in later decades after the repeal of the tariff and the increase of competition, the quality and safety of the ships improved markedly. since the travellers would bring along their own food and bedding the trade was an extremely easy one to operate. all that was required was a few advertisements, generally in irish newspapers, and the installation of bunks along the side of the hold. an average timber ship could thus carry about 200 passengers. even with only a fraction of the hundreds of timber ships carrying passengers, this created an unprecedented influx of new inhabitants. by comparison, it has been calculated that the trade between new france and europe only included an average sixty-six immigrants per year over the lifetime of that colony.