Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter from James Morris Superintendent of the Isle Sable to Michael Wallace

1806. — 4 pages : 30 x 49 cm.

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is dead was a long time sick. the sheep are all dead except the two just lambs that was brought up in the house three years past a ewe & ram the ewe is very heavy at present the hogs stood the winter well and began to increase of lately four old & 6 young pigs two I caught from the sow to give the other men food - & keep the two by the house, saw first tracks of seven others - one of the lads lately saw two old very heavy --- at present their is twenty four head of horn cattle on the Island old and young in good order
two horses and two colts domesticated. Mr. Hodgson has been misfortunate loosing his calves a yearling & two this spring calves the cows being very poor with the distemper mentioned.

he has with him three cows & a pair oxen & a good strong cart with it collect his fire wood & finer stuff our lad often assists him in all business that he cannot manage alone. his boy begins to be a help to father & mother

they appear to be very contented I believe keep a good look out -- the Spring yawl I am sorry to say was [stour?] to pieces at that end of the Lake last march in a gale of wind - I am confident that no fisherman was ever more attentive in their belonging than we have been at the Seal fishery and have got only 5 [Hayheads?] & 2 Punchions Oyl but near all the casks I could make tight - some winters they are numerous and easy to come at on the body of the Island last two winters what appeared inclined to the [word?] where the Beach for miles is low & very narrow & impossible to attack them there with success, we have several times made a push on them on the bar well armed but kill only seven in four attempts the chief kill this winter was towards the N E bar, 5 miles from the Lake - taken to the boats with carts - I should be exceeding happy to have it in my power to send something valuable from this Isle, to the Capital of this greatful Province, considering the great expence - yet Neptune may over balance that, in expectation, not hope, God forbid and grant us Wisdom and Strength to aid and assist the [word?] and save property, when fate should cast them on these shores - here I am at a Island


4 pages 30 x 49 cm

Date: 1806

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 424 number 60

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