Chapter 1836.

Navigating the Lower Saint Lawrence in the 19th Century.

Quebec Gazette #4976 04/07/1836 Page 1, Col. 4C.


	LIGHT-HOUSES, NAVIGATION AND EMIGRATION.
	We have to acknowledge the receipt of a "New chart of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence, showing the several banks, islands, and dangers to be avoided by mariners", with "extracts from the communications made by Mr. Buchanan, chief agent for emigration to Upper and Lower Canada". These form part of the zealous labours of the agent, with a view to provide for the greater security of emigration, which is indeed essential to its promotion. The loss of life among emigrants coming to the St. Lawrence and lower ports, has been discouraging to persons disposed to emigrate, and afflicting to humanity. Mr. Buchanan proposes that Government should facilitate the navigation by erecting light-houses, which are woefully deficient. Mr. Buchanan proposes, in addition to the present lights:

1. A floating light moored on the Green Bank off St. Peter,
2. Another at Scatarie, east coast of Cape Breton,
3. Another on St. Paul's Island,
4. One on the Bird Rocks,
5. Another at Biquette.

	With these additional five lights, the navigation of the Gulf and River St. Lawrence would still be the worst lighted of any in the British Dominions frequented by so many ships. It has been asserted that the floating light off St. Peter, on the Green Bank, could not stand, and being removed, without notice, might occasion fatal accidents. Fishing vessels, however, remain anchored on the Banks in the heaviest gales. Even if this light were to hold, Mr. Buchanan's proposed lights are not sufficient. There is a light on St. Peter's, we believe. There ought to be another on some part of the southeast coast of Newfoundland, and one at Percé or Gaspé. The only existing lights are; east end and South Point of Anticosti, Mont Pelé, Green Island, and floating light at the Traverse, five in all; the east end of Anticosti not yet lighted. The beggarly dependence on the delays, littleness, chicaneries, and discords of the Colonial Legislatures, for the support of light-houses, essential to the security of British ships and British lives, in British seas and on British land, is degrading to Great Britain. The establishment and superintendence of light-houses is part of the duties of the general Government of the United States; why should it not be part of the duty of the general Government of the British Empire, with whose trade and shipping it is so intimately connected? The whole could be provided for by a tonnage duty collected in the ports where there are British Customs Houses, and applied under the direction of the Admiralty and officers of the Navy. The British Government ought also to effect settlements on the south and west coast of Newfoundland, the Straits of Belle Isle, Anticosti, Magdalen River, the south and north shore for the advantage of shipwrecked people and others. The Gulf of St. Lawrence, after being in the possession of Great Britain for nearly a century, presents as inhospitable a coast as the north-west coast of America, although there is throughout much cultivable land and valuable fisheries. Why is not the surplus population of the Irish sea coast and the north of Scotland settled in these parts, aided, in the first instance, by the British Government, the whole under Imperial management by means of officers of the Navy? Till the British Government uses as much freedom with its territories abroad, and makes the same exertions for their improvement as the United States, her interest will always suffer in North America.

G.R. Bossé©
1998-2003.

Posted:
Nov. 1st, 1998.

Updated:
July 15, 2003.