How was alcohol smuggled in canada during 1920 in the times of prohibition?

Question

there was prohibition in canada because im learning about it in history class right now

Answer 1

If you want to find out about bootlegging read this book it is a very good book. Most bootlegging involved smuggling alcohol into the United States more than smuggling in Canada. It was far more profitable. My Friend Tom told me a story about a guy coming into Meyers Peir in Belleville, Ontaio and loading his row boat with Corby's Rye. The invoice said the rye was going to Cuba. Like they didn't know he wasn't going to row all the way to Cuba. The distilleries here in Canada made a fortune and they didn't care where their product ended up

BOOZE, BOATS AND BILLIONS: SMUGGLING LIQUID GOLD!

Hunt, C.W.

Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, 1988. 351pp, cloth. $26.95. ISBN 0-7710-4264-7. CIP

Grades 10 and up/Ages 15 and up

Reviewed by Donna J. Adrian

Volume 17 Number 3

1989 May

This is a very readable account of the wheeler-dealer world of rum-running during the Prohibition era. The author has stitched together a lively account of the beginnings of organized crime in Canada—bootlegging to the United States—with its smuggling techniques, skirmishes and battles on the Great Lakes, boat chases, shoot-outs, poison booze, murder and corruption. It also traces the development, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, of Canadian distilleries and breweries, such as Hiram-Walker Gooderham and Worts. Seagram's, Corby's and O'Keefe, along with the rise and fall of fortunes made by the Hatch brothers, Rocco Perri, the Goyer family, Ben Kerr and others.

The author's background in teaching is evident. The facts appear to be well researched and the book is well written. There are numerous quotes from Canadian and American magazines and newspapers, letters, and the author's Interviews with smugglers still living.

Maps, photographs, excellent notes, a bibliography, and index supplement the text. Recommended reading for social history of Ontario during prohibition.

Answer 2

The bootlegging of alcohol from Canada to the United States during prohibition was done in a variety of ways.  As the border was pretty open, sending truck loads of alcohol was fairly simple.  With several states and provinces bordering waterways, smuggling by boat was a common occurance as boats could be modified to be faster than revenue boats (the first speed boats) and more alcohol could be carried on boats than trucks.

"1 Proud Canadian" has the best advice though.  You can get better information from books than from the internet.

Answer 3

i believe it was called bootlegging when they made there own alcohol and hid it in a tube strapped 2 their legs....thats why it was called bootlegging and thats how they smuggled alcohol

Answer 4

Alcohol was legal in Canada during prohibition.... do you mean out of Canada?? In large quantities it was in trucks or wagons that crossed low traffic areas of the border to the US.

Answer 5

Well, there was no prohibition in Canada, just in the US. So there was no smuggling in Canada, but rather from there to the US.

And this was done in many, many ways. There is a rather large border between the two countries and it was often simply a matter of bribing or distracting the local border patrol and driving across at an out of the way location. Or they'd go by boat. I even heard of one audacious attempt to simply send it by train.