2

acres, and its population at the last census (1881) was 109,891 as compared with 94,031 in 1871. The following abstract shows their religion and nationality z—J

Roman Catholics ......................... . .. .. 47,115 Presbyteriaris ................................. 33,835 Methodists.... ...l3,485

Church of England ..... . . . . . . .......... . ..... 7,192 Baptists ........................ . .......... . . . 6,236 Various ........... . .......................... 1,038 108,891 Scots .............................. . . ........

lrish ..................... .

English .......................................

French........................... . ,. lndians...... 281 Others ........ . 2,107108,891

The present population is probably about 119,000. ,

Communication with the mainland is maintained, during the period of ordinary navigation, by a line of steamers connecting daily with ports in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and thus with the various railway systems of Canada and the United States. Freight and passenger steamers connect weekly with Quebec, Montreal, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Halifax, Boston and New York, while, during the shipping season, opportunities occur of direct freights by steamer to hritish ports.

Ordinary navigation generally closes about the middle of December, and re-opens about the middle of April. During this time communication is carried on with the mainland by a steamer specially constructed fora winter navigation. The various eflorts in this direction can so far, however, be regarded as experi- mental only, the difliculties attending it not having been fully surmounted. This service is supplemented by boats which cross to New Brunswick at the “ Capes” a distance of nine miles. Branch railways have recently been constructed to Cape Traverse on the Island, and to Cape Tormentine in New Brunswick, and there is no doubt that a permanent connection will be established between these two points, and that communication during winter will, ere long, be accomplished with but little difficulty.

A subway has been proposed to connect the Island with the railway systems of the other provinces, and the matter is fairly betore the Dominion Government, its complete practicability having been favourably reported on by many leading engineers. Surveys and borings have been made by which the bottom of the straits has been shewn to be perfectly suitable to the enterprise.

The following table gives the distances from some of the principal cities of Canada and the United states and the length of time at present required to make thé journey :—

Miles. Hours. Charlottetown to Halifax, Nova Scotia .......... . 160 12 “ “ St. John, New Brunswick . . . . . . . 200 12 “ “Quebec ........... 600 38 “ “ Montreal .............. 800 48 “ “ Ottawa .............. .... .. 960 53 “ “ Boston, Massachusetts. . .. . 600 36 “ “ New York . .. . .. 850 44

A line of railway traverses the lslandfrom Tignish, the western terminus, to Souris, the eastern, with branches to Charlottetown, Georgetown, and Cape Traverse, a total distance of 210 miles.

The adoption of the shorter route to New Brunswick, via Capes Traverse and Tormentine, either by means of the Sub-way before mentioned, or by ferry