SABLE ISLAND—MACDONALD. 
Ne 
79 
In 1813, during a single gale, an area equal to $ miles long and 
40 feet wide was carried away. Within four years previous 4 
miles of the west end disappeared. This necessitated the 
removal of the main station, which was then located at a distance 
of 3 miles below. 
In 1820 this station was again moved 4 miles further east, the 
sea having encroached upon it. In 1833, there being but 4a 
mile between it and the sea, it was again moved 4 miles fur- 
ther eastward. Once more the sea advanced, obliging them to 
abandon this station and erect new buildings at about the centre 
of the island. 
At this time the late Hon. Joseph Howe visited this place as 
a commissioner, 
On his return he made the startling report that by actual 
measurement in 30 years 11 miles of the west end disappeared. 
In this excessive removal of sand cliffs, a bar was formed over 
which the seas broke before reaching the cliffs and thus lost their 
abrading force and gave the west end a short respite. But 
gradually the currents removed this bar or shoal and the seas 
began again to manifest their force. 
In addition to this gradual work of erosion great areas were 
removed bodily. 
During one gale in 1581 70 feet by 4 a mile departed. A 
month later 33 feet of the whole breadth of the island disap- 
peared in a few hours; and the following gale 48 feet by 4 of a 
mile was carried away bodily, causing a hasty removal of the 
light-house apparatus. The place where the light-house once 
stood has passed seaward. . 
i need not dwell further on this evidence of demolition, 
enough has been given to show the destructive character of the 
forces still in operation. 
Therefore, in seeking for the origin of this interesting island, 
I think I am justified in referring it to the Champlain period, 
that period which lifted from the deep that vast agglomeration 
of detritus as if to testify to the destruction wrought in the for- 
mer age by the glacier, that ponderous engine of nature that 
has so scoured and remodeled the face of this continent. 
