a high land running out with a point into the sea; as Cape Nord, Cape Horn, the Cape of Good Hope, &c.

CAPE-BRETON, an island of British America, to the north of Nova Scotia, from which it is separated by the Strait of Canso. It lies between 45.27, and 47.5. N. Lat. and between 59.40. and 61.40. W. Long. It has an area of about 2,500,000 acres, of which about one-third consists of swamps and barren wastes. It is deeply indented in all directions by arms of the sea, the largest of which, the great Bras d'Or, nearly divides the island in two, and being deep enough for the largest vessels, affords the greatest facilities for commerce. It was discovered by Cabot, but was first occupied by the French, in whose possession it remained till 1758, when it fell into the hands of the English. By them it was annexed to Nova Scotia and erected into a county, returning two members to the assembly. It was afterwards constituted a distinct government; but in 1820 it was re-annexed to Nova Scotia, to whose laws it has since remained subject. It now returns two members to the assembly. Population of the united county of Cape Breton and Victoria in 1851, 27,580. The climate of Cape Breton is very variable. In winter the thermometer sometimes falls to 32° and generally to 20° below zero; while in summer it rises to 96° in the shade. The mean summer heat may be estimated at 80°. The commercial resources of the island consist chiefly in its timber, its agricultural productions, its minerals, and fisheries. In the timber trade it joins with the mainland of North America in the shipment of pine, birch, ash, &c., to the United Kingdom. The agricultural produce consists chiefly of grain crops: the most extensively cultivated are oats (1,384,437 bushels), wheat (297,157 bushels), and barley (196,097 bushels), in 1851. On the pasture grounds horses and cattle are reared, and cheese and butter are made. The only minerals wrought in the island are coal, limestone, and gypsum; although iron ore and slate might be made available for commercial purposes. The coal mines are wrought in the neighbourhood of Sydney, and in 1851 yielded 53,000 chaldrons. In the same year the consumpt of limestone was 4,421 casks. Gypsum is exported, although in very small quantity, to the United States. The fisheries, which employ nearly 1,300 men, consist chiefly of salmon, cod, mackerel, herrings, shad, and white fish, of which large quantities are cured and exported. The rest of the population are engaged at the saw-mills, grist-mills, and tanneries, and in the manufacture of coarse cloth, flannel, and soap. The number of schools in the island in 1851 was 70, with an attendance of 2,179 scholars. The number of churches in the same year was 47. The principal religious sects are, Roman Catholics 11,493; Free Church, 8,968; Church of Scotland, 3,452; Church of England, 2,156; the rest consist of Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists, &c. There is still a remnant of the native Indian population.