PORT HOOD HARBOUR MCINTOSH. 79 



bars obstructed it, although a sand shoal had built out nearly 

 half the width from the western side about a third of the dis- 

 tance from the mouth. There was, however, sufficient water in 

 a wide channel east of this. The depth of water in the harbour 

 varied from four to six fathoms. The anchorage was safe. 

 There was freedom from strong or high tides and from fog. One 

 drawback it had then as now, ice interfering with navigation 

 for something like three of the winter months. 



A False Move and Serious Results. — The abundance of fish 

 around this coast early attracted men to the sea. The homes of 

 the fishermen were around the harbour, but the best fishing 

 grounds lay to the north. To reach the banks it was necessary 

 to make a wide detour south and around the island. A channel 

 for boats could easily be made across the isthmus from the head 

 of the harbour to the open sea. This would be a great con- 

 venience. Accordingly at the lowest part of the beach a passage 

 for boats was cut through. This was left unprotected in any 

 way, and soon the waves and currents widened it making great 

 inroads on both sides, until at the present day the channel is 

 about three-quarters of a mile wide with a maximum depth of 

 one and a-half fathoms. In less than a hundred years, therefore, 

 a neck of land three-quarters of a mile in length has been re- 

 moved by the ceaseless action of the waves. 



The Change a Gradual One. — For a time after the opening of 

 the northern entrance, the harbour retained its main former 

 characteristics. Fishermen from other parts frequented the 

 fishing grounds and sought refuge here. Some three-score years 

 ago when the "North Bay" was the favorite mid-summer haunts 

 of the American mackerel hookers and seiners. Port Hood was 

 a noted rendezvous. More than a hundred schooners of the 

 fleet were often at anchor at one time in its capacious harbour. 

 Many interesting accounts of the time are related of the en- 

 counters between law-breakers and coastal-guard cutters. Our 

 own countrymen were often to be found among the fishermen, 

 and frequently figured in the escapades. Capt. Patillo of the 

 schooner "Highland Lass" seems to have been one of the ablest 

 and most daring of these mackerel catchers. His ability to 

 locate fish was well known. Should the fleet be around the 

 Magdalen Islands at night-fall, and in the morning the "High- 

 land Lass" be missing, Patillo had surely sailed for Port Hood 



