APPENDIX, N° II. 
40 () 
from these rivers; and also some wood, for 
fuel, is floated from the Volchof. The vessels 
enter the Canal of Ladoga. 
The Canal of Ladoga. This well-known 
canal was begun in 17 18 , finished in 1732 , 
and is 104 versts in extent. If any thing 
could be proposed for its improvement, it 
were only to make its bed five or six feet 
lower than the surface of the water in the 
Lake of Ladoga. 
The many reservoirs now inevitably neces- 
sary to supply it with water, would, in that 
case, be useless ; and the great annual 
expense absolutely required for the conser- 
vation of the dams built across the rivulets 
falling into it (which originally cost much), 
for the same purpose of collecting water, 
would then be saved. The canal in general, 
through length of time, requires considerable 
sums annually, for necessary repairs : these 
sums were diverted to other purposes during 
the reign of the Empress Catherine, 
and the canal nearly filled up. Paul 
caused it to be cleared, and it is now in 
good order. 
The least wind from the Lake of Ladoga 
formerly hindered vessels leaving the canal 
from entering the Neva. In 1800 , therefore, 
a new outlet was begun at Schlusselburg ; and 
