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 1 
 
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Ii7 
 
 
 
 eb*^ 
 
 THE RAFTS CASES. 
 
 »■« .•> 
 
BIBLIOTHEgUE 
 
 I)K 
 
 M.LABBE VERREAU 
 
 ,]^o. __ 
 
 Clas.se 
 
 Jyvisf'ofi 
 
 Ser/'e 
 
 f 
 
 / 
 
THE RAFTS CASES. 
 
 
 Four ciiscs ul' coii.-^iduiablc! impuitaiico to tlio luiiibcriucii immI 
 to tlie ripanan propriotors nlow^ tlic St. Lawroneo and tlm 
 Ottawa Rivers have jii-t Itr.n diciili-d )>y tlic FTarbonr rmii- 
 inissioner.s ot Montreal. 
 
 The statute of the hite Province of Canada, 12 Vict. c. IIT, 
 sect. 7, declares that three members of the Trinity Ilou.se of 
 Montreal sliall have jurisdiction "to hear and determine all 
 ^•matters and things rclatuig to <ini/ hcach of the Rlccr St. 
 '■^Lawrence, or of out/ olhrr lircrs vuthiii the jni'lsdlctlon of 
 " the corporation .... as well as to hear and determine 
 ^'- all offaicea committed (Hjainfit this Art, or against ani/ such 
 '• Bi/daws, Rides, Rrgnhifions, ur orders {of the Master, <Xf., of 
 " the Triniti/ Ilmise (f \fontiritl), by any jifrsou or persons 
 *' whatsoever." 
 
 The statute of the Dominion, 187.5, .'JO Vict. c. Gl, s. 2, de- 
 clares that " all and every the then remaining powers, authority, 
 "Jurisdiction, rights, duties, and liabilities of the said Trinity 
 " House of ^Montreal, shall become and be transferred to and 
 " vested in, and shall be exercised and enjoyed, assumed and 
 " discharged by the said corporation of the Harbour Commis- 
 " sioners of Montreal." 
 
 Under these statutory provi.sioii.s, llie plaintiffs in these four 
 cases were endeavouring to obtain the enforcement of two By-laws 
 of the late Trinity House of Montreal, and of one statutory enact- 
 ment. 
 
 The two lirst cases are ba.^cd upon section 8 of By-laws of the 
 Trinity House of Montreal, 18G0, sections 5 and 7 of 27-28 
 Vict. c. 58, 1804, and soot. 2 of By-bnvs of 18G1, which read as 
 follows : 
 
 Section 2 of By-luws o{ 18GI. — '-That all rafts navigating 
 '•' the waters, within the limits of the jurisdiction of the Trinity 
 *' House of Montreal, shall have ///'■ name of the Oicner or Owners 
 '^ thereof! legildi/ painted In httcvs not \cfis than eighteen inches 
 " long on both sides of a board not less than five feet in heig-ht 
 *' to be affixed to the (J<d>anc or other prominent place on the 
 " raft, so a«! to be easily di^coriiibl(\ under a penalty not exceed- 
 
in,:^' ten pniii|(l . ;■(•;. lint lli: uwncr, m.i.ster oi )irv,('ii in diargc 
 llu.'RMir." 
 
 8i,rtinii S (,)■ j;\ lau,-: 111' I Mil) ; — •• That all aii'l (Virv the iter- 
 .■•OU or lirr-ulii who ah-ill ( ili'uinfjcr the imrijalih jmrt oj tin 
 h'l'id- Sf. Lnrrrnn. (lie W'wcY Uichclicii, the Jlivcr Yaujafcka, 
 tho }> i.<.s.ii:t' falltil tin' Doro, llio CMkuhuI dii M(Hiio, or oth< r 
 ii'in'tjiihii' iritf, J- ir'iiltiii ilic fliiii/s tif llii jnrisihidvii. <>/ '/"- 
 Tn'in'/i/ /fni'sc !>/ Mniitnal, or any oi' the lnrb(»urs, erocks, in- 
 lets "//'/ liid.rlnti ii-it/iin (III s till limifti, III- ill iiuij fill/ ithsiniil 
 till u'liijnfiiju /Itcirn/, witli stoiics, lillh, riil,»bi>li, timber, lo.^s, 
 ^■ll:^rs, I'liJ'ts (if cn'hs, wrecks ul' .steamers or other vessels, shall 
 incur a poiialty iw»t ixeceilini; ten pounds I'or eacli and cviry 
 ortonee, and a I'lirther like jieiialty, for nodccting or rel'iisini^' 
 to remove or e iu>e to bo removed any sueli ineumbrjiuces or 
 obstructions within ti'u days al'ter bein<; ae(|Uircd so to do by 
 the ll(\i:,istrar or otlur (jUleer iu tlic sorviee or cmpUiyiucnt oi' 
 tlio Trinity House oi' Montreal, and u lurther like penalty Ibi- 
 every subsequent ten days sueh ineumbrautjos or obstructious 
 shall not be removed/' 
 
 iSoctiou 5 of the Hiatule oi' l.SIJl. — -'The Trinity House oi' 
 Montreal shall have powui', ai'ler the expiration of ten days 
 from the time at which any timber, logs, spars, rajh or trlhf. 
 wrecks of steamers or other vessels, or the cargoes of such 
 steamers or other vessels, or oilier drscripllon of ohstructhni 
 wkalsocccr, ni'ii/ he placed or olJicricitiC lutjipcit to be in tin 
 iiacigable part of the Jiurr St. Laicrencc, or in any other pail 
 of the rivers or waters generally, or on ani/ of the hcaehcf. 
 shores or wharves, within the limits of the jurisdiction of the 
 s;tid Trinity House of Montreal, to remove, or cause to he 
 removed, such timber, log«, spars, rafts or erihs, wrecks of 
 steamers or other vessels, or cargoes of such steamers or vessel--, 
 or other description of obstruction as aforesaid, either by rais- 
 ing or blowing up the same, or in such other manner as the 
 said Trinity House of Montreal may deem advisable, and to 
 sell, in such manner as the said Trinity House of Montreal 
 ni ly think propei-. sueh porrion of such timber, logs, spars, 
 rafts or cribs, wrecks oi' sie:iiners or other vessels, or cargoes of 
 such steamers or vesseN, or other deseri)ption of obstruction a> 
 aforesaid, as m ly nof li;; entirely de.-troyed in the removal 
 thereof as aforesaid, and uj apply the proceed., of i.ueh ::ile l.i 
 wards dt- flay in '2 the (Sprunv; ^\]|^ 1| lUe '.lid Trinity [I'iii' 
 
MM}' iiKMir MP cnu.'*; tn lir iiirnrrril in jiii'l abmit tlie n luoval of 
 
 " t^ucli ttb^trui'tiiii 
 
 Not I 
 
 IIIIL 
 
 IS as aioresaii 
 
 lli'l'l'lll (•(iilt:illM 
 
 lull 
 
 III aiiv w.iv a flee 
 
 t III 
 
 fni/jl/lfi/ iij ilnij Jii fsnii nr jii'i'Siiiis ir/,r, ■i/in// cinil III/)' f till' Sill'f/ 
 '• inirnjilhli III- (if/ff iri/ifs. nr H i,j/ "/' //n Sd u/ /» ulii s, slwn.H III' 
 
 '' ii'h'irriKy Jiir nm/ jhhhIiii i,r ininil/iis nciuii'iililr luii/n' mii/ 
 '■ lii/-l'nrs. nnl.Ts. niK's aiiJ fcmiktiuus ufilio said Trinity lloiiso 
 '• of 3Iuiitrt;:il. wliicli ]\v\\ presently or at any time lifrcal'trr Ixi 
 '• in force." 
 
 The thinl eisi,- rest> ii|inii the a|iiilicatii)ii of secli(.iii "J, art, lil, 
 sect. .') ami s-'et. S uf the Statute ol' Canada, IJlst \'ut. v.. .'jS, 
 lS(i8; 
 
 '' AilT. 21. — Ivij'la wliili' drifliii;^ nr nt nur/inr nn mn/ inirlii- 
 '• iihli ir>ifrr sliiill h'li-r ii hrlijlit jii< l,-ij,t /iiiriiiiHj t/ii rioih j'runi 
 '•Kiuisil til sinin'si ; \vh.;iu;ver any imI'i is liuin^' in the same 
 '• dil'octidii as another wliieli is ahead, the one sliall not he so 
 " iiaviviated as to coniL' within twentv vurds ol' the other; and 
 '' every vessel ni'eliii!:' or overtaking a ral't shall kee[» out of the 
 •• \va^- thereol'." 
 
