Canada Steamship Lines

Canada Steamship Lines was officially established on June 19, 1913, as Canada Transportation Lines Ltd. The new firm was created with the merger of the Northern Navigation Company, the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Company, Compagnie du Richelieu, Canada Interlake Lines, Ontario and Quebec Navigation Company, Lake Ontario & Bay of Quinte Steamboat Co., the Quebec Steamship Co. and a group of subsidiaries of the Richelieu & Ontario Co. In 1925, Canada Steamship Lines bought Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Two years later the company owned 115 ships.

Northern Navigation Company Ltd.

In 1899 J. H. and H. Beatty, owners of the Lake Superior Line (founded 1870) later to be named the North West Transportation Co. of Sarnia (aka Beatty Line, 1882), merged their firm with the Great Northern Transit Co. (aka White Line) and named the new company, Northern Navigation Co. of Ontario Ltd. That same year, the North Shore Navigation Co. (aka Black Line) was bought as well.

Under the slightly different name of Northern Navigation Co. Ltd this firm became the largest passenger and goods transporter on the Canadian part of the Lakes.

J. Playfair, a major investor, was able to bring about the merger of Northern Navigation with his Inland Lines Inc. and the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. in 1913, a year known for the further establishment of Canada Steamship. As in the case of Richelieu, the company name was retained to some extent but the last ship was retired in 1949 after which Canada Steamship was no longer to carry passengers.

The spendid HURONIC spent most of her life in the Canada Steamship Lines fleet (was launched on September 12, 1901). (Courtesy Ron Beaupre)

HURONIC joined the Northern Navigation Company and operated on their routes between Sarnia, Windsor and the Lakehead. She was the last vessel to see the ill-fated BANNOCKBURN on November 2,1902. Shortly afterwards, the latter disappeared with all hands.

Canada's largest fleet, Canada Steamship Lines, was formed in 1913 and the vessels of the Northern Navigation Company were part of the merger. This brought HURONIC under the CSL banner.

The 340 foot (103.6 metre) HURONIC was surpassed by the latter addition of NORONIC and HAMONIC to the fleet but HURONIC outlived both of them. In later years HURONIC's service was reduced to freight only and the vessel survived to the end of the 1949 season.

(Excerpt from "The Ships of Collingwood" copyright 1992 Riverbank Traders Inc.)

Richelieu & Ontario Co.

Its predecessor, the Compagnie du Richelieu, already used steam on the Richelieu River in 1845. When this company merged with the Canadian Inland Steam Navigation Co. ( Canadian Navigation Co.) in 1875, the Richelieu & Ontario Navigation Co. was born. Active on Lake Ontario in passenger transportation and offering tourist cruises to the Thousand Islands, and the Saguenay from 1886 on.

The Rochester & Lake Ontario Navigation Co., an American firm founded in 1875, was absorbed after only a few years.

The St Lawrence Steamboat Co. (Molson Line), was taken over as was the Northern Navigation Company. In 1912 it was the Thousand Island Steamboat Company’s and the Niagara Navigation Company’s turn to be absorbed.

Niagara Navigation Co., Ltd.

Starting out in 1898 with a trip to Hamilton, the company met with stiff competition operating a route linking Toronto, Niagara, and Hamilton. In the following years, important railway connections were obtained, more ships were added to the fleet and more towns sailed to.

In 1911, Niagara Navigation, commonly named the Niagara River Line, took over the Hamilton Steamship Co. and the Turbine Steamship Co. but was itself acquired by Richelieu and Ontario Navigation Ltd in 1912, soon to be merged with other companies to form Canada Steamship Lines Inc.

The CAYUGA entering the mouth of the Niagara River from Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario & Bay of Quinte Steamboat Co., Ltd

1893 is given as the foundation date and a number of destinations such as the Thousand Islands and the route between Port Hope or Cobourg, Ontario and Rochester, New York (US). The Company originated in Kingston, Ontario. This firm existed for a mere twenty years.

Quebec Steamship Co.

'Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship Company' (founded 1867, renamed 1880). Taken over by Canada Steamship Lines in 1913, then sold to Furness Withy in 1919 and dissolved in 1921.

The St. Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Co. Ltd.

A Toronto-based company formed in 1888 by three prominent Torontonians, John H.G. Hagarty, Capt. Samuel Crangle and wharfinger W. A. Geddes, for the principal purpose of transporting grain down the Great Lakes.

The company continued operations until 1916. On April 20th, the firm was purchased for the sum of $1,787,840.00 by Canada Steamship Lines Ltd., Montreal. The acquisition was approved by C.S.L. shareholders on July 27, 1916.

BRENTWOOD ended her days in the CSL fleet. (Milwaukee Public Librarv Collection)

The St. Lawrence and Chicago Steam Navigation Company wanted to gain an additional vessel for their fleet. They decided on a 375 foot (114.3 metre) bulk carrier and this was christened W.D. MATTHEWS when launched on June 20, 1903.

This vessel was able to carry 5,500 tons per trip at a 13 foot (4 metre) draft and she usually hauled grain. Most of the time her loading took place at the Canadian Lakehead ports of Port Arthur or Fort William with delivery to storage elevators around Georgian Bay or at Port Colborne.

(Excerpt from "The Ships of Collingwood" copyright 1992 Riverbank Traders Inc.)

 

CITY OF KINGSTON exiting a lock on the Welland Canal during World War II. Guards were positioned along the canal for security reasons.

Canada Steamship Lines LETHBRIDGE

Prior to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, most of the general merchandise cargo was shipped through the old St. Lawrence canal system and across Lake Ontario to Toronto and Hamilton in canal-size lake package freighters. Back in the 1920's, a fleet of fast express steamers was built for the run known as Montreal-Toronto-Hamilton Express Service. Named CITY OF TORONTO, CITY OF HAMILTON, CITY OF KINGSTON, CITY OF MONTREAL, and CITY OF WINDSOR.

After the Second World War C.S.L. "city" ships such as the FERNIE, LETHBRIDGE, SASKATOON, SELKIRK, WEYBURN and WINNIPEG began to take over the route. Since the 1940's, Canada Steamship Lines Limited had been the only lake fleet to operate this service.

 

The COVERDALE built in 1950 by the Midland Shipyards Ltd.

S.S. "GEORGIAN" leaving Lock No. 1, April 21, 1930

The GEORGIAN that was the first trader through the new Welland Canal on April 21, 1930. At the time, the GEORGIAN was part of the North West Transportation Company and was used to carry package freight between Toronto and Fort William while upbound and the deliver grain from the Canadian Lakehead ports on the downbound run. The 258-foot long vessel had an adventurous year in 1930 and survived two accidents before being the final ship down the Welland Canal for the 1930 season.

Originally named FORDONIAN, she was built in 1912 at Port Glasgow, Scotland, by the Clyde Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd.

FORDONIAN entered service for the Canadian Interlake Line (Merchants Mutual Steamship Co. Ltd.), Montreal, and operated in the package freight and grain trades, Canadian Interlake Line became part of Canada Steamship Lines Ltd., Montreal, in December 1913 and for the next two seasons FORDONIAN continued operating on the lakes, but under C.S.L. colours.

The NORONIC leaving Lock One of the Welland Canal

The PINEGLEN opening navigation on the Welland Canal in March of 2006. (Photo by Denis Cahill)