254 



ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



Before passing on, a few words are necessary concerning the Mag- 

 dalen islands. In my paper of 1894 I collected, in Appendix F, a num- 

 ber of notices showing what they reallj^ are. Some who write on this 

 question minimize the length of the main island to twenty miles. The 

 following is the official desciiption, extracted from the sailing directions 

 published by the Admiralty : 



" When first sighted from sea the Magdalen islands appear like 

 ^* several hilly islands with channels between, but, on nearer approach, they 

 " are seen to be all connected together, with the exception of Entry island, 

 " by a double line of sand bars and beaches inclosing extensive lagoons 

 " having very narrow entrances by which the tide finds access and egress." 

 (" St. Lawrence Pilot," vol. 1, p. 41.) 



.^ 



Fig. 32.— Champlain No. 2, A.D. 1613. (See p. 2.53.) 



' Xj mu 



With regard to the length of the great Magdalen it will be seen on 

 page 40 (vol. 1, " St. Lawrence Pilot ") that it is given as thirty-five miles, 

 and the whole stretch of the group from southwest to northeast lies 

 across in front of Cabot strait for a distance of fifty-six miles, from 

 Deadman's island to the Great Bird. This is not my measurement. It 

 is that of Admiral Bayfield, and is on the Admiralty chart as well as in 

 "The St. Lawrence Pilot." Any one may read it there. Any one may 

 measure it. (See map, p. 257.) 



It is very evident that on its western and southern sides the gulf was 

 very little known for a very long time ; and the reason is plain. They 



