ON SABLE ISLAND. 39 



Since the adoptiun of confederatiou in 1867 the establishment has been under the 

 charge of the Dominiciii government. The most important change since that time has been 

 the erection of two lighthouses, one near the west and the other near the east end of the 

 island. At the lirst fouiulation of the establishment it was proposed to establish one or two 

 lighthouses. Mr. Seth Colman, who was sent down to prepare the way, reported in favour 

 of the erection of lighthouses of wood. We lind the governor in 1802 corresponding with 

 a partj-in Boston, seeking information and advice regarding the erection of such a structure. 

 In the same year we iind Morris, the iirst superintendent, in writing to the commissioners, 

 expressing his surprise that none had ever been built, recommending the l)uilding of two 

 and submitting plans. It continued to occupy the minds of the Nova Scotia authorities, for 

 in the year 1808 we find Sir George Prévost, then governor, sending Lieut. Burton to the 

 island to report on the subject, with the view of inducing the British government to erect 

 or to aid in erecting, such a building. His report we have not seen. 



We next hear of any movement on behalf of the project in 1833, when a commissioner 

 was sent down to inquire into the practicability and advisability of building a lighthouse. 

 He was favourable to the project, and selected a site for such an erection, l)ut in 1837, four 

 years after, Mr. J. P. Millar, being sent down on the same errand, found the spot selected 

 by his predecessor entirely removeil In' the sea, and did not feel justitieil in recommending 

 anything but a temporary structure, such as could easily be removed when necessary. 



We find no further notices of the project till it was taken up by Mr. Howe in 1850. 

 One reason was that many seafaring men were opp>osed to it. They believed that while 

 there was no light it would be an inducement to voyagers to keep at a safe distance from 

 the island, but that a light would encourage them to run for it, by which they would be 

 lured among shoals and sand-bars. Others maintained that if two lights were established, 

 one fixed and one revolving, which could be seen at a distance of twenty miles, it would be 

 sufficient to warn vessels of their danger, and lead them to the proper measures to avoid it. 



Mr. Howe, in his report, notwithstanding that the objections were held by Capt. Darby, 

 the superintendent, and Mr. Cunard, maintained that it was strongly advisable that a light 

 should be erected near the central station. He believed that vessels not bound for the 

 island, nor driven there by currents nor stress of weather, would no more run for it than 

 they did before ; that they would, in fact, be likely to keep clear of it, as it was known to 

 have no harbour; that vessels outward bound would not require a new point of departure, 

 while those homeward bound had all the coast before them ; and if made to revolve east and 

 west it would show in what direction the bars lie. But nothing was done in the matter 

 then or for some time after. Perhaps one reason for this was that Mr. McKenna, who suc- 

 ceeded Capt. Darby as superintendent, entertained the view that a light on the island would 

 be useless or comparatively so. The wrecks occurred in fogs or in storms, and against these 

 a light would be no safeguard.' 



In 1851 Lieut. Orlebar, who conducted the admiralty survey of the island, by command 

 reported on the advisability of the project. He stated that he considered a lighthouse at 

 the west end unnecessary for the general purposes of navigation, as the west bar could be 

 safely approached by the lead from anj' direction, but that it would be useful to the fishing 

 vessels which frequent the neighbourhood. He thinks there is more occasion for one at the 

 eas€ end ; that the northeast bar extended fourteen miles ; that the north side was steep, 



' Mr. Howe's report will be found in the appendix to the Journals of the Assembly for 1852, p. 160. 



