The great desire is now to lengthen the shipping season. Professor Barnes, of McGill University, has made the study of ice his specialty and he is at present carrying on experiments for the Canadian government. He is of the opinion that winter navigation is a possibility. At present the government has, on the St. Lawrence, two ice-breakers, which extend the time of navigation by a few days. The ice difficulty arises where the river widens into a lake, as at Lake St. Peter. Ice forms on the sides of the lake and is blown into the current. When the banks again converge, this ice jams, soon forming a solid ice-bridge. The ice-shoves which occur in the spring are caused in the same way. The solution of the problem is to have ice-breakers always suitably situated to break these bridges as soon as they form.
II
HARBOUR COMMISSIONERS
The following is a list of the Boards of Harbour Commissioners that have executed the duties of the Trust from 1830 up to the present time showing the interest represented by each member:—
* Indicates the President of the Board.
- (c) Indicates the representative of the Corn Exchange.
- (t) Indicates the representative of the Montreal Board of Trade.
- (m) Indicates the representative of the City of Montreal.
- (s) Indicates the representative of the Shipping interest.
- (c de c) Indicates the representative of the Chambre de Commerce.
The members not indicated as representatives of the Corn Exchange, Board of Trade, City of Montreal, Chambre de Commerce or Shipping interest have been appointed by the Government of their time. From 1907 the members have been exclusively appointed by the Government.
- 1830 to 1836.
- Hon. George Moffatt.*
- Jules Quesnel, Esq.
- Capt. Robert S. Piper.
- 1836 to 1839.
- P.L. Letourneux, Esq.
- Thomas Cringan, Esq.
- Turton Penn, Esq.*