Natural History of Metis – Scientists at Work on the Shoreline, the Forest and the Fields

Metis has long been a laboratory for scientific exploration. The pioneer work of scientists has been undertaken on the shoreline and in the fields and forests nearby. Published in scientific journals and books, their work enjoyed a global audience. Some of the material collected has found its way into the display cases of museums and research collections of universities.

Black and white photograph of Metis. On the left side of the photograph, we see the beach at low tide. On the right, a dense forest of spruce trees rises above the shoreline of the St. Lawrence.

The rock outcrops along the shoreline in Metis were a rich place for geologists to study the geology of the region.

The first scientist of note to traverse the region was William Logan, founder of the Geological Survey of Canada. His sketchbook has the earliest drawings of the falls on the Metis River, confirming that its geology was of special interest to him as he began his ambitious survey of the Gaspe Peninsula. Logan’s staff followed his path. They inventoried the flora and fauna of the area, providing a useful baseline of information on the species to be found in Metis at the beginning of the colonization of the region and before forestry and farming completely altered the ecosystems.

Watercoloor of the shore of the St. Lawrence at Metis from 1878. The foreground is occupied by rocks. The largest rock seems to be a few meters high. In the distance, the top of the hill is covered by a forest of trees. In the distance, a church spire and the red roofs of two other buildings are visible.

Anna Lois Dawson was a talented artist whose watercolours illustrate the rocks and plants found in Metis.

William Dawson dedicated his summer holidays to field work. It was in Metis where he was most productive. The study in his Metis cottage was where he wrote many of the articles and books and natural history talks that made him the country’s preeminent voice of science.

Black and white photograph of vacationers sitting in lawn chairs. Some are in the sun, others are in the shade under a tree or an umbrella. They are located on a landscaped area. In front of them passes a dirt road, possibly the driveway to their hotel. In the background past spruce trees is the St. Lawrence River.

Metis became known as the ideal destination for those seeking fresh air and a temperate climate. Getting outside was a favourite pastime for those in search of rest and recovery.

Today’s scientists no longer simply inventory species. They observe the rise and decline of species and their adaptation to the arrival of invasive populations. Climate change has transformed the St. Lawrence estuary into a living laboratory. A new generation of experts is observing the shoreline, intertidal and marine environments with growing interest and sometimes disturbing results.

Black and white photograph of a fisherman standing in the middle of several dozen belugas on the beach. The belugas have been killed and then pulled up onto the beach. The rope, which was used to pull the small white whales onto the beach, is visible in the foreground of the image. In the background, a long cape of rock hides the St. Lawrence River.

Today the beluga in the St. Lawrence is on the brink of extinction; in Metis and other shoreline communities they were killed in great numbers.

Distinguished Visitors – The Rich, the Famous and the Infamous The Maritime Heritage of Metis – Shipwrecks and Life on the Sea