. So M>on an tho vohsoIb are doHputchcd, the Hhipownors write by the quickoHt route tO' agontH, who trunHact this kind of business, in tho Ports of Quebec, Miramichi, St. John or olsowhoro, to look for freii^ht for such and such VossoIh. The letter reacbos ita de<- tinatioii long before tho vohBols, which are sailing vo.- sible to the port indicated. And this is done without the vessel being obliged to put into any intermediate port, without casting the' anchor, without incurring any expense. And in order to bring this new service into perfect operation at unco, tho Government need incur no expense. It has only to have it published throughout.all maritime countries. The Superintendents and the operators of our tolegraph arid signal stations will be able, without any difficulty, to put this new service into practical effect, after merely a few days study and trial. I beg that you will kindly take this matter into consideration at your convenience. If you d,eoide upon putting it into operation, allow me to remark that it will be necessary to organise it in the month of January at latest, in order that it may be advertised 'in time and may bo of use to the fleet which will visit the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence next spring. This service will be useful to the timber trade, inasmuch as it will assist in some degree in facilitating the means of transport ot our timber to Europe and more espe- cially to England. F. A. Schwartz, Esquire, the distinguished Consul-Genoral of Sweden and Norway at Quebec, who has had a great experience in maritime affairs and shipping ooncemB^ has kindly appreciated the projective system in a letter dated the iUh Djcember^ 1S81, which I enclose. I havo, &c., The Honorable P. FOBTIN. SiE Hector Lanqkvin, K.C.M.G.,C.B., Ministerof Public Works, . . ; Ottawa. JT, ♦ 18 BoTAL Swedish and Nokwiqian Consdlatb, QcBBBO, lOlh December, 1881. Dmam, Sib, — In reply to yoar letter of yesterday, I have no hesitation in saying, that suob a syatem for signalling as you propose, would not only give the fkciiities yoQ mention to vessels coming out seeking after fVeights, in the manner you mention, ont would also enable an owner residing in England, or on the other aide, to keep the din])OHal of the vessel for a maoh longer time in his own hands, giving him the ohoice of either market. Yours truly, F. A. SCHWAUTZ. Bon. P. FoRTiN, M.P., . • • *.'»..: ^ . « •: Houpo of Common**, <*".■. \ •. Otluwii, Ontario. , • , Montreal, 16th November 1881. Dear Sir, — In reply to your enquiiy as to my opinion as an underwriter o ships and cargoes, of the value of the Government Gulf Telegraph System, and especially of the nows of the .SS " Lartington " lately wrecked on Anticosti which reached here promptly : I bog to suy on my own behalf as well as others interested in our navigation that this Gulf System of telegraphy is of inestimable value to the commerce of the <^ountry, it is impossible that any other opinion could be formed of it, the wisdom of the Government isconttpicuouBly shown in the construction of theHO linos, and no time should be lost in extending them along the North Shore to Belle-Isle, either on land or by short submarine stretches. I beg to say that 1 have seen reveml of my fellow underwriters and others and their names signed below endorse uiy views of the value of these lines. M. H. GAULT, Agt. HERRIMAN & ROSS, Brit. Americfl, Assu. Co. Managers, B.M. Underwriters. THEODORE HART & Sons., HKNRY STEWART, Marine Underwriter for Commercial Mutual Ins. Co., of N Y. for Ro^'al Canadian Insurance Co. and Union Ins. Co., of Philadelphia. J. H. ROUTH & Co., Agts., JACKSON RAE, Agt Western Assurance Co. International Marine Ins. Co., Cinn. J. F. NOTT & Co., Agts., PBRCKVAL TIBBS, Agt. The Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. Reliance Marine Ins. Co., Limited, of HENRY CHAPMAN, Agts. Liverpool. Lloyd's Underwriting & Agency Aa- , , Hociation, London. ¥. W. HsMSHAW, Esq., President, ' Montreal Board of Trade. l.'i, >.J -.1. ^;r i .«■ ■•♦/■^ : m. fUcililioM nonlion, to keep him the S81. writer o tem, and iti which ivigation CO of the wisdom of d no time n land or thers and iters. derwriter noe Co. nee Ck>. , Ltd. B^enoy Ajbt » LETTER FROM THE MONTREAL BOARD Oi TRADE ON TUE GULF TELKGRAPUIC SYSTEM. No. 19172. Office Board <>k Trade, Montreal, 2nd Decombcr, 188L Sir, — Since the clone of the Hhipping ncnHon, tlio Council of tnici Bourd haH had its attention drawn to a number of pariiculura which atforil further proof of tho value of the oxtennion of tho Tolcgrnphio HyHtont to tho Gulf of St. Lawrence und lalandH, inotimuch nn the scheme being carried out by the (tovernroent has already lod to the tiaving of live and properly by making it |)0!