no SAMUEL EDWAED DAWSON ON THE 



When an etymology seems bo simple as that oîbacalao (stock-fish), from the low Latin baculus, a stick, it is 

 unnecessary to go so far afield as to import such a word as kabeljaauw into the question. There is a precise 

 parallel in the Spanish cahallo from the low Latin cahaltus, and the Basques no doubt borrowed the Spanish word 

 and spelled it in their own way. It is a common saying concerning the Basques that they write Solomon and 

 pronounce Nebuchadnezzer, so difficult is their language. 



4G. Ramusioyol III.— Introductory Dmourse. The whole statement is incredible. We know from Capt. Coats's 

 Geography of Hudson's Bay that the earliest date a sailing vessel can enter the ice-pack outside of Hudson straits is 

 the middle of July. The Canadian expedition under Lieut, Gordon in 1886 reached Cape Mugford on July 2 and, 

 steaming along the coast from a point 60 miles south of Cape Mugford as far as Cape Chidley, found the ice lining 

 the coast tightly packed fifteen miles out from shore and loose for ten miles farther out. 



47. The following is Galvano's notice of the Cabot discovery from the translation in Hakiuyt Soc. Vol. 1893. 

 Harrisse Cahol gives the original. Galvano's Discoveries of the World, 1563 : 



" In the year 1496 there was a Venetian in England called John Cabota, who having knowledge of such a new 

 " discovery as this was and perceiving by tlie globe that the islands before spoken of stood almost in the same lati- 

 " tude with his country and much nearer to England than to Portugal or to Castile, he acquainted King Henry 

 " the VII., then King of England, with the same, wherewith the saideKing was greatly pleased and furnished him 

 " out with two ships and 300 men ; which departed and set saile in the spring of the yeere, and they sailed west- 

 '' ward till they came in sight of land in 45 degrees of latitude toward the north, and then went straight northward 

 " till they came into 60 degrees of latitude, where the day is 18 hours long and the night is very cleare and bright. 

 " There they found the air cold, and great islands of ice, but no ground in 70, SO, 100 fathoms sounding, but found 

 " much ice which alarmed them ; and so from thence putting about finding the land to turn eastwards they trended 

 " along by it on the other tack, discovering all the Bay and river named De.seado, to see if it passed on the other 

 " side ; then they sailed back again diminishing the latitude till they came to 38 degrees toward the equinoctial line 

 " and from thence returned to England. There be others which say that he went as far as the Cape of Florida 

 " which standeth in 25 degrees." 



This extract is a good instance of the way in which the two voyages were mixed up. Although this extract 

 from the Hakiuyt Society gives the name of "John" Cabot as found in their Portuguese text, the other Portuguese 

 text in Harrisse's Cahnt reads '■ Sebastian." John Cabot had a narrow escape from comj|Jete suppression. It was 

 the fortunate preservation of the Spanish, Milanese and Venetian correspondence which has given a firm basis to 

 his reputation. Dr. Deane thinks that it was Hakiuyt who altered " Sebastian " to " John " Cabot That was (if it 

 be true) an unwarrantable liberty to take with a text, but at that time the information was in llakluyt's possession 

 which showed that John was the discoverer. He had the patents, the first of which was dated 1496. The laws of 

 literary composition in this respect were not then so strictly drawn as they are now. 



48. The Abbé Verreauin two papers in the Trans, of the Royal Soc. of Canada illustrates the fierceness of this 

 jealousy in Spain. He gives documents showing that the Spanish government sent spies to France to watch the 

 preparations for Roberval's voyage and that it endeavoured to induce the Portuguese government to send an 

 expedition to follow and destroy Eoberval's fleet. 



49. Discovery of America, pp. 14, 257, et seq. 



50. Hakiuyt— I>!wrs Voyages, p. 52, ed. Hakiuyt Soc. 



51. This is the reason why Pope and Ganong in their studies have arrived at trne conclusions concerning 

 Jacques Cartier's voyages. Their premises are wrong because the variation was then one point less, but their 

 conclusions are right because Cartier's compass was set to the variation of France nearly a point east. 



52. And never having been published exercised no influence on succeeding maps. Containing conclusive 

 evidence of the English claims it was kept secret and then forgotten. It was discovered by Humboldt in 1832. 



53. See Rev. Dr. Patterson's monograph in Trans. Boy. Soc. Can. for 1890. 



54. This bank is a well known spot to sailors. The soundings are very distinctive, and in thick weather it is 

 usual when near there to heave-to and sound ; the ship's position can be then found with certainty. 



55. Discovery of America, p. 580. 



56. Abbé Ferland— iîïsf. du Canada, vol. I.; Vops—Jacqixes Cartier; Ganong— Trans. Roy. Soc. Canada, 1SS7 

 and 1839 ; Laverdière— iVotes to Champlain's Voyages; Abbé Verreau— Troii.?. Roy. Soc. Canada, 1891 and 1892. 



57. Abbé Verreau— Traiis. Roy. Soc. Canada, 1890 and 1891. 



