GEOGRAPHICAL DATA. 645 



I do not mean, however, by this observation, that they may not veer 

 to the amount of several points. N.W. winds seldom or never veer 

 round by N. and N.E. to east and S. E; but they do frequently, by 

 degrees, to the S.W., after becoming moderate. S.W. winds seldom 

 veer by the N. W. and north to the eastward, but sometimes by the 

 south to S. E. and east. Easterly winds generally decrease to a calm, 

 and are succeeded by a wind from the opposite direction. 



In the fine weather westerly winds ot summer, a fresh topgallant 

 breeze, will often decrease to a light breeze or calm at night, and spring 

 up again from the same quarter on the following morning; under 

 these circumstances only may a land breeze off the north coast be 

 looked for. I have observed the same off the south coast also, but not 

 so decidedly or extending so far off shore. I have occasionally car- 

 ried the north land wind nearly over to the south coast just before 

 daylight, but have never observed the south land wind extend more 

 than 5 or 6 miles off, and that very rarely. Under the same circum- 

 stances, that is with a fine weather westerly wind going down with the 

 sun, a S. W. land breeze will frequently be found blowing off the 

 north coast of Anticosti at night and during the early part of the 

 morning. If, however, the weather be not settled fair, and the wind 

 does not fall with the sun, it will usually prove worse than useless to 

 run a vessel close in shore at night in the hope of a breeze off the land. 

 Such is the usual course of the winds in common seasons, in which a 

 very heavy gale of wind will probably not be experienced from May 

 to October, although close-reefed topsail breezes are usually common 

 enough. Occasionally, however, there are years, the character of 

 which is decidedly stormy. Gales of winds, of considerable strength, 

 then follow each other in quick succession and from opposite quarters. 

 * # * * * * * 



The Magdalen Islands. The Magdalens are a chain of islands, 

 assuming an irregular curved direction, the greatest length of which, 

 from the S.W. cape of Amherst Island to the east point, is 35 miles; 

 but if the smaller isles be included, as they evidently form a part of 

 the Magdalen group, the whole length of the range, from the Dead- 

 man to the Great Bird Kock, will be 56 miles, in an E.N.E. direction. 



There are at present upon the islands about 1100 inhabitants, the 

 majority of whom are of French extraction, and who all inhabit 

 Amherst, Grindstone, and Alright Islands, with the exception of 

 about 11 or 12 families divided between Entry Island, Grosse 

 Isle, and East Island, near the N.E. extremity of the chain. Ships 

 may obtain limited supplies of fresh provisions, especially at Entry 

 Island, and water most readily from Amherst Harbor, either from a 

 spring which issues from under the Demoiselle Hill, or from a small 

 stream which falls into Ance a la Cabane, near the S.W. cape of the 

 island. Wood for fuel is becoming scarce near the settlements. Large 

 spars are not to be had, unless when they chance to be saved from 

 wrecks, but small ones, of spruce and juniper, may be obtained. The 

 latter, of which the inhabitants build their fishing boats and shallops 

 or smaller schooners, somewhat resembles larch wood; it is said to 

 be extremely strong and durable. 



When first made from sea, the Magdalens appear like several hilly 

 islands, with channels between, but, on a nearer approach, they are 

 seen to be all connected together, with the exception of Entry Island, 

 by a double line of sand bars and beaches, inclosing extensive lagoons, 



