94 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. chap, xxvi 



of the many promising results of tlie attention which has 

 recently been given by the Canadian Government to the 

 invaluable fisheries on this part of the coast. 



Seven years ago there was not a single fishery between 

 Natashquan and Seven Islands, and now there are 150 

 stations, giving employment to more than 1,500 fisher- 

 men. Previous to 1852, Canadian fishermen in the 

 Gidf and Eiver St. Lawrence suffered from the encroach- 

 ments of Americans, being positively driven away from 

 the fishing-grounds which they attempted to occupy on 

 the coast, because no protection was extended to them by 

 their own government. Since that year an armed govern- 

 ment schooner has been employed to protect the fisher- 

 men and repel invaders from the coast. The stations 

 are now becoming so numerous and important, and en- 

 gage so many men, that a couple of steamers will be 

 required to prevent infringement of the fishery laws on 

 a coast 900 miles in extent. 



The want of a good harbour is a great drawback to 

 Long Point, but its pro:5timity to Mingan harbour, one of 

 the best in the Gulf, will be the means of giving value to 

 the timber and land on the coast ; and if encouragement 

 be given, permanent settlements will soon supply the 

 fishermen with many necessaries which they are now 

 compelled to bring witli them. Wild hay is found in 

 great quantities on the coast ; and in the rear of the first 

 belt of timber, although the soil is poor, there is yet so 

 much available manure in the form of fish offal, that 

 farming on a small scale might be very easily associated 

 with fishing operations, and a stationary population gra- 

 dually estabhsh themselves on the coast. 



