NOVA SCOTIA, (originally ACADIA), a province of the Dominion of Canada, lying between 43° 25' and 47° N., lat., and between 59° 40' and 66° 30' W., lon. It consists of a long, narrow peninsula called Nova Scotia proper, and the Island of Cape Breton, which is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Canso. It is bounded on the north by Northumberland Strait (which separates it from Prince Edward Island) and by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; north-east, south and south-east by the Atlantic Ocean; west by the Bay of Fundy; and north by New Brunswick, with which it is connected by an isthmus only 15 miles wide, separating the Bay of Fundy from Northumberland Strait. Greatest length from south-west to north-east, 350 miles; greatest breadth, about 120 miles; area, 21,428 square miles, equal to 13,483,671 acres. Of this area 360 square miles are water surface. Pop. of province (1901), 459,574. The country is attractively variegated by ranges of lofty hills and broad valleys, both of which run longitudinally through the province. Its Atlantic frontier, for 5 to 10 miles inland, is composed chiefly of a poor soil, though rich in gold and other minerals. The Cobequid range of mountains, as they are called, run through the interior of the province. The summits of a few of the conical mounds of this range ascend 1,100 feet, and are cultivated nearly to their tops. On each side of these mountains are two extensive ranges of rich, arable lands, where agricultural operations are carried on extensively and with profit. From Brier Island, at the extremity of Digby Neck, and Capes Split and Blomidon, a distance of 130 miles along the Bay of Fundy, extends a ridge of mural precipices, in many places presenting overhanging masses of trap rock from 100 to 600 feet in height These frowning crags, with their crowded forests of fir, are first seen by the mariner in crossing the Bay of Fundy; their height serves to protect the interior from the driving fogs of the bay. Beyond them lies the richly fertile and beautiful valley of Annapolis. The south-eastern coast of Nova Scotia is remarkable for the number of its capacious harbors, there being no fewer than 12 ports capable of receiving ships of the line, and 14 of sufficient depth for merchantmen, between Halifax and Cape Canso, a distance of not more than 110 miles. There are also some excellent harbors on the south-west coast, and on the north side of the province. The Island of Cape Breton is second only to Nova Scotia proper in the number and capacity of its harbors. The Big Bras d'Or is one grand harbor, while around the coast and in the Strait of Canso there are many fine harbors.

