tolls to American vessels in the Welland and other Cana- 

 dian water-ways. They say it was a small, petty thing 

 for a great country like the United States to do, and that 

 Canada will more than get even in the long run. 



The Americans, on the other hand, say it serves the 

 Canadians right, for they are always nagging and bullying 

 us behind England on the fisheries, the Behring Sea and 

 other questions, and it is time to teach them a lesson. 

 The commerce passing through this canal in Canadian 

 bottoms is very small, last year being only a little over 4 

 per cent, of the whole. Out of an almost continuous 

 procession of steamers, tugs and sailing vessels which we 

 passed in the "Soo" River only one was Canadian, and 

 she was a small fishing smack. So, pecuniarily, the 

 retaliation policy doesn't amount to nn:ch ; it is the sting 

 and smart of it that counts. American craft go through 

 free and Canadian craft pay 20 cents per ton toll. 



It is said that more tonnage passes through the 

 " Soo " Canal than through the famous Suez Canal. The 

 " Soo " Canal is open only about seven months in the 

 year, and it is totally inadequate for the immense traffic 

 passing through it ; therefore our Government is building 

 a new canal, with a lock 800 feet long, 80 feet wide and 

 21 feet deep. The present lock is 515 feet in length, with 

 a 60 foot entrance, 80 foot inside and about 14 foot 6 in 

 depth. The Canadian Government is making theirs 1000 

 feet long and 60 feet wide throughout, but if they do not 

 put on an increased force of workmen it will be five years 

 before it can be completed. The United States Canal is 

 reasonably sure of completion within two years. 



42 