«t(il)le to render immstliate cusistance to stranded or wrecked vchsoIs. Tho importance of tho project ham, moreover, been made doubly valuable, inasmuch an by ilH inslrumontality, efHciont aiJ and succo'u* WOH rendered very recently to distrosised and fumirthing people on the Island of Anti< costi. There can hardly bo a doubt but that tho weather and tinhory bulletins which have boon issued during a considorabje part of the past season, have beeo of great service to the Gulf fishing interests of Canada. The Council has watched with a groat deal of interest, the progress that has been made from year to year since the pi'ojoct was initiated , and I am very respectfully to communicate to you its earnest hope that tho work of extension will continue to bo vigorously p osecuted, and especially that the North Shore Line may bo continued to the eastward and along the Strait of Belle Isle to Point Amour, in Forteau Bay, fur tho substantial reason that such an extension would prepare the way for establishing a calling station during tho season of navigation fur steamship:} coming to, or going A'ora, the St liawrence River. I am therefore desired to solicit your consideration of what is herein submitted, and your decision in favor of the great maritime interest that would bo promoted thereby. , , ., I have tho honor to be. Sir, , . . ,.^ . , Your obedient servant, ' • • •"' •. • •• -^^ AVM. J. PATTEI5S0N, Secretary. Hon. Sir Hector L. Lanoevin, K C.M.G.,C.B.. Minister of Public Works, ' / " * Ottawa. ^ TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CENTRE OF THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE. (Letter from Hon. P. Fort in to the Editor of th- Morniiuj Chronicle.') (ii-EBEc, Gih May, 1875. " ' Siu, — The anxiety felt over the land, in reference to the six st camel's w4m are now fi^'/^C // nnd have been in the Gulf of St. Lawrence lor the last ten or twelve days, and of t-^('//yfbwn. we have no tidings, is my apology for occnp^'ing your columns to-day. It is too true, there are now six steamers, having on board ^ovcl•al thousands of souls, and worth with their cargoes sevcml millions, in the Gulf, helpless, and that for nearly a fortnight ; and wo cannot have any tidings concerning them until they have crossed the Gulf, a distance of about I'OO miles, and entered tho River St. Lawrence, where they can report at the telugru[»l> stations of Capo Rosier or Fox River. What prevents those steamers from ]ia.shing through the Gulf? Field ico, no doubt, not icebergs, because none are seen south of A nticosti. We presume those steamers are in closely jacked ice, and tliero they cannot move at all or but little, untilthe continuance of the thaw has softened and disintegrated tho ice, or until favorable winds or a tide race I. as opened them a, passage. As to their safety, 1 have not the Icn'^t apprehension, if thoir commandei'S have used ordinary precautions, for, as we all know, tho tea is as smooth as in a pond, i\ \\ 20 among field ice. I have boon myself among field ice around the Magdalen Islands' and in the Strait of Belle Isle with the Napoleon III, but I base my information prin- cipally on the reports of the scaling captains from the Magdalen Islands, Esquimaux- Point, and Natashquan on the north shore, with most of whom I am personally acquaiDted. I have been a good deal among them during the last 23 year.-*,and always took Bpecial interest in gathering from them all possible information with regard to the state and the movement of the ice in the gulf in fall, winter and spring. AVo know how those hardy fishermen sail out of their harbours in March, with their schooners of from 25 to (JO tons (and many of them old and frail,) and traverse the Gulf in every direction through the field ice i A quest of seals, and it is seldom thataccidents happen to them. It is true, they ar^fton caught in closely packed ice,- with which they have to di ift sometimes for weeks without'being able to move out of it. It is from those people that we should inquire whether winter navigation through tho Gulf is practicable us a commercial entcrprif^e. Now I come to tho point : I said it was impossible, in the present state of things,, to have tidings from those steamei-s until they have crossed the Gulf and reported themselves at Cape Eosier or Fox l?iver. But it might be otherwise for tho benefit and odvancement of this countrj-. Wo have in the middle of the Gulf nearly', and directly opposite to its maia< entrance, what I would call a sentry-box and vigilant sentinels in it. They no doubt have seen those steamers pass them ; they pwhaps see them yet. They know the state, of ice in which those steamers are fastened. If there are any means of relieving tho latter, they know it too. Thoj'' have seen the ice formed in the Gulf, they see it floating about. They know