1907 DEPARTMENT OF LANDS, FORESTS AND MINES. 168 



are they free from the apprehension that the proposed remission of 10s, per 

 Joad on foreign timber and 12s. on foreign deals, will cause a contraction 

 of the trade from British North America; but they are sanguine in the 

 anticipation that that trade will continue, notwithstanding the proposed 

 change, to extend itself." 



Trade with U. S. 



Mr. Gladstone's forecast proved correct and the importation of timber 

 from the British North American colonies continued to increase in volume 

 after the last vestige of protection had disappeared, notwithstanding the 

 advantage enjoyed by the Baltic shippers in proximity to the British 

 market and consequent low freight rates. According to the Canadian trade 

 and navigation returns, the exports of forest products of all descriptions to 

 Great Britain for 1850 amounted in value to £971,375 Canadian currency. 

 Four years later this figure was more than doubled, and in 1857 it stood at 

 £2,044,178. This steady augmentation of the timber shipments to the 

 mother country was moreover proceeding simultaneously with the rapid 

 development of the trade in fojest products with the United States, stimul- 

 ated by the settlement of the scantily timbered or treeless areas of the West- 

 em States. In the year preceding Confederation, that ending June 30th, 

 1867, the American demand stood as nearly as may be on a par with that of 

 the British Islands, the value of forest produce shipped over the boundary 

 line being |6, 831, 252, as compared with exports valued at |6, 889,783 which 

 found a market in Britain. 



In order to present a clear and connected view of the rise and progress 

 of the timber trade with Great Britain, it has been requisite to note the 

 consecutive phases of British Legislation which contributed so largely to 

 its growth, somewhat out of their chronological order in relation to Can- 

 adian development, to which it is now necessary to revert. 



First Canadian Timber Laws. 



The earliest enactment of a Canadian Legislature bearing on the tim- 

 ber trade was adopted in Lower Canada in 1805, with the object of prevent- 

 ing accidents in navigating the formidable rapids of the St. Lawrence, 

 which owing to the increased quantities of lumber and timber forwarded to 

 Montreal by this route had become frequent. As it formed the precedent 

 for much subsequent legislation dealing with the same question it may be 

 well to present it in extenso. 



"An Act for the appointment of an Inspector and Measurers of Scows 

 and Rafts, and for regulating the pilots and conductors thereof between 

 Chateauguay and the City of Montreal. (25th March, 1805.) 



First Timber Measurer. 



"Whereas, many accidents and considerable loss of property have 

 arisen in the rapids of the River St. Lawrence above the City of Montreal 

 partly by the ignorance or negligence of persons undertaking to pilot and 

 ccnduct scows, loaded with flour and other provisions, also, oak, timber, 

 staves, and other lumber coming from Upper Canada, and firewood from 

 different parts of this Province, above the said rapids, and it being neces- 

 sary that the regulations be made to guard as much as possible asrainst 

 such accidents and losses, in future. Be it therefore enacted by the King's 

 most Excellent Majesty, by and with the consent of the Legislative Coun- 



