1766 to 1838.
The War of Independence -- A Governmental Harbour Survey – The U. E. Loyalists

At the outbreak of the American revolutionary war the batteaux were being gradually superseded by the Schenectady, and still later by the Durham boats, though they did not finally disappear until half a century later.

The Schenectady boats were so called after the town of that name on the Mohawk river, in the State of New York, where they were built. They were greatly used by the U. E. Loyalists, who fled from the revolted North American colonies during the progress of the war and on the conclusion of peace to make their homes in Canada. They are described as "being flat-bottomed, generally small, and rigged with anungainly sail.

Durham Boats, pictures here, were very similar to Schenectady boats. (New York State Museum)

Of the vessels built at Carleton Island during the War of Independence one of the largest appears to have been the Ontario, which was pierced for and carried 22 guns. She was under the command of Captain Andrews, of the Royal Navy. This officer was also the first commissioner at the dock yard, besides being the commodore of the small fleet which was maintained upon the lake principally for the conveyance of troops and stores for their use. Some time between the years 1780 and 1783 whilst the Ontario was proceeding from Niagara to Oswego, having on board, in addition to her crew, a detachment of the 8th King's Regiment under the command of Colonel Burton [sic: Bolton], she encountered a fearful storm, and her gallant commander and all under his charge were totally lost. No less than one hundred and seventy-two persons perished on this occasion.

Royal Navy sailing ship ONTARIO

The Government had ship building yards at Murney's and at Navy Points. Among the vessels constructed there was the Speedy, schooner, besides the Mohawk, Mississaga and the Duke of Kent. The most of the early commanders of ships plying upon the lakes belonged to the Royal Navy. Among them were Captains Bouchette, Earle, Fortiche [sic: Fortier], McKenzie, Richardson, Steele and Paxton. The first named of these officers had in 1793 the entire command of the naval force on Lake Ontario.

From ShipwreckWorld.com

HMS Ontario, a British warship built in 1780 has been discovered in deep water off the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Shipwreck enthusiasts Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville located the ship utilizing sophisticated side scanning sonar and an underwater remote operated vehicle. HMS Ontario is the oldest confirmed shipwreck and the only fully intact British warship to have ever been found in the Great Lakes.

HMS Ontario Founders

In the early evening hours of October 31, 1780, the British sloop of war HMS Ontario sank with over 120 men, women, children and prisoners on board during a sudden and violent gale. The Ontario had departed earlier in the day from Fort Niagara, near the western end of Lake Ontario, for Oswego and then on to Fort Haldimand located on Carleton Island in the St. Lawrence River. The following day some of the Ontario’s boats, hatchway gratings, binnacle, compasses and several hats and blankets drifted ashore in the area that is known today as Golden Hill State Park, located 30 miles east of Fort Niagara in New York State. Following the reported loss of the Ontario, the British conducted a wide search of the area on land and water. A few days later only the ship’s sails were found adrift in the lake. In late July 1781, six bodies from the Ontario were found approximately 12 miles east of the Niagara River near Wilson, NY. This was the extent of the items ever found from the ship until its recent discovery.

Built as a Sloop-of-War

In October 1779, the work of building a new "brig sloop" began at the dockyard on Carleton Island. Six months later construction of this vessel was nearly completed and on May 10, 1780 it was launched and named HMS Ontario. The brig sloop was 80 feet long with a 25 foot beam and contained two masts with a length of over 80 feet. She had a "burthen weight" (tonnage capacity) of over 226 tons and carried 22 cannon on board. Throughout the summer of 1780 the Ontario transported troops, stores, and civilian merchandise around and across Lake Ontario, stopping at Niagara and Carleton Island frequently, in addition to regular visits to Oswego. During this period it never came under attack from the American forces. In late September 1780, the Ontario sailed from Carleton Island fully loaded with troops, Mohawk, Seneca, and Onondaga scouts, canoes, and supplies for Fort Niagara. The return trip back would be the last and a most fatal voyage.
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THE FIRST MERCHANT VESSEL.

