8 



been able to find any account; but there is mention, four years later, 

 of Thomas Aubert, who came from Dieppe to Newlbundland, and 

 who, })revious to his return, explored the river St. Lawrence. We 

 learn, further, that the fishery increased rapidly, and that, in 1517, 

 quite filty ships of different nations were employed in it. 



The flag of France was probably the most numerous, since, in 1527, 

 an English captain at Newfoundland wrote to his sovereign, Henry 

 VJII, that in the harbor of St. John alone he found fisliing eleven sail 

 of Norman and one Breton. Francis I, at this period, was engrossed 

 by a passionate and unsuccessful rivalry with Charles V of Spain, 

 and could hardly attend to so humble an interest. "But Chabot, ad- 

 miral of France, acquainted by his office witli the fishermen, on 

 whose vessels he levied some small exactions for his private emolu- 

 ment, interested Francis in the design of exploring and colonizing the 

 new world." Jacques C artier,* of St. Malo, who was considered the 

 best seaman of his day, was accordingly intrusted with the command 

 of an expedition in 1534. 



The French appear to liave had establishments on shore, for the 

 purposes of the fishery, in 1540; but we have no certain information 

 with regard to them. In 1577 they employed no less than one hundred 

 and fifty vessels, and prosecuted the business with great vigor and 

 success. After the accession of Henry IV — the first of the Bour- 

 bons — and under the auspicesof his illustrious minister, Sully, the New- 

 foundland cod-fishery was placed under the protection of the govern- 

 ment. 



Previous to 1G09, so constant and regular was intercouise with our 

 fishing-grounds that Scavalet, an old fisherman, had made forty 

 voyages. 



Without statistics in the early part of the seventeenth centur}^ we 

 only know, generally, that there was a material decline in this distant 

 branch of industry, caused, possibly, by the civil commotions at home. 

 But in the year 1645, though the number of vessels employed was fifty 

 less than in 1577, the fishermen of France were deemed by English 

 writers to be formidable rivals of their own. Disputes and bloodshed 

 had then occurred — precursors of long and distressing wars for the 

 mastery of the fishing-grounds. 



Meantime the successes, the explorations, and the representations 

 of the hardy adventurers to our waters for an article of food for the 

 fast-days of the church had led to the most important pohtical results. 

 The limits of this report do not permit minute statements ; and I will 

 only remark that, when Cartier — already referred to — made his first 

 voyage, the design of the French monarch was merely to found a single 

 col(jny in the ncMghborhood of the fishing-banks, but that the informa- 

 tion of the country commiuiicated to Francis on the navigator's rclurn, 

 confirming as it did the descriptions of the fishermen of Normandy 



* Jacques Cartier was a natives of St. Malo. Francis I sent him on his first voyage in 1534. 

 lie m;i<l(^ a second voyage in J 5:55 ; anil, when ready to depart from France, ho went to the 

 cathedra], with his whole company, to receive the bishop's benediction. Many of his com- 

 panions were young men of distinction. He came to the French possessions in America a 

 third time in J 540, as pilot, and in command of five ships, under Francois de la Ixocjue, lord of 

 Eoberval, who, commissioned as governor of Canada, was intrusted with the supreme au- 

 thority. Cartier published an accoimt of Canada after his second voyage. 



