MERCHANT VESSELS. 09 
their vessels happen to touch; and they cannot 
leave their vessels to go up into the country at 
any time without his permission. 
Several decked merchant vessels, schooners, 
and sloops, of from fifty to two hundred tons 
each, and also numberless large sailing bateux, 
are kept employed on Lake Ontario. No 
vessels are deemed proper for the navigation of 
these lakes but complete sea boats, or else 
flat bottomed vessels, such as canoes and ba¬ 
teaux, that can safely run ashore on an emer¬ 
gency. At present the people of the United 
States have no other vessels than bateaux on 
the lake, and whether they will deem it proper 
to have larger vessels, as their harbours are all 
so indifferent, remains yet to be determined. 
The large British vessels ply mostly between 
Kingston and Niagara, and but very rarely 
touch at any other place. 
The expence of building, and equipping 
vessels on Lake Ontario, is very considerable; 
and it is still greater on the more distant lakes, 
as the larger part of the iron implements, 
and all the cordage wanted for that purpose, 
are imported from Great Britain, through the 
medium of the lower province. There can be 
bo doubt, however, but that when the country 
is become more populous, an ample supply of 
these necessary articles will be readily procured 
011 the spot; for the soil of the upper province 
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