The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 47
Dominion Marine
Dominion Marine.
Lighthouses.
In the Ontario Division, extending from Montreal to Lake Superior, there were, at the close of navigation in 1877, 143 lighthouses, light beacons and light snips, and 87 buoys and 4 Deacons, 106 light keepers were paid by the Government. A number of lighthouses already commenced, were completed and put in operation during the year No new ones were commenced. The expenditure for construction during the year was $16,277, and for maintenance $56,421.
The Quebec Division extends from Montreal to the Straits of Belleisle. In this division there are 126 fixed and revolving lights, 8 light ships, (3 of them with steam fog whistles) 7 steam fog-whistles at light stations, 8 fog guns, 74 buoys, 55 beacons, and 8 provision depots for relief of shipwrecked mariners. The number of persons employed was 157. Several of the lights between Quebec and Montreal were furnished with more powerful lamps. The new lights at Bay St. Paul and Goose Cape were reported efficient. A new lighthouse was erected on Greenly Island Straits of Belleisle, and the steam fog-whistle removed there from Cape Hay, that having been replaced by a Woodward fog steam-horn. Improvements were made at several other stations. The amount expended was, for construction, $12,945, and for maintenance, $105,978.
In the New Brunswick Division, including the whole coast of New Brunswick, there were 66 lights, including a light ship and 8 fog-whistles under the charge of 60 keepers and engineers. The two beacon lights at south Tracadie were put in operation, the light houses of Pea Point, L' Etang Harbour, and one at Machias Seal Island in the Bay of Fundy, were completed and put in operation. An automatic fog-trumpet was completed at Grindstone Island, and a Neptune fog horn erected at. Head Harbour, Campobello Istand, Bay of Fundy. A powerful fog bell was erected at Quaco Lighthouse, St. Martin's. The expenditure was, for construction, $7,084, and for maintenance, $50,998.
At the close of navigation there were in the Nova Scotia Division, 110 lighthouses. 10 steam fog-whisties, lightship, and 115 keepers and engineers New lighthouses were put in operation at Guyon Island, Cape Breton, and at Big Arrow Island, C B., at Devil Island at the eastern entrance to Halifax Harbour, at Pope Harbour, Halifax Co., and at Fort Point, La Have. The fog-whistle on Capeable Island has been in successful operation. That at Lambro has also been in continuous operation, but the sound cannot be heard as far as was desired, and the expenditure has been much heavier than was anticipated. A lighthouse has been commenced on Isle Haute, Bay of Fundy. Repairs and Improvements have been made at a great many of the lights. The cost, including the Humane Establishments on st. Paul. Sable and Scattarie Islands, was $127,999, and for construction, $25,550.
There are 22 light stations in the P. E. Island Division. besides range lights at some of the stations, making 30 in all—under the care of 22 light, keepers The new lighthouses at West Point, Wood Island, and Blockhouse Point were completed during the fiscal year. New light-; nouses were erected and put in operation at North Rustico and Tracadie Two fixed lights were put in operation at Big Tignish, and at Little Sands. The new lighthouses, Malpeque, Fish Island, on Sandy Island. Cascumpec and Little Channel, or Conway; Inlet, were fully completed. $17,762 were expended for construction, and $11,817 for maintenance.
The lighthouses in British Columbia are six in number and one lightship. There are 14 light keepers and assistants No new lighthouses were constructed last; year, but improvements were made to the; existing ones. The expenditure in British! Columbia was $15,853.
For construction | $79,608 |
For maintenance | 377,121 |
Total | $456,732 |
Dominion Steamers.
There are five screw steamers, two paddle-wheel and two small steam launches, under the control of the Marine Department. The steamer Napoleon III during, the season, supplied light stations on the W. shore of the St. Lawrence, the Gulf, Straits of Belleisle, and N. shore of New Brunswick and P E. Island. The Druid supplied lighthouses from Point des Monts to ontreal, laid down and looked after the buoys below Quebec, conveyed Governor General and suite to the Gulf, and was employed also in connection with the Fisheries Commission. The Lady Head was employed as an armed cruiser for the protection of the fisheries, and also for the service or the Fishery Commission. The Newfield supplied the lights in Nova Scotia, and those of New Brunswick in the Bay of Fundy, and the S. shore of the St. Lawrence. During the winter of 1877-78 this vessel was employed in carrying goods to the Paris Exhibition. The Glendon was stationed at Halifax to attend to the buoy service and supply the Sambro' Island station. The Sir James Douglas attended to the light and buoy service in B.Columbia, and assisted in conveying parties for the C. P. Railway Survey. The Richelieu has, for the present, been transferred to the Montreal Harbour Commissioners The Northern Light is specially built for work in the winter, and is employed in maintaining communication between P E. Island and the mainland. The steam launches Dolphin and Alice are employed by the River Police at Quebec in preserving order among the shipping. The total expenditure for steamers during the year, exclusive of the Lady Head employed in the Fisheries Branch, was $182,947.
