Lindsay's Cartage is shutting down its freight service to the Charlottes next week, with the last delivery scheduled for Friday Oct. 19. Branch manager Iz Kawaguchi said the decision was made for economic reasons. The company has served the islands for close to 20 years. "It's just a straight economic decision, it just wasn't there for us," Mr. Kawaguchi said from his Prince Rupert office. Ever-increasing ferry fares played a role in the equation, but Mr. Kawaguchi said the ferry cost was far from the only reason. "It does cost us a lot of money with the ferry, definitely that had a part in it," he said. "There's been a three to five percent ferry increase (annually) and you've got to pass that on to somebody." Lindsay's also operates a moving company, Williams Moving and Storage, and Mr. Kawaguchi said Williams will continue to serve the Charlottes. Lindsay's employs four full-time workers and one office staffer here. Mr. Kawaguchi said all five will be laid off.