134 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



company, in 1642, brought back as the produce of their efforts to the 

 value of fifteen hundred pounds in walrus ivory, oil and skins, and in 

 seal oil and skins, and some skins of black foxes. The cattle it was 

 thought were all destroyed, though from Bishop St. Vallier's letter, 

 mentioned in my paper,' there must have been a remnant left, which 

 afterAvards multiplied. 



In the early part of the 18th century we find again the stock either 

 reduced or exhausted, and benevolent persons replacing them. Thus, 

 besides the effoits of the Rev. Mr. Mercier, mentioned in m}' jiaper, the 

 papers published in the Dominion Archives for 1895,'^ mention as specially 

 conspicuous in the good work, Thomas Hancock, Esq., a inost respect- 

 able merchant of Boston. Sometime before 1*760 he had, from motives 

 of humanity, fitted out a schooner, on board of which he embarked horses, 

 cows, sheep, goats and hogs. These were landed and generally answered 

 very well. No great depredations were made on these till the commence- 

 ment of the American war, during the course of which privateersmen 

 and lawless persons of ever}' description frequently landed on the island, 

 so that by the close of the war none of the animals remained, except 

 some of the horses. These had afforded food to many unfortunate per- 

 sons thrown upon the island. But wreckers had carried off cargoes of 

 them to sell in the West Indies, or killed them and offered their skins for 

 sale in Halifax. Under th'; circumstances the wonder is that they did 

 not become extinct. 



III. 



Relating to Founding Relief Establishment. 



The documents published in the report of the Dominion Archivist 

 for 1895, are : 1. Observations upon an establishment proposed to be 

 made upon the island for the relief of the distressed and the preservation 

 of property, by Sir John Wentworth. 2. Statement of facts relating to 

 the project, by John Howe, with accompanying reports, and address of 

 the House of Assembly in favour of such an establishment. These are 

 dated 1800 and 1801 ; and supjDly some additional information regarding 

 the state of matters on the island at that time. 



Mr. Howe's statement, in addition to the other evil deeds of which the 

 island had been the scene, mentions the following sj'stem of fraudulent 

 procedure. Vessels with valuable cargoes were largely insured, and then 

 run ashore, where the parties could do so with least danger. Afterward 

 the principal goods were landed and concealed, till they found it convenient 

 to take them away. 



1 Trans. Royal Society of Canada, 1894, II., 45. 



2 Rep. Dom. Arch., 1895, 86. 