In the summer of 1793 there appeared on Lake Ontario for the first time the premier merchantman built in Canada. She was named the York, and had been constructed on the River Niagara in the previous year, 1792. Although sailing vessels were now being used, not only for the conveyance of merchandise, but also of passengers, other modes of transit by water were far from being obsolete. The records of 1794 are very barren, but we do learn that early in that year the "Anondaga of 14 guns," the same vessel as that commanded by Commodore Bouchette, the "Onondago," there being some slight confusion in the names, was stranded at the entrance to the harbor and given up for lost. She was, however, got off the shoal and floated into deep water by the exertions of Lieutenant Joseph Bouchette. Several journeys appear to have been undertaken on the lake and River Thames during 1794 by the Governor, but they were all performed, in open boats.

The following year, 1795, in June, General Simcoe is again at Navy Hall, Newark, states heintends to make York the centre of the naval force on Lake Ontario. Only four gun-boats are at present on this lake, two of which are constantly employed in transporting merchandise; the other two, which alone are fit to carry troops and guns and have oars and sails, are lying under shelter until an occasion occurs to convert them to their intended purpose. It is the Governor's intention to build ten smaller gun-boats on Lake Ontario and ten on Lake Erie. The ship carpenters, who construct them, reside in the United States and return home every winter.

Six Eventful Years, 1809-15

The First Steam Vessels -- The War of 1812 and the Battles on the lakes

The six years from the beginning of 1809 to the new year of 1815 form one of the moat interesting periods in Canadian history. They were marked by the first introduction of steamboat navigation on inland waters in Canada, and also by the occurrence of one of the most fiercely waged wars and hotly contested battles both by land and sea that England has ever been engaged in in conjunction with any of her dependencies. The first steamboat that ever floated on any waters or in any country appeared on the great River Hudson, in the United States, in the year 1807. The second sailed on Canadian waters in 1809, from and to Canadian ports.

The boat was launched in the year 1807, being named Clermont. It was of 150 tons burden. The engine was procured from Birmingham. Robert Fulton, of New York, though not the originator of steam power, was the first in America who directed it to the propelling of boats. Fulton, the pioneer in boats by steam, lived not long enough to see accomplished the grand end of propelling boats across the Atlantic thus. He died in 1815. The second steamboat built in America was launched in Montreal 3rd November, 1809, built by John Molson. It was called Accommodation, and plied between Montreal and Quebec. At the first trip it carried ten passengers from Montreal to Quebec, taking thirty-six hours. The whole city of Quebec came out to see her enter the harbour. The fare was eight dollars down and nine up."

Of the vessels upon the lakes in 1809 and 1810 there are scarcely any records. There was the Bella Gore, in the latter year under the command of Captain Sanders, running between Niagara, York and Kingston.

THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.

The fact has already been referred to that in the previous October a steamboat, the first built in Upper Canada, had been commenced near Kingston. The following account of the circumstances attending her construction is taken from "The Settlement of Upper Canada," the bay referred to is that of Quinte:--

The first steamboat on Lake Ontario, the Frontenac, was built upon the shores of the bay, at Finkle's Point, Ernesttown, eighteen miles from Kingston, and within the corporation of Bath. She was commenced in October, 1815, and launched the following season. The three years of war had caused many changes in Upper Canada. On the whole it may be said that the war materially benefited the province.

Watercolour of the steamboat FRONTENAC by Captain James Van Cleve, who sailed her competitor, the ONTARIO.

After peace things did not relapse into their former state. A spirit of enterprise was abroad, especially in the mercantile community. The leading men of Kingston conceived the idea of forming a company to build a steamboat to ply on Lake Ontario and the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence. A company was consequently formed composed of individuals belonging to Kingston, Niagara, Queenston, York and Prescott.

Advertisements were issued for tenders to construct the boat. The advertisement was responded to by two parties, a Scotchman by the name of Bruce, from Montreal and Henry Teabout from Sackett's Harbor.