when it is beginning to disappear and when it is time for a steamer to attempt the crossing of tho Gulf in the spring ; and all this information that would be so useful to us, and which thousands on this- side as well as on the other side of the Atlantic, would give so much to acquire, they cannot communicate it to us. An impassible barrier prevents it. For during six months in every year there is no communication between those rocks and any ports of our coasts. The sentry-box is tho Bird Rocks, and the sentinels are tho throe men who keep the lighthouso, erected on those rocks. Would there be any possibility on tho part of those men, who, perched as it wore on those lOcks, 140 feet above water (foi-merly u celebrated gannot rookery Sula Bassana) can see what is going on, every day that tho weather is clear around them,, over an horizon of 15 to 25 miles (and 1 have myself seen from tho top of those rocks to tho latter distance at least) and who witness the passing of nine-tenths of the steamers and more than half of sailing vessels, bound to Quebec or Montreal, clwe to them, as the Bird Rocks are right in tho track of vessels — would it bo possible I say, for those men to impart to us that information so useful to our shipping? I eay unhe>itatingly — ^}'es, and the project I urn going to dovelope now, and that I havo already broached to several persons, as It forms part of tho telegraph system that I think ought to be established around oirr coasts, would supply tho means by whicb wo could obtain this information. It is simple and easy of accomplishment, us every one will see. But simple and easy things are sometimes tho most dilficult to get a Government or a people to do. The Bird Rocks lie, as I have said, in the naiddlo of tho Gulf nearly. They are at a distance of 17 miles from the east point of tho Magdalen Islands in a S. S. W. direction nearly; and tho Islands themselves, about 36 miles in length, extend in tho saiino direction, and from Amherst Island, tho southernmost of tho group, to the nortlv coast of Prince Edward's Island, tho distance is only 45 miios. Well, let us run a submarine cable from tho latter Island to Amherst Island, build a land J\no over, the Magdalen Islands (to which the poopleof tho Islands would contribute a go )d share, I am sure) as far as the oast point, and from this point lay a submarine cable to the Bird Rocks, and you will havo those vigilant sentinels on tho Biitl Rocks ir"constant communication with us and every part of this continent, day and night, wfnter and summer, and spring and fall. 21 You would know the state of the Gulf at all moments; be sure when the Galf 18 in fit state to bo entered by a steamer in the spring ; and this project is very feasible, as the landing places for the submarine cables are everywhere favorable, and the bottom of the sea on which the cable would have to lie, of moderate depth and free from rocks. With such a telegraphic line, we should not only kno\7 the state of the ice in the Gulf, but we should know where most of the missing steamers are, and how and where to render them assistance, if necessary. But this telegraph would not only be useful in the way I have just mentioned, it would be of the greatest service in a fenoral way to our shipping and the fisheries. And the population of the Magdalen slands, who contribute lio much to the trade and the revenue of this country, and who, for fix months every year, are separated from the outside world, would be much benefitted by it, and they have the right to some attention on the part of the country. Let us then do what other countries would have done long ago, had they been in our place. Let us do like Norwaj', for instance, a country not possessed of more resources than wo, who has girded all her maritime coasts, not only "^as far as Hammor^'est, in latitude 70 North, and the most northern seaport of any importance in the \Vorld, but ] as!?ed the North Cape, in Finland, and reached as far as the White Sea. And not only ordinary and semaphorical stations are erectoi along that extensive If . but in many places the telegraph has been extended to the extreme points >' the ■coast, such as at the celebrated LofFoden Islands, where it is well known some ' the most important cod fisheries in the world are carried on, for the sole purpose of aiding in the working and the development of that branch of industry. Can we not do as much as Norway ? We do a great deal, it is true, in this cothtry, but it is mostly all West. Let us turn some of our attention towards the East, we, the real maritime population of the Province of Quebec— wealth lies there, if wo have a mind to gather it. I have placed in the Exchange a telegraph chart of Norway, which shows the telegraph system of that country. . Ilavo I been comprehensive ? 