Harbour and River Police.
At Quebec | $21,482 |
At Montreal | 13,524 |
Total | $35,006 |
Quebec | $23,512 |
Montreal | 5,086 |
Total | $28,598 |
showing an excess of expenditure over receipts of $6,408. The preceding year the excess was $11,723
Sick and Distressed Mariners.
Vessels of 100 tons burthen are required to pay a tax of 2 cents a ton, and of more than 100 tons, of 6 cents a ton each year for the relief of Mariners This Act does not apply to Ontario, but small grants are generally made to the hospitals at St. Catharines and Kingston for the benefit of sick Mariners. At Quebec they are provided for in the Marine and Immigrant Hospital; at. Montreal, at the General Hospital. In New Bounswick there are Marine Hospitals at St. John and five other ports. In Nova Scotia there are Marine Hospitals at Sydney, C. B., and Yarmouth. At Halifax, Mariners are admitted into the City Hospital, and at other ports they are cared for by the Custom House Officers. In Prince Edward Island there is a Marine Hospital at Chariottetown, and another has been opened at Souris. In British Columbia there is a Marine Hospital at Victoria. The expenditure for the fiscal year for sick Mariners, including $1,765 reimbursed to the Imperial Board of Trade for Canadian Mariners in foreign Ports, was $51,648, and the dues received $48,739,-leaving a deficiency of $7,909.
Improvements of Harbours.
Cape Chatte, Gaspe | $28 80 |
Amherst and House Harbour, Magdalen Isies | 525 48 |
Bathurst, N. B | 252 00 |
Richibucto, N.B | 1,673 00 |
Southern Bay, N.S | 18 00 |
Cow Bay, N.S | 4,299 00 |
Total | $6,695 00 |
No money was expended except at Rlchibucto and Cow Bay
Steamboat Inspection.
During the last calendar year there were 1,402 Engineers' certificates granted, an increase of 57 over the preceding year; 61 were first class, 156 second class and 205 third; 321 first class assistant engineers, 177 second class assistant engineers, 165 third class assistant engineers passed. Special steamers, 117; fees received $3,043. The number of steamers inspected was 740, with a gross tonnage of 118,588 tons, and 71,713 tons register; 210 were in the West Ontario, Huron and Superior Division, 101 in East Ontario, 126 in the Montreal, 57 in the Three Rivers, 96 in the Quebec, 110 in the Maritime Provinces, 35 in British Columbia, and 6 in Manitoba; 302 were paddle wheel, 437 screw; 303 passenger, 80 freight and 357 tug steamers. 60 new steamers were built with a tonnage of 6,271 tons, and 3,766 tons register; 15 were lost or put out of service, leaving again of 45 steamers with a tonnage of 3,414 tons; 34 of the new steamers were in the Ontario and Maritime Province divisions. The amount received during the fiscal year for tonnage dues, steamboat inspection, &c, was $15,859, an increase of $2,048 on the year, although the tonnage dues had been reduced from 10 to 7 cts. per ton From the 1st of July, 1877, the duty was still further reduced to 4 cents per ton. The expenditure for Steamboat Inspection during the fiscal year was $13,073, leaving a balance to the credit of the fund of $2,786. A Steamboat Inspector for Manitoba was appointed during the past year. 13 steam vessels were wrecked or suffered from casualties during the year, the loss so far as ascertained being $100 150. Except in one case of collision on the St.John River, N.B., there was no loss of life No complaints were made against Inspectors, and very few cases of misconduct of engineers were reported. One engineer's certificate was revoked. The comparison of receipts and expenditures of the Steamboat Inspection Fund for the last 8 years shows a balance of $20,228 to the credit of the fund.
Masters and Mates Certificates.
