AN ACCOUNT of the Exports of the County of Kent for the Year ending 5th January, 1845, together with the value of the same when shipped. Amount of Tonnage Duties Total value of Exports for County Kent Total amount of goods imported from the United States for the year ending 5th January, 1845 Amount of Duties for same period No return has been forwarded from Wallaceburg, although the exports of Wheat and Staves were considerable. 25,294 18 7 17 12 0 The Toronto Colonist has the following remarks on the completion of the stage and steamboat communication on the Upper Lakes : : The navigation of the lakes and river is now quite open for the season. The steamers employed are of a superior class, well equipped, and commanded by experienced masters. Their accommodations for freight and passengers are inferior to none in America. The route between the Niagara River and Toronto is, as usual, taken up by Captain Richardson, who has for years been very favourably known to the public; the splendid steamer at present plying on this route is the "Chief Justice Robinson." In a short time, there will be another of Captain Richardson's steamers placed upon this route-the "Transit," Captain Hugh Richardson, junior, which will be an additional convenience to travellers. A steamer will then leave Toronto for Niagara every morning and afternoon; and also, there will be one from Lewiston, Queenston, and Niagara, for Toronto, every morning and afternoon. A third of Captain Richardson's favourite steamers has been placed upon the route between the Niagara River and Hamilton, plying daily between those places, viz.-the 'Queen Victoria," Captain Henry Richardson. As there is no steamer at present on the route between Toronto and Oswego, freight and passengers for Canada are forwarded from Oswego to Niagara by the United States daily line of steamers, and transhipped for Toronto and Hamilton by Captain Richardson's vessels above named. The communication by water between Toronto and Hamilton is kept up daily, as usual, by the steamer" Eclipse,' Captain John Gordon. Both vessel and Captain are familiar to the public, having been generally employed upon this route, and noted for furnishing every comfort necessary to travellers. The hours of arrival and departure of these steamers are so arranged, that passengers by the morning boats from Niagara and Hamilton arrive at Toronto in time to take their passage the same day by the Royal Mail Line for Kingston, and proceed thence for Montreal without delay. The passengers upwards, from Kingston, by the Royal Mail Line, arrive at Toronto, daily, in time to proceed by the afternoon boats for Niagara and Hamilton, without delay at Toronto. The Royal Mail Line of Steamers between Toronto and Kingston we have frequently mentioned as being of a very superior class, and it is unnecessary to repeat here anything in their praise. They are regarded by all as the finest vessels that have ever navigated the waters of Ontario. On the route between Toronto and Rochester, the steamer "America," Captain Twohy, plies regularly three times a-week. This is also a favourite vessel, and her commander is at all times exceedingly attentive to his duties and courteous to passengers. This route is the most direct for New York from Toronto, and the travel by it considerable. The vessels which we have enumerated afford the most comfortable and convenient means of travelling, from all parts of Lake Ontario (with the exception of the Bay of Quinte), to Kingston, that could possibly be desired. Upon the Bay of Quinte there is a superior line of steamers plying daily to and fro between the river Trent, at the head of the bay, and Kingston, calling at all the intermediate ports on the bay. These vessels connect with the daily line from Kingston to Toronto, and from Kingston to Montreal. Between Kingston and Montreal, with the improvement of the navigation of the St. Lawrence, there has been a corresponding improvement in the means provided for the conveyance of passengers by steamers and stages. The principal part of the route is gone over by steam; and that portion of it which is travelled by stage is rendered easy and agreeable by the improvement of the roads. This is probably the most enticing ramble for the tourist in the Province, and it has been judiciously arranged that the Rapids of the St. Lawrence and the Thousand Islands will be passed by daylight, to afford travellers an opportunity of viewing the beautiful and picturesque scenery. The Hon. John Hamilton is the owner of these steamers and stages,-a sufficient guarantee that they will be at all times well provided, and every attention paid to passengers. The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser furnishes an interesting comcommunication as to the voyages on the Ohio and Mississippi : Even on the Northern Lakes, vessels may outgo the distance to Europe. Supposing a steam propeller to take freight at Ogdensburgh in this state, an inland point on the St. Lawrence, more than 650 miles from the Atlantic, for Chicago, (a common occurrence from this time forward,) she travels a distance of 1,300 miles. Having freight now offered for the military posts on Lake Superior, she runs (supposing the St. Mary's Lock at the Sault to be built) an additional 800, making it 2,100 miles; and her direct return route with produce or mineral would be full 1,000 more, making in all a trip equal to that to Europe. Great as this inland journey is, it may be increased to 4,000 miles by commencing the trip at some of the lower ports on the St. Lawrence. Quebec is located 350 miles from the ocean. The completion of the Welland Canal and similar works on the St. Lawrence invites commerce, and by the above means steam-vessels will extend their trips beyond Montreal and Kingston to the head of Lake Ontario, at the terminus of the Welland Canal, a distance of 600 miles. From this point they proceed westward to Chicago, 1,000 miles farther, and return to Quebec with grain or produce, without a single transhipment. This direct business trip is 3,200 miles long, and terminates 116 leagues from the ocean. This trade is now with Kingston and Montreal, but it must extend still farther down on both sides of the St. Lawrence. The Harbours on Lake Ontario.