MACHIAS SEAL ISLAND 



Machias Seal Islands 



By FRANK A. BROWN, Beverly, Mass. 



With photographs by the author 



SOME ten miles off the extreme northeastern end of the United States, 

 about equally distant from the Maine coast and from the southern head 

 of Grand Manan, lies an English light station built on one of two islands, 

 which, strangely enough, are the territory of the United States. 



Such is their peculiar position that many a navigator of the inland-coast 

 channels is even unaware of such islands ; for they are sufficiently distant from 

 the shore to be excluded from many of the local government charts, and their 

 only commercial value is to the British government for fog-signals and lights, 

 protecting vessels navigating the entrance to the Bay of Fundy. Two towers, 

 thirty or forty feet in height, and a steamer whistle warn approaching ships 

 of danger; although, as a rule, few pass within close proximity of the islands, 

 as they do not lie directly in the main highway of commerce. 



A yacht, now and again, lost in the fog off-shore, a stray fisherman from the 

 local coast, and the launch which brings the mail and suppUes, each two weeks 

 in summer and monthly in winter, comprise about all the visitors to these 

 distant islands. 



Their greatest interest, however, is in the abundant bird-life that fairly 

 teems there from April to October or November of each year. Especially are 

 they important as the most southern breeding ground of the Puffins or 'Sea 



(239) 



