118    NEW    YORK STATE GAZETTEER.

As the only avenue to the sea which Canada possesses is closed by ice during about five months
in the year, the foreign trade of that country in winter must seek other avenues; and, from the
acknowledged superiority of New York as a commercial point, a large part of the trade is through
that port. Over half the vessels that arrive in Quebec come in ballast; while none leave port
without cargoes of timber or other commodities of the country. This renders the outward freights
disproportionately high; and, although vessels may load in the upper lakes and pass without tran¬
shipment down the St. Lawrence, the difference of ocean freights makes it cheaper to send by the
canals to New York.    ^    .

The number of vessels and amount of tonnage employed upon the great lakes have been
rapidly increasing for the last 10 years. In the several collection districts of this State, the
ratio of increase has been much greater in ports where railroads terminate.¹

¹ Arrivals and Tonnage of the several Districts bordering upon Canada during a series of
*    nine    years.

Arrivals and Clearances for the several Collection Districts for 1858.

The above indicates but a part of the commerce of these dis- I not entered upon the custom house books is much larger in
tricts. It is probable that the amount of coasting trade which is [ each district than that here given.