The British American Navigator: ... originally composed by J. Purdy, and completed, from a great variety of documents, public and private by A. G. Findlay

Front matter

THE BRITISH AMERICAN NAVIGATOR. A SAILING DIRECTORY FOR THE ISLAND AND BANKS OP NEWFOUNDLAND, THE GULF AND RIVER OF ST. LAWRENCE, Breton Mairti, NOVA SCOTIA, THE BAY OF FUNDY, AND THE COASTS THENCE TO THE RIVER PENORSCOT, ETC BEING VOL. I. OF THE SAILING DIRECTORIES FOR THE EASTERN COASTS AND ISLANDS OF AMERICA ORIGINALLY COMPOSED By JOHN PURDY, Hydrographer, AND COMPLETED FROM A GREAT VARIETY OF DOCUMENTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, By ALEX. G. FINDLAV, Fellvw as the Royal Geographical Society. SECOND EDITION. LONDON: PRINTED FOR R. H. LAURIE, CHART-SELLER TO THE ADMIRALTY, THE HON. CORPORATION OF TRINITY HOU SE, ETC. No. 53, FLEET STREET. 1847. THE FOLLOWING USEFUL AND IMPORTANT WORKS, lately published By R. H. LAURIE, ARE RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO PARTICULAR NOTICE. 1. THAMES AND MEDWAY, &c— A New Survey of the Estuary of the Thames and Medway, with the Coast from Thorpness to Dover, and tbe Rivers to London and Rochester , with particular Plans, on enlarged scales, of the Sooth Channels, Isle of Thanet, &c. (Honoured by the special approbation of his late Majesty 0 to which has been^added, an additional half-sheet, containing Captain Hewett's Soundings to the Meridian of 2 10' East.

With a Sailing Directory, 10s. » The same Chart, without the additions, as before, 8s. 2. HOLY ISLAND, Farn Islands, &c. A new edition, materially improved, 5s. 3. The COASTS of HOLLAND, &c. (Executed to supersede the former Chart), 9s. 4. General Chart of the Navigation from the BRITISH ISLES to the RIO PLATA, CAPE of GOOD HOPE, and ALGOA BAY; with a Table of the principal Positions, and enlarged Plans of the Harbour of Rio Janeiro, Eahia, Island of Ascension, Roadstead of Ascension, Island of St. Helena, Roadstead of St. Helena, Saldanha Bay, Table Bay, and False Bay. By John Purdy. (Executed to supersede the former Chart), 10s. 6d. 5. The CANARY ISLANDS, with Madeira, Porto Santo, &c. (a new survey ,) with aD enlarged Chart of the Islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, and Great Salvage, the Road of Funchal, and Roadstead of Santa Cruz (Teneriffe), with Views, &c. 5s. G. A Chart of the ISLAND and BANKS of NEWFOUNDLAND, and the Coasts between Belle Isle and Boston, Cape Coo, &c; including the Gulf and River of St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia, and the Bay of Fundy, compiled from recent Surveys by British and French Officers, and the Positions adjusted from numerous Observations.

Constructed by John Purdy, and drawn by Alex. G. Findlay. With a New Sailing Directory. (The above has been executed to supersede the former Chart), 12s. 7. The BAY of HONDURAS, including the Western part of Cuba, the Swan Islands, and Mosquitia ; with particular Plans of the Harbour of Balize ; Bay of Truxillo ; Port Royal Harbour, Ruatan ; Harbour of Bonacca ; Western part of Cuba, the Rio Dulce, and Mugere, Harbour; N.E. Coast of Yucatan. Improved from the recent Surveys of Captains Richard Owen, R.N., and Bird Allen, &c, by John Purdy. (Executed to supersede the former Chart), 8s. *#* A copious description of, and Sailing Directions for , all the Navigation exhibited on this Chart, are given in the Colombian Navigator, Vol. 3, by John Purdy, 10s. 8. Chart of TASMANIA, or VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, 2s. 6d. 9.