1 hope so. Then let us go to work earnestly, and not waste our time and eriergy in discussion, often useles>«, in the attempt to carry out projects of doubtful practicability. Now a few words in reference to the cost of this line of telegraph. The expense of building would be, according to competent persons, below $40,000, and the pi'omise of a subsidy of, say, four or five thousand dollars annually for a certain number of years, with an agreement that the Government steamers would aid in the laying and in the repairing of the line, would, 1 am almost sure, induce a company to enter into the project and accomplis^h it. The local telegraph traffic at the Magdalen Islands would bo considerable, as the merchants, the transient traders, and the fishermen of that place would often require to communicate, especially in winter, with their corresjiondents in Halifax, Pictou and Quebec, while the crews of the vessels (from 1,000 to 1,500) who visit those places from the Maritime Provinces and the United Slates, would, during the season of navigation, give daily employment to the several stations that would have to be erected on the Magdalen Islands, for the use of the fisheries and the navigation. Lot us not lose sight of the usefulness of maritime telegraphs for the saving of persons and property. Let us not forget that the Delta, once a beautiful steamer, worth, with her cargo, $350,000, is now a wreck on the shore near Cape de Chatte, and that, had there boon a telegraph there, a few dollars spent in despatches to Quebec, would have procured in time the necessary assistance and would have saved her. I have Mr. George Davie as an authority for .iaying so, .ind I hsve already explained how the barque Eleonore, belonging to Mr. Rosa, might also have been saved in 1870, had there been a telegraph at Fox Elver at that time. The saving of one vessel would be more than the cost of the building of the telegraph. , ; , , . , •, , ■ . P. FORTIN. 22 THE SENTINELS OF THE ST. LAWKENCE. ' • " {From, the Quebec Morning Chronicle of the 1th May, 1875.) "Wo bog to draw the iittontion of our readers to a letter on our first page com- mnnicated by Hon. Mr.'Fortin, dealing: with the necessity of telegraphic coraraunica- tion along the coast of the St. Lawrence, and especially such communication as will S've the trade of the Dominion command of all the shipping intelligence of the Gulf, r. Fortin is naturally stmck by the non-arrival of tne Polynesian, a vessel with many hundred precious souls on board and five other steamers, yet encompassed, as ho believes, with ice, and unable to make their way to Quebec ; and ho asks why is it that we have no means of learning of the whereabouts of these vessels? The Bird Bocks stand in the middle of the Gulf, surmounted by a lighthouse, carefully guarded and maintained, and commanding a view of every vessel entering the St. Lawrence. The Polyuesian or any other vessel could not possibly escape the scrutiny of the watchers— the sentinels, as Mr, Fortin "xpressivcly calls them, of the Gulf — and if any help were needed, in any sense, they would, wore communication possible, be in a position to command all that Quebec and Montreal affords. At the present time, when the hopes of the Dominion pre eagerly strained over the ice covered waste stretching from Quebec to Gaspe Point, a word from the Bird Eocks would be invaluable, but Father Point, Pox Eiver and Matane are inexorably silent, and ther© is no cessation of suspense. Minutes, hours and days pass and give no sign. Mr. Fortin believes, and we fully ngree with him, that " the watchers on the Bird Bocks have seen the steamers puss, they may see thom yet. They know the Btate of ice in which these steamers jiro fustened. If there are any means of relieving the latter they know it too **=(«♦* and all this information that would be so useful to us, and which thousands on this side as well as on the other side of the Atlantic would give so much to acquire, t\\Qy cannot communicate to us." This truth is pressed upon us at the present time with particular force, and with it the soundness of the principle enunciated by Dr. Fortin, that communication should, in the interest of navigation and commerce, be opened with the •* Sentinels of the St. Lawrence" by means of a telegraph cable. There is no one with any knowledge of the requirements of the country who can possibly doubt the wisdom of advances which have been thrust eo practically upon us in the present spring by the suspense and anxiety which have been the leading features of life in the Dominion for the past ten days. We should be able, at any rate, to do as much as Norway. From the North Cape to Christiana, in every fiord, every bay, inlet and indentation of that serrated coast, from the Loflt'odens