V. — The Magdalene Islands — By the Rev. George Patter- 

 son, D. D., F. R. S. C. 



(Read Jamiary 19th, 1S91.) 



The Magdalene Islands are situated nearly in the centre of 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence. They stretch irregularly in a north- 

 east and southwest direction between lat. 47° 12' and 47" 51' N., 

 and between long. 61° 11' and 62°15' W., thus extending a distance 

 of about 57 miles at their greatest length, and about 14 at their 

 greatest breadth. The most southern point lies about 50 miles 

 from the east point of P. E. Island, about 60 from Cape North in 

 Cape Breton, and 150 from Gaspe, while the most northeast- 

 wardly is only 70 miles from Cape Anguille in Newfoundland, 

 and 85 from the east cape of Anticosti. They thus lie in the 

 very track of the commerce of the gulf and river St. Lawrence. 



It will thus be seen that they are in the same latitude as the 

 southern parts of Newfoundland, the northern counties of New 

 Brunswick, or those counties of the Province of Quebec below 

 the city. But their climate is cooler in summer, and milder and 

 more variable in winter, than that of the two last, and on the 

 other hand, more severe in winter, and drier and milder in sum- 

 mer, than that of the first. It is comparatively free from the 

 fogs so prevalent on our Atlantic coast. My experience of the 

 summer is that the climate at that season is delio-htful, the 

 fiercest heat of a July sun being tempered by an air from the 

 surrounding waters. A medical gentleman whom I met on the 

 islands, who had spent part of two summers there, spoke in the 

 highest terms of their summer climate, and recommended them 

 as just the place for those who wished to rest and recuperate. 

 In winter the thermometer does not fall as low as in the Pro- 

 vince of Quebec, but from the dampness, the cold will be felt as 

 keenly. Then all the harbors and bays are frozen over, and the 

 islanders with their hardy ponies can easily pass from one island 

 to another, the whole length of the group (except it may be to 



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