THE ATLANTIC COAST OF LABRADOR. 9 



Goveniuient, published a report of cousiderable length on their extent and character. From this 

 report we have extracted the following more important facts concerning the region : 



" The tishinggrounds on the Atlantic coast of Labrador as far north as Sandwich Bay have 

 been occnpied to a greater or less extent for one hundred and twenty years. Those extending from 

 Sandwich Bay to Cape Harrison (Webeck) have also been visited by fishing craft for a generation 

 or more ; but north of Aillik, about forty miles from Cape Harrison, the coast has only been 

 frequented by Newfoundland codfishiug craft during the last fifteen years. . . . 



" The leading characteristics of the coast northwest of Aillik are as follows : 



" 1. The shore line is deeply serrated by a constant succession of profound and narrow fiords, 

 stretching from thirty to fifty miles into the interior. 



" 2. It is fringed with a vast multitude of islands, forming a continuous archipelago from Cape 

 Hillete to Cape Mugford, averaging twenty miles in depth from the mouths of the fiords seaward, 



" 3. Outside of the islands, anu about fifteen miles seaward from shore, are numerous banks 

 and shoals, which form the great autumnal, spring, and summer feeding grounds of the cod; while 

 outside the shoals there appears to be a second range of banks, which are probably their winter 

 feeding ground. 



"4. The island-studded area forms an immense codfishiug ground, which covers between 

 Cape Harrison (Webeck) and Cape Mugford a boat fishing-ground (exclusive of the banks or 

 shoals outside) nearly as large as the combined area of the English and French boat fishing- 

 grounds on the chart of Newfoundland. 



"For the sake of distinction, I have styled the area under review 'The Northern Labrador 

 fishing-grounds,' beginning at Cape Harrison (Webeck), and, for the present at least, terminating 

 at Cape Mugford." 



The following table by Professor Hind shows approximately the area of the boat fishing-grounds 

 about the island of Newfoundland, as compared with those of N( rthern Labrador. From this 

 table it will be seen that the area of the Northern Labrador fishing-grounds alone, exclusive of 

 the banks, is equal to about five-sixths the entire area of the British and French boat fishing- 

 grounds on the coast of Newfoundland. The area of the inner range of banks cannot be even 

 approximately stated. 



Comparative table of the Nortliern Labrador and Newfoundland FisJiing-Gronnd areas. 



[lu geographical square miles.] 

 Cape Harrison to Mugford, 2fi0 luik's, average 20 miles deep 5, 200 



NEWFOUNDLAjy) BOAT FISHERY. 



Frencli shore, Cape Saiut Jolin via Cape Bauld to Cape Ray, 696 miles, by •! miles deep, 



shore hoat fishing 2, OyS 



South shore of Newfoundland boat fishery. Cape Ray to Cape Race, 573 miles, by 3 miles 



deep, shore fishery 1, 719 



East shore of Newfoundland boat fishery, Cape Race to Cape Bouavista, 294 miles, 3 miles 



deep, shore fishery 882 



Northeast sliore of Newfoundland boat fishery, Cape Bonavista to Cape Saint John, 225 



miles, 3 miles deep, shore fishery . .» G75 



Northeast shore of Newfoundland boat fishery, among islands in Bonavista Bay and Bay of 



Notre Dame, 120 miles, 7 miles deep 840 



Area of British Newfoundland boat fishery 4, 116 



Area of French Newfoundland boat fishery 2, 088 



Total area of Newfoundland boat fishery 6, 204 



Area of Northern Labrador boat fishery. Cape Harrison to Mugford 5,200 



