rwAP. xxrx. 



BRADORE BAY. 127 



In 1535, wlieii Jacques Cartier discovered the Eiver St. 

 Lawrence, he met witli a French vessel looking for tlie 

 port of Brest, situated in Bradore Bay. The town of 

 Brest was built by the French in Bradore Bay, whicli 

 is about tliree miles from the present boundary of 

 Canada at Blanc Sablon Harbour, and at one time it 

 contained upwards of 1,000 permanent residents. Lewis 

 Eoberts, in liis ' Dictionary of Commerce,' which was 

 printed in London in 1600, states that ' it was the chief 

 town of New France, and the residence of the governor, 

 almoner, and otlier public officers. The French drew 

 from them large quantities of baccolo, whale-fins, and 

 train, together with castor and other valuable oils, and 

 the Frencli had also a fort at Tadousac solely to traffic 

 with the Indians for furs.' Mr. Samuel Eobertson, who 

 resides at Tabatiere Bay, not far from Bradore, states in 

 his ' Notes on the Coast of Labrador : ' ' As to the truth 

 of Lewis Robert's remarks, there can be no doubt, as 

 may be seen from the ruins and terraces of the buildings, 

 which were chiefly constructed of wood. I estimate that 

 at one time it contained 200 houses, besides stores, &c., 

 and perhaps 1,000 inlialntants in the winter, which would 

 be trebled during' tlie summer.' Tlie ancient town of 

 Brest was situated within the limits of a concession made 

 by the French King to Le Sieur Amador Godefroy de 

 Saint-Paul of five leagues of coast on each side of the 

 North-west or Esquimaux Eiver. Among tlie objects 

 which the applicants stated in their petition they had in 

 view were, ' tlie fisliing for cod, whales, seals, porpoise, 

 and others.' 



The cause of the decay of Brest is still involved in 