Nova Scotia is beautifully diversified with rivers and lakes, covering an area estimated at 3,000 square miles. The largest lake in Nova Scotia proper is Lake Rossignol, being 20 miles in length; the next largest is Ship Harbor Lake, 15 miles long; Grand Lake, discharging its water northward through Shubenacadie River to Cobequid Bay; and College Lake, in the eastern part of the peninsula. The lakes of Cape Breton are much larger and more important. The principal of these, however, are inland seas rather than lakes. The Great Bras d'Or Lake (area, 147,000 acres), is a magnificent expanse of water, of great depth, about fifty miles in length, and abounding with the best quality of fish. Of the rivers of Nova Scotia 15 flow into Northumberland Strait; 4 into St. George's Bay; 17 into the Atlantic, and 24 into the Bay of Fundy. The most important are the Shubenacadie, the Avon and Annapolis, flowing into the Bay of Fundy; the St. Mary's, Musquodoboit, La Have and Liverpool, flowing into the Atlantic. All the rivers are, with few exceptions, navigable for coasting vessels for distances varying from 2 to 20 miles. The most remarkable body of water in the province is Minas Basin, the eastern arm of the Bay of Fundy, penetrating 60 miles inland and terminating in Cobequid Bay. The tides here rush in with great impetuosity, and form what is called “the bore.” At the equinoxes they have been known to rise from 40 to 50 feet, while in Halifax Harbor, on the opposite coast, the spring tides rise only from 6 to 8 feet. The other principal bays are St. George's Bay and Chedabucto Bay in the east, connected by the Gulf of Canso; St. Mary's Bay and Townsend Bay in the extreme west of the peninsula; and Mahone and St. Margaret's Bays on the south coast. The province of Nova Scotia is rich in geological resources, all the rocks from the crystalline granites up to the new sandstone series being here met with. in the isthmus connecting the peninsula, with New Brunswick, the underlying rocks consist of gray, red and buff-colored sandstones of the coal measures, containing innumerable seams of good bituminous coal, many of which are of sufficient magnitude to be profitably worked. Lofty cliffs abutting upon the sea coast at the South Joggins present the most beautiful sectional profiles of the coal-bearing strata, with curious fossils, both of vegetable and animal origin. Large trunks of trees, such as are at present unknown in a living state, are here seen at various points, standing at right angles to the sandstone strata. Alternate beds of excellent bituminous coal are seen cropping out along the shore, and a company has for years been working extensive mines in one of these coal beds. The rocks of this coal formation also furnish abundance of excellent material for building and for grindstones. Large quantities of beautiful and compact gray, buff-colored and blue sandstone, and an immense number of grindstones are annually exported to the United States. Coal is elsewhere found more abundantly in Pictou co., and on the Island of Cape Breton. The production of coal in the province, in 1903, was in value estimated at $5,712,128; the amount of coal in the coal measures of Nova Scotia is estimated at 7,000 million tons. The province possesses great resources in gold and iron, and in copper, lead, silver, tin and other minerals. The quantity of iron ore on the property of the Londonderry Mining Company is inexhaustible, and the quality of iron manufactured is at least equal to the best Swedish. Manganese is abundant, and gypsum is extensively worked near Windsor and in Cape Breton. The slate hills furnish good roofiing slates, and stones of a superior quality are obtained in some of the slates of the coal series. Beautiful agates, amethysts, chalcedonies, jaspers, cairngorms, and the entire group of zeolite minerals abound in the amygdaloidal trap along the Bay of Fundy. The climate of Nova Scotia is remarkably temperate considering its northern latitude. The extreme of cold is 20° below zero. The extreme of heat is 98° above in the shade. The climate varies considerably in the different counties. The western counties average from 6 to 8 degrees warmer than the eastern. in Annapolis county, for instance, the mercury in the coldest winters rarely falls below zero. The coldest season is from the last week in December until the first week in March. The springs are tedious, the summer heats being for a brief season excessive; vegetation is singularly rapid, and the autumn is delightful. Dense fogs are, at certain 'seasons, prevalent along the Atlantic coast. Wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat, Indian corn, potatoes, turnips, mangel wurtzel, tomatoes and other grains and roots grow in abundance and to perfection. Apples, pears, grapes, plums, cherries and other garden fruits attain the utmost perfection. in some sections of the country peaches and grapes ripen in the open air. The apple orchards of Annapolis and Kings counties are very productive, and extend along the roadside in an unbroken line for nearly 50 miles. The manufactures of Nova Scotia are yet limited in extent, though the forest wealth is great. They employ 21,200 men, and nearly 35 million dollars are invested in them. Coarse cloths, called “homespun,” are made by the peasantry, and are generally worn by that class. Coarse flannels, bed linen, blankets, carpets and tweeds are also manufactured. Tanning is carried on to some extent; and in the towns and villages boots, shoes, saddlery, harness, household furniture and agricultural implements are made in large quantities. in the neighborhood of Halifax, tobacco, printing and wrapping paper, machinery, nails, pails, fuse, gunpowder, carriages and some other articles are manufactured. The revenue of the Province in 1902-3 was $1,243,581; its expenditure was $1,177,331. Its exports for 1903 amounted in value to $17,016,554, while its imports were $13,481,917. The largest portion of the exports were drawn from the fishing and mining interests. The tonnage of its coal sales in 1903, including the sales for home consumption and export, was 5,175,603 tons (of 2,000 lbs.). The value of the Province's production of gold in the same year was $535,040. Of bituminous coal raised and marketed in the Census year (1901), there were 3,397,036 tons, the value of which was $7,366,165. The value of metallic ores and products, chiefly pig iron and nickel in matte, was $3,767,054. Illuminating oil, salt, limestone and brick are further products of the Province yielding considerable returns. The geographical position of Nova Scotia is highly favorable to commercial pursuits, and as the natural resources become more fully developed there is no doubt her commerce will largely increase. Newfoundland excepted, Nova Scotia may be said to possess the finest fisheries in the world. There is no part of its coast of 1,000 miles where a profitable fishery may not be pursued. Its bays and harbors, and inland lakes and rivers, teem with salmon, cod, halibut, haddock, mackerel, herring, shad, lobsters, etc. in the statistics of fishing plant and outfit, Nova Scotia stands next to British Columbia, the total value in 1901 of the provincial plant (including vessels, tugs and boats, fishing gear and material, and curing and canning stations) amounting to $3,458,703. The value of its fish products for the same year (1901) was $7,262,671. Shipbuilding is extensively engaged in, in Nova Scotia. The Province's sea-going tonnage engaged in carrying cargoes in and out of the country amounted in 1903 to 4,013,528 tons. There are 1,050 miles of railway in operation in the Province. The Intercolonial Railway proceeds from Halifax to Amherst, and thence to St. John, N.B., and Quebec; from Truro to Sydney, and from Oxford Junction to Pictou. The Dominion Atlantic Ry., Windsor & Annapolis branch, proceeds from Windsor Junction to Annapolis. The Yarmouth and Halifax Railway runs from Pubnico to Yarmouth; the Cumberland & Coal Co.'s Railway from Springhill to Parrsboro; the Halifax & South Western Railway, from Middleton to Lunenburg, and the Canada Railway and Coal Co.'s road from Maccan to Joggins. Besides these roads there are the Inverness & Richmond line; the Midland, which runs from Windsor to Truro; and the Sydney & Louisburg road; the N.S. Steel Co.'s line, which runs between Ferrona Jct., and Sunnybrae. There are two canals in the Province—one from Halifax to Cobequid Bay, and the other connecting St. Peter's Bay, on the Atlantic coast of Cape Breton Island, with Bras d'Or Lake; length 2,300 feet. Telegraph communication is established all over the Province, and extends through all the other provinces. A message may be sent from Halifax direct to Vancouver. The Atlantic cable gives Nova Scotia telegraphic communication with Europe. The public affiairs of the province are administered by a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive Council of 8 members, a Legislative Council of 20, and a Legislative Assembly of members, elected every 4 years. The Superior Court consists of a Chief Justice, the Judge in Equity and 5 puisne judges. There is a Court of Vice-Admiralty, and of Marriage and Divorce. in each County there is a Court of Probate which has control of the property of deceased persons. The following table shows the counties of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, with the capitals and population of each in 1901:

Annapolis: 18,842, Annapolis.

Antigonish: 13,617,Antigonish.

Cape Breton: 49,166, Sydney.

Colchester: 24,900, Truro.

Cumberland: 36,108, Amherst.

Digby: 20,322, Digby.

Guysborough: 18,320, Guysborough

Halifax: 74,662, Halifax.

Hants: 20,056, Windsor.

Inverness: 24,353, Port Hood

Kings: 21,937, Kentville.

Lunenburg: 32,389, Lunenburg.

Pictou: 33,459, Pictou.

Richmond: 13,515, Arichat.

Shelburne and Queens: 24,428, Shelburne and Liverpool.

Victoria: 10,571, Baddeck.

Yarmouth: 22,869, Yarmouth.

Total: 459,574

Total area of the above counties, 13,483,671 acres. Halifax is the chief city in Nova Scotia, with a population (1901), of 40,832. Its harbor is the finest in America, and protected by a fortress armed with powerful batteries of three and six hundred pounder Armstrong rifled guns. Small towns and villages are scattered over the Province, which are accessible from the most remote districts by railway or steamboat, or good carriage roads. Besides Halifax, the capital, the other chief towns are Truro (pop., 5,993), and Yarmouth (pop., 6,430). Education is free to the children of all classes in Nova Scotia. There are numerous public schools and academies, besides a normal and model school, several convents, and 6 colleges, viz., Dalhousie College and University, St. Mary's College (R.C.), and the Presbyterian College, Halifax; Acadia University (Baptist), Wolfvillle; St. Francis College (R.C.), Antigonish; and King's College and University, Windsor. The latter, belonging to the Church of England, was founded in 1787. in 1903, the number of public schools in Nova Scotia was 2,395. with 98,768 pupils, the average total attendance being 55,213. The expenditure for school purposes for the year amounted to $936,458. The Province has also a large number of county academies, besides maintaining normal and model schools. It also has provincial normal school and a provincial school of agriculture at Truro, a ladies' college (Mount St. Bernard) at Antigonish, a church school for girls at Windsor, St. Anne College at Church Point, a Presbyterian college at Halifax, and a ladies' college and conservatory of music at Halifax. There are two Roman Catholic Dioceses in the Province—the Archdiocese of Halifax, and the Diocese of Antigonish; and one Church of England—Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The following table, taken from the census returns of 1901, shows the various religious denominations and the number of their adherents:

Church of England: 66,107

Church of Rome: 129,578

Presbyterians: 106,381

Baptists: 83,233

Methodists: 57,490

Congregationalists: 2,938

Lutherans: 6,572

Disciples: 1,412

Adventists: 1,494

Salvation Army: 1,651

Jews: 437

Not specified: 2,281

Total: 459,574

Nova Scotia was first visited by John Cabot and his son Sebastian in 1497, but was not colonized by Europeans until 1604, when De Monts, a Frenchman, and his followers, and some Jesuits, attempted for 8 years to form settlements in Port Royal, St. Croix, etc., but were finally expelled from the country by the English governor and colonists of Virginia, who claimed the country by right of the discovery of the Cabots. in 1621, Sir William Alexander applied for and obtained from James I. a grant of the whole country, which he proposed to colonize on an extensive scale, and in 1623, an attempt was made; but the proposed colonists finding the various points where they wished to establish themselves thronged by foreign adventurers, did not think it prudent to attempt a settlement, and therefore returned to England. During the reign of Charles I. the Nova Scotia baronets were created, and their patents ratified in Parliament; they were to contribute their aid to the settlement and to have portions of land allotted to them; their number was not to exceed 150. in 1654, Cromwell sent an armed force and took possession of the country, which remained with the English till 1667, when it was ceded to France by the Treaty of Breda. But the English from time to time attacked the French colonists at various points, till 1713, when the country was finally ceded to England. in 1763. the Island of Cape Breton was annexed to Nova Scotia. in 1784, the province of New Brunswick was created; and in 1867 Nova Scotia became a province of the Dominion of Canada.