-The last Port Hope Gazette has the following article on this important and too-long-neglected subject. It will be seen that these harbours all require some outlay to make them serviceable, and as they are on the direct route westward, and all of the ports are touched at by the Mail-boats whenever the weather permits, the necessity for immediate improvement is evident, more especially as they form outlets for the produce of one of the most productive sections of the Province. The situation of Windsor harbour is about midway between this place and Toronto, or about thirty miles from each. Its appearance, capaciousness, natural position, and the solidity of the work recently done at it, are certainly calculated to impress the superficial observer with the idea that Windsor harbour is, every advantage considered, inferior to none on this side of Lake Ontario. It is formed by a large curve in the lake, and possesses the advantage of a convertible swamp. From the two points where the curve commences and terminates, is placed down a straight line of substantial woodwork, which completely divides the bay from the lake, leaving only sufficient room for vessels to pass in and out, and protecting the bay from the storms and commotions to which the lake may be subjected. The pier or breakwater by which the bay is divided from the lake is not entirely artificial, being placed upon a bar of sand formerly covered with shallow water. The harbour is capable of sheltering as many vessels as, in all probability, increased commerce will bring to it in half a century from this time. The mouth of the harbour has the disadvantage of having been cut through the sand-bar, and the harbour is, in many places, so shallow that steamers frequently touch the bottom, and it will require a good deal of dredging to render it perfect. Whether it be liable to choke up with sand, we are not certain; but from its position, and the sand-bar by which it was originally divided from the lake, as well as from the shallowness already mentioned, we should be almost inclined to infer that it is subjected to that irremediable evil. The site is considered by some to be ill-chosen, as there is another marsh at a short distance, which, with half the labour, it is said, would have made a better harbour. If this be the case, Government has supplied a large sum of money for a very bad purpose. The town of Oshawa lies three miles back from the lake, and there is not so much as a single tavern at the landing. There is some speculation relative to placing down a railroad from the town to the harbour. The reason for this great distance from the town to the harbour is to be found in the fact that a powerful creek runs through the town, and the absence of any hydraulic power near the harbour. There are three or four grist mills on the creek, between the town and the lake, and Oshawa has the appearance of being a thriving village. Between this town and Windsor harbour lie Port Darlington and Bond Head. At both places there is a sufficient depth of water: both, without an uncommon expense, could be made good harbours; but from their proximity to one another (five miles' distance, we believe) it is impossible that the back country can furnish sufficient trade to repay the expenditure of a large amount of money upon both; for no matter how rapidly the prosperity of the back country may advance, it must be a long time before the trade will be sufficient to support two expensive harbours at a distance of only five miles from one another, anywhere on this portion of Lake Ontario. Two towns so situated must ever be rivals, and the one possessing the best natural advantages must eventually outstrip the other in prosperity. We next come to notice Port Hope harbour. The quantity of marsh originally given by J. D. Smith, Esq., to be converted into a harbour, was ten acres. A creek runs through it, and on the west it is sheltered by a large hill bearing the name of "Fort Orton." From the mouth of the harbour two piers, placed in a parallel position, stretch out into the lake. The depth of water is quite sufficient for the purposes of navigation, steamers can touch at either side of the wharf, and the hardness of the bottom renders it impossible that the mouth of the piers can be subjected to the evil of choking up. The vessels sail completely up where the marsh has been dredged out, and where in the most violent storm the water does not in any measure share the common agitation of the lake, being completely surrounded by land. During the late violent storm, the vessels lying in it were unmoved. The size of the harbour is, however, contracted, and not capable of containing more than about sixteen schooners, though it is capable of being made sufficiently large to contain ten times that number. Coburg harbour is the next; it lies about seven miles below Port Hope. The work recently done there is of an expensive and substantial character. There is no bay, marsh, or curve in the border of the lake. Two piers are placed down in a triangular position, converging at the extreme points, but leaving the necessary room for steamers to pass between. The work is, in every respect, entirely artificial, and it is a pity that so much money should have been expended upon it, for, except the very face of nature can be changed by artificial means, it can never be made a good harbour. During the late storm, a schooner lying in it was sunk. It is liable to choke up, and is also subject to about the same degree of agitation as any portion of the lake not bearing the name of a harbour. The Lake Fisheries.