During the war of 1812 David Eckford [sic: Henry], the master ship-builder of New York, was sent to Sackett's Harbor to take charge of the shipbuilding at that place and brought with him his carpenters. Among them were three young men, Henry Teabout, James Chapman and William Smith. At the close of the war these three formed a co-partnership, and Teabout, in contracting for building the Frontenac, was acting for the company. Before building the steamboat they had built for themselves at Sackett's Harbor, the Kingston, the only craft plying between Sackett's Harbor and Kingston, and a fine schooner for the lake called the Woolsley. Chapman was in charge of the Kingston and was doing a more than ordinarily profitable business.

The contract price of the wood work was £7,000. When the boat was almost ready for the machinery the contractor's funds were expended. The engine cost £7,000. Before the vessel was completed the cost reached nearly the sum of £20,000.

THE STEAMER LAUNCHED.

The Kingston Gazette informs us that:-- " On Saturday, the 7th of September, 1816, the steamboat Frontenac was launched at the village of Ernesttown. The boat moved slowly from her place, and descended with majestic sweep into her proper element. The length of her keel is 150 feet; her deck 170 feet (the tonnage was about 700). Her proportions strike the eye very agreeably, and good judges have pronounced this to be the best piece of naval architecture of the kind yet produced in America. It reflects honor upon Messrs. Teabout & Chapman, the contractors, and their workmen; and also upon the proprietors, the greater part of whom are among the most respectable merchants and other inhabitants of the County of Frontenac, from which the name is derived. The machinery for this valuable boat was imported from England, and is said to be of an excellent structure. It is expected that she will be finished and ready for use in a few weeks.

Upon this, her maiden trip, the Frontenac was under the command of Captain James McKenzie, a gallant sailor, who had previously served in the Royal Navy. A. G. Petrie was her purser. Captain McKenzie commanded the Frontenac as long as she remained on the lake.

The route of the Frontenac was from Prescott to York and back once a week. Later on she went further westward than the latter port, but in her earlier days, or very early days rather, there is no record of her having done so.

ERIE'S FIRST STEAMER.

The first steamboat built to ply on Lake Erie was Walk-in-the-Water, built at Buffalo at the same time the Frontenac was commenced at Kingston, beginning her voyages at almost the same period as the former.

Walk-in-the-Water,

Referring to the Kingston, the vessel mentioned as having been built by Teabout and Chapman, at Sackett's Harbor. She was meant to run from Lewiston to Ogdensburg, her length was one hundred and her width twenty-four feet, her burthen being about 246 tons. She appears to have been a failure and speedily disappeared.

The arrival at Ernesttown of the machinery for a second steamer has already been referred to. She was named the Queen Charlotte, and was launched April 22nd, 1818, the Frontenac having resumed her trips for the season, navigation having re-opened, three days earlier, on April 19th.

The material which had been collected while building the Frontenac had not all been used, and went far in the construction of the Queen Charlotte, which was destined to be the pioneer steamer upon the Bay Quinte and River St. Lawrence in its upper waters. She was built , launched, and commenced running in the early part of 1818. The engine was furnished by Brothers Wards, of Montreal, being made at their foundry. She was not long launched before she was ready to run. She made trips twice a week from Wilkins' Wharf, at the Carrying Place, to Prescott. She was commanded a few of the first trips by an old veteran captain named Richardson, who lived then near Picton and afterwards to the close of the season, by a young man named Mosier.

The fare from the head of the Bay of Quinte to Kingston for the first season was £1 5s. currency, equal to $5; this included meals. The Charlotte was a very acceptable improvement in the navigation of the day. A few of the owners of sailing craft, perhaps, suffered for a time; but the settlers regarded her as an unmixed blessing. During the first years she was so accommodating as to stop anywhere to pick up a passenger from a small boat or let one off. She was not a commercial success until Gildersleeve became her commander; after that she paid well. She ran for many years, and was finally broken up on the shores of Cataraqui Bay.

