OF MARYLAND. 25 



Eastern Shore, where there are no rocky strata to impede its 

 course, it ascends very nearly to tlieir source; whilst on the 

 Western Shore, it is generally arrested by the chain of primary 

 rocks. There is a corresponding limit to the extent of their 

 upward navigation. On the Eastern Shore the rivers are now 

 principally navigated by schooners of one hundred to one 

 hundred and fifty tons burden, and these ascend into the very 

 heart of the country. On the Western Shore, the Susque- 

 hanna will float a schooner no higher up than Port Deposite, 

 which is six miles from its mouth at Havre de Grace. Balti- 

 more affords a spacious, deep and remarkably safe harbour, at a 

 distance of twelve miles from the mouth of the Patapsco. The 

 Patuxent is navigable for large vessels thirty miles from the 

 Chesapeake bay, and for the smaller kind forty miles more, and 

 the United States Navy Yard, on the eastern branch of the 

 Potomac, is located one hundred miles up this river. No inland 

 sea of equal extent offers so few impediments to an entirely free 

 and safe navigation, nor so many facilities for an extensive 

 intercourse between the different parts of its shores. In all 

 the tide-water districts of the state, theinost remote farmer or 

 planter has seldom over five miles to carry his produce to a 

 commodious landing, which in twenty four to forty-eight 

 hours may reach a large commercial mart. Besides the ease 

 in the navigation over this magnificent sheet of water, arising 

 from the almost total absence of rocks and the fewness of 

 shoals, it is remarkable that the violent equinoctial gales that 

 do so much damage to the sliipping in the other ports of the 

 Union nearer the ocean, are seldom felt in this bay, and 

 scarcely ever reach the harbour of Baltimore. The only 

 inconvenience of any consequence to which the bay is liable, 

 arises from the accumulation of ice during a protracted severe 

 winter; but even this has been in a great measure remedied^ 

 by the enterprise and ingenuity of the Baltimore merchants 

 and mechanics, in the construction of an effective ice-breaker; 

 so that the intercourse with foreign ports is kept up throughout 

 the whole year. It may be added, that its waters are inhabited 

 by numerous species of fishes, together with testaceous and 

 crustaceous animals, which, whilst adding to the resources of 

 the inhabitants, furnishing the elements of an extensive indus- 

 try, and extending the commerce of the state, offer subjects 



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