to the mainland, every station is connected by telegraph lines and cables. The whole sea board of the peninsula is in communica- with the capital, and the service is so maintained that from the bleak shores of the While Sea Finland to Aalt-cn, Stavanger and Hammerfest, the state of the weather, the progress of fishing, and chances of success or disaster is known and gauged. Mr. Fortin has very properly called attention to the uses of the telegraph in the territories of the Scandinavian ally, who-o shipping, we are sorry to note, is declining in our port, and though he does not actually reproach the Department of Marine and Fisheries with falling behindhand, yet he convej's a hint of a very incisive character. We thoroughly agree with Mr. Fortin in his argument that wo should girdle our coast with a belt of telegraphs, placing our commercial centres in immediate com- munication with every important point on the St. Lawrence and in the Gulf. Large as are the strides in this direction which have been made within the past few years,, much yet remains to be done, much that must bo executed by the Canadian Govern- ment j for the shipping trade of Canada is increasirig so vastly that every possible accommodation must be provided for it ; the St. Lawrence must be lighted at night like a leading street in a well organized city (not like Quebec), and communication rendered as prompt and reliable as the working of a fire alarm telegraph. Mr. Fortin points out a way of realizing these requirements; he believes it is possible to make a Gulf telegraph lino profitable, even as a business investment, and he shows that, BO far as the interests of the Dominion, and the presorvudon of her wealth are concerned, the saving of a single vessel by timely information, woald more than compensate for the cost of laying, at the public expense, a cable from the Bird Rocks to the mainland. We commend the letter of the ex-Commissioner of Crown Land^ for this Province to the attention of the Government and thp public. His experience of the St. Lawrence and the Gulf and his well-tried ability, give to his arguments a weight and influence which we need not refer to here. It is not alone to-day that he has urged the prosecution of maritime telegraphs, but ho has for years exerted himself in perfecting the system of communication along the coast, and if he has not thoroughly succeeded, the fault does not lie on his shoaldei-s, for his zeal has known no abatement. We can only trust that the subject ho has so ably dealt with at a time when the hopes of the whole country are strained to their utmowt, will be productive of beneficial fruit, and that, before another year passes, the " Sentinels of the St. liawrence" will be provided with the eloquent tongues of electricity, with which to speak of the good fortunes or the vicissitudes of our Canadian commercial marine. Quebec, 17 th Februaiy, ISTB. The question of telegraphic communication to connect the mainland with the great islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, such as Anticosti and the Magdalen Islandstand with the remote coasts forming the north shore of the Eiver St. Lawrence, has forming a connection with our telegraphic system, is of so important a character, as respects the daily requirements tf our navigation and the future of our merchant marine, that we consider that the public will thank us fir the publication, in Eimphlet form, of letters addressed by the Hon. Dr. P. Fortin, Speaker of tlio egislative Assembly, to several journals in this city, one in the month of May, 1875, and the other in the month of January last; the object of the>e lettere being to show the utility, or wo should rather sny, the necessity of such moans of communication and to explain how susceptible of realization and advantageous is the schemowhich ' lie recommends. It is well known that the islands mentioned above are, by natural forces, separated from the rest of the world duting five months of the year. For no vessel, wnether propelled by sails or by steam, can reach those islands during the winter on account of tho floaiing ice with which the Gi'lf of St. Lawrence is filled. Ever since the first settlement of tho country, the islands in question have been the scone of maritime disasters, ten times more serious and more disastrous than tho whole of those which have occurred at other points on the Gulf coast, as respocts both crews and passengers and vessels and their lading. For it is impossible during the winter, to give any assistance to wrecked vossels; and at all other times of the year, when the season is even favouiable elsewhere, the necessary help can only be got there afler encountering obstacles of an almost insurmountable description. This, we may remark, is fully explained in tho