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THOMPSON'S COAST PILOT. VE the water-shed of Lake Champlain and the lower tributaries of the St. Lawrence River rises from 4,000 to 5,000 feet above the level of the sea or tide-water, in the States of Vermont and New York. The divide which separates the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, from those flowing northeast into the St. Lawrence, do not in some places exceed ten or twenty feet above the level of Lakes Michigan and Superior ; in fact, it is said that Lake Michigan, when under the influence of high water and a strong northerly wind, discharges some of its surplus waters into the Illinois River, and thence into the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico--so low is the divide at the southern terminus. When we consider the magnitude of these Great Lakes, the largest body of fresh water on the globe, being connected by navigable straits or canals, we may quote with emphasis the words of an English writer: 'How little are they aware, in Europe, of the extent of commerce upon .these ' Inland Seas,' | whose coasts are now lined with flourishing towns and cities; whose waters are plowed with magnificent steamers, and hun- dreds of vessels crowded with merchandise! Even the Amer- icans themselves are not fully aware of the rising importance of these great lakes, as connected with the Far West." TRIBUTARIES OF THE GREAT LAKES AND ST. LAW- RENCE RIVER. : | Unlike the tributaries of the Mississippi, the streams falling into the Great Lakes or the St. Lawrence. River are mostly rapid, and navigable only for a short distance from their mouths. 3 ys The following are the principal rivers that are navigable for any considerable length : AMERICAN SIDE. Miles. . Bt. Louis River, Minn., Superior to Fond du La so ge Bis ip oN aie PS eee 20 Fox, or Neenah, Wis., Green Bay to Lake Winnebago*...cccocsss eoccscccccccveccses 36 St. Joseph, Mich., St. Joseph 10 Niles....sccceccccecnsse seecccaccecevcnscencsnecsees 26 * By means of seventeen locks, overcoming an elevation of 170 feet.