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144 THOMPSON'S COAST PILOT. ' teresting, from the fact of there being innumerable islands and islets along the coast, greatly exceeding in number the " Thousand Islands '? of the St. Lawrence. From Penetanguishene, northeast to She-ba-wa -nah -ning, where commences the picturesque body of water known as the north channel, there is one continued succession of enchanting scenery. Here the wild fowl, fur-bearing game, and the finny tribe disport in perfect freedom, being as yet far removed from the busy haunts of civilization. . 7 Georgian Bay is nearly as large as Lake Ontario, while the North Channel, connecting with St. Mary's River on the west, may be said to be as large as Long Island Sound, dotted with a large number of lovely islands, while to the south lies the romantic island of the Great Manitoulin, and on the north rises La Cloche Mountain, altogether forming the most grand and romantic scenery. COLLINGWOOD, Ninety-four miles north from Toronto, is most advantageously situated near the head of Nottawassaga Bay, an indentation of Georgian Bay. The town, although commenced in 1854, at the time of the completion of the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Railroad, now contains (1864) about 2,500 inhabitants, and is rapidly in- creasing. The surprising growth is mainly owing to its being the ~ terminus of the railway which connects the Georgian Bay with Lake ~ Ontario at Toronto. Great numbers of travelers and emigrants are at this point transferred to steamers or propellers, bound for Mac- kinac, Green Bay, Chicago, and the Great West, as well as to the Sault Ste. Marie and Lake Superior. Here are a long pier, 800 feet in length; a breakwater, and lighthouse; several large stores and storehouses ; four hotels, and two or three churches in the course of erection. | The steamers leaving Collingwood for Mackinac and Chicago, running along the west shore of Lake Michigan, are of a large class, -- affording good accommodation for travelers. Steamers run every day to Owen Sound, 50 miles distant ; and weekly to Bruce Mines, the Sault Ste. Marie, and into Lake Superior, affording a oan steamboat excursion.