Resources 
     
    
   
   
    
     greatly improved, compasses, provisions, fur wraps. etc., 
     
     being carried, and everything being done to ensure safe pass— 
     
     ages. The standard ice-boat is of oak planked with cedar, 
     
     the planks being covered with tin, and is 18 feet long, 5 feet 
     
     wide, and 2 feet 6 inches deep. The boat has a double keel 
     
     which serves for runners, and four leather straps are attached 
     
     to each side. The passage usually occupies three and a 
     
     half hours, but when there is much “lolly" ' (small particles of 
     
     ice, floating in the water often to the depth of several feet), 
     
     and when tide and wind are unfavourable, the trip requires 
     
     sometimes from five to seven hours. The boats travel not 
     
     less than three together, each manned by five hardy, power— 
     
     ful and courageous men, and an experienced ice—captain is 
     
     in charge of the fleet. A variety of crossing conditions 
     
     prevail. Sometimes large ice-fields jammed between the 
     
     two shores, enable the passage to be made without putting 
     
     the boats into the water at all ; but as these floes are moving 
     
     the voyagenrs are often taken considerably out of their 
     
     course, and are obliged to land several miles away from the 
     
     objective point. Again, rough or hummocky ice renders 
     
     the passage diflicult and laborious. but frequently lanes of 
     
     open water enable the crews to row. At other times lolly, 
     
     which has to be worked through. necessitates great expendi- 
     
     ture of time and labor. Should snow storms arise, there is 
     
     danger of losing the bearings, and travelling far out of the 
     
     course. For about a distance of one mile on each side of 
     
     the Strait, the ice is attached to the shore and is known as 
     
     the “board ice.” This leaves only seven miles for the 
     
     ferry, but owing to the tide, which runs about four miles an 
     
     hour carrying with it the ice fields, the distance travelled 
     
     by the boats is considerably increased. Teams carry the 
     
     passengers from the edge of the board ice to the Railway 
     
     stations. A trip by the Capes is a unique experience. 
     
     Prince Edward Island is exceedingly well 
     
     provided with means of internal communication. 
     
    
   
   
    
     In addition to the Railway, there are extensive waterways 
     
     [95] 
     
    
   
   
    
     Highways