190 



THE LABRADOR PEXINSULA. 



CHAP. XXXI I. 



The total permanent population of tlie Canadian coast 

 of the Gulf between Port Neuf and Blanc Sablon was 

 as follows in 1852 and 1861 : — 



Total population in 1861 4,413 



,,1852 1^ 



Total increase 3,005 



And the produce of the coast amounted to 



The total value of the industry of 4,413 permanent 

 residents in 1862 being represented by ^277,823. 



A comparison between the Canadian and tlie foreign 

 trade of the coast of Labrador and the Gulf shows how 

 utterly the fisheries had been neglected by the Government 

 of the Province previous to the year 1852 (see Chap. 

 XXXV.). It was formerly the custom for Americans called 

 ' eggers ' to take possession of the islands on which innu- 

 merable sea-birds laid their eggs, and drive the inhabitants 

 of the coast away when they ventured to take any. 

 The armed schooner now maintained by the Govern- 

 ment has put a stop to these insolent depredations, which 

 were committed with impunity for a period of twenty 

 years. 



The interior valleys of the rivers of this great Peninsula 

 flowing into the Gulf and Atlantic, are far from partaking 

 of the desolate and herbless character of the country 

 a few miles from the coast. Timber sufficient for fuel 



