418 SABLE ISLAND.

the island weekly. It has no harbour; but a large lagoon, eighteen miles long, and more than half a mile Wide, is formed by a sandy ridge thrown up by the sea. It has been named Lake Wallace. A storm some years ago broke through the sandy ridge, and formed an inlet, which for some time afforded a har- bour for small coasters; but a subsequent storm closed it up again, and shut in two small American fishing vessels. There is at present only a mere. brook running from it into the sea. About the mid- dle of the north side of the lake, stands the house of the superintendent, and the stores for provisions, &c., and goods and materials saved from wrecks. On the high hill adjoining, there is a signal-staff made out of the spritsail yard of the French frigate, L’Africane, wrecked in 1822, from which signals are made to vessels in distress. At each end of the lake there is a small house, in which are deposited direc- tions to find the depot, and the means of kindling a fire. Npthing is planted on the island except a few cabbages, which, cultivated with much care, have arrived at maturity. The climate, however, is not so severe as that of Nova Scotia.

One great cause of shipwreck is the current run- ning to the south-west, between the coast of America and the Gulf Stream, which frequently carries ves- sels much further West than their reckoning. There is always a vast quantity of drift timber ashore on the island.

The horrors of a storm on this island are described as truly terrible. The whole. island trembles and