This somewhat stylized rendering of Saint John Harbour about the end of the 19th century contains many of the symbols reflecting the changes which were transforming the shipping industry in the Maritimes. The large steel-hulled steamer in the foreground still carries sail, but its prime motive power is now steam and it has reduced the time of an Atlantic crossing by several weeks. The group of square riggers which surround the steamer are not as incongruous as they may seem. Many sailing vessels continued to visit Saint John and other Maritime ports well after the hey-day of the square riggers, and smaller vessels continued in use for the coastal trade well into the 20th century. The white side-wheeler in the right background is a river steamer which plied the Saint John River as far north as Fredericton.
Courtesy: The New Brunswick Museum, Saint-John, N.B.