During the calendar year, meetings of the Board of Examiners were held at Halifax, St. John, Charlottetown and Quebec. The number of meetings was 44.89 Masters passed and obtained certificates land 58 Mates. Since the Act went into operation in 1871, 835 Masters and 258 Mates have passed. During the year 1877 22 certificates of service for Master and 8 for Mates were granted. The whole number of these granted since 1871 is 813 for Masters and 279 for Mates. The fees received during the fiscal year amounted to $1,740, and the expenditure to $4,050. No subsidy is now paid by the Dominion Government to Schools of Navigation for instructing Masters and Mates.
Wrecks and Casualties.
The casualties to vessels in Canadian waters and to Canadian sea-going vessels during the year 1877 were 327, and the amount of loss, so far as ascertained, was $2,019,670. The number of lives lost was 100, 26 in Canadian and 74 in other waters. On the Inland waters of Canada 42 disasters occurred, with a loss of $271,244, and a loss of 17 lives. Making a total loss of 117 lives and $2,290,914, for vessels and cargoes. No wrecks occurred at either Sable Island or St. Paul. One vessel stranded on Anticosti on the 30th of Oct. The number of casualties and loss of life was much less than in 1870, but greater than in 1875.
Shipping Masters and Shipping of Seamen.
Shipped. | Discharged. | |
---|---|---|
Montreal | 480 | 291 |
Quebec | 1,771 | 720 |
St. John, NT.B | 3,904 | 1,269 |
Halifax, N.S | 2,879 | 2,178 |
Chatham, N.B | 324 | 137 |
Lockport, N.S | 591 | 323 |
Lunenburg | 474 | 387 |
Picton | 400 | 273 |
Yarmouth | 640 | 479 |
Charlottetown, P.E.I | 887 | 450 |
Total | 12,416 | 6,469 |
The fees received amounted to $8,197. With the exception of Quebec and Montreal the fees received at any port form the salary of the Shipping Master, he paying office expenses. Ac. At Montreal the Chief Officer of Customs, and at Quebec the Chief Constable of the River Police, acts as Shipping Master, and the fees revert to the Treasury.
Pilotage Authorites.
The Harbour Commissioners now constitute the Pilotage authorities for the districts of Montreal and Quebec. There were 193 Pilots on the active list at Quebec at the close of the year and 42 at Montreal. The number of apprentices was 35. The Pilotage receipts were $144,511. The Decayed Pilots' Fund amounted to $101,083. The receipts of this fund for the year were
At Quebec | $21,781 62 |
At Montreal | 3,520 90 |
$25,302 52 |
Quebec | $21,505 15 |
Montreal | 1,746 00 |
$23,251 15 |
219 persons received aid from the Fund In pensions ranging from $20 to $160. In New Brunswick there were at
St. John | 43 Pilots. | |
Miramichi | 27 Pilots. | |
Charlotte County | 5 Pilots. | |
Cocagne | 4 Pilots. | |
79 |
The receipts amounted to $50,851. In Nova scotia there were at
Halifax | 19 Pilots. | |
Picton | 15 Pilots. | |
Sydney, C.B | 27 Pilots. | |
Pugwash | 5 Pilots. | |
66 |
The receipts were $35,337. From several of the maritime ports, and from those of British Columbia, no returns were received.
Harbour Commissioners and Harbour Masters.
During the season of 1877, 2,368 vessels entered the Harbour of Toronto, of which 900 were steamers and 1,468 sailing vessels. The receipts for harbour dues were $11,328. The total revenue of the Harbour Commissioners for the year amounted to $44,958, and the expenditure to $13,994; $3,881 were expended in dredging operations to meet the requirements of the shipping trade
At Montreal, 513 sea-going vessels arrived in port, having a tonnage of 376,859 tons, and 6,333 inland vessels, having a gross toonage of 847,978 tons. There was a decrease in the tonnage of seagoing vessels of 14,321 tons, and an Increase of inland vessels of 61,895 tons. The revenue was $219,560, a decrease of $21,287. The total receipts for the year were $402,739, and the expenditure 500,445; $132,895 was expended in the new channel operations, and It was expected that a channel of 22 feet at low water would be obtained by the close of the season of 1878.
At Quebec 5,430 vessels arrived, of which 928 were sea-going, and the aggregate tonnage was 1,202,217 tons.
The total revenue of the Harbour Commissioners was $89,029, an increase of $6,716 over 1876. The expenditure was $63,255.
The total value of assets was estimated at $874,078, and the liabilities at $748,149.
