The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-01-13
The Magdalen Islands.

the steamer Albert runs from Pictou TO
the Magdalens, touching at Souris to take
the mails when the weather allows her to
enter the exposed port of Souris The
Albert proved to be, without exception,
the most clumsy and dangerous craft
ever stepped foot on, considering the per-
ilous nature Of the waters she navigates
The weather was fine and the wind fair,
so we managed to average nearly six knots,
which took US in sight of the island at sun =.
rise. 1t was clear, cheerful day after
the storm. Nearly hundred sail of our
Gloucester fishermen dotted the horizon,
and the crests Of Amherst, Alright in the
extreme distance, and Entry directly ahead
and near at hand, were exceedingly beau
tiful, warmed by the morning sun, which
mellowed their various vivid tints into
pearly grays.
1t may be said here that the name now
given to the whole group originally be-
longed to the long narrow island which
comprises the more or less lofty divisions
termed respectively Amherst, Grindstone,
Alright, Wolf, Coffin and Crosse Isle-is-
lands which are all more or less connected
by double row of sand dunes inclosing
lake-like lagoons, but divided in some
places, by sea-openings fordable at low
water, and at Basque Harbor, Havre aux
Maisons, and Grand Entry Harbor deep
enough to admit Of the entrance of small
vessels. Around the Magdalen Islands,
never more than few miles distant, are
Deadman's Island, the Bird Rocks, Biron
Island, Shag Rock and Entry Island, which
are now all comprised under the same
name. The Magdalen Islands par excel.
Leaee trend thirty-eight miles in north
easterly direction, from Amherst to Coffin
Island; long spit, called Sandy Hook,
aud partially under water extends due east
from Amherst toward Entry; from which
it is separated by a narrow and dangerous
channel, Pleasant Bay is the blight form.
ed by Sandy Hook round by Basque Har-
Dor to Grindstone Island, and is c0mmo-
dious and safe roadstead in all but easterly
winds, when vessels must cut and run for
the other side Of the island, or make a
dash for Hayre Aubert II taken too sud.
denly. In the terrific gale of August,
1873, our fishing feet was lying for refuge
in Pleasant Bay, when the wind shifted
SO rapidly and violently to the eastward
that thirty.three schooaers were driven on
shore in an hour, piled together on the
top of each other. The skeletons of some
of these hapless vessels still bleach on the
beach at Amherst. ID.
Rounding the grand, gayly colored sea-
cliffs of Entry Island, the Albert steamed
up to an anchorage at Amherst, at the
bottom of Pleasant Bay, and boat car
ried the mails and one solitary passenger
ashore through the surf The curious lit
tie town of Amherst lies there, composed
of perhaps fifty houses struggling up the
tanks of the Demoiselle, a conical hill,
which on the sea side falls vertically nearly
two hundred and eighty feet. The bust
ness portion of the metropolis of the Mag
dalens clusters farther down, where store
houses aud fish stages for the drying of cod
are huddled together on sand bar scarce
a hundred PAGES across, which connects
Mount Gridley with the Demoiselle Hill.
On the north side Of this bar is Pleasant
Bay; on the south side is Havre Aubert,
twisted by our fishermen into Harbor le
Bear. 1t is small but perfectly safe
port, the best in the Magdalens, it is said;
but the entrance channel is very narrow
and shifting, and accessible only to vessels
drawing not over twelve feet of water.
Amherst town may be said to be the seat
Of government. Mr.. Fox, the revenue
collector and superintendent of wrecks,
and Mr.. Painchaud, the U. S. consular
agent, who is very polite to our country
men, resides therei also Mr. Fontana, the
most important individual in the islands,
the agent Of Admiral Coffin, the proprie-
tor, who holds them subject to the juris-
diction Of the Dominion, In reward for
his public services, Captain Isaac Coffin,
uncle of the present owner, received
grant of these islands from the British
crown in 1898. They were first discover
ed by jacques Cartier, and we're colonized
by French, chiefly Acadians, who sought
refuge here when expelled from Acadie.
They have received accessions from Cana
da, St Pierre, Jersey, and England, aud
now number about fyc thousand, nearly
all Of French descent, aud speaking and
retaining the language, customs and reli-
gion Of the parent country. They occupy
he land generally by leasehold, under va.
ious conditions, aud the rents are devoted