79 



FISHERIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 



There were French fishing establishments in that part of Acadia now 

 known as New Brunswick, as early as 1638. The English succeeded 

 to these at the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713 ; but they do not seem to have 

 formed many others until after the cession of Canada, in 1763.* Among 

 the first, I suppose, was that of Lieut. Walker, of the royal navy, in the 

 Bay of Chaleurs, which was extensive, controlhng the fur and fish trade 

 of that region for several years. There were similar settlements on 

 the river St. John; but from the estimates of Mr. Grant, made in 1764, 

 at the request of the Rev. Dr. Stiles, the whole population of British 

 origin could not have exceeded one thousand. 



At the peace of 1783, several thousand "tories," or loyalists, com- 

 pelled to abandon their native land, settled in New Brunswick, and 

 transferred thither the jurisprudence, the social and political institutions, 

 of "the old thirteen;" and, the year following, were allowed to organ- 

 ize a separate colonial government. Like those who went to that part 

 of Acadia still called Nova Scotia, many of the loyalists were gentlemen 

 of education, eminent private virtue, and distinguished consideration. 

 Some obtained offices of honor and emolument ; others adopted agricul- 

 tural pursuits; and another class, fixing their abodes on islands and the 

 shores of the main land, resolved to earn their support on the sea. Of 

 the latter description, several, though compelled to toil and exposure 

 in open fishing boats, had been persons of note and property. But, 

 ruined by the confiscation laws of the whigs, or by the general disasters 

 of a civil war, they resorted to the hook and line to relieve the pressure 

 of immediate want, indulging the hope of "better times," and more 

 congenial avocations. Few, however, abandoned the employment, 

 and their children, trained to it from early youth, and acquiring fisher- 

 men's habits, succeeded to boats, fishing-gear, and smoke-houses, as 

 their only inheritance, and continue it at the present day. I have often 

 met with common boat fishermen of this lineage, whose earnings were 

 hardly sufficient to procure the absolute necessaries of life. 



The fisheries of New Brunswick are prosecuted with neither skill 

 nor vigor. The aiiparent exports, small as are the statistics, do not 

 indicate their real condition ; since it is certain, that of the products of 

 the sea shipped to other countries, a part is first imported from Nova 

 Scotia, and form a proportion of the exports of that colony.t The 

 number of vessels sent to Labrador and other distant fishing grounds 

 is never large, and often almost nominal. The cod-fishery in the Gulf' 

 of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Chaleurs is not as extensive as might be 

 reasonably expected from the long experience of the inhabitants there, 

 and the general safety and productiveness of the harbors and indenta- 

 tions of the coast. 



'The French built two forts on the river St. John prior to the peace of Utrecht, (1713,) 

 which they repaired in 1754, although the countiy had been ceded to England quite half a 

 century. 



t The imports into St. John from Nova Scotia for three months only (July 10 to October 

 10, 1852) of the present year, were 7,861 quintals of dried fish, 86U barrels of mackerel, 

 2,42"3 barrels of herrmg, and other pickled fish. 



