ON SABLE ISLAND. 43 



bars parallel to the shore serve as barrier-reefs to at least retard the proeess of destruction. 

 But as the currents removed the surface of the shoals to the westward, the sea resumed its 

 attacks upon the land. 



The winter of 1881 was marked by a succession of gales, in which, in addition to the 

 gradual wasting, lai-ge areas were removed bodily. During one gale an area of seventy feet 

 by a quarter of a mile was removed liodily, and a month later thirty feet of the whole width 

 of the island disappeared in a few hours. The year 1882 was worse. Early in February 

 occurred a gale of unusual violence, accompanied with high tides. Already the sea had 

 removed the embankment to within forty feet of a bluiF on which the lighthouse keeper's 

 barn stood, and in dangerous proximity to the lighthouse itselt!, which had origiindly been 

 built a mile inside of some grass-hills, which were supposed to be in some measure a pro- 

 tection from the inroads of the sea. All hands were called out, ready for any emergency. 

 The cattle were removed to the porch of the lighthouse. As the staff were watching the 

 force of the waves that were now undermining the embankment with great rapidity, sud- 

 denly there was a depression in the margin of the cliff, and the next instant an area equal 

 to forty-eight feet broad and a quarter of a mile long descended into the surges on the north 

 side, while during the night forty feet in front of the barn and along the sand-bluff dis- 

 appeared, and next morning the barn itself went crashing over, and was carried away by 

 the waves. 



The sea was now within twelve feet of the lighthouse itself, a magnificent structure, 

 built in 1873 at an expense of §40,000. This did not stand long. There had been two days 

 of unusually quiet weather, during which a heavy ground swell set in from the southeast 

 (proliably from a gale passing along the gulf stream), which removed the whole emliank- 

 ment, causing the lighthouse to lean dangerously forward. The immediate removal of the 

 apparatus became necessary, and from that time it ceased to cast its light over the waves. 



It was again erected about a mile further east, but the sea continued to advance, so 

 that in 1888 it was found necessary to remove it two miles farther east. 



The storms that produce the most destruction are those from the southeast. The heavy 

 seas which they bring in strike obliquely on the south shore, and, aided by the strong cur- 

 rent setting to the westward, undermine the sand-cliffs, till great masses are detached, and, 

 falling into the water, are carried forward and help to prolong the northwest bar. But 

 even in calm weather, when the sea is still, there is a ground swell, rendering landing pre- 

 carious, which makes the shores and bars white with foam, and which exercises a strong 

 wasting power, as evidenced by the destruction of the lighthouse as just mentioned. 



The changes going on in the physical structure of the island appear further from what 

 has taken place in the lake. Some time before the first government establishment was 

 placed on the island there was an opening into it from the north. The superintendent, 

 writing in 1808, says that " it is completely shut, and it is difficult to trace where it has 

 been." The superintendent in 1826 mentions the same fact, but urges the reopening of it, 

 which he thinks might be accomplished at moderate expense, in which case it would serve 

 as a harbour of refuge for vessels of fifty tons. Some years after a terrific storm caused a 

 similar opening from the south, through which small vessels entered for shelter, but in the 

 year 1836 a similar storm filled it up again, inclosing two American vessels which had taken 

 refuge within. 