Part I. Newfoundland

&c. I. — Of the Winds, Currents, Ices, and Passages to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, &c 1 Winds, I; Phenomena westward of Newfoundland, 2; Currents, &c, 4; Wrecks in St. Shot's Bay, Comus and Harpooner, 6, and H. M.S. Drake, 7 ; Spence and Marshal Macdonald, 8 ; Passages from England in the Spriug, 8; in the Fall, 9 ; Icebergs and Ices, 11; Wrecks of the Harvest Home, Lady of the Lake, President, William Brown, &c, 11, 12 ; Preservation of Life at Sea, 13 ; Geneial Directions for the Gulf, 14. II. — The Island and Banks of Newfoundland 14 General Remarks and Description of Newfoundland, 14 ; tlæCity of St. John, 15; Conception Bay, 16; The Banks of Newfoundland, 17; Virgin Rocks, 18 ; Shoal near ihe Virgin Rocks, 19. EASTERN AND NORTHERN COASTS OF NEWFOUNDLAND I. — Cape Spear and St. John's Harbour to Cape St. Francis 19 Cape Spear and Lighthouse, 19; Harbour of St. John, and Directions, 19 ; St. John's to Conception Bay, 20 ; Black Head to Cape St. Francis, 21.

II. — Conception Bay, between Cape St. Francis and Bacalieu Island . . 21 Conception Bay, 21 ; Bay Verde, 21 ; Carboniere, 22 ; Harbour Grace, 22 ; Bay Robert, 23 ; Brigus, 23 ; Collier Bay and Harbour Main, 23. III. — Trinity Bay, between Bacalieu and Cape Bonavista 23 Trinity Bay, 23 ; Old Perlican, 24; New Perlican, 24; Port Bonaventure, 24 ; Trinity Harbour, 25 ; Rugged Harbour, 25 ; Catalina Harbour, 26 ; Bird Islands, 26. IV. — Bonavista Bay, between Cape Bonavista and Cape Freels 26 Cape Bonavista and Lighthouse, 26 ; Bonavista Harbour, 27 ; Bonavista Bay, 27 ; Blackhead Bay, 28 ; Great Chance Harbour, 28 ; Broad Coves and Barrow Harbour, 29 ; Damnable Harbour, 30 ; Morris Cove, 30 ; Gooseberry Isles, &c, 31 ; New Harbour, 31 ; Northwest Arm, 32 ; Greenspond, 32. V. — The N.E. Coast from Cape Freels to Cape St. John, including the Bay of Notre Dame and Archipelago of Exploits 32 Cape Freels, 32 ; Funk Island, 32; Brenton Rock, 33; Wadham Islands, 33 ; Fogo Island, 34 ; Bay of Notre Dame, 35 ; Toulinguet or Twillingate, 35 ; Morton's and Triton Harbour, 35; Nipper's Harbour, 36.

VI CONTENTS. PAGE VI.— The Eastern Coast and White Bay, from Cape St. John to Cape Norman 36 Cape St. John, 36; La Scie Harbour, and Harbour Round, 36 ; Pacquet Harbour, 37 ; St. Barbe or Horse Islands, 37 ; Ming's Bight, 37 ; Fleur-delis Harbour, 38 ; White Bay, 38 ; Lobster Harbour, 38 ; Cony Arm Head, 39 ; Little Harbour Deep, 39 ; Fourche and Hooping Harbours, 40 ; Canada Bay, 40 ; Canada Harbour, 41 ; Hillier's Harbour, 41 ; Conche Harbours, 42 ; Cape Rouge, 42 ; Belle Isle South and Groais Island, 42 ; Croc Harbour, 43 ; St. Julien Harbour, 44 ; The Ilettes, 44 ; Le Four Harbour, 44 ; Fishot Isles, 45 ; Hare Bay, 45 ; Cremaillfere Harbour, 46 ; St. Anthony, 46 ; Brehats and St. Lunaire Bay, 47 ; Griguet Harbours, 47 ; Kirpon or Quirpon, 48 ; Cape Norman, 49. THE SOUTHERN COASTS OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

