ON SABLE ISLAND. 29 



vessels, some of them American, but some of them Nova Scotian, lauding for plunder. 

 Generally, the objects sought were the fittings of vessels wrecked. But on one occasion he 

 had to complain of men robljing the house of refuge of the tireworks, and an axe, of 

 their taking down the directions for the guidance of shipwrecked persons, of their taking 

 the latch oifthe door, and robbing the boats which he was using in saving wrecked goods. 



The staff consisted generally often men and a foreman, beside the superintendent. Of 

 these one was a blacksmith, and another a carpenter, who was also lioat-builder and wheel- 

 wright. But these men took their share in the ordinary work of the establishment, 

 particularly in anything connected with wrecks. 



At the principal station each man in his turn rose early, and after making on the fire, 

 if the day was clear mounted the flagstaff to the Crow's-nest, and made a survey of the 

 island, all of which is visible from this point, to ascertain if any vessel had come ashore 

 during the night. If there had, the word was immediately given, and all the men prepared 

 with their boats to set out for the spot. If not they prepared for other duties. It, however, 

 the weather was foggy, or it there had been a storm, they prepared to patrol the shores. 

 Mounted on a hardy pony a man set out from each station, east and west, sometimes in the 

 face of a fierce blast, with it might be snow, hail or rain, or driving the sand so as to make 

 his face smart, so that he was sometimes glad to take shelter behind a sand-dune and proceed 

 along the central valley, ever and anon crossing the sand-hills to look seaward, or descending 

 to the laiulwash to examine some object cast on shore, or floating in the surf, it might be a 

 spar, a bottle or an oar. At length he met the roundsman from the next station. They 

 exchanged notes, retraced their steps and reported the result at headquarters. They thus 

 made tlic whole circuit of the island. When the weather was so thick that they could not see 

 over the island, this was done every twenty-four hours. In bad weather this watching of 

 the beach engaged their whole attention. 



During fine weather the men were not idle. There was always work to be done. 

 There was the daily work of attending to the horses and cattle, while each season had its 

 proper employment. During the summer all the ordinary operations of the farm were 

 can-ied on : fencing, putting out manure, ploughing, sowing, weeding, cutting, making and 

 housing hay, gathering the other crops, making compost, etc. Then there was the repair of 

 buildings, cleaning and whitewashing, the repairing and painting, and sometimes building 

 boats, the repairing vehicles or making new ones, repairing saddles, harness, etc., hauling 

 supplies to the outstations, gathering wood and hauling it to the central station. Then 

 there was the gathering of cranberries, of which as much as 100 barrels have been shipped 

 at one time, and the autumn pursuit of l)irds. At other times there was fishing, though the 

 superintendent, trom the uncertainty of the winds and sea, was very cautious about allowing 

 his men to go out for this pur^iosc. But sometimes they met with good hauls. On one 

 occasion he speaks of their taking 240 tine codfish. Sometimes they took a few halibut, 

 but mackerel were at that time especially abundant all around the island. Over forty 

 American vessels have been seen at one time fishing for them, some of which have been 

 known to take three full fares in a season. 



A time of some excitement, particularly with the young, was the time of gathering the 

 wild horses. For this purpose a pound is erected at the shore, from near the entrance of 

 whicli wing fences extend in opposite directions. Men on horseback drive a gang into tlie 

 inclosure. Then entering they select the victim and throw a noose over his head, by which he 