-The Buffalo Commercial Advertiser furnishes an interesting article on this subject, of which the following is the greater portion The fisheries of the Western and North-western Lakes form one of the prominent peculiarities of our inland region. Abundant, easily taken, and of fine flavour, the fish have been a permanent and substantial source of relief to the aboriginal angler, as well as to those who have usurped his early homestead and hunting-grounds. From the brink of Niagara's precipice to the remotest inlet of Superior's broad sheet, fish of the most delicious flavour abound, and the first Europeans who visited the lakes were among their greatest admirers. Around Isle Royal, which rears its rocky, time-beaten pallisades beyond Copper Harbour on Lake Superior, is found sisquette, trout, and whitefish, of extraordinary size; and at Whitefish Point, some forty miles above the Sault, may always be caught the largest and best variety of whitefish to be found in our waters, which of all others seem to be most esteemed for the richness and delicacy of their flavour, eliciting a universal acquiescence in the opinion advanced by Charlevoix, almost a century and a half ago, "that whether fresh or salted, nothing of the fish kind can excel it." A certain portion of Lake Huron, between Drummond's Island and the North Canadian Channel, is noted for trout, and indeed almost all the deep waters from Detroit to the Straits of Makinaw are good fishing-grounds for this variety. It would be useless to give the names of the prominent kinds caught on the lakes; but among the different varieties of trout, maskanouge, sisquette, whitefish, bass, perch, calfish, and sturgeon, enough are found to hold strong competition with the best taken along the Atlantic. There are innumerable other species of small fish to be found in the lakes which are highly prized; but for extensive packing and profitable investment as an article of traffic, whitefish stand conspicuous. No more delicious repast can be offered than a fine Mackinaw trout, caught from the depths of his cool retreat; but when pickled and packed for future market, much of the flavour is lost or so incorporated with the brine, that they lose caste in competition with their smaller and more numerous rival, the whitefish. These fish range in weight from three to six pounds, and in some rare instances even attain double that weight. In size and general outline they resemble the eastern shad, but upon close examination prove more symmetrical and striking. During their season, they move in great shoals, and are taken in large quantities at the Sault Ste. Marie, Mackinaw Straits, and most of the connecting waters above Niagara. The salmon trout predominate, we believe, in Ontario, below the cataract; but of the general characteristics of the lower lake fisheries, we can speak very limitedly. The first combined efforts to render the lake fisheries lucrative were commenced in 1835, when they were prosecuted with some vigour; but after four years' experiment on the part of those who projected the scheme, it was found to be less profitable than expected. A general depreciation of almost every article brought down with it that of fish; and since 1840, although the business has been carried on by individual enterprise, with limited means and no fa cility to extend it beyond the Sault, a very large amount is annually caught and prepared for market. It is somewhat difficult to arrive at the precise quantity annually taken, yet we may approximate it by a little reflection, and the acknowledged avidity with which travellers and emigrants generally partake of these delicacies when traversing the lakes. In 1835, all caught and accounted for was 8,000 bbls, valued at 80,000 dolrs. The season following, 12,200 bbls. were taken; in 1837, over 14,000 bbls., and in 1840 the aggregate caught reached 32,000 bbls. Of course the three last years within the above period found the value much reduced and the consumption augmented by the increase and rapid settlement of the lake country. In 1841, at Mackinaw alone, 12,000 bbls. were exported, the value of which was 84,000 dolrs. In addition to the large amount thus shown-the value of which must have reached 250,000 dolrs.—there is a large incidental aggregate consumed by our lake marine. Three thousand seamen, with a constant flowing population of as many more, must consume a large number during the season; and when we find, on examining, the imports and exports of fish at the several points west of us to be some 25,000 bbls. for each of the past two or three seasons, it is very apparent the total now taken must approximate to, if it does not exceed, 40,000 bbls., now worth 260,000 dolrs. Why, Cleveland alone has during the past three years exported into the interior of Ohio over 25,000 bbls. Indeed, one year, 10,000 bbls. were so disposed of. At the upper end of Lake Erie, during the winter season, when the bays are closed with ice, the system of spearing fish is carried on with much success, after the following plan:-The fishermen being previously prepared with a small house, from four to six or eight feet square, mounted on runners, to make its removal easy, and so constructed as to exclude all light except what comes up from the ice below, arms himself with an ordinary fish-spear, an axe, and an assortment of small decoy fish, and proceeds to some part of the bay where the |