I.— The S.E. Coast from St. John's Harbour to Cape Race 49 Bay of Bulls and Witless Bay, 50 ; Cape Broyle, 50; Aquafort, 50; Fermowes, 51. II. — The Coast of Avalon, from Cape Race to Placentia Bay, including Trepassey, St. Mary's Bay, and Placentia Harbour 51 Trepassey Harbour, 51 ; St. Shot's Bay, 51 ; St. Mary's Bay, &c., 52; Cape St. Mary, 52 ; Placentia Bay and Harbour, 53 ; Directions by Mr. Owen, 54 ; Bearings and Distances in Placentia Bay, 55. III. — The Northern portion of the Bay of Placentia, and Coast thence to Cape Chapeau Rouge 55 Red and Long Islands, 56 ; Come-by-Chance, 56; Paradise Sound, 57; Mortier Bay, 58 ; Burin Harbours, 59 ; St. Lawrence Harbours, 59. IV. — The Coast westward of Cape Chapeau Rouge, with the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon 60 Ferryland Head, 60 ; St. Pierre Island, 60 ; Langley or Little Miquelon, 61 ; Miquelon, 61.

V. — Fortune Bay, and the Coast westward to the Burgeo Isles 62 Fortune Bay, &c, 62 ; Point May to Cape Mille, 62 ; Harbour la Conte and Belle Harbour, 63 ; Bande de l'Arier Bay, 64 ; Harbour Briton, 64; Connaigre Bay, 64 ; Hermitage Bay, 65 ; Bay of Despair, 65 ; Cape la Hune, 66; Ramea, 67 ; White Bear Bay, 67. VI. — The South Coast, from the Burgeo Islands to Cape Ray 68 The Burgeo Isles, 68 ; Connoire Bay, 68 ; La Poile Bay, 69 ; Port aux Basque, 70 ; Cape Ray, description and appearance of, 71. THE WESTERN COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND, FROM CAPE RAY TO CAPE NORMAN. St. George's Bay, 72; Port au Port, 73; Bay of Islands, 74 ; Bonne Bay,75; Cow Head, 75; Ingornachoix Bay, 75; Hawkes Harbour, 75; Point Rich, 76; Bay of St. John, 76; New Ferolle, 76; Old Ferolle, 77; Bay of St. Genevieve, 77 ; Bay of St. Barbe, 77.

The Strait of Belle Isle and the Coast of Labrador, between Cape St. Lewis and Forteau Point 78 General Remarks on Ihe Strait, 73 ; Belle Isle, 79 ; St. Lewis Sound, 79 ; Niger Sound, 80 ; Chateau Bay, 81 ; York Point, 81 ; Red Bay, 82 ; Black Bay, 82 ; Forteau Bay, 82. CONTENTS. VII TACE

Part II. The Gulf And River Of St

LAWRENCE. I. — General Phenomena — Winds, Weather, Currents, Ices, &c 83 Winds, 83; Fogs, 83 ; Mirage, note, 84; Currents, 84 ; Ices, 86. II. — The Island of St. Paul, Magdalen Isles, and Anticosti 86 St. Paul, 86 ; Magdalen Islands, 87 ; Amherst Island, 87 ; Entry Island, &c., 88 ; Bird Islets, 89 ; The Island of Anticosti, 89 ; East Cape, 90 ; West Cape and Ellis Bay, 90. III. — The Northern Shore of the Gulf, from Forteau Point to Cape Whittle . ,. 91 General Remarks, 91; Greenly Island, 92; Bradore Harbour, 92; Bradore Bay, 93; Bonne Esperance Harbour, 93; Esquimaux Bay, River, and Islands, 94 ; Cumberland Harbour, 95 ; Great Mecattina Island, and Mecattina Harbour, 96 ; Hare Harbour, 97 ; Watagheistic Island, 97 ; Wapitagun Harbour, 98 ; Cape Whittle, 99. IV. — The Northern Shore of the Gulf, between Cape Whittle and Cape de Monts, including the Mingan Islands 99 General Remarks, 99 ; Coacoacho Bay, 99 ; Musquarro River, H. B. Co.'s post, 100; Kegashka Bay, 100; Natashquan Point and River, 101; the Mingan Islands — General Remarks, 102; St. Genevieve Island and Harbour, 102; Betchewun Harbour, 103; Clearwater Point, 103; Esquimaux Island and Harbour, 103; Mingan Island, 104; Mingan Harbour, 105; River St. John, 106; Manitou River, 106; River Moisic, 107; Seven Islands Bay, 107; Cawee Islands, 108 ; Trinity Bay, 109 ; Point de Monts Lighthouse, 109.

