SABLE ISLAND—(CONTINUED).—MACDONALD. 113 
The position chosen for the main station in 1802 was one 
remarkably sheltered among the sand hummocks at a distance of 
5 miles from the west end. 
In 1814 the superintendent, Mr. Hudson, wrote the Govern- 
ment, that owing to the rapid manner in which the island was 
being washed away it would be necessary for him to remove 
the establishment to a more secure position; that within 4 years 
previous, 4 miles had gone entirely from the west end, leaving 
but a mile between him and the sea, which was advancing steadily. 
On the north side an area equal to 40 ft. wide and 3 miles 
long had gone bodily from the island during a single night. 
He intended moving the buildings to a place called “ Middle 
Houses,” 3 miles further east. 
In 1820 the superintendent again wrote the Government, “that 
not only had the old site of the main station gone seaward ; but 
the sea was again encroaching to such an alarming extent that 
he would be obliged to once more remove the station, and had 
selected a place known as the “Haul over,’ 4 miles further 
east. This moving of the main station incurred no little trouble 
consisting as it did of superintendent’s dwelling, another for the 
staff, a sailor’s home for the accommodation of shipwrecked per- 
sons, stores for provisions and material saved from wrecks, barns, 
workshops, boat house, &e. 
Again the sea advanced, the two following winters were noted 
for the frequency of storms and the havoc made along the sand 
cliffs, every gale sensibly diminishing the western portion of the 
island, toppling great masses of sand hills into the surf below as 
well as changing the surface of the interior. One instance I 
have already mentioned in my last paper when thousands of tons 
of sand were carried from the beach and strewn over the island, 
smothering vegetation, so that hundreds of horses died for want 
of food. 
Seeing the necessity of securing more permanency for the 
main station, and the buildings from being so often removed, 
becoming dilapidated, the present position was selected on 
the broadest and most protected portion of the Island and new 
buildings erected in 1833. The old dwelling of the superinten- 
