Duck Islands (New Brunswick)

Duck Islands

Geography
Location	Bay of Fundy
Administration
Canada
Province	New Brunswick
County	Charlotte
Parish	Grand Manan Parish

The Duck Islands are in the Grand Manan Parish of Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Canada in the Bay of Fundy. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

There are three Duck Islands, Great Duck Island is the largest, with provincially-owned Low Duck and High Duck Islands to the north of it. ^[4]

Low Duck and High Duck Island

Low Duck Island's highest elevation is 4.6m, while High Duck Island's is 18m. ^[5] Low Duck Island has Brent goose populations. ^[6]

As of 1866, there was a small fishing community made up of three families residing on High Duck Island. ^[7] In approximately 1870, Alexander Fisher, grandson of Squire Fisher, left Eastport to establish a poultry business with chickens, ducks and geese on High Duck Island. ^[8]

The islands are owned by the Government of New Brunswick, and Class II Protected Natural Areas. ^[9]

Great Duck Island

The highest elevation on Great Duck Island is on its south end, and it slopes down toward the north. ^[10] A submarine power cable runs from the south end of the island to Ross Island. ^[11]

In the 1880s, residents of Grand Manan sent a petition to Ottawa seeking a fog whistle on Great Duck Island, so in 1884 Parliament appropriated the land and awarded a $2,070 tender to G. S. Mayes to build the fog alarm, a small keeper's dwelling and boathouse. ^[12] Samuel G. Dinsmore was appointed the engineer to oversee the fog alarm. ^[13] In 1892, federal funds were used to expand the property. ^[14] In 1916, the foghorn was replaced with a diaphone sounding for four seconds, every 45 seconds and a lifesaving crew was stationed on the island. ^{[15] [16]}

Today there is a 16.5m light station on the island, as well as a microwave tower. ^[17]

As of 1923, Great Duck Island had a buoy associated with the island. ^[18]

Keepers: Keepers: Samuel G. Dinsmore (1886 – 1906), Rupert Burnham (1906 – 1914), Manfred L. Daggett (1915 – 1916), Chick S. Stanley (1917 – 1922) Clayton E. Small (1922 – at least 1937), Jack Russell (at least 1974 – 1984).

References

1. "No. 166". Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
2. "489" (PDF). Transportation and Infrastructure. Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 4 July 2021. Remainder of parish on mapbooks 490, 497, 500, and 501 at same site.
3. "Search the Canadian Geographical Names Database (CGNDB)". Government of Canada. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
4. http://www.grandmanannb.com/otherIslands.html
5. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs74-13-2021-12-eng.pdf
6. "Grand Manan Archipelago (NB011)".
7. "Provincial Archives of New Brunswick".
8. "History of the islands and islets in the Bay of... - Canadiana".
9. "South Grand Manan EBSA". 19 April 2023.
10. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs74-13-2021-12-eng.pdf
11. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs74-13-2021-12-eng.pdf
12. "Great Duck Island Lighthouse".
13. "Great Duck Island Lighthouse".
14. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_06062_102/3
15. "The Beacon : Vol. XXVIII, No. 5 (July 29, 1916) - Canadiana".
16. "The Saint John standard : Vol. VII, No. 236 (Ja... - Canadiana".
17. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/mpo-dfo/Fs74-13-2021-12-eng.pdf
18. Fifty-Sevent Annual Report of the Department of Marine and Fisheries", 1924, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Fifty-seventh_Annual_Report_of_the_Department_of_Marine_and_Fisheries%2C_for_the_year_1923-24_-_Marine._%28IA_1925v61i5p28_1773%29.pdf, page 43