202 Geographical Collections. 



made subject to forfeit to the licensees all they had done on the lots, without any 

 claim of remuneration. Messrs. Ross and Gerrish took immediate possession, 

 and improved sundry of the most valuable situations, both on the mainland and 

 adjacent islands, some of which they have since sold, and received only written 

 obligations for the payment. Some parts, it seems, were allotted for public use, 

 and partly cleared by the temporary residence of fishermen, and the occasional 

 convenience of others, none of which offered to continue their holding, until the 

 time of a man who, with his son, is settled in opposition to the general wish of 

 the inhabitants. The central situation, and evident conveniency of the harbour, 

 will point out the propriety of this, if not of more extensive locations for public 

 uses ; the otherwise unallotted tracts on the shore, in the vicinity of the harbour, 

 are entirely composed of impenetrable thickets, and totally useless for any purpose. 



The whole of the settlements at Seal Cove are claimed by the Messrs. M'Mas- 

 ter, by virtue of purchase. The present occupants are generally emigrants from 

 tlie United States. The settlements hitherto made on this tract, (though a good 

 one, and the largest in a body of any on the shores of the island,) were always 

 abandoned ; but from the exertions of the present occupants, in uniformly cutting 

 and clearing to the same extent in each lot, it promises soon to be a very regular 

 and extensive settlement, and probably Government will confirm this cultivated 

 land to its clearers by grant. 



Inner Two Islands contain about five hundred acres, a large proportion of 

 which is of a good quality and well timbered. It is entirely unoccupied and un- 

 cultivated ; it was surveyed at the request of Mr. William Ross, who claims it 

 as his location of 500 acres, by virtue of the family's former claims, long resi- 

 dence, and improvements of certain portions of Grand Manan. It forms the 

 barrier to the harbour at Seal Cove, and affords various harbours and shelter for 

 fishennen. 



Outer Two Islands contain about two hundred acres, and are also unoccupied 

 and uncultivated. The land in general is very indifferent on this island. It is 

 claimed by Miss Elizabeth Ross. 



Harbour Island contains about eight hundred acres, a large proportion of 

 which is shrubby, and incapable of any improvement ; it has been occupied by 

 BIr. Gerrish and the Ross family now upwards of twenty years, and cultivated in 

 every part capable of improvement to the extent of between 70 or 80 acres. Such 

 parts of it as are anywise useful for timber or otherwise, to the extent of about 250 

 acres, are now claimed by the Ross family, and applied for in the name of the old- 

 est son John Ross, as a part of his location of 500 acres, excepting two lots of 

 about 20 acres each, applied for by Mr. Gerrish, one of which contains his dwell- 

 ing-house, garden, and other buildings. It forms the principal barrier to the 

 Grand Harbour, and is separated from the main island by a narrow passage or 

 thoroughfare, navigable only by boats at two-thirds flood. 



Chancifs Island contains about 250 acres. The soil of the major part of this 

 island is naturally good ; it has been occupied by a family of that name now up. 

 wards of twenty years, who maintain a stock of about twenty-five head of cattle, 

 besides eighty or ninety sheep, and have 100 acres, nearly half the island, under 

 excellent improvement and cultivation. 



White Head Island contains about twelve hundred acres of very indifferent 

 land, excepting about thirty or forty acres, which are tolerable, at Gull Cove, on the 

 southern side of the island, and a marsh on the northern side, wherein eight or 

 nine tons of what is called salt hay may be cut. It has hitherto been unoccupied 

 and uncultivated, excepting about a couple of acres lately cleared at Gull Cove 

 by a Mr. William Frankland, and a small log-house, into which he was about to 

 move at the time of the survey. The famous fishing-bank for cod, called the 

 Ripps, lies off this Cove, and the opportunity of traffic with the fishermen who 

 frequent the Cove as a summer harbour, is the principal advantage attending this 

 situation. 



Three Islands, being a cluster of that number so situated as to form a safe 

 harbour for boats and small craft, separately distinguished by the names of Kent, 