 '• ,).— ■ A/I iin'iii I's, iinsfi rs^ unJ jinr.-Kins in I'h-irijr "j'onil ship, 
 '• vessel or I'd/l, ah'ill nhi ij ihc ral'js pnsrn'luii />i/ /Ills Arf, and 
 '' shall not carry and exhibit anv other li-jlits nor use anv other 
 '• i'og signals than such as are rcijuired by the said rules; and in 
 Clue of n'llj'nl ih'j'ii tilt siirh ninstn- or inrsmi in rli'U'fji-. nr smii 
 owner, if it iijipi'irs f/i if In was infm/t. sli ill. /'or iinli orr"x- 
 ion in nliiili iiinj nfthr smd rules is infrimjid. inriir n pi nnl/i/ 
 not e.rirriliiiij tiro httndi'td (lol/iirs nor l< ss tli ■innti/ dollars.' 
 '• S. — Except as hert'inbefore provided, all p. salties incurred 
 under this Act, nviy be recovered in the name of Iler Majesty, 
 by any Inspjctor of Steamboats, or Iiy any party augrieved by 
 tiny act, neglect, or wilful omission by wliieh the penalty is in- 
 curred, before any two Justices of i he Peace', on the evidence 
 of one credible witness; and in drf.iult of p lyment of such 
 pnKilt\% such .rustices may eomiiiit the olVnider to ga(d ibr any 
 ■period not exeeediiii:' three months: and. e.\eept as liereinaiti*r 
 
 • provided, all penalties recovered under this Act shall be paid 
 
 • over to the l{eceiver treiicial. and shall be by him plac 'd al 
 the credit, and shall i'orm part of •• Tho Steamboat Tnspec- 
 
 ■ tloii l'\i:id ; ' e\i-'pt aUv;iy>. that all pma/liis inrnrrid for on'i 
 
 ■ <if> ili-r oiiiiit.^l this Art sJidl, if snch oj/'iin'r in- fOiilJll' lUd 
 iritliiii /// / '/ ,■ li<fi::!l ../'t!ir T.ih'lV [T<i!l I' o!'<)i|ib('e, or o 
 
4 
 
 " ///' Tniuli/ ll'iiiHi III Mitnl 1 1 'il , I" ti.-^iil inr. iiioii.rid- ciiJiirrKi 
 " iiinf iijij^tl ii il in hi,-, ni<i II III r its in iiii//i(s liiiji'iscd /or coith'di i if 
 '' flint, nj' tlir hij Inns iif llir '/'n'ln'/if linns, nitliin iiliiisi\}iifl>i- 
 " illition tin oji'mir l.s rniinniU'il.' 
 
 Mr. (jiruiutril on brliuH'ol' tlir prusiciilioii .•iiiid; — If the raft 
 ill nuc'stidii irt liL'l<l to 1)0 still iiavi^utiiiii, that is .subject tu tlu* 
 liiw.s of Uiivimition (and in I'a'it t mu.st be !«o eunsideicd, so lonjj, 
 a.s it has not reaoheJ its de.«tinatlon), it must :\\^o be considered 
 as being' at anehor, and tiiiict'ore nihould have a siL;n and also a 
 lire at night. 
 
 The two eases, based upon the Jiy-laws of 1800 and the 
 Siatute of 18(.I4, involve cjuestions of no small magnitude and 
 difficulty. Section 8 ol" the By-laws of 1 8G0 above quoted enacts 
 tiiat (/// ^>rr.>io/(.s' irlin nlmll cncumJirr the voLUjaUc part of the, 
 liiver St. Lniifcnri' .... or ain/ of thclcachca, etc., ahAX 
 incur a penalty, etc. The statute of 18-10, creating the Trinity 
 llo ise of Montreal, also declares that they shall have jurisdic- 
 tion to hear all ninftcrs and thlncjH coni'.ectcd with the beach of 
 the River St. Lawrence or of any other navigable river as far as 
 the Provincial line. 1'lie point at issue is, therefore, what con- 
 stitutes an obstruction or encumbrance of a portion of a navig- 
 able river or of its banks ; in other words, what use may be made 
 ol' said river and beach by the j^ublic and riparian propiietors. 
 
 It is an utidenial)le fact that lor the last fifteen or twenty 
 years lumber merchants, notwithsta)iding tin; protests of tlie 
 adjoining residents, h.ave been in the habit of mooring their 
 raits for months and months along and on the bt^'ieh of the Kiver 
 St. Lawrence, from Lachiuc to St. Anns and upwaids, in some 
 eases seriously obstructing the navigation of tli<' river, in some 
 others using the trees ol' the banks, even dejniving the inhabi- 
 tants of the use of the water for household purposes, exposing 
 ihe life of children to const. int d.niger and being in all instances 
 a common and public nuisance. The object of the present 
 [Moseeutinii is to determine whetlu'r these gentl(>men have the 
 ri'j,lit t<i act in this nianiier. 
 
 Till' llnnnii law declared all navigable rivers the property ol' 
 the nation. Uoating, bathing, Hshing, washing, mooring, landing, 
 et(;., was allowed to every one and in every portion of the stream 
 
 ■ ■ chores. Diviel. l>es Coiirs d'eaux. No. 71; (iarnier, 
 
 ami Its si 
 Keginie il 
 
 In iCii';lanil. tin 
 
 eaiix, (iS. 
 
 ...verei'vii has aKo llie dominion over public 
 
r,:nl 
 :< n- 
 
 •fix- 
 
 raft 
 the 
 ouy; 
 red 
 o a 
 
 III*; 
 
 n.ivi-iil.lc wMt. Is, liitt niil_y a,> far a:^ the Ilnwiri;^ aii<l nll-iwiii- of 
 ♦ he tide cxfi nds. Hc^diid this llic M.il of the .stream bclmiLis to 
 till! ripniaii owners. Woolly, -li on \Vatei>. li;{, L't ; Aiij:('ll on 
 WatricMiurscs. >j .'>.'!,■). >5.")ir>. 
 
 Tins rule <d' tlic l'lML;li>li cnnini'Wi l.iu \\i> \tn\\ iTcoL;niz(.'<l by 
 tilt! Courts ..r tile Stales of .New Vork, Massaeliusetts, New 
 llampsliire. Coniieelieut, Maine, ,M;nyl,iiid, \'ir-inia, Oliio. 
 Indiana, also Illinois— Anj:ell 1^5-17. On the other hand the 
 priiieijile (if tlie luiniaii Law lias 1m en maintained hy the Courts 
 (if Pennsylvania, Ndith Carolina, 'J'ennessee, Ii(juisi«nii, and 
 forms part ol' the eomnion law el' Kunipo and i^ou\h America. 
 
 Ill France, it .seems that tlit; sovereij:n did mit elaim \\\c .soil 
 (if uavi;^ablo rivers till after tin; foiirleenth iM'ntiiiy; itnlil 
 then it was the )»roperly of the Si i'jii' ms. ('liainp<iiinieri', 
 Propiii It' tie,-, jviiix Coiiiaiites, pp. (iiri </ .-^n/. Miif tlitM'e is no 
 ddubt that lulij;' before the .settlement <if ihi.s eolony, \\\v tIo)tii(iii, 
 of all' naviii'abh! streams, that is eap;ihle (jf beimj navigated, 
 whether oJ' fresh or salt water, was vested in the Crown for the 
 pnrposrs of na\iL:ali(ni. Ordouuances ol'1415, IH'iO, l^So, art. 
 18; Bouteiller, Stjinme ruralc, tit. 7o; Dujiare-roullain, t. 'J, 
 p. 398; Loy.soau, De.s Seigncurics, ch. 12. Xo. 12(1; Lcgrand, 
 Coutumes de Troycs, art. 1701 gl. 1; Loy.sel, tit. 2, reg. 5; 
 Gamier, Regime de.s eaux, vol. 1, pp. 44 <-f siy. 
 
 The Civil Code of Lower Canada has reproduced the provision 
 of the old French law. Article 400 says that " navigable and 
 " floatable rivers and streams and flicir hmi/.'s .... are 
 " considered as being dependencies of the erown domain." The 
 corresponding article of the French Code (58S) is substantially 
 the same, with i\:v, exception that it does not (contain any pro- 
 vision concerning the banks of rivirs. 
 
 If the rule of the English law, wliiih prevails in Ontario ami 
 the sister provinces, was to be applieil to the River 8t. liawrenee 
 in the Province of Qiiebe.*, above water title, it wonhl be clear 
 that the riparian ]>roprietors., being owners of the stream, would 
 also own the sliore which is a mere aeeesstiry oi" the river. " The 
 banks of rivers," says Wtiolryeh. j). -II. •■ ti>gi'tlier with the frees 
 belong to the owner of the soil adjoining."' Callis, on vSewers, 
 pp. 73, 115. 
 
 What eonstituti's the liaiik of a navigable river is a piilnt 
 npnn which commentntorB do not agree. Aecordin?: to the bert 
 .! ,ih'i] Itii'-^^ I'l! FiTMice 1 divi'inn Tnii-t lie drn?:n "hetvrccn Irlcli 
 
u 
 
 iiii'l Imu \\.ii<r iiiiiL-. Tli>' inr'ti'ii ii.iir I till h.iiiK i>ii^|H I fl' 
 tlif ii\rr and ImImmu- Io iIw Ciowii, aii<l llic Mipcrioi' ono i.s :i 
 I"ii (ion dC ilic ailjiiiniiiL'' l.iiid. Ilnllainl <li' N'ill.iiiiiU'S, \(t. oliiMiiiii 
 •I.- lialaj,'o, N(.. !>, II, <;,niiicr, vol. I. Xn. 7:1. lOU: vol. 2, No. 
 177; ain't do UuiU'ii, Ul .Lr. 1S12, S. l.'}, 2, I0!»; Pavi.'l, vol. 
 1. No. UI ; Isanilieit, Do la Voiiio, No. 127. 
 