letters. We may say that the question has been logically dealt with, and with a thorough knowledge of the subject. The lettois are replete with sentiments of humanity and Ifenerosity, which command ou" highest admiration. To the lion. .Mr. Fortin belongs the honor of having enunciated this philanthropic idea which is at the same time destined to prove the safeguard of enormous commercial interests. From another and an entirely patriotic point of view Mr. Fortin is of opinion that tho carrying out of his scheme, in conjunction with the great improvements which are being m:ide to interior navigation, will make tho ports of Montreal and Quebec important rivals to the port of New York, by diverting to their advantage the trade of the Great West. We should add that the Boards of Trade of Montreal, (iuebec, Halif.-x and Mveral other cities have supported the scheme by resolutions unanimously adopted. In addition the Dominion Board of Trade, at its meeting at Ottawa, in (he month of January last, also adopted a resolutii . u 'inimouely recommending the Govormnenl to carry it into effect. 24 Nor should wc omit to state that the Houee of Commons, during its latest sossioiiy appointod a Committee to enquire into all matters coi>nectepatching will be easy, speedy and free from errors. You will see that, in the code, under the ,hoad of "fishing," not only are to be found the names of the food and bait fi^hes. but also the following words : extra, good^ average, had, none. By iho-so words are expressed the different gradations in the produce of the fishing of these different fishes in, each locality. This will enable the fishermen to follow, dpy hy day, the course qf the fish and to ar)certain their pi*esence, abundance or absouce, in all these localiiies. It seems to mo that this is „^ 25 useAil information, since the fishermen will then know where the fish abound, and especially where bait is to be found, thus having the means of procuring thom, so to speak, at all timoH. The bulletin will also indicate if the boats are fishing or not, and the direction and velocity of the wind, &c., &c. In a word, I would say that this bulletin will give ample and precise information ■each day : — Isl. On the produce of the fishing of the day before. ' 2nd. On the bait supply of the preceding night. 3rd. And on the appearance of the cod fishing, the state of weather and wind of the day, up to the moment at which the despatching for the bulletin begins; and moreover, a despatch coming from the Meteorological Bureau, dated 10 o'clock a.m., indicating weather probabilities and »torm warnings for the coming twenty-four hours. The columns headed " remarks," will contain extraordinary news, and at times information relating to the fisheries carried on along the other sea coasts. I have put myself in communication with the Montreal Telegraph Company, which, as you know, owns this Coaat Line Telegraph, and I have ascertained that the collecting and despatching of all telegraphic information composing the bulletin, can be made on such reasonable conditions that the Government can hardly refuse to adopt a measure which, in the opinion of all, cannot fail to give a new impulse to our rea coast fisheries and greatly facilitate their prosecution. It is almost needless for me to add that it is intended to extend this adaptation of telegraphy, which I now submit to you, as an auxiliary to the fisheries for the coast of Gaspd, to all our sea coasts, as these coasts become girdled by telegraph wires. The reasons for which the coasts of Gaspesia are first indicated for tno adaptation of this system being that they are now, in their whole length, girded by telegraph wires and supplied with telegraph station^ in all the fishing localities. I think it my duty to submit this project to your consideration; anil enclose for your pernsal a series of letters (twenty-five in number) from scientists, fishery outfitters, leading fishermen and others engaged in the fishing industry, testifying as to its utility and influence on the fishing industry of the Dominion, and also to its value to one coasting trade and foreign navigation. