Cataraqui (Bark), 2 May 1854

SHIPBUILDING -- We understand that Capt. Gaskin has ordered, to be built at the Marine Railway yard in this city, a ship which will register 500 tons, to be treenailed and coppered and clipper modelled. The dimensions of the projected ship are fixed at I45 feet keel, 28 feet beam, I6 feet depth of hold. This is a new enterprise, which we trust will turn out as well as Capt. Gaskin's last effort, while it will undoubtedly add to the reputation as well as to the business of
Kingston as a ship-building port.
      Daily News, Kingston
      August 4, I853 .

SHIPBUILDING -- The keel of Capt. Gaskin's second ship was yesterday laid at the Marine Railway shipyard. She is to be about I5 of 16 feet longer than the one now on the stocks, and will measure 800 tons. The first is well advanced, as nearly half the planking is done. Both ships will be out early in the season, and as will be seen by a notice elsewhere, are advertised for Liverpool.
      Daily News, Kingston
      January I2, I854
     
     
      IMPORTANT TO SHIPPERS FOR LIVERPOOL DIRECT
      Early in the spring will be despatched from this port, for Liverpool direct,
      TWO CLIPPER SHIPS, copper fastened, now building at this port, respectively
      720 and 800 tons. Will be ready to receive cargo on the 20th. April.
      For freight or passage apply to - G.M. Kinghorn, United States Wharf, or to
      the owner Hobert Gaskin. Kingston Jan. IO, I854!
      Daily News, Kingston ;
      January I2, I854



THE LAKE AND OCEAN TRADE. -- Kingston [Canada] papers state that Captain Robert Gaskin, who formerly commanded a steamer running to Rochester, advertises that he will dispatch from Kingston early in the spring, for Liverpool direct, two copper-fastened clipper ships of 720 and 800 tons burthen. The ships are now building at Kingston.
      Buffalo Daily Courier
      January 30, 1854
     
     

LAUNCH--Capt. Gaskin's new barque will be launched from the Marine Railway Shipyard on Saturday next, at 3 p.m. We are pleased to learn that a set of colours for the ship is about to be presented to the Captain by the merchants of the city in testimony of their appreciat!ion of his enterprise.
      Daily News, Kingston
      April 26, I854
     


The presentation, of the set of colors for Capt. Gaskin's new vessel will take place this day (Friday) at I2:30 o'clock. Subscribers are requested to meet in the news room at I2.
      Daily News, Kingston .use wrecks
      April 28, I854



PRESENTAT1ON OF COLORS Yesterday, shortly after noon, the members of the Board of Trade, the Mayor, the member for the city and other gentlemen, assembled in the News Room, and from thence proceeded to the Marine
Railway Yard, for the purpose-of presenting to Captain Gaskin a set of colours for the new ship to be launched today. They were received at the head of the stage by Capt. Gaskin, and the colours presented by John Watkins, Esq, President of the Board of Trade, with a few appropriate remarks, followed by the Hon. J.A. Macdonald, who expressed at length and in an eloquent address the sentiments entertained by all, of the Capt's enterprize and the importance to Kingston of the new trade opened through him. Capt. Gaskin replied, and subsequently, nearly fifty gentlemen sat down in the cabin of the new ship to partake of a lunch which had been provided by the Captain for the occasion. We have not room this morning for the particulars of this portion of the proceedings, suffice it for the present to say that it was nearly four o'clock before the party broke up. We shall refer again to the matter in our
next impression.
      Daily News, Kingston
      April 29, 1854
     
     
     
Launch Postponed -- In consequence of the severity of the weather on Saturday, it was deemed expedient to postpone the launching of Captain Gaskin's new bark until today. The launch will take place this afternoon at half-past three.
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 1,1854
     
     
     
The Launch---Owing to the very unfavorable state of the weather, this was postponed from Saturday to Monday, and again until yesterday. The weather, yesterday, was of the most delightful character, and an immense crowd occupied every available spot for a view of the launch, while between two and three hundred ladies and gentlemen were admitted on board the ship, in the cabin. of which ample refreshments were provided. A few minutes after the time appointed, half past three p.m. (and the delay was occasioned by a schooner which had anchored in the line of
the ships movement from the ways), the signal was given, and then the CATARAQU1 glided gracefully into her destined element. She was subsequently taken in tow by the steamer JOHN COUNTER, and performed a circuit of the bay before being brought alongside the pier. Murdoch's Brass Band were on board the ship. Everything went off in the most satisfactory manner.
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 3, 1854