In this year an important amendment was made in the Lighthouse Act, which has been before referred to as having been passed in 1803. It was felt to be a great hardship at ports where there was no lighthouse that the ships frequenting or passing that port should be subject to lighthouse dues, so it was enacted that "No vessel, boat, raft, or other craft of the burthen of ten tons and upwards shall be liable to pay any lighthouse duty at any port where there shall be no lighthouse erected, any law or usage to the contrary notwithstanding."

MORE CHANGES STILL.

On May 8th the Frontenac arrived at Kingston from Niagara, having on board two companies of the 70th regiment. The following week, May 19th, the stage between Kingston and Prescott had been discontinued.

The new steamboat Charlotte took over running up and down the river, so that travellers on this route were accommodated with a safe and agreeable passage by water instead of the former carriage by land. A terrible storm swept over Lake Ontario in the middle of this month. The steamboat Ontario was driven on a ledge of flat rock near Oswego, but got off and arrived in Kingston in the morning. The damage, though not inconsiderable, is less than was anticipated, and soon repaired. The Ontario was an American vessel, belonging to Sackett's Harbor.

As soon as navigation opened in 1819 the steamboat Frontenac, began leaving for different ports on the following days:--
"Kingston for" York on 1st, 11th and 25th days of each month. York for Queenston on 3rd, 13th and 23rd days of each month. Niagara for Kingston, 5th, 15th and 25th days of each month.

There were on the lake in the year 1819, many other vessels such as, the Wood Duck, a small schooner, the Red Rover, (Captain Thew), and the Britannia, the property of Matthew Crooks, of Niagara. She was splendidly modelled, of 120 tons burthen, and was under command of Captain Miller. In addition to these there were, at various times from 1815 to 1819, the Jane, under Robert Hughson, the Willing Maid, John Smith, and the Asp, under George Miller, The May Flower also still plied from York to Niagara and Kingston. A new steamer, known as the Dalhousie, was commenced in 1819.

SOME NOTABLE STEAMERS.

In 1824 another steamer of no less than 350 tons was built at Queenston, and was called by that name when she was launched in 1825. She was owned by the Hon. Robert Hamilton, and at first commanded by Captain Whitney. The Queenston ran from Prescott via York to Niagara, and was in constant demand by the Government as a trooper.

A small steamer known as the Caroline, of only 75 tons burthen, was built at Kingston in 1825. Her route was from the head of Bay of Quinte to Prescott.

On June 3, 1826, the new steamboat Canada fitted up for her intended route, which will be from York and Niagara round the head of the lake and will add another to the increasing number of steamers in Upper Canada. Six steamers now navigate the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario in the province besides the Canada and a boat nearly ready for launching in Brockville.

THE FIRST "CITY."

The steamer Toronto was commenced at York late in the year 1824 or early in 1825. She was built at the foot of Church street, on the bay, and was of peculiar build, being constructed of half inch planks and the same shape at both ends. She ran between Kingston and Prescott a short time, afterwards to Toronto. She proved a failure, and after a few seasons disappeared.

The new steamboat Canada, Captain Richardson, made her first trip to Niagara, she went out of the harbor in fine style. Her appearance reflected much credit on her builder, Mr. Joseph Dennis, and the machinery manufactured by Messrs. Wards, of Montreal was of superior workmanship.The trip to Niagara was performed in four hours and some minutes.

There were only a few schooners left to navigated the lake, and their passage were hindered by many delays and much inconvenience. The five steam boats, on the lake, all afforded excellent accommodation and the means of expeditious travelling. The routes of each were arranged that almost every day of the week the traveller may find opportunities of being conveyed from one extremity of the lake to the other in a few hours.

The list of the steamers running at that time and their routes. They were, The Niagara and Queenston from Prescott, the Frontenac from Kingston once a week, with the Canada and Martha Ogden, between York, Niagara and the head of the lake every day.