The contract for the proposed improvements at the mouth of the St. Charles was let for $529,296, the works to be completed in October, 1880.
The proposed graving dock at Lévis is to be 500 feet long, 100 feet wide, 24 feet deep and entrance 62 feet.
At Pictou, N.S., in 1877, there were entered 1,449 vessels, of which 48 were foreign vessels. The total tonnage was 200,540 tons. The receipts were $4,933, and the expenditure $5,999.
Wharves, Piers and Breakwater.
Since the 28th of April, 1877, the Harbours of Goderich, Ont, Rimouski, Rivière du Loup, Rivière Ouélle, Malbaie, Eboulements, L'Islet and Berthier, Que., and Maitland, Oak Point and Cow Bay, N.S., have been transferred from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Marine. Rules have been established and officers appointed to collect the tolls, &c.
Meteorological Office.
The operations of this office were considerably extended during the year. There are now in operation 10 Chief stations, 14 reporting by telegraph, 4 reserve, 39 storm-signal, and more than 100 ordinary stations. The most important of the new stations are Inverness, Skeena River, McLeod's Lake and Stewart's Lake, B.C.; Moose Fort, Hudsons Bay and Placentia, Newfoundland. A general synopsis of the weather in Canada for the past twenty-four hours and the probabilities for the next twenty-four was made out dally at Toronto at 10 a.m., and furnished to the telegraph companies for publication in the evening newspapers. There were at the close of the year 95 places where daily weather bulletins were published, a copy posted in the Post Office and another in the Telegraph Office each day before noon. 20 of these stations are in the Maritime Provinces. Out of 3,372 prognostications issued, 2,660 were fully verified, and 459 partly so. 743 storm warnings were issued, of which 510 were verified, of these 262 were for the Lakes, 81 for the St. Lawrence and Gulf, and 167 for the Ocean. The expenditure was $36,500 being $500 less than the appropriation.
Observatories.
Magnetic Observatories are established at Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, St. John, N.B., and Kingston. The expenditure for these for the Fiscal Year was between 9 and 10,000 dollars, principally at Toronto and Quebec.
Merchant Shipping.
Vessels. | Tons. | |
---|---|---|
P. E. Island | 342 | 65,547 |
Nova Scotia | 2,961 | 511,579 |
N. Brunswick | 1,133 | 329,457 |
Quebec | 1,951 | 248,399 |
Ontario | 926 | 131,761 |
B. Columbia | 43 | 3,479 |
Manitoba | 6 | 216 |
7,362 | 1,310,468 |
Vessels. | Tons. | |
---|---|---|
P. E. Island | 62 | 17,036 |
Nova Scotia | 219 | 47,980 |
N. Brunswick | 54 | 31,158 |
Quebec | 62 | 19,253 |
Ontario | 28 | 3,316 |
Manitoba | 3 | 48 |
B. Columbia | 2 | 201 |
430 | 118,985 |
Two vessels measuring 1,943 tons, built at Quebec, went from that port to the United Kingdom without register, which would make the vessels 432, and the tonnage 120,928 tons. At an average value of 45 a ton, the value of these vessels would be $5,411,760. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1877 directing all Canadian Steamships to be remeasured according to the rules of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1851. 180 vessels were re-measured, and there are 75 or 100 yet to do. The subjoined table (page 42) from the Repertoire Général for 1877-78 shows the tonnage of the principal nations of the world:—
Coasting Trade.
It having been ascertained that Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, Austro-Hungary and Denmark, allowed British ships to participate in their coasting trade on the same footing as those of their own nation, the ships of these nations have been by Order-in-Council, admitted to the coasting trade of Canada. An Act has been passed preventing steamers of other foreign nations from towing ships, vessels or rafts in the waters of the Dominion.
Rewards for Saving Life.
Thirty-four testimonials and money rewards, with letters of thanks, wore presented by the Canadian Government for humane exertions in saving life from Canadian vessels, and four testimonials and one letter have been received by Canadians from other Governments.
Establishment and Staff.
The number of persons employed in the Department at Ottawa during 1877, was 22. The number in the outside service was 1,017. The total expenditure for the fiscal year, including the establishment staff, was $935,875, an excess over the amount voted of about $40,500.
.jpg)
Statement showing the Sea-going Tonnage of Steamers over 100 tons register of each of the Maritime States in the World, for 1877, taken from the Repertoire Général for 1877 and 1878.