 It is luiiinport lilt to tlio di'tcrniitiation o|' thi> c.i^^o toexaiuino 
 at any lonirtli this (jUi>>tiiiii ol' j)i(t)irirtor>liip of iiavii^aljlo rivi'is 
 and of their bank". JJolh tho Kiiglish and tlic Frcnoh law have 
 iiraily tho sanio loyiiLitinns cnncerniin.' flio iiso that can be 
 made of thoso thing.**. 
 
 Woolrioh, p. K', says; "Waters flnwin;^' in l.ind whore the 
 '■jiubiic liavt' been usrd to exorcise a free riyht of passage 
 '• from time uhoroof tin; memory of man is not to the oontrnry, 
 "or ])y Nirtiio of l(>.;isl;ilive enact monts, are pnblie navigable 
 " rivers."' 
 
 By use and by legislative onactment.s tho Hiver St. Lawrence 
 is a public navigable river, and it is immaterial whether the 
 channel, which i.s entirely or partly filled up by the rafts, in used 
 f«)r steamboat or heavy transport:ition, or only barges and boats. 
 
 Navigable rivers, says again Woolryoh, p. 1, are cmisidercd in 
 l.iw as " highways. " Kvon at common law any oncroaohment 
 upon a public stream was considered to be jturpresture, that is to 
 siy, the making of that several and private which ought to bo 
 common to all. Woolryeli, 10(!, IDD, 2r>7. Tlie pnblie, paid 
 Lord Chief Justice Abliott, has a right to all the <'nn\ fiiionce of 
 the former statt' of the river. Jii.r v. Lord (irasroior, 2 Stark 
 511. Ttisnoexfuseth.it the obstruction is beneficial to the 
 iniblic. Woolrycli 2ns. A floitiie/ dfick in ;i I'lililic river is a 
 imi^anee, altlinii'jh liciuHci.-il f'nr repairing ships. . Id. 2()0. To 
 I'oiislniet ;ind iiMHir a Uniting slurchoiise nr vessel, lor the receiv- 
 ing and di'li\('i'y ol'goods. is an tilVi'iico indictiblo as a public 
 niiisaiiee. Aiigell. v^ "j,")!!. There is no common law right to 
 bathe in a liver. NVooiiyeh, p. 2, (J ot se(|. ; lUniuhJl v. Catfc- 
 i-'ill. .') I!. ,\: A. 2il>^. No right exists at common law to tow on 
 tlie |i ink< nl'navig.ible rivers ; it depends on usage ; Ball v. Ila- 
 hrr>. :; T. 1!. 2i;i ; h'inlnrh v. Xrrllr, G M. i^ W. 794; Wool- 
 rycli, i>, Itil; Angell, § ')7)\. (The French and Canadian law 
 is ditVereiit in this respect.) The Diotiruig of barges in an Incoii- 
 
 iriiitiif iirnniir has boon deemed an obstructi 
 
 on. 
 
 Wool 
 
 rvcii, 
 
 2U(I, 20[; A'.A,v V. Miks; t M. .^ S. 101. No length of tini< 
 
7 
 
 ^mII l<';;iliiii.i(r. ,i |.ii)ili.' mii. .Hm <•, m» tlmt tin' afijuii-M'^icCi'itr 
 fwcnJy yoai-s will rml divt^l tlii> v'\<^]\\< nf dir |Mililir, \\'o<il- 
 r.Vi'li, 208; Aii^'dl, J^ .")(;:!. 
 
 It !ij>|»oju\s (lint, ill corhiiii I'li-rs (lie ob.-tiiK lidii niii) bo iciiiuvotl 
 without any jiKlit'iiil pidci -^. In a ca.-e of ll//((/ v, Tlt<niijtsnu, \ 
 I'lsp. "IWl, tilt' jpjaiiit ill l)r(>ii::lil tit'ypass for (nitliii;_'a ropo bekn^iiij; 
 to his har^v, l>y which the lopp was .-puiliil atul tht- bargo sot adi'il't. 
 The dofoiulaiit iTpliod that lie was pn,ssc^'SlHl (•(" ii whiirrtind that 
 the rope was injuriously fastcuod \\iih(»ut hi.s leave. He was 
 condeniuod, but only bocausc it was provod that " the cujtom ol' 
 " moorin;:; barges at low watm* Ufov uiuj title at the piU's in the 
 " front ol" the wharf, and If there (tir no pihs, tin lusloni ihus 
 " not olloir till' liin'ij''s to moor at llni vhurf, nnlrxs tlnrinih ilis- 
 "/rm." Woolrych, 201. In AnnuhJl v. McCulliuh, the de- 
 fondant out down and removed a bridi^o built over n publie river 
 without authority from the Govornnient, and the Court declared 
 it to be clear " that when ani/ pnUir inii/ Ik unhinfolhj ,iostntctci(, 
 "any individuid who has occasion to use it in a lawful way, may 
 " roinove the dbstructioii." 10 Mass. 70; Mni/or of Cohhcstu- 
 V. Hrooh; 7 A. & E. (X.S.) :!:'.!>. S.e also Dlnus v. Pithj/. VJ 
 li. J. Q. B. 4.'..']; Woolrych, p. ID!*. 2(lO, note a ; Jhnt w.Vni/or 
 of Allan I/, I) Wend, 071. 
 
 The regulations of the l-nj:lisli law arc plain ( iiouyli ; iho.-'e 
 of the French la^y, which are in fnice here, are not less explicit. 
 Article GIO of the Code Napoknu says : " Lcs servitudes ^tnblics 
 " par la hii out pour nbjet rutilite publir|ue on comiuunale 
 "oil I'utiiite des particulicrs," Articled')!) " Celles ^tublies 
 " pour I'utilite publiquc on cnnuiiunale nnt pour objet le raarcJie 
 •' pied le Ion;:; des rivieres iiavi<r!ibl('S ou flottables, la eonstruc- 
 " tlon des chomins et antrcs ouvrages publics ou conmuinaux. 
 
 " Tout ce qui concerno c( (te espece de servitude est determiiu- 
 " par des lois ou des reglenionts particulicrs." 
 
 These provisions of the iMcncb Code have been reproduced 
 word for word in the Civil (.'ode of liowcr Canada Article 500 
 says : " Servitudes establi.^lied by law have for their objects pub- 
 "lic utility or that of individuals."' Art. 507 : " Tho.sc estab- 
 " lished for public utility have for their ol»jcet the foot-road or 
 "tow-path along the banks of navigable waters or flotable rivers. 
 " th« construction or repairs fif reads or other pid»lic works. 
 "Whatever concerns this kind of servitude is determined by 
 " partienlar laws or rciMil-itioiis," The (wo Codes being .'■imilar, 
 
s 
 
 tlie Frcucli authorities imitt thcrcfure be uf't;rcat wcij^lit iu ibis 
 Proviiico fur tbo tlctcniilii.'itloii ol' ;iny ((lustinii (iimicctod witb 
 ii;ivi^able rivers or their Imiik.-'. 
 
 iJai'iiirr, lU'^inic dos caux, vol. 2, ji. .S2. s^a}.-: '• iii\. servitude, 
 " iuipo.soo aux livcraiiis ait cxilusivouiciit n'bfrvi'o au service do 
 " hi nuvigatioii, et in; ]icut en cotisniueiice domirr a des tiers 
 '• aueuus droits efraiij:,ers a ce service, tels (|ue dc construirc des 
 •' aquedues, tj<: jmiscr tie Veaxi, de lavcr, etc." Hee also Gamier, 
 vol. 1, p. 1)1 ; Favard, vo. cbcniin de balaiic ; Holland de Vill- 
 arjz;ne.«, vo. cbcniin de halatrc ; Proudbon, de la Propriety, Nos. 
 779, 782, 784 ; Gilbert sur'Sirey, notes 1, 10, sur I'articlc 050; 
 Pardes'^us, chs Servitudes, No. lo9. 
 
 (laniier : " Jjc ebeuiin de balay,c ue peut etre employe par Ics 
 '• Da\igateuv^ a uu autre usage que le simple passage, ct ccux < '' 
 ^' lie jKitnitt Jr (rt.'iisfijijiKr en vn j^ort fixe d'ahordage oil il.< 
 '■'■ dtDKurmdcnl amitrrh.'' Garnier, vol. 1, p. 03; vol.2, p. 
 82; Gilbert, loc. cit. note 15 bis; Proudbon No. 784; Duviel 
 No. IIG ; Arret du Conseil, 20 Anfit 1818; Sirey, 18, 2, 332; 
 Bulletin des lois, 1818, p. 234. On ne peut se servir du marcbe 
 pied du ileuve afiu de s'y l)aigner, Daviel, p. 78. 
 
 Garnier, vol. 1, p. 03, says : " Un urret dc la Cour de Cassa- 
 " tion du llJuin 1822 a decide dans I'affaire Duboury & L'alle- 
 " mand que le premier D'avait pu amarrer son bateau aux arbrrs 
 " existant sur les rives d'une ile appartcnant au second." Daviel 
 vol. 1, p. 79, No. 74. " Ce n'ost qu' on cas dc necessite, par 
 " cxemple de naufrage on do pdril manifesto, que, soil lo depot 
 '' dc quelquos objcts, soit I'amarragc des cables, devrait Ctre 
 '• accidentellcment tolerd par le riverain." Daviel, vol. 1, Nos. 
 73, 74, 7G. 
 
