This engraving by James Duncan (1806-1881) depicts the western end of the harbour and shows the improvements that had taken place over the last few years. In the foreground can be seen the entrance to the Lachine canal which had been opened in 1825 so that ships could bypass the Lachine rapids. The canal was the first in a series of installations that permitted continuous navigation of the St. Lawrence from Montreal to the Great Lakes so that the city could keep ahead of its American commercial competitors. Also visible are the first wharves built in the western part of the port by the harbour commissioners in order to allow ships to dock, load and unload. The system of canals and the improvements to the harbour facilities enabled Montreal to supplant Quebec as Canada's leading harbour.
