426 General Notes. [j u *j y 



Tons, load with eggs from this coast. Halifax is the 

 principal market for them where they at times fetch a 

 much higher price than Hen's eggs. They are stowed 

 in the hold in bulk and keep for several weeks without 

 any preparation. These men the Eggers combine to- 

 gether and form a strong company — they suffer no one 

 to interfere with their business driving away the fisher- 

 men or anyone else that attempts to collect Eggs near 

 where they happen to be. Might makes right with them 

 it is clear — they have arms and are said by the Fisher- 

 men not to be very scrupulous in using them. As soon 

 as they have filled one vessel with eggs they send her to 

 market others follow in succession so that the market 

 is always supplied but never overstocked. One vessel 

 of 25 tons is said to have cleared 200 pounds by this 

 " Egging Business " in a favorable season. 

 21st July, 1S33. — Strong breezes S. W. and Squells of wind & rain occasion- 

 ally. We started early as usual and at ^ past 8 A. M. 

 arrived at Grand Mecattina point and proceeded to the 

 third Islet off it to the S. E. wd . Mr. Bowen arrived soon 

 after and we remained on the island 'till Noon and obs d 

 for Latitude through the fog which came on at 10 A. M. 

 with a very fresh Gale from the S. W. 



Just as we arrived the Ripley Mr. Audubon's Schooner 

 hauled in round the islands intending to anchor in Grand 

 Mecattina harbour but not knowing the place they ran 

 into Portage Bay instead. 



At 1 P. M. Mr. Bowen & I ran in for shelter under 

 double reefed sails and were received with the greatest 

 kindness by Mr. Audubon, his Son Mr. Audubon junior 

 the other gentlemen of the party and the Captain of the 

 Ripley Mr. Emery. Mr. Audubon kindly invited us to 

 dine and we passed a very pleasant afternoon with him & 

 his party and encamped in the evening in the same corner. 



Mr. A — 's kindness did not stop here understanding 

 that w r e were in danger of being short of provisions before 

 we could complete the Survey back to the Gulnare he 

 offered me every assistance in his power and I accepted 

 of a Ham and some potatoes which last were kindly 

 offered by Mr. Emery. I purchased from the latter 

 three days allowance of Bread and Beef for the party 

 which set me quite at ease on the score of provisions. 

 The S. W. Gale and Fog continued to night and then we 

 had rain in addition Mr. Audubon and his party came 

 onshore to see us in our Tents in the evening. 



— Charles W. Townsend, Boston, Mass. 



