Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 4.djvu/859

Rh CANADA 777 the imports as yet greatly exceed the exports. The total produce of the mines of Canada, including coal, exported dur ing the fiscal year 1874 amounted in value to $3,977,216. The following tabular statement shows the present resources of the Dominion, and its dependence on external sources for its supply of coal : Canadian Export and Import of Coal for 1874. Export in Tons. Import in Tons. Nova Scotia. 360 184 67 349 New Brunswick. .. 6,027 142,503 Piince Edward Island ... Quebec. 219 656 696 1 221 158 Ontario 2,372 250 Manitoba 665 British Columbia 50,671 696 Total 418,357 3 805 317 Trade of Canada. The abstract of the value of the growth, produce, and manufactures of Canada, as shown by its exports, is classed in the official returns under six princi pal heads, viz., the mines, the fisheries, the forest, animals and their produce, agricultural products, and manufactures. The results show, by a comparison with the earlier statistics of the country, the rapid progress it has made in a single generation. The trade of Canada at a period not very distant was confined chiefly to the exportation of furs, seal-oil, and timber, little exceeding 100,000 annually. Prior to the year 1759, when the country, with its population of 65,000 inhabitants, was transferred from the Government of France to that of England, the amount of its annual exports was 115,415. The principal trade was furs, in pursuit of which the great forests were traversed by bands of resolute adventurers. A few ships were occasionally built. Agri culture was neglected, if not actually despised. Upon the acquisition of the country, however, by England, the cultivation of the soil attracted the attention of the settlers, and the germs of a trade sprung up which has now grown to be one of real magnitude and importance. In 1769 the exports in furs, oil, fish, &c., amounted to 355,000, and the imports in British manufactured goods and West India produce, reached 273,400. This trade employed seventy vessels ; about twelve vessels were at the same period engaged in the fisheries of the St Lawrence, and about six were sent to the West Indies. In 1799 and the three following years we find compara tively large exportation of grain taking place. In 1802, 1,010,000 bushels of wheat, 38,000 barrels of flour, and 32,000 cwts. of biscuit were sent abroad. The number of vessels at this period engaged in the trade of the colony was 211, the aggregate burden of which amounted to 36,000 tons. In 1809 the first steamboat appeared in the harbour of Quebec. In 1809, 1810, and 1812, the trade of Canada, benefit ing by increased duties levied upon Baltic timber imported into Britain, seems to have been comparatively active. In the first of these years 440 vessels, having an aggregate tonnage of 87,825 tons, arrived at Quebec.. In 1810 as many as 635 vessels arrived in the St Lawrence, with an aggregate tonnage of 138,057 tons ; and in the same year 26 vessels, having a tonnage of 5836 tons, were built in the province. In 1812, 532 vessels, with a tonnage of 116.687 tons, cleared at the port, 37 of which had been built at Quebec. The war which commenced in 1812 between the United States and Britain severely checked the commerce of the St Lawrence, which was greatly dependent upon the Americans. And, notwithstanding that Britain slightly relieved the import duties on wheat in favour of Canada in 1814, W T C find that the trade of the colony from 1810 to 1820 remained almost stationary. The aggregate tonnage which arrived at Quebec in 1820 (a more prosperous year, if shipping be taken as the criterion, than any of the pre- ceeding ten) amounted only to 9697 tons over that of 1810. In 1810, 26 vessels had been built in the colony, and only 7 were built in 1820. According to the old system of colonial monopoly, the St Lawrence was rigidly closed against the entrance of foreign vessels, nor was any Canadian vessel allowed to enter a foreign port. The prosperity of the colony during this period of its infancy was believed not to have been materially checked by these restrictions, as the mother country at all times afforded an outlet for its surplus pro duce. After the United States had achieved their inde pendence, their vessels were excluded from the ports of the British colonies ; and Canada, as a reward for its loyalty, received the exclusive privilege of supplying the West India Islands with timber and provisions. In this manner, as the trade of Canada had been confined and shackled for the supposed benefit of the mother country, so now she was rewarded with compensating privileges to the direct injury of the sister colonies of the West Indies. The United States ports were the natural resorts of the West Indies for timber and provisions, their distance from these being about one-half less than the ports of the St Lawrence. But the additional freight, which on such bulky articles constitutes a great proportion of the expense, was not only enhanced by this circuitous route, but the West Indies had to pay besides for transshipment upon what was supplied by the United States to Canada for the West Indian market. The West India planters were thus laid under contribution for the support of the Canadian shippers and farmers. These regulations were, however, so far relaxed in favour of the West Indies in 1822, that the wheat and lumber of the United States were allowed to be imported directly on payment of certain duties ; but at the same time duties were imposed upon agricultural produce entering the British American colonies as well as the West Indies. The immediate result of this measure, so far as it affected Canada, was that one-half of the export trade of the St Lawrence was at once destroyed. The simultaneous abun dance of the English harvest, together with the restrictions then in force upon the importation of grain into Britain, even from her own colonies, forbade any exports thither, and thus seriously aggravated the depression of Canadian commerce, and afforded another illustration of the ruinous policy of bolstering up one class by privileges and exemp tions, and shackling another by restrictions and duties, In 1825 Britain admitted Canadian flour and wheat into her ports at a fixed duty of 5s. sterling per quarter. Mean while a fresh trouble had already arisen to try the vexed fortunes of Canada. Previous to 1822, American exports had to a considerable extent sought the route of the St Lawrence, as if they had been of Canadian origin, contri buting very materially, of course, to the benefit of the trade of the colony. But the opening of the Erie and Cham- plain canals iu the United States, in 1825, drew off into a different channel those American exports which had formerly sought the Atlantic by way of Quebec, and the trade of the St Lawrence was thus seriously injured. In 1826, however, the prospects again appeared to be brightening. The Americans were allowed, after four years of exclusion, to export timber and ashes for the British market into,anada free of duty. The duty upon Canadian flour for the West India market was also reduced. The trade of the colony likewise profited by the disputes between Britain and the United States, which led to the IV. 98