The average canal depth was about 16 ft. The draft of most “canallers” was about 12 to 14 ft. The width varied because there had to be enough width to allow for twin passages in some areas and space for anchorage in case it was needed. Look at the next two cards, which show the area near the paper mill. These photos are good examples of how the width varied depending on location. Space was needed for unloading docks (as with the wood/pulp unloading). Ships could pass at any time though—in the main canal. The draft in the lock lifts varied… but the draft was at least twice the canaler draft to allow for the drop/rise i

n water level plus a bit extra so no one hit bottom. The canalers were all flat bottomed which also helped. The lock lifts were deeper at Locks 15 and 17 at Cornwall, then dropped as the river more or less evened out past Domtar and up to near Cardinal where the river evened out after the rapids. 

~ Notes: Ray Amell