NOTES ON SABLE ISLAND—-MACDONALD. vies 
The young at twenty days are nearly white, and those who 
have partaken of their flesh, pronounce it equal to that of 
sucking pig. When the males are old they are deserted by the 
females, and living apart from the rest, become exceedingly 
fierce. In their encounters they inflict on each other wounds 
like sabre thrusts, and after their engagements throw themselves 
into the sea to wash away the blood. The hunting of this species 
of seal is not without its dangers. They often turn upon their 
pursuers, and will sometimes ward off a blow, seize the club in 
their tusks and escape. 
The common harbour seal is a constant dweller on the Island. 
In May their new-born whelps may be found sleeping on the 
sand in velvet coats, or riding the surges on their mothers’ backs. 
LIGHTS. 
In 1873 the Government erected two powerful lights—one 
on each end of the Island—at a cost of $80,000, the propriety of 
which has been very much questioned. 
Nearly every government that has come into power has 
had the subject of light houses on Sable Island before them, and 
as often has it been opposed by sea-faring men, who maintained 
that it would render navigatien more dangerous than before. 
Their argument being that were no inducements offered to 
approach the Island, vessels would keep at a sufficiently safe 
distance from it; whereas, in the hope of making the light, they 
would be drawn near the bars, thereby increasing the risk and 
danger. 
Some maintained, on the other hand, that if two pow- 
erful white lights were exhibited—one fixed the other revolv- 
ing—they would be visible twenty miles, which would be 
quite far enough to warn vessels of their danger, and enable 
them to define their position. Mr. Hows, in his report of 1848, 
stated that although Capt. DarBy and Mr. Cunarp entertained 
the belief that a light would induce vessels to run for the Island, 
and lure them amid shoals and sand-bars, it was, in his opinion, 
strongly advisable that alight should be erected near the central 
