A LAND OF WATERWAYS 7 



Canada, like other countries, may be looked 

 at from many points of view ; but there is none 

 that does not somehow include her oceans, 

 lakes, or rivers. Her waterways, of course, are 

 only one factor in her history. But they are a 

 constant factor, everywhere at work, though 

 sometimes little recognized, and making their 

 influence felt throughout the length and breadth 

 of the land. If any one would see what the 

 water really means to Canada, let him compare 

 her history with Russia's. Russia and Canada 

 are both northern countries and both con- 

 tinental, with many similarities in natural 

 resources. But their extremely different forms 

 of government are not so unlike each other 

 as are their differing relations with the sea. 

 The unlikeness of the two peoples accounts 

 for a good deal ; but this only emphasizes 

 the maritime character of Canada. Russia is 

 essentially an empire of the land. Canada is 

 the greatest link between the oceans which 

 unite the Empire of the Sea. 



Take any aspect of sea-power, naval or 

 mercantile, and British interest in it is at once 

 apparent. Take the mere statistics of tonnage 

 — tonnage built, tonnage afloat, tonnage armed, 

 The British Navy has over a third of the world's 

 effective naval tonnage; the British Empire 



