It was rough water off Point Prim itself but at least one felt it would not be a long swim to shore if the canoe swamped. Once into the mouth of the Pinette River, we had the shelter of Point Prim and with a following wind we soon crossed over and went ashore on the south side of the River at a low bank and sandy beach. Here we were warmly greeted by a farmer whom, as we approached, I had observed working in his potato field. Having introduced myself I asked him his name. His answer, “John Dan MacRae”. (“Well”, I thought for a moment, “I must have gone in a circle and am back at my starting point”)

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This “John Dan" turned out to be a retired buttermaker who had formerly worked at Hazelbrook. He kindly invited me to “come up to the house”. There I met his wife “Katie”, a sister of Dougal MacKinnon, and shared with great enjoyment her excellent home— cooking.

John Dan showed me near “the Ponds” an ornamental brass plaque beside an old cellar and told me that the plaque had been placed there by Professor MacRae to mark the site Of an old ware- house used by “summer” French fishermen before the first perma- nent French Settlement. Professor MacRae dated the cellar from the rings of an old pine stump growing therein.

In late afternoon 1 said Goodbye to John Dan, rounded the point below “the Ponds”, and headed along the Northumberland Strait. Paddling along easily I soon passed the mouth 01‘ the Flat River, where I went ashore for the night. Next day at Belle Creek Wharf we stopped for lunch and a brief rest, and then continued on to Wood Islands. There I continued on along the sand-bar. around Wood Island (as I c0uld detect only one island). I noticed at Wood Island an eastern opening in the marsh between Wood Island and the main Island shore. It suggested a pOSSible harbour for fairly large boats (such as a Ferry to Nova Scotia) tho’ of course it would have to be dredged and would have the disadvantage of being exposed to sou’ east storms.

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