454 
APPENDIX, N° II. 
Novogo- 
rndsky 
Canal. 
were in danger of being totally stopped 1 2 3 ; 
which circumstance was a convincing proof of 
the absolute necessity to complete this Cut 
from the Lake Velia. But, as the sole object 
of this undertaking was the mere supply of 
water to Vyshney Voloshok, after leaving of which 
the barks were exposed to new danger, in pass- 
ing the Cataracts of Borovitsky, and in navigating 
the Lake Ilmen (which not only subjects them to 
loss of time in watching for favourable weather, 
but to imminent risk of the total loss of capital, 
and many lives, from the natural turbulency of 
this water), the merchants frequenting this track 
voluntarily proposed paying a toll of ten roubles 
for each vessel, to make a passage practicable 
round the Ilmen leading from the Msta direct to 
the 'Volchof. The plan was adopted, on exami- 
nation, in 1775 ; but the work not begun till 
1797 , under the denomination of the Novogo- 
rod&ky CanaP. In 1800, the spring caravan, 
taking advantage of the high water, usually 
prevalent at that season, effected a passage 
through this canal with ease, though not yet 
(1) To extricate the caravans, cost 20, 000 roubles. 
(2) For this purpose, 18,000 roubles were appropriated. 
(3) 250,000 roubles were assigned for this work. 1 he toll collected, 
produced 50,000 roubles ; and the whole sum of 300,000 roubles is 
already expended, 
