In 1908, the SKEENA was part of the workhorse fleet that hauled railway construction supplies up the Skeena River. Later that year, she was used by Pat Burns & Company, a meat packer who had the
contract to supply meat to all the construction camps. Cattle were driven from the Chilcotin for slaughter at Hazelton; the meat was then loaded on the SKEENA and delivered to the camps which were located
every two miles along the river.  She delivered so much meat that she became known as "Pat Burns boat".  In 1914, she was purchased by Captain Charles Seymour to work on the Lower Fraser River.