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THE BATEAUX OF THE ST. LAWRENCE—THE DAYS BEFORE THE STEAMBOAT

The word bateau in French means in the general sense any boat or craft. But in our Canadian history it is specially applied to the type of boats used for the navigation of the St. Lawrence in the days before steamboats and canals. These bateaux were shallow, flat-bottomed boats about forty feet long, of so little draft that they could be poled or hauled through the rapids. They carried masts and lugsails and could also be rowed with oars in calm water. A bateau carried about five tons. After 1809 the steamboat replaced them between Quebec and Montreal and with the opening of canals after 1821 their utility ended altogether.