424 The American Naturalist. [May, 
sides of these hills have been denuded by forest fires of their 
ancient woody covering. This fiord, however, is a harbor only 
in name, and while it may have been formerly a bay, there 
now stretches across its entrance a low beach formed of cobble- 
stones, effectually shutting out its deeper waters from the sea out- 
side. It still has communication with the Bay of Fundy by 
means of a small artificial channel through which the waters rise - 
and fall twice every day, the still lagoon feeling the influence of 
the giant tides, for which this region is remarkable. Around the 
base of the lofty cliffs sweep the strong and swift currents which 
the great tides create. Sometimes this moving water is irresist- 
ible, carrying everything along with it as it sets back and forth 
under the brow of the high land which forms the dike or back- 
bone of the island. 
Under these lofty cliffs the fisherman spreads his net or casts 
his lines, and the Passamaquoddy Indian still as of old hunts the 
porpoise from his frail canoe, and on the scanty beaches at the base 
of the cliffs he tries out the oil. His picturesque but not over- 
clean huts, perched on the side hills, and a few houses at Dark 
Harbor, are the only habitations of man on this side of the island, 
save the isolated light-house and the home of the light-keeper. 
But there is another shore of Grand Manan which is very dif- 
ferent from that we have mentioned. The coast on this side is 
less rugged and more inviting as a landing-place, and on this 
shore there are many harbors protected by out-lying islands, in 
which fishing craft ride at anchor. Here the land slopes more 
gradually to the water's edge, and the coast is indented by fre- 
quent bays and coves! Through the channels which separate 
the islands from the shore line currents similar to those on the 
other side of the island make their way with great power, and the 
ebb-tides cause the water to retreat so far that the coves are often 
left bare by the retreating water. But here the coast is more 
hospitable, and more like the adjacent shores of New England. 
1 Among many geological evidences of erosion on this shore, not the least interesting 
are the examples of “ pot-holes,” or “giant's kettles,” found between Seal Cove and 
the light-h 