 Dumont, des (Jours d'eau, p. Gl : " La frequeutation du clie- 
 " min de balage est intcrdite a tons autres qu'aux navigatcu!-> 
 '•' et aux pecbeurs. Ccux ci mCnie ne peuvcnt s'en servir (|ne 
 ••■ pour trainer leurs filets, non j^oui' les secher cf hs dejtosir." 
 Daviel, vol. 1, p. 80, No. 7G. 
 
 In Louisiana, vbero tlic same principles prevail, it lias be< it 
 decided that any work or ('>tablisbmpnt Avbieh obstructs the I'k '■ 
 use of roads and banks of a river, is a nuisance, and may be 
 al)ated by tbt^ police anliH.) iti.s d' lln' j.jaee. or jxrliaps even a 
 private indlviduiil. Ilim' ,>ni, v.Jhn/nr, '.', L. add ; iV<ifrhirl,i s 
 V. Co:i\ 3 N. S. 111. .^< >■ ;(l-o Jf,nisn;t v, L<ij\tjj(tl,\ 1ft L. 'j::*.'., 
 
 No niie b.'U- a ri;,'li( t.i ;i Im i Iikiucm n(<'n|i;iliev ol' tbe l..iiil.- i.t 
 
 rf4* 
 
Uii.s 
 will I 
 
 .'I ii\i.r, >Sli( itjiiid y. Mi<iii>tjiitHiji Xu. Thirr, G E. o4[). Sfc 
 .■iiM) M flat V, Cn-'inl 1 A. :i(> ; Carrnl/fuu A'. C'>. v. Wliilhi»j> 
 
 r> A. nc. 
 
 'rill' liiiubi r iin TL-liiiiits liiiM' pliu'l'd lli.il tlicy liavc no utlivr 
 |il;uc \vluit' tlicy t-au iiioor tli(.'ir raits. I ilu nut kuow tluit ^ucli 
 i.s the ( a.-i; ; in lact it litis been proved that thoy coukl be luoorcil 
 ill (Iriiiidi J//.vr or /.v/r 1*1 ii'oL without any iueonvenienec to tlie 
 jiiiblie; but it is alleged thit thefc phices arc out of the way. 
 W'liMtevrr tliis iu:iy be, the plea o[' the defendants cannot be a 
 iioiid answer to the eoniplaints made. The law is precise and 
 must be respeeted. Lunibcrnicn, like other boatmen, should buy 
 or le;ise the necessiiiy i^round to re(!eivc their goods. If the 
 < •uveinment does not 'live them publie booms, they ought to eon- 
 ^t!•llL•t I'vivate ui.'tc, as is done uear Quebec, and ask permis- 
 . \i>u i'vum ilir prnprr authorities to keep their rafts in moorage 
 alung their own banks. No more than ordinary importers, have 
 they a right t;) trespass on the property of their neiglibours or 
 I'C the pulilie. ;nid exjicct that others should provide them with 
 ilie pri>[)er storagi'. If the 1>ay at Tpper Laeliine is the only 
 rnW: phicc where rails ean be nmored, they tmglit to buy 
 I hi; priipi'ily adjniniiig. No one lias the right to Ibreibly 
 lake the land of his neighbour and earry on his trade there, 
 liecause it is tin? most suitable, AVhat w(ndd one of the honor- 
 able cimmissioncrs do if one morning he was finding a herd of 
 e. it tie fastened on to his trees along the land publie highway ? 
 I <lo not suppose that he would wait I'or a judgment of the court 
 to remove the nuisance. No one would be surprised to hear that 
 even the honorable Chairman of tliis Comniission had cut the 
 r('i)e or ropes and let the whole herd wander at large. It is hard 
 to see any ditFerence between this ease and that of a nuisance 
 committed on a water publie highw ly. A recent telegram re- 
 ceived i'rom Ottawa inl'ornu'(l the iiorriiicd ]iublic that cattle is 
 I'.ir less dangerous than certain raltsnieii. At all (>vents, if vn 
 one can abate a nuisance on a piil)]ie highway without the inter- 
 I'lvention of courts ol' ju>tice. that intervention ought to be 
 reailily granteil in lavour orciti/ins wiio merely demand justice, 
 1 lie pcacealtle and full eiijoymeiil mI'iIicIi- pi-o|ieiiv and liuhts and 
 I In' enforcement of llu^ laws of the cormtiv. 
 
 Mr. (JarttM-, in reply, ;irgued that the r;il'l, lia\iiig arrived at 
 ii-.' de tin.Ttioii, there w.is no longer :,nv uece.'.'^lty for nny light 
 1/ 'iiC: shown or the nnme of the owiei l-elici alfised to fhecibin. 
 
liny l)».:liii;; i)\\\y iiijuui.'l wliilo tli'.' ral't i« ill traubit. ^^ illi n:- 
 '-:ir<l l(» (iiciuiibt'iiiii; tlie bcatli, lie inidtcd IVoiii tlio Civil Coflo 
 nl" J.owtT C.inad.i, No 100;- — 
 
 " IkOatl.s ami jnil'lic Avays iiiaiiilaiiitd jiy ilu: Sl;itc. naviijablc 
 
 ami fluatalilo liwis ;iii(l streams and llivir banks, tlio rtoa-^liorc. 
 lands iTclaiiiicd I'ldni llic scapuits, liaibouis and roadsteads, and 
 lionerally all tlio;-^' portions of territory wliioli do not constitute 
 jirlvate property, are eonsidered as bein^- depcndcneies of tlic 
 Crown domain. " 
 
 And again, i'roni sub-section 2 of tbc Consolidated Statutes of 
 Jiower Canada, eliapter 20 : — 
 
 •' It shall be lawful nevertheless to make use of any navigable 
 or floatable livcr or watercourse, and the banks tliercol', for tlie 
 eonve3'ance fd' all kinds of lumber, and for the passage of all 
 boats, i^e., subject to the (diarge of repairing, as soon as possible, 
 all damages residting from the exercise of such right, and all 
 fences, drains or ditches so damaged." 
 
 7 O 
 
 On the 2titli Angust. 187-1-, judgment was given a.i follow.-: 
 
 ])£siRf; (IiRot/Ara), eoniplainant, vs. John Grier ff aJ, de- 
 fendants. — The undersigned, throe of the Harbour Couimissiouer.s 
 of !Montre;d, having heard the complaint against tlic said defen- 
 dants, as .set forth in the information in this matter fyled, and 
 having also heard the several witnesses who were duly sworn and 
 • xainined bv ami bcfitre us touching the eharge and accusation 
 contained in the --aid inrnnnation, and the arguments of counsel 
 on belialf of llie pros(MMili(>u ;iml defence, and having deli])erateil. 
 and eonsidei'ln;.'. tli.it all or every the ])ei'son or persons wlio sh;il] 
 encnmber the naviL'able part tif the jtiver 8t Lawrcnc(^ or the 
 navigable wattM's within the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the 
 Harbour (.'ommi.s.^iniu'rs of ."Nfontrcd, or any ot the harbours, 
 creeks, inlets and lieaches within the said limits, or in any way 
 obstruct till" navigation therenf with slmies, filth, rubbish or 
 cribs, wrecks of ste.'imeis or oilier vessids, sh;ill incur a penalty 
 not exceeding L'Ht Cor lacli and every oflence, ;uid a I'lirtlier like 
 penalty ior neglect iiig or rel'u.-iiig to remove or c.iu-e to bo re- 
 moved any smdi eiiciiiiilu'aiice.s or ob.-truction, within ten days 
 after being legally notiil(d so to do, and a further like penalty 
 l(ir every ten days such encumbrances shall not \w removed : ami 
 also considering that it h.ith bc( ii s.itisfactorily jiroveii l)er(ire u< 
 that nt the timeortlie l;i\iii'.>' id' the iurnruialinn in (his m.itter 
 
Code 
 
 viL'ilblo 
 
 •liorc, 
 If^, nnd 
 i*tituto 
 
 'C flH> 
 
 riUiic 
 
 11 
 
 ;iiii| (iT'l) iiiiuicisiuli ul'llnj oIlVlM.'c lln li ill jiUc;;;'"!, llir .'.ild <1'- 
 rriidants, ,hn fJritT and IJruck (Jricr. wric tlio owners «{' a 
 cortain rail, wliich ruft obstructod a navij:ablo part uf tlic Puvcr 
 St Lawrence in the upper part uC llii' Parit^li ui' Jiacliiuc, witliin the 
 jnri.^diotion of tlic Cnrpoiatiuii oi' tiie llarbuur ConiiniH^ioners of 
 Montreal, which said r.d't has, as has Ijeen proven before up, ob. 
 struoted the inside channel of navijiation on that part of said 
 liver hereinbefore described, and also prevented access to the 
 bench of said river b}' the proprietors thereof, and by said raft 
 lying partly in the navigable part of said river, and also on its 
 beach and on that part of it hereinbefore described, the said de. 
 iVndants are by us adjudged and condemned to pay for their said 
 oft'ence a fine of $20 to the said Harbour Coniniissionersj together 
 with the costs of the present prosecution, and it is by us further 
 ordered and adjudged that tlie said defendants, John (irier and 
 Iirock Gricr, be forthwith required by the Secretary- Treasurer 
 of this Corporation or some other of its officers in that behall' 
 duly authorized, to notify the defendants to remove or cause to 
 be removed the obstruction and incumbrance complained of in 
 and by the said information, and further, that if said removiil 
 of said obstruction be not eft'ected in 10 days after being required 
 ,>-o to do, then it is by us further ordered and adjudged that saiil 
 defendants be condonuicd to pay to the Corporation of Ifarltour 
 Commissioners of Montreal a further penalty of jLT) for every 
 subseqiient 10 days the said obstruction and incumbrance sliall 
 not be removed after said notification ; and also considering that 
 the other defendant, W. Murphy, is not liable in manner and 
 form as set forth in said information, the present complaint, in 
 so far as it afieots him, is hereby dismissed without eosts. 
 