The Niagara had been built at Prescott, and was under the command of Captain Mosier. The Niagara had rather a curious history. She was originally a sailing vessel, owned and commanded by Captain Mosier, and called the Union, of Wellington Grove. Owing either to her being faultily built, or from some unknown cause, she suddenly capsized in the River St. Lawrence, near Prescott. Captain Mosier, nothing daunted, succeeded after a time in righting and getting her into dock at Kingston. There he cut her in two, added about thirty feet to her length by an insertion, and then launched her as a steamer.

The Queenston performed her trips regularly from Prescott to York and Niagara once every week. The convenience of a second and even a third boat was considered. Captain McKenzie, late in command of the Frontenac, (now laid up) made arrangements for building a new boat to be propelled by an engine of greater power than that of any other now navigating the lake.

The Dalhousie, under the command of Captain A. McDonell, resumed her trips between Prescott and Kingston, leaving the former port on Wednesdays and Saturdays and the latter on Mondays and Thursdays, stopping each way for half an hour at Brockville and Gananoque.

The Queenston, under the command of Captain James Whitney, ran between Prescott, Kingston, York, the head of the lake and Niagara, was constantly employed in 1827 in the conveyance of troops from and to these various ports.

Among sailing vessels employed upon the lakes in 1828 was the Canadian, built at York, and launched there about the middle of April. She was the property of William Gamble, afterwards of Milton Mills, Etobicoke, and Captain Bowkett, who commanded her. She was used principally for the transport of grain.

A passenger vessel, of about 80 tons burthen, known afterwards as the George the Fourth, and plying between Kingston and York, was also launched a day or two earlier than the Canadian. There was besides a well known schooner called the Catherine, commanded by Captain Campbell, conveying goods and passengers between York and Niagara.

Late in May or in the very early days of June, 1828, a new steamer, designed to succeed the Frontenac, was launched at Niagara, where she had been constructed by her owners, Robert Hamilton and Andrew Heron. She arrived in York, it being her first voyage, on June 26th, 1828.

The new steamboat Alciope, built at Niagara, owned by Robert Hamilton, Esq., and commanded by Capt. McKenzie, late of the Frontenac, with a number of ladies and gentlemen on a party of pleasure, made her first entry into our harbor on Thursday last. She is a fine model, and fitted up in a most elegant and convenient manner for passengers. She commences her regular trips, we understand, next week, and under the command of Captain McKenzie, so well known for his skill and experience as a seaman, and for attention to his passengers, we have no doubt the Alciope will be found a valuable acquisition to the regular communication which is now afforded by means of the several steamboats plying on the lake, and that she will receive a share of that public patronage which is so deservedly bestowed upon the owners and commanders of other boats whose public-spirited exertions are worthy of the highest praise.

Many people have wondered why this vessel received the name she did. It is a purely fanciful one, and though apparently of Greek origin, does not belong to any of the ancient heroes or heroines, whether real or mythological.

In 1829 we have the Canada, Niagara, Queenston and Alciope all plying between Kingston, York and Niagara. The opening of navigation was exceedingly late in this year, the steamboats had some difficulty getting into the Niagara river from the large quantities of ice passing down from the upper lake. The Toronto and Dalhousie in this season were both running between Kingston and Prescott.

In 1830 a famous vessel was commenced and launched. This was the Great Britain of 700 tons, owned by the Honorable John Hamilton and at first commanded by Captain J. Whitney, and her route was from Kingston to Niagara by the head of the lake. She was a great favorite with the emigrants from the old country, possibly to a very great extent on account of her name. She was the largest vessel then on the lakes.

THREE NOTABLE STEAMERS.

In addition to the Britannia, in the same year were built the Cobourg, the Kingston and the Brockville. Each of these steamers received its name from the place where it was constructed. The Cobourg was of 500 tons burthen, and up to this date only one vessel, the Frontenac, had equalled her in this point, and only one excelled her, namely, the Great Britain.

