16 FISHERMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



associated with them in their summer visits after mackerel, and learned of the winter fishing on 

 Georges and the Banks; of the chances to make profitable trips; the opportunities to get ahead 

 iu the States; and the advantages for their children to obtain an education. They also learned 

 how well the vessels were provisioned. All this led them to seek for chances on board our vessels, 

 and we have drawn from the Provinces hundreds of their population, representing all grades, with 

 a good proportion of really valuable men, who to-day are numbered among the energetic and 

 thriving citizens of Gloucester." 



Again, the system of oppression, to which the fishermen of many parts of Nova Scotia are 

 subjected by the fishery capitalists, has had a very important influence in inducing them to seek 

 other homes. 



Canadian fishermen at home. — Napoleon Lavoie, esq., a Canadian fishery officer, in his 

 report made in 1875 upon the Gaspe" and Bonaventure divisions on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, 

 gives the following account of the condition of the population in that region, which explains in 

 part the causes of the extensive immigration : 



" Changes are so few and the rate of progress so slow on the extent of coast placed under my 

 charge, that it is a very difficult thing to present my annual report under a new dress and to sug- 

 gest matters which have not .already been a frequent subject of allusion. There are, however, 

 certain things which require urgent action and which demand continuous public attention. If the 

 large divisions of Gasp6 and Bonaventure, with the exceptional advantages presented by reason 

 of their location on the rich shores of Bay des Chaleurs, have only a population of 30,000 souls, 

 most of them neglectful of agricultural pursuits, such a slow rate of progress must be attributed to 

 causes which I have in several instances already brought under your notice, and to which I must 

 again call your attention. 



" The actual settlement of the coast of Gaspe and Bay des Chaleurs hardly dates one hundred 

 years back. Scarcely had it begun when powerful firms repaired thither from the Island of Jersey 

 to take advantage of the labor and resources of the growing population. The ignorance and 

 improvidence of the settlers, which repeated experience has not yet cured, unfortunately made 

 them easy tools to the cunning and cupidity of merchants, who took advantage of their own 

 supremacy to keep them in a state of comparative bondage. The policy adopted by the founder of 

 one of these firms, that of Robin & Co., could possibly bring no other results than those witnessed 

 at the present time. This far-seeing man understood at once that in order to keep these people 

 under his power they should be prevented as much as possible from following agricultural pursuits, 

 which would have insured a certain amount of independence. He therefore became purchaser of 

 the seigniories of Pabos and Grand River, and subsequently deeded this land to the people at the 

 rate of ten acres each. In spite, however, of the endeavors made to keep settlers tied to their 

 fishing boats the soil is so fertile and the climate so favorable to agricultural pursuits that remark- 

 able progress has been noticed in late years. The returns, however, of the last tour or five years 

 show that agricultural products have had a tendency to decline rather than to increase, although 

 there has been no decrease in the population. It must not be lost sight of that public works, lum- 

 bering operations, railways, salmon and lobster canning establishments employed a large number 

 of hands, which thus were lost to agriculture. On the other side the want of markets for the sale 

 of farm produce is a further impediment to the progress of agriculture, the only purchasers being 

 the Jersey merchants, who buy at low prices in order to supply fishermen. Even tanners them- 

 selves dare not sell on credit, as they would be sure to lose the amount of their debt, the merchants 

 compelling fishermen to give them all their fish. 



"Another reason why agricultural pursuits are more neglected now than they used to be is the 