      SHIPBUILDING - The CATARAQUI
We had barely time to mention on Saturday last the presentation to Capt. Gaskin of a set of colors and a spy-glass for his new ship, and we can now but give an outline of the proceedings on that occasion.
The colors, etc., having been presented by the President of the Board of Trade, the Hon. J.A.Macdonald, Member for the city, addressed the Captain, and remarked that it was with no small degree of pleasure that he found himself standing on the deck of so fine a ship as that upon which they were then assembled, he looked with interest upon every enterprise calculated to promote the interests of the city, and the building of such ships as that and the one near it he regarded as a very important enterprise and highly advantageous, not only to Kingston but to the Upper Province; he felt that both were highly indebted to Captain Gaskin for demonstrating so conclusively that the business of building vessels of large tonnage for ocean navigation could be carried on along the upper lakes, and he sincerely trusted that his exertions in this respect would be handsomely renumerated. Hitherto the Upper
Canadians had been mere hewers of wood for the lower section of the province, but here it has been satisfactorily shown that this state of things need continue no longer, and that on our rivers and on the margin of our lakes the timber of Upper Canada, such as had usually been sent; at great expense, with great labor, and often at considerable loss, to the lower ports, could be worked up here into ships vieing in beauty and strength with any built at these ports. He was pleased too, to observe the name which had been selected for the new ship. There were a number of Kingstonians in the world-but the name of Cataraqui - the old Indian name for this port - would distinguish it from every other, and in whatever portion of the globe it might be the lot of a Kingstonian to see the burgee of the CATARAQU1 flying, he would at once recoginise the old name of his own old home and welcome the visitor. He
repeated that all interests in Kingston were deeply indebted to Capt. Gaskin for his enterprise in this matter and but expressed the general voice when he wished him and his ship abundant success.
      Capt.Gaskin replied, he said that the honour which had been done to him by this presentation was one really unexpected, but one which he should ever remember. He had through many years cherished the idea of building such a ship as that on which they had assembled, and had at length attained his object. Another would soon be ready, and he hoped to se others follow, not only here, but elsewhere, and he had little doubt that others would be built, seeing the facilities which exist in this section of the province for ship-building. For the kind manner in which his name had been mentioned, and for the presentation which had just been made he would return his sincere thanks, and express the hope that he would always be enabled to retain the good opinion of his fellow citizens.
The Captain, then invited the Gentlemen into the cabin, where a handsome lunch had been provided, and about forty-five sat down, champagne flowed freely; a number of toasts were proposed, and speeches made by Messrs Campbell, Macdonald, Forsyth, the Mayor, and other gentlemen, and by Messrs Ponton & Read of Belleville. It would be impossible for us to follow these unless in a special report, suffice it to say that upwards of three hours were thus most happily spent.
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 3, 1854 :



The bark CATARAQUI, is already taking in a portion of her cargo for Llverpool. This consists of staves belonging to the owner of the vessel. She will probably in the beginning of next week proceed to Montreal via the canal, and thence to sea.
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 4, I854
     
     
The new bark CATARAQUI left this port yesterday for Montreal, in tow of the steamer AMERICA. She takes down 40,000 staves, which will form part of her outward cargo
      Daily News, Kingston
      May IO, I854
     
     
The CATARAQUI is now in the Canal Basin at Montreal, havng gone down the rlver wlthout the sllghtest accldent, and is rapidly being fitted for sea. The Arabia is on her way down with a cargo of wheat.
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 16, 1854



The CATARAQUI -- This is a really magnificent clipper-built bark. We went on board yesterday, and found no expense had been spared to make her a very desirable vessel for traffic and speed. She is I46-1/2 feet long on deck, and her breadth of beam is 29 feet, and depth of hold is16-1/2 feet, 632 tons register, and draws 9 feet of water. Her accomodations are very spacious - the cabin being 40 by 24 feet, and well finished.
      The CATARAQUI was built at Kingston, at the Marine Railway, for the owner, Mr. Gaskin, who intends selling her in London, in the meantime, it will be seen, she has cleared from our port with a fair cargo, and she will remain at Quebec until completely laded. We were informed by Mr. Gaskin that he is constructing at Kingston another vessel of larger dimensions to sell in England; the tonnage of this latter vessel is to be over 1,000 tons, and she is to be built like the CATARAQUI, under the inspection of Lloyd's agent for Quebec.
      We also observed in our harbour, ready for clearance, another Kingston; built vessel, the ARABIA. This is a three masted brigantine, I25 feet in length, and 25 feet in beam, with a depth of hold of 10-1/2 feet. She is bound for Glasgow.
      Kingston is fast earning a good reputation for ship architecture, and if Capt. Gaskin is equally successful with this vessel as he was with the one he sold last summer, we may expect to find fleets of vessels built at Kingston to supply the English market (Montreal, Transcript)
      Daily News, Kingston
      May 27, 1854


The bark ARABIA of this port has cleared from Montreal for Glasgow, with 13,676 bushels wheat and 500 barrels of flour.
The CATARAQUI is at Quebec, completing cargo.
      Daily News, Kingston
      June 1, 1854


      The bark CATARAQUI, Capt. Hurst, of this port, arrived at Deal on the 20th. ult.
      Daily News, Kingston
      August 4, 1854
     
     

      PORT OF MONTREAL- Shipping Register.
      Port Number - 9 of 1854
Name CATARAQUE
Type Bark
Tonnage 631 tons burthen ;
When built 1854
Where built Kingston
Builders name & date of certificate: - May 1, 1854, Kingston Marine Railway Co.
Date of registration at port of Montreal:- May 23, 1854
Description of vessel:-
      Length 157 feet & 8 tenths
      Breadth 27 feet & 2 tenths
      Depth of hold 16 feet & 2 tenths
Decks one deck with Poop and top gallant forecastle
Masts. Three
Stern Square
Bowsprit Standing
How rigged Bark
Figurehead a Scroll head
How built Carvel. Framework & planking - wood
Present master John Hughes Hurst

Subscribing owners:- Robert Gaskin of Kingston. . .32 shares
      H. Campbell . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 shares

Cancelled Registered in London
      National Archives, Canada
      Shipping Registers - Montreal j
      Reel C 2466