She was the property of Charles and James McIntosh, two brothers, both of whom died on board of her from an attack of cholera in the year 1834. She plied from Prescott to the head of the lake, and for some time was under the charge of Captain Zealand.

The Kingston was a comparatively small steamer of only 200 tons. Her route at first was from Hamilton to Toronto, when she was in charge of Captain Ives. Then she was sent to the Bay of Quinte, where, at a later date, Captain Grass took charge of her. She was built by J. G. Parker, a well-known Kingston man. She did not prove a very great success.

The Brockville was of 350 tons burthen, in length 145 feet, in width 22 1/2 feet, and her cabin was 84 feet long. She was launched on Wednesday, September 4th, at 12 o'clock noon. Her builders were Shay & Merritt, of Montreal, and her engines were supplied by Avery, of Syracuse. She made her first trip between Brockville and the Long Sault, under the command of Captain L. Hilliard, on April 1st, 1834.

STILL MORE STEAMERS.

In an advertisement respecting the movements of the steamer Cobourg for the season of 1834 it is noticeable that York has now become Toronto. The latter place is so described with the parenthetical addition "late York."

In 1834 the Commodore Barrie was built at Kingston by Henry Gildersleeve. She was of 275 tons capacity, and her commander was James Sinclair. Her route was from Prescott to Toronto and Niagara. Her advertisement states that she was propelled by two superior low pressure engines of Messrs. Ward & Co. manufacture.

A new steamboat built at Oakville, (and known as the Oakville,) had commenced running daily between Hamilton and Toronto, Sundays excepted. This steamer is described as being a very handsome boat and elegantly fitted up. . Her captain was James Mills.

The St. George, a fine steamer of 400 tons, was built and launched at Kingston early in 1834. She ran from there to the head of the lake.
The St. George's commanding officer was Lieutenant Harper, R. N. The vessel he commanded was at this time the only low pressure, schooner-rigged vessel on the lake, and it was claimed for her by her owners that as a sea-boat there were none to surpass, if any to equal, her.

Among the other steamers plying between the various lake ports at this time was an American steamer, whose route was from Ogdensburgh to Kingston, thence by Sackett's Harbor, Oswego and Rochester to Toronto, proceeding from there to Niagara and Lewiston. She was called the Oswego, Captain J. T. Homans. A steamer known as the Enterprise was also built at Kingston in 1834, but she ran for a very brief period, being speedily broken up. Another, known as the Union, to ply between Hamilton and Toronto, was also completed at Oakville at nearly the same time. She was owned by a joint stock company. She was afterwards converted into a barque.

A steamer called the Peter Robinson, built late in 1833, or very early in the following year, to ply upon Lake Simcoe, was offered for sale in the summer of 1834 by her owner, Mr. Charles Thompson, the reason alleged being that he (Thompson) found it impossible to be absent from home to attend to the boat himself. However, Mr. Thompson had to make it possible, for no sale was effected just then at any rate. Those who knew Lake Simcoe at a much later date than 1834 will not much wonder at it.

