CAPE SABLE ISLAND (NOVA SCOTIA)

'Cape Sable Island' , locally referred to as 'Cape Island', is a small Canadian island located at the southernmost point of the Nova Scotia peninsula. Sometimes confused with Sable Island, Cape Sable Island forms the eastern limit to the Gulf of Maine, opposite Cape Cod.
The island is separated from the mainland by Barrington Passage, a narrow strait. Ferry service provided transportation to the island in the early 20th century. A causeway was eventually constructed for pedestrian and automobile traffic, opening on August 5, 1949. The largest community on the island is the fishing port of Clark's Harbour. Other communities include North East Point, Centreville, Clam Point, Stoney Island, South Side, Newellton, West Head, and The Hawk.

Contents

History

Residents

Bird Watching

References

History

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In the late 1700’s, people on Cape Cod and nearby Nantucket Island were establishing centers for successful fisheries. The waters off southwestern Nova Scotia had been well known to them probably since the days of French settlement in the early 1600’s. While the tides of the Gulf of Maine may have brought a few exploring fishermen from Nantucket to the island, it was an entirely different tide that spawned the eventual permanent English settlement – a political tide.
The Quakers of Cape Cod who had fled religious persecution in Europe, were a fiercely independent people who had a great loyalty to the predominately protestant British monarchy. With rumblings of pending war with England, which eventually lead to American independence in 1776, many Quakers chose to remain loyal to the Crown. The common bond of the fishery, the desire for independence and loyalty to England created the incentive for these adventurous souls to sail for “green pastures”.
When many of them arrived in the area during the 1770’s and 1780’s, Cape Sable Island wouldn’t have been all that inviting with its treacherous tides, reefs
and frequent fog. These being a rugged people and with their skills in the fishery, it was easy for them to see the positive aspects of this new home – a rich stock of lobster and ground fish, land adequate for livestock and nearby forests to supply lumber for shelter but more importantly to build fishing vessels.
The island lies in the path of Nor'easters and hurricanes which occur periodically. Over the years this has led to a number of shipwrecks. The most noteworthy and ultimately the most
beneficial was the wreck of the ''Hungarian'' in April 1860.
Until that time there had been no lighthouse to warn mariners of pending
disaster; the Cape Light evolved from wreck of the ''Hungarian''.

Residents

In spite of what might seem to have been major deterrents to permanent settlement, they came and they stayed. There were shiploads of Smiths, Nickersons, Atkinsons, Crowells, Newells, Rosses, Swims and many others; their descendants are still here some 250 years later. Archelaus Smith settled in Centerville, Michael Swim at Swims Point in Clark’s Harbour, Newell families in Newellton, Daniel Vinton at Daniel’s Head in Southside, Ross families at Stoney Island – many of these surnames remain very common today.

Bird Watching

With the ocean lapping on all sides of the island, the climate is maritime - decidedly cool in summer but winters are considerably more moderate than interior parts of the province. The island is a notable birding destination, being an important migratory stopping point for birds such as the Atlantic Brant and Piping Plover. It is this unique climate, its abundant tidal marshes and the island's geographical location on the north-south flight path of numerous migratory water foul that has given it the international designation as an Important Birding Area (IBA). The annual Brant Geese fly-by during March and April is developing into a local Birding Event. The tens of thousands of Brant make their spectacular fly by at dusk after spending the day feeding in local marshes. They spend the night bobbing in the Atlantic to the east of the island.

References

★ Important Bird Areas of Canada page for Cape Sable Island

★ Our Ocean Playground - A Nova Scotia History Manual