77 



FISHERIES OF LABRADOR. 



The coast of Labrador was partially explored b}'- Jacques Cartier 

 in 1534. He was beset with ice, and encountered many difficulties. 

 Little was known of the country for a long period after the voyage of 

 the French navigator. It has been said, however, that our cod-fishery 

 was extensive in this region, not only previous to the Revolution, but in 

 the early part of the last century. The statement I consider entirely 

 erroneous. As I have examined the scattered and fragmentary ac- 

 counts of Labrador, there is no proof whatever that its fishing grounds 

 were occupied b}^ our countrymen until after we became an independ- 

 ent people. 



Li 1761 Sir Francis Bernard, who was then governor of Massachu- 

 setts, wrote a brief "Account of the coast of Labrador," which — found 

 among some of his papers — is preserved in the Collections of the Mas- 

 sachusetts Historical Society. After some general remarks upon the 

 country, and the ignorance that existed relative to the natives, he pro- 

 ceeds to say that, " What follows shall be a plain narration of facts, 

 as I received them from several persons who have been on the Esqui- 

 meaux coast, with now and then a digi"ession, which I hope may be 

 pertinent." These persons appear to have been Captain Henry At- 

 kins, of Boston, who made a voyage to Davis's straits in the ship Whale 

 in 1729, and who visited the coast a second time in 1758, and a Cap- 

 tain Prebble, who was sent by Atkins in 1753. The Baronet describes 

 the course of affhii'S between Atkins and the Indians in 1729, and adds 

 that he "is the more particular in this account from the captain's own 

 mouth, as he thinks it plainly indicates that the natives on this coast 

 and islands had never any trade or commerce with any civilized peo- 

 ple from Europe or America ; of course not with the French from Can- 

 ada, or the Hudson's Bay factories." This is conclusive, especially if it 

 be remembered that the object of Sir Francis was to collect information 

 " for the advantage of future navigators." His memory was remark- 

 able, and he himself said that he could repeat the whole of Shakspeare. 

 Of course, this paper embraced every thing that had been communicated 

 to him. 



As late as 1761, then, it is not probable that fishermen of muj flag 

 had visited the waters of Labrador. An account of the origin of our 

 own fishery there will be found in the proper place. 



The Enghsh whale and seal fisheries were the first, and employed 

 upwards of one hundred vessel, at times, prior to the year 1775. The 

 earliest adventures were near 1763; as at that time the Labrador 

 country was poUtically separated from Canada, and annexed to the 

 government of Newfoundland by royal proclamation, to the end that the 

 " open and free fishery of our subjects may be extended." The pursuit 

 of the cod and salmon followed. Meantime the Moravians, whose 

 principal settlement is at Nain, who have ever led a quiet and simple 

 lite, and who now annually ship furs, oils, and other productions of 

 that region to England, in payment for the manufactured commodities 

 which the}" require, had founded a colony. 



The islands are so numerous and so near each other as to resemble, 

 and often to be mistaken for, the main land. Back from the coast, the 



