The human transport of animals across the Northern Atlantic 157 



1930, p. 431). Already at that time several introduced European insects had be- 

 come established on the island (below, p. 215). 



The history of the French islands St. Pierre and Miquelon has much in common 

 with that of Newfoundland proper. Though already colonized about 1670 by 

 the French, they later stood under British supremacy during the main part of 

 two long periods: 1713-63, 1778-1815. I was told by Mr, Mathews, of Poole, that 

 this Dorset port upheld an intermittent direct trade with St. Pierre, probably 

 about 1800. From the report of the astronomer Cassini, in 1768 (Prowse, 1895, 

 p. 570), we learn that at that time the French fishing-fleets arriving at St. Pierre 

 every spring belonged to many different ports, from Honfleur on the Seine to Bay- 

 onne on the Bay of Biscay. However, European animals hitherto observed on St. 

 Pierre-Miquelon are not necessarily introduced from France; the Ground-beetle 

 Nehria hrevicollis F., the Lamellicorn beetle Aegialia rufa F., and the Weevil 

 Trachodes hispidus L., unknown elsewhere in North America, may as well have 

 arrived from the British Isles. Not even the period of prohibition in U.S.A., when 

 St. Pierre served as a too well-known staple of French spirits, certainly packeted 

 in nice straw cases, seems to have had particular importance for the introduction 

 of European animals. This is a confirmation of the view stressed in this chapter, 

 that transport of ballast is superior to any kind of cargo as an instrument for 

 synanthropous dispersal. 



The ballast-traflfic 



There are many records from Newfoundland as well as from England indicating 

 the regular use of ballast on board the sailing-vessels of the North Atlantic trade. 



When, in 161 1, John Guy, the founder of Newfoundland's first permanent 

 settlement, published "Certaine orders for the ffishermen", he gave them the 

 form of 8 rules and \h& first of these ran (cited from Prowse, 1895, p. 99): "Ballast 

 or anything hurtful to Harbours not to be throwne out but be carried ashore— 

 Penalty £ 5 for every offence". 



This instruction was repeated as point 2 of the "Western Charter" of 1633: 

 "No ballast to be thrown out to prejudice of harbor", and as number i of the 

 "Lawes, Rules, and Ordinances whereby the Affaires and fishery of Newfound- 

 land are to be governed untill the Parlam^ shall take further order", of 1653: 

 "That noe Ballast, Prest stones nor anything else hurtfuU to the Harbours bee 

 throwne out to the prejudice of said Harbours, but that it be carryed ashore and 

 layd where it may not doe annoyance". 



Even in 171 2 the appointed Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Nicholas Treva- 

 nion, included, as No. 13, a point of similar content into his "Fishery Scheme". 



