172 



preliminary step would seem to be for a few saw-mill proprietors to join together 

 and send to the old country two or three practical men, having a thorough 

 knowledge of lumbering, the different qualities of lumber produced in Canada, 

 and the minutias of the working of saw-mills, who might be accompanied by one 

 or two joiners or house carpenters to make technical observations as to the 

 various uses and forms in which the lumber is applied. Let these parties visit 

 the larger saw-mills in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and on the continent, if 

 deemed expedient, with sufficient time allowed to inspect and report on the 

 whole subject to their employers, having specially in view the required dimensions 

 of boards and bill stuff in all forms, which would suit the several markets ; and 

 also make inquiry as to freights, insurance, port charges, etc., and upon such 

 report, and after due consideration, the parties interested would be in a position 

 to come to a conclusion whether or not a fair paying business could be pushed; 

 in the direction indicated. The attempt seems to be worth making ; and if 

 prepared assortments of Canadian lumber were exhibited in the principal markets 

 of the old country, even although they may not take at first, which perhaps would 

 be too much to expect, there is at least a prospect ot success through the exercise 

 of sound judgment, patience, and perseverance." 



EXPORTATION OF FOREST PRODUCTION OF CANADA. 



From the earliest period of colonial trade the export of timber has been an 

 important item of production for the British market, and much of the timber 

 exported from the northern frontier of the United States has been shipped from 

 Quebec, being generally rafted down the rapids of the St. Lawrence and placed' 

 upon vessels at Quebec. In later years the timber of the country bordering 

 upon the upper lakes was brought in vessels to Clayton, N.Y. or to the foot of 

 Wolfe Island, or to Garden Island, near Kingston, at which places for a long 

 period, the principal business of making up rafts for the navigation of the 

 rapids has been done. More recently the business of Clayton has much declined, 

 while that of Wolfe Island and of Garden Island has increased. 



This exportation of timber has been largely affected by the tariffs, which 

 from political and financial reasons, the British Government thought it proper to 

 impose. 



From the report of a select committee of the House of Lords, appointed in, 

 1820 to inquire into the means of extending and securing the foreign trade of 

 the country we learn that the encouragement afforded to the importation of 

 wood from the British Colonies in North America by the imposition of heavy 

 duties on wood from foreign States was of comparatively recent date, and that it 

 had not formed a part of the commercial or colonial policy of the country before the 

 then recent European wars. Till 1809 little or no duty had been imposed upon 

 the various species of timber, but in that and the succeeding year, however, the 

 nature of the political relations with the Baltic powers led to an apprehension 

 that great difficulty might be found in deriving the usual supplies of timber 

 from that quarter, not only for domestic use, but more particularly for the pur- 

 poses of ship-building. The Canadian timber trade had not then been large in 

 the aggregate, although relatively important to the country. There being some 

 risk and uncertainty in a further expansion of the business, it was deemed 

 expedient to give Canadian timber the benefit of an exemption from all duties 



