Loading map viewer...

Egmont Harbor

Des Barres, a Swiss-born army engineer and colleague of Samuel Holland, was tasked with surveying the coasts of Nova Scotia in 1764. This chart of Egmont Harbor (modern-day Jeddore Harbour, northeast of Halifax), is a fine example of the three types of visuals found throughout The Atlantic Neptune, as it combines a nautical chart with a coastal profile, and an illustrative vignette. Des Barres' thorough work of gathering soundings (measurements of depths) is seen here, and throughout the Neptune. These measurements, gathered according to the latest scientific standards, along with numerous sailing directions, helped navigators avoid underwater dangers near the coast.