 John Yotnu, Chairman. 
 
 Andrew Ari.w. 
 
 A, Kov, 
 
 Alkxis BiU'NKT, complainant, rx. J.vo. (iHii:n, it nl., de- 
 i'endants. — The undersigned, three ( f the Harbour Commissioners 
 ol' Montreal, having heard the complaint of the said Alexis Brunei 
 against the said deiendants. asset forth in his information in the 
 matter fyled, and having also heard the several witnesses who 
 were duly sworn and examined by and before us touching the 
 eharsie and accusation contained in the said information, and the 
 arnumont of counsel on behalf of the prosecution anil dofeneo, .ind 
 
12 
 
 liavhig maturely dolibcrutiMl, aud coubklciiiig that under the law 
 owners or porsoiis in charge of rafts witliin the jurisdiction of 
 (lie corporation of said Harbour Coniuiissioncrs are not oblig(!d 
 (o keep a l)riglit tiro or any lire burning tlioroon from .«unset to 
 sunrise, unless said rafts are drifting or at anchor on any navig- 
 able water, and considering also that the prosecutor has I'ailed 
 to establish the material allegations of his informatioD, to wit: 
 That the raft complained of was, while drifting or anchored on 
 any navigable river, without a bright light burning thereon ; and 
 also considering that it hath been satisfactorily proven before us 
 tliat said raft was not at time of the laying of said information 
 or of the et)mmissiou of the ollenco therein alleged drifting or 
 anchored on any na\ iguble water which imposed upon the said 
 defendants the obligitiou of keeping a bright fire burning thereon 
 from sunset to sunrise, or any fire, but. on the contrary was 
 anchored to a beaidi in the parish of Lachine, within the juris- 
 diction of said corporation and at a {dice which exempted defen- 
 dants IVom tbe oliligation of keeping a fire on said raft. It is 
 therefore ordered and adjudged that the ecnnplaint and informa- 
 tion of the said Alexis I'onret be, and the same is hereby 
 dismissed witli costs, 
 
 .loiIN YoLNC. 
 
 A. Allan. 
 A. Roy. 
 
 Pierre IOtienne Normandeai', informant and prosecutor. 
 rs. John Grier cf al, defendants. — The undersigned, throe of 
 the Harbour Commissioners of Montreal, having hoard the coni- 
 ]ilaint of said informant and prosecutor against the said deCen 
 dantSj as set forth in the information of said Pierre Etienne NOr- 
 mandeau in this matter, produced and fyled, and having .■il>o 
 hoard the several witnesses jiroduced upon the trial of said eau'-c, 
 and who were duly sworn and examined before us touching tlH> 
 charge and accusation contained in the said information, and 
 having heard the arguments on behalf of the prosecutor and de. 
 fendants, and having maluicly deliberated, con^sidcring that by 
 law all rafts navigating tin' waters witliin the limits of the jiiri-- 
 dietion of llie ('orporation u[' the ITarbiMii (.'omniissiiinev- "f 
 .Montreal, sli.ill Iirivo the numo of the ouru r. or owrnis Hm in.t'. 
 legibly palntvd ni lettovri not le.^.?i than eiglitecn inelir lnn ■ ..,i 
 both f-idop of a board, not lops than five foot In hoi-luli. lu i, • 
 
lu 
 
 li.\c<l ill snnn iiiuiulucut ]>hic(; on the laltj no a^ tu be easily <.li.-- 
 CLTuiblo, under a peually nut (.x'ecilin^i; ten jtounds against tin' 
 nwner, master or jm rsuu in cliarL^e tlicreui'; and, considering that 
 at tlie time of the hiyini;; ul' the inrnnualiun iu tliis matter, and 
 of tlio comnussiun of the ofteneo therein alleged, tlie raft coni- 
 plained of in and by th(i s lid information was being navigated 
 through the waters of the St. Lawrence, in the Parish of Lacliine, 
 ii! the County ofJaeijues Cartier, within the jurisdiction of the 
 s.iid Corporation of the said Harbour Commissioners; and also 
 considering tliat it hath been satisfactorily provid before us that 
 the defendants, John Cirier and Brock Grier, are the owners of 
 the said raft and were such at the time af the offence complained 
 (if, and that they had not, as alleged in the said information, the 
 unme of the owner or owners of the said raft painted on the 
 Cahanc or any other prominent place on the said raft, as by law 
 reriuircd; we adjudge and condemn the said John tJricr and 
 I'rock Grier to pay for their said offence to the Corporation of 
 the Harbour Commissioners the sum of five pounds currency 
 money of the Dominion of Canada, to wit, twenty dollars, witii 
 also the cost of the present prosecution. And further, consider- 
 ing that the said William IMurphy, the said other defendant, is 
 not liable in the manner and form, as set forth in said informa- 
 tion, the present complaint, in so far as it concerns him, is dis- 
 missed without costs. 
 
 John Voinc. 
 
 A. At.ian. 
 A. TU.v. 
 
 Hon. John Young, after delivering the judgments of the Board 
 said: "In giving this judgment, which the Commissioncis 
 '• believe is ciuitc in accordance with the rules and bj'-laws oi' 
 '• the Harbour Comniissioners, they cannot give it without 
 '• stating that the hunber trade of Montreal and of the Ottawa is 
 " so large in its character and of so much interest to the whole 
 ''community, that although this is the law according to our 
 •• opinion, yet some steps should be taken by the lumber niorchanis 
 '> whereby provision should be made for the accommodation of 
 ■• their trade. No commmiication whatever has l)een made either 
 •' to the late Trinity Board or to the Harbour (Commissioners. 
 •' No attempt, no ro(iuest lias ever been made by the lumber 
 '' trade of tlie country for any provision by which they could 
 
n 
 
 i , 
 
 11 
 
 •nbtuiii iimiilc iiicaii.s I'm' its aciioftimutlatioii without iufriuyin;; 
 
 • upon the ii;^lits «tl' private parties. Webcliovo that the ri.i^ht.s 
 
 • of private parties have hccn iiiCrinj^cd, and wo liuvc j;,iveii judg- 
 ' incut iiccordiiiiily. 
 
 "I bolicve I ^pcak ihc uiiaiiiiiious opinion of the Conimission- 
 ■ ers \\lien I ,<iiy that we sliall he ghid to receive any application 
 ' from the lunibrr trade setting forth liow provision could be 
 •made for tlirir acconimodation either l>y booms or in some 
 
 • other way. 
 
 "I deem it my duly to make these remarks in giving tliis 
 
 • judgniiiit, in order that the [)ublic may understand that while 
 
 • the Commi^ifcioners have no alternative but to carry out the 
 
 • law, yet they are iierfeetly sensible to tlic requirements of tlie 
 
 • lumber and timb -r trade of the count rv." 
 
 Theric deei.^iuus were received by the lu:i;bcrmcn uith appa- 
 rent surprise. On the 2(>th August, according to announcement 
 in the newspapers, a meeting of gentlemen interested in the 
 lumber and limber trades was held in Mr. Stanton's office, St. 
 .lames Street. ^Ir. J. K. Ward was c died to the chair, and 
 3Ir. Brown officiated as Seeretarv. 
 
 The Ciiaiuma.v said that the meeting had been called ;it a 
 very short notice, but it had "been thought desirable to lay tlie 
 views of the lumbermen before the Harbour Commissioners, who 
 met to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon. To this end a delega- 
 tion shou.d be appointed to wait on the Board and represent to 
 them the troubles and grievances under which the trade suffi'red 
 by the recent decision of the Commissioners, and which deprived 
 them of their riglits on the river. They could not till, by the 
 decision of the Jjo.ird, what rights they did po.ssess. (lle.ir.) 
 I'^or over forty years the 3Iontreal timber trade had been undis- 
 turbed, and now suddenly their acconimodation was taken .-iw.iy 
 from them, and they had no safety for their rafts. The tratle 
 liad previously understood that the Board of Public Works had 
 control of the river: but if the Harbour Board had the control, it 
 was their duty only to protect the navigation of the river, and 
 not the rights of ])rivate persons. 
 