STILL THEY COME.
Another steamer that did good service on the lakes was built in 1835 in Scotland and put together in Montreal, and under Captain James Sutherland plied upon the lake. She was called the Traveller, and she did not belie her name, for she was of excellent speed and capacity. In the end she was put to useful but somewhat ignoble work, being converted into a tow-boat. She will be often heard of in the next few years. For the first time in the history of the Canada steamship she appears in 1835 under another commander. Frank Bury in this year takes the place of Captain Richardson; the latter remains though as managing owner. The steamer's route was the same. On February 24th an advertisement appears in the Toronto Courier offering for sale the schooner Humber of 50 tons burthen. She was lying east of Cull's wharf.
W. L. Whiting & Co., of Brockville, also advertise in the same and in other provincial papers " that they will be prepared at the opening of navigation with a sufficient number of most improved covered barges to ensure despatch in the transport of produce to Montreal, and merchandise from thence by the St. Lawrence to any part of Upper Canada. " These gentlemen also notify the public that " entries are passed at the Custom House without charge of commission."
What wind and water did for the inhabitants of Toronto some dozen years later was in 1835 proposed to be effected by artificial means. The proposition was to build a canal or " cut" across the peninsula, opposite Toronto. A meeting was called in furtherance of this project on March 3, 1835, when one of the reasons given in support of the scheme was that " It would most certainly, by letting in the pure water of the lake, purify the waters of the bay." Nature made this " cut," now many years ago, and yet,strange to say, people are to be found who venture to assert that " the waters of the bay" are only even comparatively pure, when compared with, well, let us say a very dirty canal.
The steamer Cobourg in 1835 had as her captain C. Paynter and made her trips as in the season previously. The Constitution became the Transit, and under Hugh Richardson, (formerly master of the Canada and still her manager,) ran from Hamilton to Toronto, Port Hope, Cobourg and Rochester. On June 18th, 1835, the Great Britain, Captain J. Whitney, arrived in Toronto harbor with a very large number of emigrants. This steamer ran from Prescott to Toronto and Niagara. At the latter port the American steamer United States, Captain J. Van Cleve, ran in connection with her to ports on the opposite side.
This season the Peter Robinson was again upon Lake Simcoe, Charles Thompson still being her owner, and connecting with her was the Penetanguishene for Isle St. Joseph, the Sault Ste. Marie and Mackinac.
AN INGENIOUS PLAN.
Late in the year, on November 10th, a terrible storm took place on the lake. Two schooners were wrecked off the "Ducks," near Kingston, a place that has been mentioned several times already, and always, or nearly so, in connection with some shipping disaster.
Other sailing vessels that are mentioned include the Three Brothers, so called after the Mclntosh Brothers: John, who commanded her; Charles, who had charge of another lake schooner, the Superior, and Robert, the master of the Eunice, previously mentioned. There were several others also, namely, the Robert Burns, the Emily, the Prosperity, Fanny and Perseverance; besides the Guernsey, Peacock, Caroline, Fair American, Sovereign, Jessie Woods, Erin, Charlotte, Winnebago, Lord Nelson, Enterprise and Boxer. Of these the Fanny, Sovereign and Jessie Woods, were the property of Mr. James Lockhart, of Niagara. The first named was under the command of Captain Dick, a gallant sailor and enterprising man. A great deal will be heard of him as this history progresses. Captain Pecke, a veteran sailor, was the officer in command of the Boxer. He is stated at this time to have been navigating the lakes for nearly forty years.
Captain George in his barge from Quebec visited Toronto in 1835. This man was not a sailor by profession, but he was a born nautical mechanician. He had a scheme for enabling loaded vessels to overcome the rapids of the St. Lawrence and reach the upper ports on the river without disturbing their cargoes. This was to be done by pulleys or chains anchored in the bed of the river or fixed upon the banks. He contrived to get his own vessel up in this way, loaded with a general assortment of merchandise. But the expense was too great for private owners, and as the construction of canals round the rapids was soon afterwards completed, contrivances like that of Captain George, however ingenious, were useless. Dr. Scadding describes George's barge as possessing a peculiar rig, its masts forming above the deck a sort of large St. Andrew's cross, such being, in his opinion, the most convenient arrangement for working the leg of mutton or triangular sails which he used. In reference to the navigation of the rapids let us here mention that Captain Maxwell first navigated in a steamboat the deep channel of the Long Sault, and Captain Hilliard on board the Ontario first descended the rapids at Lachine.

