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USQUE AD MARE
A History of the Canadian Coast Guard and Marine Services
by Thomas E. Appleton
The Canals of Canada
Dates of Opening and of Deepening
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peters | 1869 | 13 | 122 | |
| 1880 | 18 | 200 | ||
| 1918 | 18 | 300 | Admits 17 ft. draft 1967 | |
| Canso | 1955 | Admits 10 ft. draft | ||
| 1957 | 28 | 820 | Admits 28 ft. draft |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship Channel | 1844 | Dredged 10 ft. minimum | ||
| 1854 | Dredged 16 ft. minimum | |||
| 1860 | Dredged 17.25 ft. minimum | |||
| 1865 | Dredged 20 ft. minimum | |||
| 1882 | Dredged 25 ft. minimum | |||
| 1888 | Dredged 27.5 ft. minimum | |||
| 1907 | Dredged 30 ft. minimum | |||
| 1952 | Dredged 35 ft. minimum |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casson Canal | 1733 | 2.5 | 20 | Canoe lock |
| Lachine | 1824 | 5 | 100 | |
| 1848 | 9 | 200 | ||
| 1882 | 14 | 270 | Navigable depth 12 ft. | |
| 1898 | 14 | 270 | Navigable depth 14 ft. | |
| 1959 | Closed for through traffic | |||
| Cascades | 1783 | 2.5 | 20 | |
| 1817 | 3.5 | 20 | ||
| 1845 | Closed | |||
| Split Rock | 1783 | 2.5 | 20 | Canoe lock |
| 1817 | 3.5 | 20 | Canoe lock | |
| 1845 | Closed | |||
| Côteau du Lac | 1783 | 2.5 | 20 | Canoe lock |
| 1817 | 3.5 | 20 | Canoe lock | |
| 1845 | Closed | |||
| Beauharnois | 1845 | 9 | 200 | Replaced Cascades, Split Rock, and Côteau du Lac |
| Soulanges | 1900 | 15 | 280 | Replaced Beauharnois |
| 1959 | Closed | |||
| Cornwall | 1843 | 9 | 200 | |
| 1895 | 14 | 270 | ||
| 1967 | Navigable depth 14 ft. | |||
| Farran's Point | 1847 | 9 | 200 | |
| 1899 | 16 | 800 | ||
| Rapide Plat | 1847 | 9 | 200 | |
| 1896 | 14 | 270 | ||
| Galops | 1846 | 9 | 200 | |
| 1856 | 9 | 200 | Include former Galops, Iroquois and Junction | |
| 1897 | 14 | 200 | ||
| 1898 | 14 | 270 | ||
| 1959 | Farran's Point, Rapide Plat and Galops canals inundated by St. Lawrence Seaway |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welland | 1829 | 8 | 110 | |
| 1833 | 7.5 | 110 | Completed to Port Colbourne. | |
| 1848 | 9 | 150 | Feeder to Dunneville and Maitland completed. | |
| 1855 | 10 | |||
| 1883 | 12 | 270 | ||
| 1887 | 14 | 270 | ||
| Welland Ship Canal | 1930 | 30 | 859 | Navigable depth 18 ft. |
| 1932 | Navigable depth 22 ft. | |||
| 1933 | Navigable depth 23.5 ft. | |||
| 1935 | Navigable depth 25 ft. | |||
| 1959 | Navigable depth 27 ft. From 1959 under jurisdiction of St. Lawrence Seaway |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sault | 1798 | 1.5 | 38 | Built by Northwest Fur Company. Partially destroyed by U.S. troops in 1814 |
| 1895 | 18.25 | 900 | ||
| 1959 | Under jurisdiction of St. Lawrence Seaway Authority |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ste. Anne | 1843 | 6 | 190 | |
| 1882 | 9 | 200 | ||
| 1967 | Navigable depth 9 ft. | |||
| Chute A Blondeau | 1834 | 6 | ||
| 1867 | 6 | 130.5 | ||
| 1882 | Became unnecessary when Carillon dam built | |||
| Grenville | 1834 | 6 | ||
| 1867 | 6 | 106.5 | ||
| 1879 | 6 | 128 | ||
| 1882 | 9 | 200 | ||
| 1963 | Replaced by Carillon | |||
| Carillon | 1834 | 6 | 126.25 | |
| 1882 | 9 | 200 | ||
| 1963 | 9 | 188 | Replaced the old Carillon and Grenville Canals | |
| Rideau | 1832 | 6 | 134 | |
| 1967 | Navigable depth 5.5 ft. | |||
| Tay | 1834 | 4 | 101 | Branch of Rideau Canal |
| 1889 | 5 | 134 | ||
| 1967 | Navigable depth 5.5 ft. |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Ours | 1849 | 200 | ||
| 1867 | 7 | 200 | ||
| 1932 | 12 | 339 | ||
| 1967 | Navigable depth 12 ft. | |||
| Chambly | 1843 | 7 | 120.5 | |
| 1967 | Navigable depth 6.5 ft. |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray | 1890 | 12.5 | No locks | |
| Trent | 1833 | Built in stages. Draft varies, at present 8 ft. from Lake Ontario to Peterborough 6 ft. from Peterborough to Big Chute, and Big Chute to Georgian Bay. Big Chute has 4 ft. |
| Canal | Date | Depth Over Lock (Ft.) | Length of Lock (Ft.) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence Seaway | 1959 | 27 | 766 | Operated by St. Lawrence Seaway Authority |
