A packet boat was upwards of 80 feet long, 9 feet wide at it's extreme breadth, with 50 feet of cabin space in the center for passengers.  This left 10 feet for space in the prow and 20 feet for the steerage deck.  The long but narrow cabin was sufficiently lofty to admit walking with ease, and the roof of it formed the upper deck of the boat.  The cabin was lined with neatly cushioned seats, with a succession of Venetian blinds to open or shut at pleasure.  Passengers took their meals at the long table that ran through the center of the cabin.

The boat was drawn by a team of three horses, each team was kept at a full trot and changed every 8-10 miles, so that the packet boat traveled at about 5 miles per hour.  The trip was easy and agreeable during the day, except for the occasional inconvenience of stopping under low bridges from time to time.  But at night the trip was extremely unpleasent.  At 90'clock the caben was cleared to put up the hanging bed places.  The beds were broad shelves suspended by cords, hanging over eack other in a triple tier in rows.  Besides the discomfort of close stowage, it was difficult getting in or out.  The complete trip by packet boad from Rochester to Buffalo usually took twenty-one hours.