Monarch of Trade for Twenty Years
For twenty years she was complete monarch of the coast. In all new Indian trade countries and indeed in all new white settlements, the wants of the population had gradually increased, until in 1852 the “Beaver” was found to be totally inadequate for the trade. A new boat was built for the Company in England and named the “Otter,” arriving at Victoria in April, 1853.
Victoria to San Francisco in Four Days
One of the “Otter’s” first duties after arriving at Victoria from England was to go to San Francisco. Sir James Douglas says, “In spite of head winds, she went down in four days and returned in five days, and she was much admired where her unexpected arrival created quite a sensation.”
She was the first steamer propelled by a screw to be brought out by the Company, and was altogether just as successful as was the “Beaver” and had the same fault–being too small. However, the “Beaver” and “Otter” between them were able to take care of the work for a few years, until the “Enterprise” was purchased in 1862, to help out on the Fraser River run during the great Caribou gold excitement.
“Beaver” Chartered to British Government
It is easy to understand that by this time the “Beaver’s” engines were in need of attention, and it was under discussion as to whether they should be taken out and sent home to be re-bored, or whether the steamer should be sent herself to have repairs effected; but before a decision was reached, the boat was chartered to the British Government for the purpose of survey work.
Meanwhile, the Hudson’s Bay Company had built in England another ship, the “Labouchere.” She was of the paddle-wheel type, but much larger and more costly to operate than the “Beaver.” The zeal of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s officers to get an up-to-date boat caused them to overlook the fact that money and business were not plentiful, and a steamer to operate successfully on the coast must be carefully selected. When they realized their mistake, other work was sought, with the result that she was placed on the San Francisco-Victoria mail route in competition with the California Steam Navigation Company’s steamer “Active,” and a rate war, probably the first on the coast, was started. It ended suddenly, however, when the “Labouchere” on her second trip was wrecked at Point Ray.