Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-07
THE MAGDALEN ISLANDS.
An Almost Forgotten Group in the
st. Lawrence Gulf.
Ernm the BOSTON Transcrint

An Almost Forgotten Group in the
st. Lawrence Gulf.
From the Boston Transcript.
Except for a few outlying rocks, and
Byron Island, the Magdalen group is really
all one island, being a series of higher
areas, each several miles long. connected
by long strip of beach sand. In some
cases there are two parallel strips, with a
shallow lagoon between. through which
small boats can be rowed or sailed In per-
feet security In any sort of weather. The
land is in the form Of a great curve or
loop, and is belted by a line of telegraph
that stretches eighty-two miles from Grand
Entry to Amherst Island.
Grand Entry Is a cluster of houses at the
end of a desolate sand spit at the entrance
to large bay with narrow outlet at this
point. Here were met by a pleasant
English fisherman with whom we were to
board until the schooner which had been
chartered should take US to Bird Rock
Four miles east, at the head of lagoon
across a narrow strip Of land, and facing
the wild open sea, that throws its strength
against red cliffs and magnificent beach
Of white sand, stood cluster of houses,
one Of them our destination.
One of the first things noticed was a
heap of bones. and more of them scattered
all about. Our host picked up one of them
thereby hangs a tale. 1t is said that about
hundred and fifty years ago herds of the
great walrus used to come ashore on the
ocean side. were headed off by settlers and
driven across the sand to the bay shore.
where they were slaughtered. The soil
Is supposed to be underlain with these
bones, and from time to time more of them
blow out of the sand. Every visitor carries
away specimens of these tusks, and we
soon secured number; but the larger ones
are gone and the supply must soon be prac-
tically exhausted, unless one cares to ex-
cavate for them.
The inhabitants of the islands are largely
French but there are also a goodly number
of the English. Fishing and clustering are
practically the only industries. Farming
Is largely out of the question, as the eli
mate is cold, and the warm season very
short. No fruit trees will grow. and now,
the middle of June. the few deciduous
trees, largely birch and alder, are Just be-
ginning to leaf out, and the trailing arbu-
tus. or mayfiower. is still in bloom. The
season in Nova Scotia seemed backward,
but from the Magdaen standpoint Nova
Scotia is next door to the tropics Heavy
winter underwear is always in season here,
and at the time of this writing the keen
northeast wind has almost the chill Of
snow. But after all 1t seems good not to
swelter In the great city, and the Magdalen
Islands is grand place to spend the sum-
mer.
Here must be one of the finest spots on
the coast for the summer and fall bay-brd
anu WlIu-lOWl SHODlIIlS, anu soLie hllo" ing
sportsmen have already scented 1t out.
The Eskimo curlew and golden plover.
which have long since given New England
the go-by, keeping far out to sea In their
migration, come here in great focks in Au-
gust from the wids of Labrador as they
follow down the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Wild geese arrive as early as August and
remain till the ponds are icebound. Ducks
breed all over the great marshes and
sloughs, and other hordes of them from the
far north make 1t their resort. If ones
means are limited, here is the place to
come, for board be had anywhere for
from So to s. week
The monotony of the winter for the hardy
fishermen Is broken in March by the ar
rival of the fur-bearing seals. drifting down
the gulf on the ice foes. The wind drives
the fields OF ice shore, or near shore
| and out over the ice go the inhabitants
with guns clubs, striking down the SEALS
young and old. The harp seal falls an easy
prey, but the adult hooded seal large and
powerful species. is very savage and will
make a dangerous attack upon the man
who moleStS 1t. When angry or on Its
| guard there seems to be rush of blood
| to the head that initiates a sort of hood
| making cushion. upon which bullet or
| club fall comparatively harmless The
| wise hunter gives the old hooded seal a
| wide berth and tries for the young whose
pelts land fat are the more valuable The
young seals are gentle, beautiful creatures
| that cry like child and look up with soft
| mournful eyes when attacked, and MANY a
| kind father has to struggle with his emo
/ tons he kills therp