128 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
under the shore,, and then to strike over to 
the opposite side, under the shelter of some 
of the largest islands. As these rapids con¬ 
tinue for many miles, they totally impede the 
navigation, excepting when there are floods 
in the river, at which time large rafts may 
be conducted down the stream, carrying seve¬ 
ral hundred barrels of flour. It is said that the 
river could be rendered navigable in this 
neighbourhood, but the expence of such an 
undertaking would be enormous, and there is 
little likelihood indeed that it will ever be 
attempted, as the Pennsylvanians are already 
engaged in cutting a canal below Harrisburgh, 
which will connect the navigable part of the 
river with the Schuylkill, and also another 
canal from the Schuylkill to the Delaware, 
by means of which a vent will be opened for 
the produce of the country bordering upon the 
Susquehannah at Philadelphia. These canals 
would have been finished by this time, if the 
subscribers had all paid their respective shares, 
but at present they are almost at a stand for 
want of money. 
The quantity of wild fowl that is seen on 
every part of the Susquehannah is immense. 
Throughout America the wild fowl is excel¬ 
lent and plentiful; but there is one duck in 
particular found on this river, and also on Pa- 
tow mac and James rivers, which surpasses all 
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