78 



SAMUEL EDWATJT) DAWSON ON THE 



the mainlanil is marked as running north and south, whereas he says the strait of Canso lies 

 east and west ; moreover, he thinks that any one sailing through the strait could not fail at 

 once to see Prince Edward island. This very north and south direction of the strait is, to a 

 Canadian, an evidence of knowledge, for, although Chedabucto bay has its greater axis 

 east and west, the strait of Canso lies exactly north and south by the compass or true 

 jST.lSr.AV. and S.S.E.. and on passing in, by the Lennox or by the southern channel from the" 

 ocean, there is a sharp and sudden turn to the right at Bear island, which is prol)ably the 

 cause why the through passage was so long concealed. The strait is only a mile wide, and 

 the bold outline of Cape Porcupine interlocking with the highlands of the opposite coast bar 

 the view and form an apparent bay. In old days it was the resort of vessels seeking 

 concealment, and the railway ferry is near a place formerly called Pirate's harbour. Again, 

 because of that very north and south direction a vessel might continue on a straight course 

 north to the Magdalens or Labrador, without suspecting the existence of Prince Edward 

 island. The coast of Cape Breton is lofty, l)ut that of Prince Edward island is very low and 

 cannot be seen further than twenty miles in the very clearest weather, and, if seen, would be 

 taken as part of the mainland, because of the interlocking headlands of î^ova Scotia and the 

 high lands in rear of them. These are points which Mr. Harrisse may well be excused for 

 missing from defect of that intimate knowledge which those very much inferior to him in 

 learning may obtain by familiarity with the localities. One point nnist still be noted, that, 

 although in these Portuguese maps the gulf has commenced to reveal itself, no islands are 

 shown in it, and Prince Edward island will yet remain for sixty years firmly adherent to the 

 mainland in all succeeding maps. 



The voyages of Jacques Cartier open a new era in the geography of the northeast 

 coast of America. They have been so thoroughly elucidated by Canadian writers, notably 

 by Ferland, Laverdiere, Ganong and Pope,'*'' that scarcely anything remains to be said. 

 Cartier sailed to the northern entrance of the gulf confidently, as to a well-known place, 

 and passed into the expanse between Newfoundland and Labrador, then, and long after, 



called La Grande Baye. He found the 

 coasts named, and the harbour of 

 Brest (now Old Fort bay) a well 

 known rendezvous of fishermen from 

 France. He passed through La Grande 

 Baye and sailed into the main gulf. 

 As well shown by Pope and Ganong, 

 he sailed across it, discovering the 

 islands in his course (the Magdalen 

 group including Brion island and 

 the Bird rocks), and he touched at 

 the north point of Prince Edward 

 island, without recognizing it as an 

 island. For, in fact, as is well 

 known to those who have sailed in 

 those waters, the long projecting capes 

 of the island and of the adjacent pro- 

 vinces of New Brunswick and Nova 

 Scotia so overlap that capes Egmont 



Map of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to show the relative pcsition 

 of Prince Edward and the Magdalen islands. 