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, P. FORTItf. The Honorable The Minister of Public Works, Ottawa. MoxTRKAL, 20th May, 1881. Sir, — On my return to Montreal I did not fail to see the officials of the Montreal Telegraph Company, in order to examine once more with them the question of the best means to be adopted for transmitting fiom one telegra])h office to another, the information required for the making up of the Fishery Bulletin. The following is what appeared to be the most easy and most practicable : At 10 a.m., all the telegraph stations being ready, the most remote station at one ■of the extremities of the s3>tem, say No. 1, sends its items of information in accoixi- ance with the code, and the operators at all the other stations, say from 2 to 30, receive them and enter them at once in the bulletin. Then the second station does a like task for the stations from 3 to 30 and for No. 1. The 3rd station next supplies its infor- mation to those from 4 to 30 and to 1 and 2 ; and so on with all the other stations. This makes, for the 30 stations, 30 different messages sent by each one to 29 different stations each time, that is to say, 30 messages sent and 841 received each day, For the seven months during which the fiahory season and season of navigatioiy last, this would make 6,300 mossugoH sent and 176,610 (one hundred and seventy-six thousand six hundred and ten) received. Over and ubovo the local information, thero would also bo the reports of Toronto Meteorological Office to be transmitted to all the stations, but I must mention that the company are already paid for that. The work necessitated by all these messages will lu'^t about one hour and a half. • As the Departments of Marine and Public Works will, I presume, decide as to what items of information will make up the bulletin, they will doubtless furnish the fonuB for recoi-dlng the same. Now, if I might venture to offer advice, it would be the following: It is essential to the eztengion of ihe fishing industry in Ctmmi^ that this bulletin should be published and posted up at all the tithing centres. This will be one of the surest means of stimulating and sensibly increasing the yield of this industry. Norway, a country so eminently practical, more especially in matters relating to fisheries and navigation, has used the telegraph as an auxiliarj'' to the jBshing industry for some fifteen years past, at the least, and derives the best results therefrom. We perceive this ourselves in Canada, since the Norwegians are competing with us in a manner which is daily becoming more injurious to our trade in dry cod, o» the foreign markets to which we ship that product. I ask, at least, for a fair and honest trial of this bulletin, and with that view I suggest that, for this year, the bulletin system shall comprise but 30 stations, namely, from Cap de Cbatte to Paspebiac. We know there is little fishing beyond those extreme points. Tomorrow I shall have the honor to submit to you a copy of the form of bulletin I have already submitted to the Minister of Marine, and which has, 1 think, been referred to you, with some corrections I thought well to make in order to give greater- value to the bulletin and render it more comprehensive. I have the honor to be, Sir, * •; Your obedient servant, P. FORTIN, Hon. n. L. Langevin, C.B. !'^ • 27 iioor '•six ber* >all \alf. pS to the aald iad% rhiB i of ters the alts 7ith , on- and the J to etin teen ater CODE FOR FISHERY BULLETIN— CODE POUR BULLETIN DE PfiOHE. Y'ebterday. Fiihing Bank Cod.. Shore Cod. Caplin Clam... Herring Lance Mackerel.... Squid Salmon None Poor Average. Good Extra , Boati do in .. do out., Weather.. Warm.... Cold Dry Fog Bain Snow Wind North East South West North-East .. South-East.. South-West., North- West. Calm Moderate. Strong Gale To-DAY. FIIIST PART. TO SEND. H»U. PFche Morue de Banc. Moruc de Cftte. Capelan Coquc. Hareng , Lan<;on Maquereau Encornet Saumon Pas Mauvaise. Moyenne. Bonne Extra bateaux do h, Tancre., do sortis A. B. C. D. E. P. G. H. J. N. 0. Trmp*., Chaud I P. Froid.., Sec Brume. Pluie... Neige.. Vent Nord Est Sud Quest Nord-Est Sud-Est Sud-Ouest... Nord-Ouest.. Calme Modere..., Fort Temp6te., Q. s. T. W. X. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Aujoubd'hci. I. M. R. V. Bait Supply of, during preced- ing night Kind most abundant Appearance of Cod Fish- „»ng Boats Weather .Wind Boitte Approvisionnement de, la nuit precedente Esp^ce la plus abondante Apparence de la pfiche de la morue Bateaux Temps Vent K. U. v.* ' .1 I litii'ii'i -^ 23 Formula for FiBhory Report of Yesterdoy's Fishing, Temporati.re, \V r'ind, *c., the 188I. Telegraph Station of 1 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Matanc Ste. Filicite .■.■.".■'. Cap de Chatte, lighthouse. Cap de Chatte. Village. ... Ste. Anne des Monts Ri7i6re h. la Marte Mont Louia Cap Madeleine Riviere Madeleine Grand Vallce Chloridorme " Grand Etang ". Riviere au Renard L'Anse aux Griffons Cap des Roaiers Grand Grdve P6niusula Ga8p6 Sandy Beach DoiiBrlastown ., Pointe St. Pierre Baracliois de la Malbaie. Perc6 L'Anaedii Cap .". La Grande Ririt^re '. Petit PaboB Grand Pabos Newport , Port Daniel ."!...!."! Shigouack Paapebiac New Carlisle "' Bonaventure Kerr's '.,'. New Richmond. ...........". Maria Carleton ... 12 31 3 9 17 22 20 1 9 16 9 21 7 8 11 11 1 14 17 11 7 5 11 14 11 14 11 Fishin for 1 O -a u E o 33 a, O I t« a m u m AVeathe ^■.-*Tii i i aftr