 After further discussion. 
 
 ^Ir. John Tuelver moved, seconded by My. J. G. Dunning: 
 " That iu view of the unexpected and sudden position takin;' 
 with ivjvnrd t.i the inooiina of r;ift-- on tlie nhore of tlo Si 
 
15 
 
 Lawitiiir ,it au'l abos'c Lachiin', uinkT tlic now aii[iiii\'iit jnii.-- 
 "liclioii (if lliL' Doaril of Harbour CouiuiissiuiRiv, tho foUuwiiij;- 
 uciitlonioii iiiosL'iit bo a (.Uputatioii lu wait on tliu .said Uoard to 
 it.*lii'os(.iit tilt' K'rious uriovance that cxi>>^t.s uinlur such suildtjii 
 rhaiiL:o ol' ;ill';iirs tVoiu tlic practico horctoloro oiijoyril lor ovor 
 liirly years, and to rt'i(ue.>t that no furtlicr action or iutcrl'ciciicc 
 !-hall be t ikcn until tlio c isc is rcprcKcnIod to tlio <:;oYcnnncut' 
 c-pccially as it is unddstiHid that the Harbour CouimisKioucrr* ar»! 
 ih'l at ])rc<t III picpaied to uivc the iunibevnjcu a proper phicc oi' 
 Ml'ctv I'lr their very c.vt.'iiftiv(! business — tho said comniittec to 
 c.iii>irt(ir Messrs. J. K. Ward, Jas. Shearer, (i. (!. Dunniiip-, 
 .1. W, 3Iel !,iu\ ran and ij. (Jrier. 
 
 The uieetini;' then adjourned. 
 
 At a re«:ular nieetiiii;- ul' the Ilaibour Cuuiini.-sioucrs hekl ou 
 the 27th ol" the same month, a deputation consisting of Messrs. 
 .r. AV. McGauvraii, J. G. Dunning-, J. K. Ward, James Shearer 
 and B. (Jricr were admitted. 
 
 Mr. Youii"' thought that an elVort sliould be made to aeeom- 
 modate the lumber trade of 31ontreal, and if a moderate ex- 
 penditure would aecoiniilish tliis, he would be in favor of it. He 
 had received a letter stating tliat there was a place at Isle I'cr- 
 rault wliere the trade could be aecommodatod, but on enquiry he 
 liad received inform itioii that the place was not sutficiently large. 
 
 Mr. iMcGauvran, on their behalf, stated the grievances of tho 
 trade on account of the position recently taken by the Board. 
 
 Mr. Dunning said that they had large (juantities of kunber for 
 sale, but much of it had to be kept moored above Lachinc until 
 !-uch time as a s.ile should be eiFocted. In Lacliinc the space for 
 their accommodation was so small that no more than a tenth of 
 the demand could be kept there, 'riuy asked the Board to use 
 (heir aid to enable tliem to keep their rafts above Lachinc until 
 waiiteil. The interest of the trade was so large that in eompar- 
 i-(in with it the annoyance to those p:utics who had brought com- 
 plaints against them were nothiii;;. 
 
 Mr. Cramp said tliere could b' no double authority in this 
 ni liter. Either the Government should I'urnish all the accom- 
 liiodatioii needed or else they should give the Harbour Couimis- 
 >i<iiiers full control of the boom.s at present at Laehine, and also 
 ]|^■^mis^ion to make such further improvements as were needed, 
 ;. lid al\,o authority for eollretinrr fee ■ fn-om (lie rnfi' ihino- those 
 jiiir,vov«~nioutr;. 
 
10 
 
 ; I i 
 
 .Mr. l,>niiu\;iii Mild lie must piolcht iiyiiiiiht lliu Uoi; in tliC 
 inuiiyvr i»rocTcdiii,i:s ul^^^unie ol' tlio land owihts h\>ovc Lacliiiu.'. 
 Tlio iiitcn'sts of the tr;ido verc too iniportiiiit to bft obstructod 
 by a few city uTiillenicii wlio li.id bmiiilit s^imiinr'r ivf^idoiiccs on 
 the banks of the St. T<!i\vroiict'. 
 
 .Mr. Shearer ,s;iid bo had a raft at jiix'sont lyhij^ iit tlic shore 
 oppo.site the indpcity of IJenjaniin Deeary. llo had obtained thi; 
 |i( rniis.'^ion ot ."Mr. Decary for leaving it there, but as it was aboyt^ 
 the property ot Mr. Girouard, that <:'entlenian had ooniplained 
 that the presence n|' the raft rendered the water unfit for use, and 
 had ordered jiini ( Shearer) to have it removed. He had also 
 another raft lyini;- below the G.T.ll. \vharf at Lachinc, and a 
 liotel keeper in the vicinity wanted it removed, as his boarder.s — 
 who paid $(10 iter month for their aeeonimoibition — objf^eted to 
 the smell arising from the raft. 
 
 Mr. Youno; thought that the case was so ument that they oudit 
 to provide aeoomod.ition for the trade at onee. 'I'hero wonld be 
 no expense on the Commission as the trade wei'e willini;' to pay a 
 fair remuneration for the use of the boouis. 
 
 .^Fr. jAIclieniian paid that a representation frnm the Uo.ird to 
 the (Jovernnicnt oiiLiht to obtain the necessary relief. 
 
 It was stated by the depntatlon that several re)»resent.itions 
 had been made to the CHovernment of the state of the (.-ase, but 
 
 had met with no rc; 
 
 ipon 
 
 se. 
 
 .^Fr. Donovan thouLiht that a joint deputation from the I'oard 
 of llarliour Commissioners and fh(> fjumber Trade, to the depait- 
 ment of Publii- Works woubl snee.H^d in securin<:,' the required 
 aid. He Would move that Mr Vounu;, Mr Cramp and Mr 3Ic- 
 Lennan be a deput;it!oM to act with a similar nnndjer from the 
 lumber interest. 
 
 3Ir. Voiin^ said lie found thai by law tlu; l>oard had no power 
 to expend inoney (ui improvements outside the harbour. Wa 
 snpjiorted the inotion for a deleg.ation. 
 
 i^fr. Donovan's n.ime was sulistituted for Mr .Meriennan's, 
 
 'l'h(> lumbermen ap]iointed Messrs ^\^•lrd. ^Meilnuvran and 
 Shenrer as their Committee, 
 
 These j)roecedinus adracled considerable attention from the 
 Jiress. '.I'he Monlre.d \V!liii.«Sj 'JTtli Au,<;ust, said: 
 
 .K.M'Ts ON Till', Sr. f-AWRKNcH.—The luml»ermen have sud- 
 deidy diseovere<l lliat wh.it they have been in the haliit i>f eon- 
 
Ill tliO 
 
 iacliiiK;. 
 itriict>(l 
 
 IK'CS Oil 
 
 slid IV 
 l<'<I tll»! 
 
 ;i)»nv<' 
 
 l.'iincil 
 
 s<', jiikI 
 
 1 .-ilso 
 
 and a 
 
 f'-il to 
 
 17 
 
 Mdering as their rights — and what they have used as such during 
 the past 40 or 50 years- -is subject to be taken from them at the 
 mere whim of any party who may buy a small piece of land on 
 the banks of the St. Lawrence above Lachine. The speakers at 
 the meeting yestord;iy afternoon appeared like men who had dis- 
 covered a serious flaw in wliat they usually coi:>;iderod the tith; 
 deeds of their est ite. Tlie habit of moorinu; rafts to the shores 
 of tho St. Lawrence above liaehino had been practiced for so 
 long a time that the people wlio owned the adjacent land, as well 
 as tlio lumbermen, began to look upon this as an undoubted 
 right. Latterly a good many persons from the city have bought 
 land and erected houses on these shores. These persons having 
 bought their places at a high price, on account of their proximity 
 (o the river, looked on the presence of rafts and raftsmen as any- 
 thing but agreeable, as they were then-by shut off from free 
 access to the river, on account of which they had paid so much 
 for their land, and consecjucntly complained of the rafts as being 
 a nuisance. The lumbormeu replied to all their complaints by 
 saying that the custom of mooring rafts to these shores is much 
 older than the title of the present proprietors of tlie adjacent 
 land; consequently when these persons bought their land, they 
 bought them subject to the raft nuisance. 
 
 The latter have discovered tliat whatever privileges the lum 
 liermen may claim to using the beach or channel of the river 
 while their timber is being brought to market, they have no right 
 to make a public market of these places, and consequently have 
 taken proceedings to compel the owners to remove their rafts. 
 Tho lumbermen find themselves in a disagreeable predicaiaont ; 
 they are ordered to remove their rafts, but there is no place pro- 
 vided where they can move them to, so they have got to remain 
 — except as has been done in some instances, they are cut adrift, 
 and allowed to go over the rapids. 
 
 They arc about applying to the Harbour Commissioners for 
 redress, but these latter cannot change the law, nor can they 
 legislate away the rights of the land owners to free access to the 
 river; nor yet can they furnish accommodation at present for 
 the rafts elsewhere. It is quite evident that all parties will have 
 to exercise considerable forbearance until suitable places be .secur- 
 ed for keeping rafts at while waiting for sale. 
 
