# History of Islands & Islets in the Bay of Fundy, Charlotte County, New Brunswick/Chapter 3

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CHAPTER III. MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND.
HIS island, lying as it does in the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, and being under the Marine Department of the Dominion of Canada, and having a little history of its own, it may not prove uninteresting to give it some attention in the present history of the islands of Charlotte County.
Its distance is about 13 miles from Gannet Rock and as Gannet Rock is 6⁠1/2⁠ miles from the south-west head of Grand Manan, the distance of Seal Island from Grand Manan is ascertained. It is a little over one mile in circumference, and at its highest part has an altitude of 28⁠1/2⁠ feet. Mr. John Connolly and his sons—his successors—residents at present of St. Andrews, resided on that lone and dreary island some 37 years. The experience of this Connolly family of the fogs and the storms and the isolation of living on a lone, desolate rock, amid the fury of the elements, for 37 long years, must have been bitter indeed. Surely the Marine Department of the Dominion would be justified, and not only justified, but in duty bound, in consideration of such a life-long exile from all human society, save their own, to grant them a suitable salary during the remainder of their hitherto wasted years.
A Shipwreck
On the 9th day of January 1869, John Connolly and Obadiah, saw a brigantine nearing the island, and soon saw her strike on a rocky islet, called Gull Rock, about one-fourth of a mile distant. The vessel proved to be from Sackville, N, B., bound to Barbadoes, with lumber and hay. The Connolly brothers started at once for the scene of the disaster, at the risk of their lives, and succeeded in rescuing the ​captain, officers and crew from a watery grave. The captain's name was Thomas Blanche; the first mate, Charles Bent, N. S.; the second mate, Elijah Chase, Sackville, N. B.; and six seamen.
The rescued mariners were conveyed to the residence of the keeper of the light, where they were kindly cared for for four days, when they were taken to the mainland in the schooner Dolphin, of Cutler, Me. Thus were the Connolly's instrumental in saving nine fellow-creatures from a watery grave—and that of itself is sufficient to entitle them to the consideration of the Government. It seems the island was called Seal Island, by reason of the great number of seals frequenting those rocks and islets. Little Gull Island, ⁠1/2⁠ mile distant from Seal Island, and Swean's Rock, about two miles distant,—a barren rock low out of water with ledges,—form a favourite resort for the porpoise and the seal while wild fowl make it their chosen lodgings when they fold a weary wing. During the long voluntary exile of the Connolly's on this most desolate abode in the Bay of Fundy, there were seven disasters, and, no doubt, had not the sailor's bright star of mercy been lighted night after night on that dreary rock, the number of wrecks and of lives lost within that 87 years would have numbered seventy times seven. There are now two lighthouses on Seal Island, and in addition a powerful steam fog-whistle, which can be heard in moderate weather at a distance of 15 miles, in stormy weather from 5 to 8 miles, and with the wind from 20 to 25 miles.
The keeper's dwelling has had necessary repairs, and establishment is as well prepared as possible to warn vessels of danger, and to provide for the comfort and security of those who, to provide for the sustenance of the body, isolate themselves from all society but that of fish and fowl.