55 6 THE NAVIGABLE CHANNEL OF THE ST. LAWRENCE. 



locks. It is from Lake Ontario that, as everybody is 

 aware, the St. Lawrence River (properly so called) 

 leads down to the ocean. The point of exit is at 

 Kingston, an important town and strategic point of 

 Canadian territory, strongly fortified, shortly below 

 which come the well-known " Thousand Islands " a section 

 of river scenery celebrated for its almost unrivalled 

 beauty. * 



From Kingston the St. Lawrence runs a course of 

 about 728 miles to Cape Gaspe, which is usually and 

 as we believe correctly accounted its sea mouth, though 

 some writers have insisted upon regarding the Straits 

 of Bellisle as the true St. Lawrence mouth, which 

 would give it an additional length of about 436 miles. 

 The head of ocean navigation is at Montreal, a point 

 178 miles below Kingston, and 550 from Gaspe, the 

 river being obstructed by the Lachine Rapids a short 

 distance beyond that town, so that ships have to pass 

 through the Lachine Canal to avoid them. But as far 

 as Montreal large ships can ascend without obstruction. 

 The influence of the tides ascends to Three Rivers, 

 68 miles above Quebec, where during spring tides a 

 rise of 3 or 4 inches occurs; but their effects soon 

 become totally lost in Lake St. Peter, a short distance 

 above that town, f It is at Quebec however that the 1 

 large transatlantic steamers usually stop and disembark 

 their passengers. The place itself is full of interest, 

 and all who can do so should make it a point to remain 

 there for three or four days in order to visit the principal 

 points of interest in and around the city. 



* What are known as The Thousand Islands in reality consist of 

 an archipelago of not less than 1692 islands of all sizes, great and small. 



7 Admiralty Sailing Directions The St. Lawrence River Pilot, Vol. 

 i-> P- 37- (Official Publication). 