 There is a suitable bay above Pointe Claire where rafts might 
 be kept, were it not for the swells caused bv a westerly storn) in 
 
18 
 
 liiike St. Louis. A cou-itlfialjlc .vuiii wouUl be rcnuiieil to ticft 
 pic'ih iintl booms to jiiotict tbe lalts were tliey lelt licic. There 
 is ul.-o u bay a hliort distance below the mouth of the Chateau- 
 jj,uay river, on the south side, whieh would be very suitable i'or 
 lieci)in<^' ral'ts in ; and the shore being in a state of nature tlie 
 |iresence ol' rafts at that place could not <j,ive cause of complaint 
 In any one; but they would not be so convenient to market, as 
 iJK'y would r<'(|niro to bo towed across the river by steamboats, 
 
 'I'be iMontreal Ilcruhf, 28th August: 
 
 The Haft Grikvance at St. Ann's, — A meeting of those 
 interested in the Ottawa lumber trade was lield in this city 
 yesterday, at which Mr. J. l\. Ward presided. The following 
 resolution was passed ;— 'That in view of the unexpected and 
 sudden position taken with regard to iho mooring of rafts on the 
 (-liore of the St. liawrenoe at and above Lachine, under the now ap- 
 parent jurisdiction of the Board of Harbour Commissioners, the 
 IVillowing gentlemen present be a deputation to wait on the said 
 Board to represent tlie serious grievance tliat exists under such .a 
 sudden change of alVairs from the practice heretofore enjoyc I 
 for over forty years, and to request that no further action or 
 interference shall lie taken until the case is represented to the 
 tJuvernment, espeeially as it is under.'Stood that the Tlarbour 
 (!omniissioners are not at present prepared to give the lumber 
 men a proper place of safety for tlieir very extensive business — 
 the said committee to consist of Messrs. J. K, Ward, Jas, 
 h'hearer, J. G. Dunning, J, W. IMeGauvran and B. Grier. It 
 was claimed that the Harbour f'ommissioners liad deprived these 
 •entlenien of tlioir rights on the (Ht.iwa Kiver. Mvidontly tin' 
 iinpre«.^ion prevails llial the residents of St. Ann's, Dorval and 
 l.aehin<' have no rights. Wo .'sympathize with the trade in h.iv 
 ing no suit.able arr.ingonionts made to receive their rafts wlwn 
 iliey wi.sh to aiiejior at the places nanied ; but residents on the 
 baidis of the river on that account should not be sulyected to 
 -neh annoyance, which, it is admitted, has lasted for 40 years. 
 The fact is, no community should for a moment be compelled to 
 lolerate the oftences which raftsmen have been guilty of, to the 
 kiiowledg(> of the writer, for years. They destroy trees; be- 
 liav(f indecently — J'or instance, strip and bathe within a few yards 
 ol the road — and when remonstrated with, residents are met with 
 all kind:i of in'.ulty. One or two owner? plead tliat they know 
 
lift 
 
 llicrc 
 
 |cau- 
 
 I'or 
 
 t]i(> 
 
 lint 
 
 us 
 
 19 
 
 nothiii" of the law Tlic.ic very ;^( ii+Kiucii Imvr prninif,e(l re- 
 peatedly to iiiovo their rails, Homo of whitsh have bcfu ohstruct 
 iuu8 for months past. Not oiip in Ijl'ty over hiiH the name of thr 
 owner, or u li-ht, whieh it is w.U known to tlie Inide they !.honl<l 
 have, aud in not one ease in HMIcan you fiiul— at least raft-men 
 never will own— a responsihie man on hoard to appeal to win n 
 reaidcuts wish to have a raft moved a few feet t.» euahle small 
 hoats to reaeh the heaeh. We are certain that llie people who 
 eomplaiu have jiood reason lor so doin;^, but if lumbermen will 
 only, during their pressure of business, do what in right until 
 the Harbour Commissioners aflord proper I'aeilities for the trade, 
 they will lind little or no ineonvenicnee. Linnbermen ask to 
 liavc their rights respueted. That is prcei.^ely what the resi- 
 dents of St. Ann's, Dorvul and Jjaehinc desire, and if the latter 
 have sull'ered for 40 years, it is hidi tinje that si»mc elian";e for 
 the better .huuld be cfrcclcd. 
 
 Le Natiuiuil, 'J'.Hh August: 
 
 Une decision. — Une deeisiou dttuuee riieemmcul par le&et>ui- 
 missaircs du Havre a ordounr aux eommcr<;ants dc bois de ne 
 pas amarrer Icurs eages dans le haut dc Liehiue. liCs hunlnnv n 
 s'en eont alarmes ct ils dtmaudent I'intcrvention du gouverne- 
 ment. II c.^;t clair (ju'il n'y a <(ue le I'arlement <(ui pui.^se 
 changer la loi sur la nwitit'-re et il y a tout lieu dc entire (ju'avant 
 dc pcrmettre Tamarrage des cages dans des ccutrcs aussi import 
 ants que Laehine, Ste. Anne et Vaudreuil, on fera eonstater par 
 des sondagcs ou autrement s'il n'y a pas d'endroit ]i\\.\i' avanta. 
 gcux et pour le public et pour les commeryauts de boi>. 
 
 L'amarragc des cages a 8te. Amie, Vaudreuil et Jiaeliine a ete 
 uu vdritable ineonvenieut depuis plusieurs annees. Ii('.s liommes 
 de cage ne sc geueut pas dc .sc baigueravee indi'eeiu'f eu face tlr> 
 habitations et eu plein jtnir. lis disposent les cages de telle faron 
 dans le flcuve (juc les proprietaires riverains uc p uveiit ])ui,sei- 
 I'eau ndcessairc k Tu-sage de la famille ou de la I'orme, et encore 
 ccllc qu'ils vont chereher au large eu pa.ssant sur les plan(;ons 
 n'est guere potable. Encore, si cela ne dovait durcr cpie (juel(|ues 
 jours; mais cet etat de choscs continue peiubint des mois, durant 
 toute la belle saisou de I'ete et nieiuc I'o liiver. Les cages ar- 
 rivent pendant la crue des caux du printcmps pour ne part/r <(iie 
 vers la flu de rautomnc et memo parfois le printemps suivant. 
 
 Ajouti'z (jn'aux eaux basses cos cnges restent :\ see. eon~t;Mu- 
 
to 
 
 njcut k lii p'»rt«Jo d'.s enfauu, et loo comj>rcuJru iaciUmcnt lc» 
 euDuib tit Ic trouble de» propri<?t tires rivcraius. Co qui rend la 
 •'oDduitc dts mari-hauds do boi.s njoio" excusable cucorc, c e^t 
 ijuil existc ik rile Ptrrot, vi.iu-vis Ste. Aunc et loin de» balitii- 
 tiotis, unc biie .-jai.ii uic ijui M'lublf f'uite cxprei pour uii irratiil 
 iiiurehe u boi-, » njs d(.'.-?.iv:inta;:«j pour f/crsouiic et avcc b'.'aueuup 
 <Jc eoumioiJitc p->ur tout Ic luoiid*.-. CVttc paitio do I'llc Pcrrot 
 par hu pruxiiiiitt' de Ste. Auiie ct du ehemiu de fer du Grand 
 Troiic, est u fjiu'hjU's tijiuut'!* si.'ul"motit dc di-tauc' dc Moiitri^.il. 
 
 /,'/ Minn-L< , ;jl.,l Au;jU>t : 
 
 li'AMARUAOi: DE.s TKAiNs DE DOirf. — Ut-pui.i prc.s d"uuc vin.- 
 tiiiuc d'auiJt'eM, Ics luanliaud.-) de \)^)U ont eu riiiibitude d'uiuarrcr, 
 pendant des inoi.s ' iitiers, leurs ca^'es le lonj^ d'.-s i.'reve.«, a Lachini! 
 et a .''tc. Anne, uialgre Ks proprictaires riverains. Ccs deruii.rr4 
 C'peudant, jii.squ'u cette annee, ."-o bornercut in fairc de Himjjles 
 protestations. Xo.s bon.s habitants erai_'naut rintlutiiee des riehcs 
 lumbermen n'osaieut pas f'aire valoir leurs droits. Mais depuis 
 une aiiuee ou deux, Laehine et Ste. Anne sont devenus des lieux 
 du rendez-vous I'ashionnables pour la soeiett' de Muntiiial, plu- 
 hleurs eitoyens de cette derniire ville y ont achete des terrains, 
 bati des residences d'ete, et les dominates et ennuis re.-ultant dc 
 la ppj^cnce des cages devinrent si iiitolerables qu'en juillet dernier 
 ils poiterent leur jtlainte devaut la Commission du Iliivrc de 
 3Ioutreal fjui a juridietiou sur les rivieres navigables ct leurs 
 p,revo.s. M. Girouard, tant eu son nom qu'en celui des autres 
 propria taires du haut de Laeliino, aecusa J. et B. Gricr de violer ; 
 
 lo. I'u article do rt-glement do la Triuite de 18G1, en n'ayant 
 pas d'ciiseiune sur la cabane de hi caue ; 
 
 lio. l,'u slatut de 18G8 qui cxigc que les cayvs portent uu leu 
 depuis Ic soleil couehant jus([u'au soleil levant; 
 
 ."Jo. Un rej:lement de la Trinite de 18G0 ct uu statut de 18Gi 
 (jui pnjhibent robstruction dune riviere navigable ou dc ses 
 •jrcvc^, en tout ou en partie. 
 
