Toronto Harbour

The original shoreline of the northern shore were low sandy bluffs, just south of Front Street. The mouth of the harbour pointed west. Fort York, on the north shore of the bay, near the mouth of Garrisin Creek, guarded the harbour's mouth.

1812

The islands were originally a low sandy peninsula forming the southernlimit of the bay. Strong lakes currents over time washed the sand eroded from the Scarborough Bluffs westward to form the peninsula surounding the bay.

The peninsula became the Toronto Islands through the reult of two storms and man-made activity. In 1852, a storm created a channel through the eastern edge of the peninsula that formed the south edge of the bay. In 18 58, another storm widened the channel and made it permanent.

Gibraltar Point LIGHTHOUSE.

The south-west extremity of this island is called Gibraltar Point, on which is erected the Lighthouse, 66 feet high, having a fixed bright light. Gibraltar Point lighthouse was built on what is now known as Toronto Island in 1808. After 99 years of service it was decommissioned in 1907, but remains as the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes, since the one built in 1804 on Mississauga Point at the mouth of the Niagara River was demolished to make room for fortifications during the War of 1812.

1808

CHANNEL.

The entrance to the harbour is by a narrow channel at its north-west corner between the Queen's Wharf and a row of buoys south thereof, which are placed in about ten feet water. The present channel is 300 feet wide, and about 600 or 700 feet long, having an average depth of 11 feet ; but owing to the extreme narrowness of this passage, large and heavily laden vessels often find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to beat in or out against a head wind.

This channel, was widened from year to year by the constant use of the dredge.

Queen's Wharf looking west.

HARBOUR LIGHTS.

On the Queen's Wharf are placed the Harbour Lights the northenmost a fixed red light, the other a bright beacon light on the western extremity of the pier. These lights when brought into line indicate the entrance to the channel. They bear N. by W. of the lighthouse on Gibraltar Point.

In working up the Lake from the eastward at night, give the shore a good two-mile berth when abreast of the Scarborough heights, otherwise the light on Gibraltar Point will be hidden by the trees on the Island. If bound into Toronto Harbour, keep nearly a mile to the W. of the lighthouse, then steer N. for the harbour lights. In the spring and fall, fogs are prevalent, which hang near the surface, and do not ascend more than thirty or forty feet from the water; the harbour lights, then, will not be seen, in which case, when well to the westward of the lighthouse on the Point, steer for the North Star, immediately under which will be found the red light on the wharf.

When the fogs were so dense as to obscure all the lights or other land marks, the only safe guide is the lead line, and the shore should not be approached where there is less than six or seven fathoms water.

SHOAL.

A sandy shoal stretched into the Lake for a quarter of a mile in a S. W. direction off Gibraltar Point, and continued along the W. side of the Island extending N. to the Bar Buoys which mark the channel into the bay, at an average distance of a quarter of a mile from the Island.

Vessels running for shelter from an easterly gale could anchor on the W. side of the Island about one mile from the shore, where there is good holding ground in six or seven fathoms water, mud and clay bottom : if too near the Island the anchor would not hold in the sand, and a sudden shift of wind will put them ashore on the bar.

1840

Toronto waterfront featuring the Canada Steamship Lines steamboats CHIPPEWA and TORONTO.

Yonge Street wharfs in Toronto-1910

1919

 

COURSES AND DISTANCES. FROM GIBRALTAR POINT Taken from the Admiralty Chart, surveyed by Capt. Owen, R.N. From Toronto to Burlington Canal (Hamilton) S. W. 35 miles." " Port Dalhousie, S. by E. 33 miles." " Mouth of Niagara River, S. E. by S. 35 miles. (When on the bar bring the Fort Niagara to bear S. E. by E.)" " Devil's Nose, E. by S. 86 miles." " Genesee River (Rochester), to clear Braddock's Point, E. by S. 1/4 E. 110 miles." " Oswego, E. 1/2 S. 176 miles." " Long Point Light, E. 1/2 N. 136 miles." " Cobourg E. N. E. 1/4 E. 78 miles." " Whitby N. E. by E. 34 miles. No variation to be allowed for compass when within 20 m. E. or W. of Toronto.

