Qtugtnma

Prior to the land system for delivery of mail items, ocean going schooners, brigantines or small— er vessels made regular calls to ports along the North Shore. With this, came produce as well as mail. By the mid-1800’s a lucrative trade was carried on with the Eastern Coastal States. Some products taken Eastward included lumber, cheese and butter, grains, woollen products and coal which was loaded in Cape Breton on the way to the United States. On the return trips vessels laden with fruits, sugar, molasses and other staple foods from the warmer climes were

unloaded.

This was also a way for people to emigrate from/immigrate to the different areas. With this inward/outward flow came controls. The English Government established the “Custom” sys— tem of acceptance and rejection of goods and people. There is a record of a “Customs” Officer being appointed in the Grenville Bay area as early as 1864. The names of John C. Sims and James T. Reid were Officers at this time. Later George B. McKay was appointed. He was responsible for checking vessels which came to Clifton and Stanley wharves. By 1870 business was increasing so that two people were appointed to assist Mr. McKay. The Harbour Master was George R. Garrett, and the Wharfinger, Charles Anderson, for the Stanley Wharf.

Edward McEwen, Sr. replaced George B. McKay in 1880. The story is told that when a vessel entered the harbour and was unloading at Clifton or Stanley Wharf, the Captain and a few of the crew would lower a boat and row to McEwen’s Point - the location of the McEwen home. They reported to which wharf they were delivering and what supplies the boat carried. Mr. McEwen would then proceed to the designated wharf and check their goods. The “Customs House” was in the Joseph Whitehead home, located close to the wharf and West of the bridge. People who had deliveries coming off a vessel had to report to Mr. McEwen at the “Customs House” to have their goods released. A building on the wharf was used also for receiving imported goods. The storekeepers would remove their supplies from here and in turn fill their warehouses and exchange goods from their buildings to the ship’s holds. This was part of the export trade.

The Wharfinger was also an important person in the acceptance of goods as he had to hold a fishery license to carry out inspections of fish in the boats. He was also an inspector of the

flour and meal, as well as weights and measures.

Edward McEwen, Sr. and his wife Jemima Younger Johnstone

104