The human transport of animals across the Northern Atlantic 



i6i 



FIG. 1 6. The fore- 

 most British ports 

 of the Newfound- 

 land trade before 

 the 19th century. 



The British ports regularly mentioned in every treatise on the history of New- 

 foundland (e.g. by Prowse, 1895), all situated in southwestern England (in Devon 

 and Cornwall, in addition Poole in Dorset, and Bristol), are marked on the map, 

 fig. 16. Their trade with Newfoundland goes back to the early i6th century, as 

 described above, and did not lose its outstanding importance until steamers out- 

 ranged sailing-vessels towards the end of the last century. 



Sometimes the ships went to Portugal or Spain on their way out to load salt for 

 the fishery but as a rule they sailed directly to Newfoundland. Published records 

 give very little information concerning to what extent they then used to go in 

 ballast but Braddick (1953, p. 30) mentions an example from Topsham showing 

 that in the winter season (Sept. -March) 1763-64 every second ship passing through 

 from Exeter, with unknown destination, was in ballast. Miss Ralph informs me 

 that as early as the 17th century a "ballast master" was appointed in Bristol, for 

 whom special rules, orders, and instructions were established. 



Far more detailed records were obtained from the unpublished "Lists of Arrivals 

 and Sailings for the Port of Poole", placed at my disposal by Mr. Kendall and cover- 

 ing a short period from and including the year 1813 (fig. 17). 



Diagram i summarizes the Newfoundland trade from Poole during two years. 

 In the first of these, counted from September ist 1813 to August 31st 1814 (re- 

 cords for the remaining four months of 18 14 being lost), 38 sailing-vessels left 

 Poole for Newfoundland, 21 of them partly or fully loaded with ballast amounting 

 to more than 1,100 tons altogether. In 1815 (January ist to December 31st) the 

 figures were: 57 ships, 17 of them partly or fully loaded with ballast to a total amount 



1 1 — 565597 Lindroth 



