Bringing old mapping of Sable Island into a modern geographic reference frame

Abstract

Six independent surveys over the past 250 years have located Sable Island (44°N, 60°W) in different locations. This paper correlates the surveys based on the limited number of common points and comments on the surveying methods that were employed and concludes that the various positions are more due to the quality of surveying than to the shifting of the island or to tectonic plate motion. The implications, in terms of hydrographic charting and legal basis of sovereignty of maritime areas and of the National Park Reserve, are also discussed.