f the same paper these split stamps are
referred to:--

In reference to the cut and surcharged 3c stamps, a correspondent
sends us the following extract from a letter from the postmaster of
Port Hood:--"When the change in Canadian postage was made--of which
we got notice by wire--I had only a very few two cent stamps in
stock, so that before I got my supply from Ottawa I ran completely
out of them, and, to keep my account straight, I was compelled to
cut threes. This was for one day only, and not over 300 stamps were
cut. I would say about 200 '2' and 100 '1' were used. About 100 '2'
and probably nearly as many '1' were marked with the figures '2'
and '1' as you describe, and were placed on letters for delivery in
towns throughout the Dominion. Those were the only provisional
stamps used by this office."

Once more, in June, the _Monthly Journal_ refers to the philatelically
notorious Port Hood office:--

A correspondent tells us that the surcharged provisionals were not
the first instances of the use of the scissors at Port Hood, an
envelope emanating from that office and bearing the half of the 2c
stamp, divided diagonally, having been found with the date July
27th, 1898. We do not know what the regulations are in Canada on
the subject of receiving postage in cash, but we should suppose
that if a postmaster runs out of 1c stamps, receives postage on
certain letters, in cash, and then, to save an entry in his
accounts, cuts 2c stamps in half and affixes the halves to the
letters, it would not be considered a very heinous offence, and it
would account for curiosities of this kind occasionally turning up.

But Port Hood does not seem to have been the only office in which the
scissors were used, for the following letter from the _Montreal
Philatelist_ shows that stamps were bi-sected at at least one other
office. In this instance the postmaster divided 5c stamps as well as the
3c though, apparently, he did not apply any surcharge to the
fractions:--

CROSS ROAD, COUNTRY HARBOR,
April 17th, 1900.

Dear Sir,--Your enquiry re stamps to hand. At the time you mention
the 2c postage was given us so suddenly that I was about out and
all my neighbour P. M. was also out and as I could only charge the
public 2c I could not afford to put on a 3c stamp so cut 3c and 5c
to about