ISTHMUS BAY. 279 



occasionally exported; this outcrop is conspicuous from the south- 

 ward when the sun is shining on it. 



Supplies. — One of the best farms in this locality is situated on the 

 right bank of the stream, and such supplies as fresh meat and butter 

 can generally be obtained there. 



Table mountain, a thickly wooded hill, rises to the height of 980 

 feet, at 1^ miles north-northwestward from the entrance to Romaines 

 brook ; northward of this summit it rises a little, forming the south- 

 ern end of the range of high hills extending along the eastern shore 

 of Port au Port. Deposits of asbestos have been found in these hills, 

 and the mines are worked during summer. 



The country northeastward of Table mountain is broken, but rises 

 gradually from the coast; two detached whale-backed summits, about 

 4: miles inland, the higher of which is 1,090 feet high, are conspicuous. 



Table mountain slopes gradually westward or toward Isthmus 

 bay, and terminates in a steep sand cliff 94 feet high, near the western 

 end of which is the conspicuous Roman Catholic church, with a high 

 white spire. 



Isthmus bay is the indentation in the coast just southwestward 

 of Table mountain. It is about 1^ miles across and | mile deep. The 

 soundings in the bay increase gradually from the shore to 6 fathoms, 

 stone and gravel bottom, and though frequently used as an anchorage, 

 the holding ground is uncertain, and there is a heavy swell during 

 westerly to southwesterly winds. The stony beach at the head of 

 the bay is about 50 yards across, and behind it is a shallow lagoon 

 separated from East bay of Port au Port by another narrow stony 

 beach. There are numerous cottages on both these beaches, as well 

 as on the sloping ground over the western side of the bay. The 

 Episcopal church and the post-office are on the eastern side, ap- 

 proached from the shore by a road up the stee}) sand cliff, which 

 terminates the slope of Table mountain. 



This district is locally known as the Gravels, and the population 

 is about 100. 



Shoals. — About 1 mile south-southeastward of the western point 

 of Isthmus bay there are some patches with G to 6| fathoms of water 

 over them, and southward, distant 1/^ miles from the same point, 

 there is a stony patch of 5 fathoms; slight tide rips form over these 

 patches at spring tides. 



Tides. — It is high water, full and change, at Isthmus bay at 

 9h. 40m. ; springs rise 5:^ feet, neaps 3| feet. 



Communication. — Coasting steamers call at Isthmus bay occa- 

 sionally during summer, and there is a short pier on the western 

 shore for their convenience, but the postal communication is generally 

 by road to Benoit station of the Xewfoundland railway, which is sit- 

 uated about 1^ miles northward of the mouth of St. George river. 



