SABLE ISLAND—MACDONALD. 271 
Capt. Hale, of the U. S. Navy, who surveyed this Bank, 
reported “That the breakers were such that unless the weather 
was perfectly calm it was impossible to go among the shoals with 
boats on account of the heavy seas. Nor was it considered safe 
to attempt it with the vessel, for besides the danger of striking 
on a sand bar the vessel would be liable to be filled with the 
breakers. And had not the sea been perfectly smooth and at 
high water, he would not have been able to get where he found 
but 3 feet at low water. And further he bad no doubt but that 
this patch would be bare with a, continuance of off shore winds.” 
This spit has an area of about one-third of Sable Island. 
The breakers on those shoals are very heavy and can be heard 
and seen for a considerable distance. 
It may be argued that this theory may account for the forma- 
tion of this island, but not for its elevation above the surface. 
In my last paper I referred to one of the most remarkable 
features in connection with this place, viz, the swirl-like cur- 
rent that surrcunds it. A good illustration of this was given 
when, in February, 1803, the first superintendent having had 
three months of anxiety from the rapidity with which the island 
had been washed away in the vicinity of his house, and having 
lost much of his provisions by the depredations of rats, and fear- 
ing that want would stare him in the face before relief would 
reach him in the spring vessel, built a dispatch boat and sent her 
out crowded with sail before a 8. E. gale in hopes she would reach 
the main land or be picked up by some in bound vessel that 
would carry the dispatches to the government, and acquaint them 
of the condition of affairs on the Island. 
To his surprise, in 13 days after she returned to the beach, 6 
miles above where she set out from. 
Experiments are often made to test the strength of this cur- 
rent by throwing over a cask or barrel which will make circuit 
after circuit of the Island. 
Bodies from wrecks also make the same circuit. It is quite 
customary for the surfinen to search on the opposite side for 
things which, in consequence of off shore winds, have been car- 
ried thither by the current and deposited upon the beach, 
