Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter from Superintendent Morris to Michael Wallace

1808. — 4 pages : 30 x 49 cm.

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the stock this year - had 25 tons last winter we have filled all the coffers with seal oyl that I could find on the Island & very difficult to put them in order nine Hogsheads and three barrels the skins are salted in bulk not having corks yet are in good order 140 in Number. We built a boat in the spring 24 feet in length, but as the wood she is built with proved indifferent, I wish to keep her provided your Honor has no objections, as their is an excellent large long boat, new & strong in order to cross from this to the Continent, whenever any men should require such a passage. She is equal or superior to one I have built for that purpose. This boat gave me much surprise, observing her in the breakers with my glass from our usual place of lookout, about three miles east on the North beach, and with some difficulty got her safe on the beach & from that in the Lake ---. Several pieces of new broken bords new painted [handlpiks?] tampions for cannon a stand for a grind stone [truks?] for runing rigging spars & gave me reason to suppose some ship was offshore on same part of the Island. Consequently I took a horse immediately and examined every part of the Island on the North and South beaches but saw nothing more except a Potash barrel on the N.W. bar new made on one head was branded, [Fintsort?] Potashes J. Bouthillier Montreal. Considering the business of the Island and my ill state of health, I beg leave to retire a few months from this Island with some faint hope of recovering my health and strength again on the Continent, and should that be granted I shall willingly return to the Isle again if required. Please order Darby, or some other soon as convenient to the Island. The inclosed invoice is what was put on board of the [Barque Lieut. Poole?] I have receivd all the article mentioned in the inclosed invoice from [Lieut. Poole?] in good order, having expended chief of our Powder answering signal guns & borrowed a btl of [Lieut. Poole?] for the use of the Island


4 pages 30 x 49 cm

Date: 1808

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 424 number 64

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