PORT HOOD HARBOUR MCINTOSH. 81 



island is wearing away somewhat rapidly. For thousands of 

 years, however, it may exist as an inferior type of natural haven, 

 and serve as a port. The current through the northern entrance 

 is such as to preclude the probability of the island being in time 

 tied to the mainland by a sand bar, and thus renewing the old 

 condition. 



What nature may not do, may, however, be done by man. It 

 is possible to close the northern entrance artificially. The at- 

 tempt was begun in 1 903 when the sum of nearly three thousand 

 dollars was spent. Work on the project was continued each 

 succeeding summer up to 1912, the whole expenditure being 

 upwards of one hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars. The 

 plan of operation consisted in building a structure across the 

 channel from a point a short distance above the public wharf 

 to extend to the nearest point on the island. Stout twigs were 

 made into mattresses, these sunk and ballasted. Work was 

 done on both sides of the channel, but has not been resumed 

 since 1912. The project is referred to by the Chief Engineer as 

 the "proposed closing of the northern entrance," and he says 

 "the estimated cost is approximately five hundred thousand 

 dollars at present prices for labour and material." 



But a new danger threatens the sheltered portion of the 

 harbour. On the northern end of the island about 250 feet 

 from the shore at the channel, there begins a weak place in the 

 rock, and this extends westward for about 600 feet. This is 

 probably the same kind of rock and structure which led at first 

 to tkg depression that formed the harbour. The cliff here is 

 about 30 feet high and from it the ground slopes southward for 

 about 650 feet to a pond on a level with the se . This pond is 

 separated from the best sheltered part of the harbour by a nar- 

 row sand beach about 60 feet wide over which at very high 

 tides the sea enters the pond. Now this northerly facing cliff 

 of soft rock is rapidly wearing away under the attacks of the 

 northerly storms. Last year, it is stated, the sea advanced 

 about 1 5 feet. As it is cutting into a southerly sloping area, 

 it is likely to progress more rapidly as the work goes on, unless 

 the increasing length of the cove it forms becomes a 

 deterring factor. It is, at any rate, evident that in fifty years 

 or so, this place may be cut across and a small island be left 

 where is now the headquarters of the fisheries for the Port 



