8-1 THE LABRADOE PEXINSULA. chap. xxv. 



the country called Labrador. In 1825 it was reannexed 

 to Lower Canada by an act of the Imperial Parliament. 

 The island was conceded, in 1680, to the Sieur Jolhet ; it 

 is now in the hands of a number of persons, some re- 

 siding in England and some in Canada. It ought to be 

 purchased by the Canadian Government, and a colonisation 

 road cut out between Ellis Bay * and Fox Bay. These 



* Ellis Bay affords tlie only tolerable sheltered anchorage in the island. 

 Vessels whose draught is not too great for a depth of three fathoms may 

 safely lie there during the three finest months in summer, namely, June, 

 July, and August ; but they should moor with an open hawse to the south- 

 ward. Larger vessels, whose object is to remain for a few hours only, may 

 anchor farther out, and in three and a half and four fathoms, but neither the 

 ground nor the shelter will be found so good as farther up the bay. 



The best berth is in a line between Cape Henry and the White Cliff, bearing 

 WSW. i W. and ENE. i E. respectively from each other, Gamache House 

 N. by e", and Cape Eagle between SSE. i E. and SSE. i E. The vessel 

 will then be in three fathoms, over muddy bottom, distant about three hun- 

 dred fathoms from the flats on either side, and about half a mile from those 

 at the head of the bay. The extremities of the reefs off Capes Henry and 

 Eagle will bear SW. by S. and S. ^ E. respectively ; thus leaving three and 

 a half points of the compass open, but in a direction from which heavy 

 winds are of rare occurrence, and never last long. Moreover, when they 

 do chance to occur, the sea is much less at the anchorage than might be ex- 

 pected, although very heavy in the entrance between the reefs. These 

 reefs are of flat limestone, and dry at low water, and as the tides only rise 

 from four to seven feet, the sea always breaks upon them when there is the 

 least swell. The reef off Cape Henry runs out nearly a mile to the south- 

 ward, and that of Cape Eagle nearly three-quarters of a mile to the west- 

 ward. The entrance between them is 600 fathoms wide, from three 

 fathoms to three fathoms. Extensive flats project from these reefs quite 

 round the bay, and do not entirely dry at low water, excepting in very low 

 spring tides ; but there are immense boulder-stones upon them which 

 always show. These flats occasion the landing to be very bad, excepting at 

 high water, which is the only time that supplies of good water can be ob- 

 tained from Gamache River. 



Ellis Bay can be easily made out from sea, for Cape Henry is a bluff 

 point, and the land being very low at the head of the bay occasions the 

 opening to show distinctly. On a nearer approach Cape Eagle and White 

 Cliff on the east side and the houses near the head of the bay will be easily 

 recognised with the assistance of our chart; whilst two ridges, or hills, will 

 be seen far back in the country, and to the northward and eastward. 



