ISOLATION. 175 



citizen to part with his goods to another, must necessarily 

 carry along with it a certain measure of injustice to the 

 individual. But, on the other hand, this measure has 

 swept away the remains of a system of land tenure not 

 suited to the atmosphere of the New World, and t which has 

 in times past been a heavy drag to the progress of Prince 

 Edward Island. Feudalism has at last worn itself out in 

 America, and the soil of the island can now be acquired 

 and held as in other settled parts of the Dominion. 



The second cause that retards the advancement of 

 Prince Edward Island is one that cannot be so summarily 

 removed. I allude to its geographical position. Situated 

 at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, it is just in the 

 right place to intercept the floating ice of which there is 

 such a plentiful winter crop in these waters. Although 

 only eight miles distant from the mainland at the 

 narrowest part of the straits, the extreme danger and 

 difficulty of the navigation virtually cuts off the island 

 from the rest of the world during five months of the year. 

 This is caused by the ice, which, owing to the strong 

 currents that prevail, does not form into a solid bridge, 

 but is continually moving and shaping itself into walls 

 and barriers which greatly obstruct the navigation. Mails 

 cross these straits with a certain amount of regularity 

 during winter, but passengers only do so when compelled 

 by urgent necessity. The vehicles used for this service 

 are very light boats, sheathed with tin and fitted with 

 sleigh runners. They are dragged along the uneven 

 surface of the ice by straps, which are fastened to the 

 gunwale of the boat. Each man passes one of these straps 

 round the shoulders for safety. Occasionally patches of 



