40 REV. GEORGE PATTERSON 



thirty fatlioms of water being found C[uite close to it ; that not far from the end of the bar the 

 depth amounted to one hundred and seventy fathoms, so that in a i'ew minutes after tr^'ing 

 in vain for soundings a vessel might strike; that there were instances of vessels going on 

 shore in fine weather, and vessels were often seen passing unconscious of danger ; that some- 

 times the fog cleared away for a time, — in all which cases a lighthouse might be of service, 

 and that if only one considerable wreck was prevented in three or four years,' it would be 

 worth the expense. 



This qualified recommendation did not encourage the project, and nothing was done 

 till 1873, Avhen the Dominion government erected two powerful liglits, one on each end of 

 the island, at a cost of $80,000. At the west end the sea encroached so much on the land 

 that in 1883 it became necessary to remove it a mile farther east. Here, however, it had no 

 rest, for the sea continued to advance, so that in 1888 it became necessary to rel)uild it two 

 miles further east, where it is at present, but ere long it must again be removed. 



These lighthouses are thus described by the department of marine : 



"West end lighthouse, lat. 43- 57' N., long. 60-' 8' W. A revolving white light, giving 

 three flashes at intervals of half a minute, then a cessation of light during one and a-half 

 minutes, visible 17 miles. White octagonal tower, 98 feet high." 



The longitude here given is that which Capt. Orlebar's surveys assign to the west point, 

 but the lighthouse is now some miles east of where the point then was. 



"East end lighthouse, one and a-half miles from east end, lat. 43' 68' 30" IST., long. 

 59'^ 46' W. Fixed white dioptric light, second order, visible 18 miles, 128 feet high. 

 Octagonal building, white and brown alternately, height 86 feet." 



It will be seen that these are magnificent structures. They serve as a house of refuge, 

 a flagstaff, a lookout, and, glistening in the sun, they are useful as a day beacon, as well as 

 a light by night. To some extent, however, their usefulness is still a cpiestion. Taking the 

 fourteen years after 1873, the year in which they were built, 1874 to 1887, we find the number 

 of wrecks the same as in the fourteen years previous, 1859 to 1872. From the increase of 

 commerce we might have expected an increase of wrecks, but, on the other hand, from the 

 improvements in navigation or the great advancement in knowledge and education among 

 navigators, their number ought to have diminished. The fact that they are so nearly equal 

 would seem to indicate that the lighthouses have had little efifect one way or other. 



Steam fog-whistles were also established at each lighthouse station, but with the roar 

 of the surf it was found that they could not be heard at a distance sufficient to warn vessels 

 of their danger, owing to the bars running out so far, and they were discontinued some 

 years ago. It was then proposed to place an automatic whistling buoy near the end of the 

 east bar, Init the project was found to be encompassed with such difficulties that it was 

 abandoned. 



There are now altogether five stations. 1. The main station, about four miles from the 

 west end, where the superintendent and six men reside. Here are a set of buildings such 

 as we have formerly described. Here are kept metallic lifeboats, with a complete rocket 

 apparatus, such as is used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of Great Britain, in 

 the use of which the men are drilled from time to time. 2. The west end lighthouse, where 

 reside the keeper and his assistant. 3. The central station, about the middle of the island, 

 where is a flagstaff and two Ijoatmen. 4. The station at the foot of the lake, where is a 

 flagstaff, and where two boatmen reside. And, 5, the east end lighthouse, where reside the 