 Nonibrc de tumoins fureut entendus, et, il y a quelques juurs, 
 trois des Commi.ssaires du Havre, M3I. Young, A. Allan ct A. 
 Hoy, eoudamnerent les propriotniivs de e.tgos sur hi premiere ct 
 troisiemo accusation, cL en ni'Junnei'eiib rcMlrveuuiut sous peine 
 dc cin(( louis d'anieude )Kir chaque dix jours. II ^\■>x, inutile de 
 (lire ([lie Ics liuiibci-iu ii qui. jn.-qu'iri, av.ii< nt joui en niattrcs 
 .•ibsolus (111 lliiiv' (•( di! SOS Lii'rvt's en si' nuKniant <k's ri'prrsenla 
 
21 
 
 1 la 
 
 ;(a- 
 
 rrijt 
 niid 
 
 tioDS dcb piopric'tiiiCj nveraiu;, ue sc buuiuiicut paft .i ccttr 
 tl^cibion. Rt^uu'w en caucus, ils nomtijt''rfnt dcs del('gufs pouv 
 taire valuir Icurs pii'tcU'lus droits anpr^s Jc la Corumist-ion du 
 lliivrc, ft a lu doiuiiTC u'uiji'tn dc ce corp'^, MM J. W. McGau 
 M'au, .^I. I', r.. ot autivf, fuisairnt noumicr uiie dOk'i^atioii a 
 Ottawa pour diiuiUKlcr riiitorvciitiou du <:ouvcrnciuont tii 1« ur 
 I'avcur. No.s coufivic.'^. 1<' J/trahl ct Ic M'jV/iJSs ont dcju f.iit 
 ri;ujar juir Ich oxigciac.s di'rt coluiucrcauts do Lois. 8uii8 auruii 
 doutc, Ic cuuiiudfc df bois doit dtrc protcj^'i-, mais il taut ijuii 
 Ic suit ou rcsipcctant Ics droits dcs partitulicrs ct du public cu 
 gf-ut^'al. Lcs riviircs navigablcs, do ujcuic que kurs grOvcs nc 
 ►out pas la prcprictc dcs luuibcruicu ; ks riviiros boiit. pour 
 I'urtage dc tou.^ ct ks groves uc soiit a^sujcttics qu'ii la scrvitudf 
 du chciuiu do lial.igo ou du uiarclic-pk'il, r'ost-a.dire u uu drnif 
 dc pas-yagc cu I'lvcur (ks uavigatcurs ct dcs pcclicurs. I'crhoiiiK: 
 n'a k droit dc sc scrvir d'aucunc partic du tkuvo ui dcs groves 
 dcs pro]irietaircs riverains, et encore luoins de kurs arbres, (hoi> 
 ks cas du danger,) pour y aiuurrer dcs cages d'uue uianierc per- 
 uiaueute ct de fa(;ou a gener la navigation du fleuvc ct la eireul:i- 
 tiou do la rive. On invotjue au eoutrairc uu usage ou une eon 
 tuuie dc 30 ou lt> ans: mais n'esLee jjas uu principe ekniciitaiic 
 (|Uo Ton DC preterit pas coutre la Courouue, et (jue, dailleur.-, 
 via a-vis dcs partieuliers ujcujcs, Ks servitudes nc ^'acquirrjni 
 point par lu prescription, menie centenaire. A'oila la l<ii trllr 
 qu'ou la trouvo au Code Civil du lias-Cauada, et telle (juc jugee 
 \KiY ks Coniuiissaires du lliivre. La niemc loi exifte cu France, 
 en Angkterrc, aux ]"]tats Unis, ct daus tous les pays. 11 est 
 evident quo k gouveruemcnt, pas plus quo ks Coniuiissaires du 
 Havre, no pout changer cetto loi. Scul un aete du rarlenicnt 
 Federal pourrait donncr aux commcrcauts de-bois plus de droits 
 ((u'ils n'en ont aujourd'hui, et encore k consentenient du I'arlf 
 ujcut Local serait probablomcut exigible, car une telk legislation 
 aHectcrait evidemcut ks droits fonciers de la Province de Quebte, 
 (jui sont exelusivomcnt du rcssort de la Legislature ProvineiaU'. 
 i>aus tous les e;is, il est pcu probable (juc k Parlement Federal 
 ou Local intervicnnc eu cette matiere, car cette intervention serait 
 une violation dcs droits acquis dcs partieuliers, ct provoquerait 
 des deniaudes d'iudcninitd coutre k gouveruemcnt. A Laeliiuo 
 et a 8te. Anno, la vakur dc la propriete s'est accrue considera- 
 blera'^nK ft 'l''j>iiij? inemc que lo pul)lic a appris que It^s conini'r 
 
cauti do boii u out ju., lu diuit d y amaricr kuri ca;^eL ct qu'ih 
 les ont eulovt'cs, il .s'l-sL I'iiit -X Dorval plubicurs vciitcs a 5 ct 10 
 • HMitiiis lo pied earn', ct il x\\>l piis doutcux (juc Ic iLtour dis 
 *y.\'j;cs aurait pour clVrl dc (h'tcriorir la pr(»pri('l('- ft d'cii diiiiiniK r 
 l:i vidcur. 
 
 riu.sicur^ (.•oii>iduatii)ii.s d uiilile pubrnnu', >-iu(jit ilc iit'ccs'^ili'. 
 cxiritc coutn; raiii;in;i;jt; do^ c;i,;^l'.s, daii^s los criitrr.s prr.s do lu <.'il(' 
 lie Moiitr('aI. 
 
 IjCS caux sajri's mmii iii,u:fc>,silj!e& a uit j:l'aiid iiuiiibn; dc yv 
 .-uiiiics jiuur diHVrciiU'.- (•,ill.•^c^, iillaircfi, |.^uut.s uii autios rai;soiis 
 ct il cbt iuili^^pcu.viljlr "jiu; Ic.-^ ^raudcs avcuui-;^ <|ui euviruiincnt 
 Moutrcal suiciit paii'aiUiiiciit librcs ct ouvcrtcd ii la [xjpulaliuii. 
 N'obt-co pas a, caufrc dc I'u mar rage dcs ciigcs (jui cucuiiibrciil 
 liiichiuc ((uc rccciinucnt uuus avious a dcplorcr ruccidint (jui 
 ciilcvait a iiuc famillc bicii cuuuuc, uu lils uiii(|Ui'. 
 
 On a mciut lieu dc o'donucr <juc cc> iiKdlicui u'.^ .uicut pa . 
 plus frequent.; cu ccl cndroit oil dcK (.c itaitic. dc c,i!.yj3 passcut 
 tout Tetu Sana aucuiic garde, ui prolcelioii, ct il c.~t [iicsqu' incoin- 
 prchcusiblc quo Lacliiiie, avcc sa ])opulatiuii tuiijourrf crois>sautc, 
 ii'ait pas eucoro pri^ Ics luosurea ncoessaircs pour I'airc disparaitro 
 cettc ubbtructiou prcriquciiticrc do kuu port ct uu ctat dc clioi^cH 
 qui porto prejudice a, tuub ct surtout a cettc partic do hi vlUo 
 i'orccc do veuir pui-cr I'eau croupic ct niil^ainc qui cut'nirG Ics 
 cagc!<. 
 
 Eutiu I'auiarrai'C dcs ca. c,s a Jjacliiiic ii ulVic aucuuc riircli'. 
 Tout) Ics au.5 iiuU:> cu vcvous [ilu^iours bri.yjcs ct c^iiiporlees daiifi 
 les rapidos par les gros vcuiii ([ui soufHeut sur le lac St. liuui.-. 
 La baisf.sc dc^^ caux met i-;ouvcut a sec duraiit i'cte dcs cagc^ 
 arrivce.s au eouiuieucemcnt du priutemps ct di^vieuneiit uiic 
 fcourco ceutiiiuelle do dangers puur les lamillcs cu\irouuaut:.'S d 
 dc depouacb puur Ics proprictaircs ^i'ils veulaut les I'airc eiilever a 
 rautomue. 
 
 Tout bieu cuii.sidere, il imu,- seuible que I'amarrago dc.s cages 
 dovrait so I'airc dans uu cndroit oil tous ces (b'savantagcs ue sc 
 toraiont pas sentir. A Quebec, Ics eommercauts do bois ont 
 lours booms privcs, ab^oluuieut eomuie les ni'g<jei.-ints ordinains 
 ont Icurs wdrtliousi s. Dans tou> les eas, >"il laut que Ic Parle- 
 mcnt autorisc dos />'^(///rv publics, ils dovrai aii iVr- pla-'t's dans 
 un endroit ou i)crsunne u'cn >outiViraii. 
 
 On dit que ji-' «iid do I'lle Permr vi> a vis Ste. Anne jjosscile 
 
2.T 
 
 !;, „„•?':" '■': '""■' ^'-""^ ''« ""™i- 'J»"»erait lieu 4 peu