note: transcription publicly contributed - please contact us with comments, errors or omisions

[written in pencil in top left corner] original

The Commissioners for the affairs of Sable Island beg leave to Report for the information of His Majesty's Council, and The House of Assembly. —

That the present Establishment there, is found inadequate to effect the Humane and beneficial purposes intended and wishes for by the Legislature, owing to several causes. —

First, To a deficiency of strength in hands, for the various services required. —

Second, The want of a permanent settlement near the East end of the Island, where a trusty man, with one or two assistants, is found from experience to be absolutely necessary. —

Third, The Distance from the present settlement at the Northwest end of the Island, to the temporary one at the Easton, (where one man has only occasionally resided of late.) being about twenty miles; the severity of the weather in Winter and Spring renders the necessary communication, and the survey of the Shores of the Island, a duty of great difficulty and fatigue, and, at times not practicable to be secured with the present force.

Fourth, The Pond, or Lake, which formerly flow'd, and was navigable for large Boats for nearly fifteen miles, from West to East, and which afforded great facility to the transportation of wreck'd property to the place of shipment at the Northwest end, and likewise for the collection of Fuel &c.; has unfortunately, been nearly choked up, by the drifts from the sand hills & shifting sands, in the great Storm of September last, felt there in an extreme degree, so that all transportation must
now