consequence to
the profit of them. I have sent the dimensions of the cranks,
knowing it to be the practice in New England to make them so small
as to retard the business of sawing, besides frequently
breaking--the breaking of one may be a greater damage than the
cost of two. I have described them something large, but think you
had better exceed the size than fall short of it.

"The best workmen will be the cheapest as the whole depends on the
effectual laying the foundation of the dam, etc. I make no doubt
but when the mills are completed they will saw at least 5 M boards
pr. day.

"I am Sir, your most obedient servant,

"JAMES SIMONDS."

It may be noticed, in passing, that Mr. Simonds writes from
Passamaquoddy. The headquarters of the trade and fishery there was at
Indian Island, or as it was sometimes called, Perkins Island. Mr.
Simonds and Wm. Hazen were members of the St. John's River Society and
it would appear from Capt. Glasier's letter to Nathaniel Rogers of
10th Nov'r., 1765, that the Society had ambitious designs with regard
to this locality. "Our Fishery at Passamaquoddy," writes Glasier, "is
an object worth our attention; it is the best in the province. A
Block-house will be built there next spring and I can get a party from
the Fort sand some small cannon which will secure the Fishermen
against any insult from the Indians. This spot is more valuable than
you can imagine. I was promised by some of the principal Fishermen
belonging to New Hampshire if I got a grant of this Island they would
came to the number of 100 families with all their crafts, etc., and
become our settlers at Saint Johns, and if we get Grand Manan[84] it
will give us a chain of Harbours all the way to Mount Desert, which
will be all we want."

[84] In another part of his letter Glasier says, "Capt. Falconer, who
is on the spot, is desired to petition the Lords of Trade for
this Island." Capt. Falconer intended to have gone to the
River St. John to assist in the management of affairs there,
but this plan was upset by his being ordered with his regiment
to Ireland.

The avidity manifested by the agent of the St. John's River Society in
seeking favors at the hands of government would seems to countenance
the idea, suggested in the preceding chapter of this history,[85] that
when he memoralized the government of Nova Scotia for a grant of "the
Point or Neck of land be