Kingston Harbour

Kingston Harbour, next to the Bay of Toronto is the best natural harbour on Lake Ontario; theapproach to it, however, is intricate - consequently, dangerous.It is situated at the N. E. corner of Lake Ontario, just where the Lake terminates and the River St. Lawrence begins.

CHANNELS.

There are three channels by which it may be made.

1st. The Batteau Channel between Wolfe or Long Island, and Simcoe or Gage Island: this is generally used by small craft only, having in several places little more than two fathoms water.

2nd. South Channel, between Simcoe or Gage Island and Snake Island; here, also, the water becomes shoal, having only 2 1/2 fathoms.

3rd. North Channel, which is the best: it runs between Snake Island and the main Land, which, although it increases the distance a little, is by far the safest, having from 4 to 10 fathoms water in it.

From South Bay Point in Prince Edward's District on the west, to Stoney Point in New York State on the east, the navigation of the Lake is interrupted by numerous islands, shoals, and rocks, which renders the approach to Kingston Harbour dangerous to vessels unacquainted with it.

SOUTH CHANNEL.

In making this harbour from any of the western ports of the Lake, steer for the Mid-Channel between the Real and the False Ducks; then alter the course to N. E. 1/2 E., which will take the vessel through the south channel direct to Kingston Harbour.

Should there be a head wind, make this course the base line, never passing it to the southward, but stand off and on to the northward and eastward until inside Nine Mile Point on Simcoe Island; keep close to Four Mile Point, (on Simcoe Island,) leaving Snake Island, which may be known by a single tall elm tree, and upon which the Board of Works are about to erect a lighthouse,) bearing N, W. or to the left; from thence the course is clear to Kingston.

In running along Simcoe Island from Nine Mile Point Lighthouse *

* The Lighthouse on Nine Mile Point is 45, feet high, and furnished with a good stationary bright light.
to Four Mile Point, do not follow the curve of the island, as the water becomes very shoal.

NORTH CHANNEL.

Should the North Channel be preferred, when inside Nine Mile Point Lighthouse, steer due North till midway between snake Island and the main land : this course will clear a shoal bearing N. W. of the lighthouse, and give Snake Island a good half-mile berth to the eastward, thence due east into the harbour.

In making Kingston from Oswego, two courses may be taken. Due N. will take you to Nine Mile Point, clearing the Ducks, leaving them to the westward, and Pigeon Island and Charity Shoal to the eastward.

North by West (which is the best course) will take to mid-channel, between the True and False Ducks.
DUCKS LIGHT.

At night the stationary bright light of the False Ducks will be first seen ; but in the day time, South Bay Point, which is high bushy land, will be seen before the Ducks.

SOUTH BAY POINT,

Should a gale be coming up from the W. or S. W., good anchorage and shelter can be obtained inside South Bay Point: to make it, keep to the eastward of the Outer Drake Island, and to the north of the Inner Drake (the False Ducks) and anchor off the N. E. point, or run alongside a small wharf which will be found there.
UPPER GAP.

If obliged to run for shelter behind South Bay Point, Kingston may afterwards be made by passing through the Upper Gap ; that is, between Indian Point on the West, and Amherst Island to the East. Steer N. by E. till between Amherst Island and the main land, then E. N. E. till North of the Brothers, thence E. to Kingston.
REAL DUCK.

Shelter and good anchorage can also be obtained inside or to the N. E. of the Real Duck Island.

NOTE.-There is a channel between South Bay Point and the Outer Drake, which, however, should not be attempted except with a leading wind, in fine weather, and by a good pilot, as a dangerous shoal exists between this island and the point.

COURSES AND DISTANCES. Kingston to Snake Island, S. W. by W., 4 miles." Nine Mile Point, S. W. by S., 8 1/2 miles." Mid Channel between True and False Ducks, S. W. 1/2 W. 27 m. Nine Mile Point to South Bay Point, S. W. by W. 26 miles." " W. end of Galloo Island (Lighthouse) S. by E. 1/2 E. 23 m. Mid Channel between Ducks to Long Point, W. S. W. 25 miles." " " Oswego, S. by E. 40 miles." " " Genesee, S. W. 75 miles." " " Port Dalhousie, W. S. W. 165 miles. From Long Point Light to Toronto, W. by S. 136 miles.