Three steamboats, the Sir James Kempt, the Brockville and the Kingston, were in this season plying between Prescott and the Bay of Quinte, touching at Hallowell both up and down.
A steamer known as the Thomas McKay plied between Quebec and Bytown (Ottawa) in this year, but her journeys appear to have been somewhat spasmodic.
In the same season we find between Toronto and Hamilton the Britannia, under Captain Herchmer. She had been built in Kingston and was of 200 tons burden.
The steamer William IV. was in the season of 1836 placed under the command of Captain Hilliard, who has been previously mentioned as the captain of the Brockville on the Bay of Quinte.
The Kingston Chronicle of an early date, in May, 1836, speaks of the steamer Bytown, running from Kingston to Bytown. (Ottawa) also of the Cataraqui, belonging to the Ottawa and Rideau Canal Forwarding Company, as having just been launched. This vessel was under Captain Chambers. The same company had two other steamers on the route between Bytown and Montreal, namely, the Ottawa and the Shannon.

"The well-known steamboat Oswego, Captain Malcolm, and Oneida, Captain Smith, will ply daily (Sundays excepted) between Oswego and Lewiston, in connection with the steamer Transit, Captain Richardson, running from Lewiston and Niagara every morning to Toronto. Travellers who take passage on board said boats will arrive in Toronto by noon next day and at the low fare of $4 50 from Oswego."
It will be seen from this notice that a change has been made in the command of the Oswego, it being transferred from Captain Homans to Malcolm.





The steamers on the late throughout the season of 1836 comprised among them the Traveller, Transit, Britannia, Hamilton, Great Britain, Canada, Commodore Barrie, Cobourg and Oakville; on the Bay of Quinte the Sir James Kempt, Brockville and Kingston; on Lake Simcoe the Peter Robinson, and making occasional trips on Lake Huron was the Penetanguishene. In addition to these there were the American steamers we have more than once mentioned, namely, the Oswego, Oneida and United States. In the following year, 1837, several other steamers were added to the now rapidly increasing fleet. They were the Sir Robert Peel, of 350 tons; the Queen Victoria, of 200 tons, and the Experiment, of 150 tons. More will be said of these presently.
A FAVORITE DISAPPEARS
The Provincial Parliament assembled early in 1837, and on March 22nd the Hamilton Gazette gives a long list of Bills which had passed during the session. Among those relating to the provincial marine there were as follows:--"The Acts incorporating the Grafton Harbor Company, providing for the survey of the Ottawa River; granting a loan to the Louth Harbor Company,Niagara, and also to a similar company at Gananoque; Acts compelling vessels to carry a light at night, and also for the improvement of the navigation of the River Trent; also incorporating the company of the Port Darlington harbor; enabling the Canada Company to erect a harbor at Goderich; incorporating the Beverly Navigation Company, the Fort Erie Canal Company; and several Acts authorizing loans to various towns to enable them to perfect their harbors or complete the erection of lighthouses.
The schooner Britannia, forming a portion of the estate of William Crooks, of Niagara, deceased, was offered for sale on March 23rd by his executors. Beyond the fact that she was at the time of sale lying in Oakville, there is no further information given concerning her.
The Traveller in 1837, Captain James Sutherland, made two trips a week between Rochester, Cobourg, Port Hope and Toronto, and between Hamilton, Toronto, Port Hope and Cobourg. The Britannia, no longer under Captain Herchmer, but under William Colclough, ran daily between Toronto and Hamilton, calling each way at Port Credit, Oakville and Burlington Bay.
The Hamilton Gazette on April 19th refers to the lake steamers and to their routes and commanders for the season then commencing:--The William IV., Captain Hilliard, was to sail from Prescott to Toronto. The Great Britain, Captain Whitney, continued the same route as in 1836. The Commodore Barrie, Captain Herchmer, did likewise. The Cobourg was commanded this season by Captain Harper, R.N., late of the St. George. The latter was under charge of her former purser. These vessels ran from Prescott to Toronto in conjunction with one another during the season.
The Sir James Kempt and Brockville. Captain Calder, continued to run from Prescott to the Bay of Quinte. The Transit, Captain Richardson, was between Toronto and Niagara. Captain Richardson's former steamer, the Canada, had now been finally withdrawn from service on the lake
During her entire career, with the exception of one season, when she ran from Oswego to Kingston, she had been on the Niagara route. Her end came through running ashore near Oswego, when she was wrecked and finally broken up.