Nova Scotia Archives

Footprints in the Sand

Pre‐1867 Government Records for Sable Island

Letter from M.D. McKenna, superintendant of Sable Island, to the Commissioners of Sable Island

1850. — 4 pages : 30 x 50 cm.

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7th The Island ans the vesel visiting the Island
should each be supplied with a Code of Signals,
and I need a better Spyglass than the one here now,
and let it be sent to the East end Station where there is none.

8th From what I have seen throughout the season
pf the Mackerel fishery I have no doubt but that
business could be carried on here to great advantage
if properly conducted there were many days that any
quantity that could have been attended to could have
been taken with seines, and I think they could be
taken in nets too. If you think of giving it a trial
I would advise that every preparation be made in
time, to that Seines, Nets, Boats, Salt, Barrels, Casks,
Men and every other thing for the voyage be on the
Island by the first of August. A Seine 100
fathoms long and three fathoms deep would in my
opinion be heavy enough.

9th I would Recommend the "Daring" to be
withdrawn from the Sable Island service, and that
a vesel of 500 barrels storage be purchased and
fitted for this service exclusively, whose business it
shall be to visit the Island once in each month, (omitting
the months of January + March) and oftener if required,
and to be employed in connexion with the Island
Crew during the time of the Mackerel fishery in prose-
-cuting that business, if not required at that time to attend
on wrecks. She should be a fast sailer, with small
but comfortable accommodations, be well found,
and have a Hemp Cable, and should be sailed
with a sufficient number of men and no more, she
should be broad on the beam, and calculated to
Carry a deck load of horses or other animals,
And



4 pages 30 x 50 cm

Date: 1850

Reference: Nova Scotia Archives RG 1 volume 425 number 88

Nova Scotia Archives — https://archives.novascotia.ca/sable/archives/?ID=2398

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