V. — The South Shore of the Entrance to the River, from Cape Rosier to Cape Chatte 109 Cape Rosier, 109; Magdalen River and St. Anne, 110; Cape Chatte, 110. VI. — General Description of the River 110 The North Shore, from Cape de Monts to the Saguenay River ...... Ill St. Nicholas Harbour, 111; Manicougan Bay and Shoals, 112; Bay of Outarde, 112; Jeremie and Port Neuf, 112; The Saguenay River, 113. The South Shore, between Cape Chatte and Green Island 113 Matane River, 113; Grand Metis, 114; Barnaby Island, 114 ; Isle Bic, 115; Bicquette and Lighthouse, 115; Green Island and Lighthouse, 115. The Description of the River continued. Red Island and Reef, 116; Murray Bay, 117; White Island, 117; Hare Island and Banks, 117; Barren Ledge, 117; The Pilgrims, 118; Kamourasca, 118; Isle aux Coudres, 119; The South Traverse, 119; The Pillars, 120; Goose Island, 120; The Bayfield Isles, 120; The Middle Channel and North Channel, 121; St. Paul's Bay, 122 ; Burnt Cape Ledge, &c., 122; The Island of Orleans, 123; Quebec, 123; Montreal, 123.

Tides in the River of St. Lawrence 124 to 126 Directions for sailing up the River, from Anticosti to Quebec 126 Remarks on the Currents, Winds, &c, 1 26 ; On the Aberration of the Compass, (note), 127 ; General Courses, &c, between Cape Chatte and Isle Bic, 129 ; Isle Bic to Green Island, 131; Crcen Island to ihe Brandy Pots, 132; CONTENTS. PAGE Brandy Pots to the South Traverse and Goose Island, 132; The South Traverse, 133; The Piliers or Pillars to Crane Islaud, 134; Crane Island to Point St. Vallier, 134; St. Vallier to Quebec, 135. General Description of the River of St. Lawrence, downward, from Montreal to Quebec, &c 135 Island of Montreal, 136 ; William Henry and Three Rivers, 136. Rates of Pilotage for the River of St. Lawrence, 1841 137 From and to Quebec and Bic, 137 ; Regulations of the Pilotage above Bic to Quebec, 137 ; Rates above the Harbour of Quebec, 137. Rates charged for Towing Vessels by the Steamers from Quebec to Montreal, 1841 138

Part III. Western Coasts Of The Gulf Of St

LAWRENCE, BRETON ISLAND, &c I. — The Eastern Coast of New Brunswick, &c 1 39 Cape Gaspe and Gaspe Bay, 139; Mai Bay, 141 ; Cape Despair, 142; Chaleur Bay, 142; Ristigouche, 143; Miramichi Bay, &c, 143; Richibucto, 144. The Northern Coasts of Nova Scotia, &c 144 Ramsheg, Caribou, &c, 145; Pictou, 146; Merigomish, Antigonish, 148; The Gut of Canso, 148 ; Inhabitant Bay, 150; Tides, 151. II. — Prince Edward Island 151 General Description, 151 ; Cardigan Bay, 151 ; Hillsborough Bay, 152; Charlotte Town, 152; Richmond Bay and Holland Harbour, 153; Tides, t54. III. — Breton Island, with Chedabucto Bay 154 General Description, 154 ; Jestico, or Port Hood, 155; St. Anne's Harbour, 155 ; Grand Bras d'Or, and Directions, 156 ; Sydney Harbour, 157 ; Scatari Island, 158; Louisbourg and Arachat, 158; Chedabucto Bay and Milford Haven, 159.