The St. Lawrence River played an important part in Montrealers' daily lives. In addition to being the source of their water supply, supplying both the company which operated the water main and the later seller who drove around the streets with his barrel, it provided ice in winter to help preserve food. Ice cutting and selling was yet another aspect of work and commerce in the Montreal of the time. When the river was frozen over in winter, it was also the route that Montrealers took in order to reach the South Shore. In this watercolour by James Duncan (1806-1881) we observe the activities of the ice cutters.
