PROCEEDINGS FOR 1897 CXV 



shore. Hence the snares for game must have been near the strand. The 

 Indian was not snai-ing gulls or sea-birds ; he was seeking to catch the 

 game that abounded on the shores of the gulf Moreover, the Micmacs 

 never lived on the sea-coast. It was too much exposed to the storms of 

 the ocean ; they frequented the shores of the gulf, where crystal streams 

 were plentiful, game abundant, and their fishing grounds easily accessible. 

 Here (J^ibot found the snares and needles. All this must be evident to 

 those who know our coasts and have any familiarity with the habits of 

 the Indians. 



Finally, we must accept the statement that Cabot coasted for three 

 hundred leagues along the shores of the discovered land. It is no longer 

 a theory, it is now a settled fact, that the landfall was on Cape Breton 

 Island. There is no possible reconciliation of these two facts unless we 

 admit that the land first seen was within the gulf, and that Cabot sailed 

 round Prince Kdward Island, went north of Anticosti for some distance, 

 then turned and passed out of the Straits of Belle Isle. The two laro*e 

 islands seen on his right were Anticosti and Newfoundland, of whose size 

 he could have no idea. Some writers on this subject have expressed sur- 

 prise that Humboldt should have held this theory. It is precisel}' 

 because he knew and understood navigation, as well as cosmography, 

 that he held it. Dr. S. E. Dawson admits that if there had been time to 

 sail so far we should have to accept three hundred leagues as correct.^ 

 But because he thinks there was not time for this, he changes them to 

 miles and supposes Cabot to have sailed along the coast to Cape Race 

 without observing the great opening sixty miles wide into the gulf. As 

 Cabot could not possibly see Cape Ray from Cape North, he could 

 not mistake the opening for a bay. Dr. Deane admits if Pasqualigo's 

 statement is true, that Cabot may have made this circuit of the gulf. 

 Pasqualigo's statement is true ; he had his information from Cabot. 

 Moreover, we liave proved that he entered the gulf. There was am])le 

 time to sail round it. Dr. Dawson's computation of Cabot's daily sailino- 

 requires elucidation. ^ It is true that he advanced in latitude only forty- 

 four miles, on an average, a day ; but any cai)tain of a sailing vessel will 

 tell you that instead of sailing only 2,200 miles, Cabot, by reason of 

 '' tacking," must have actually sailed more than 3,000 miles. We know 

 from Adam, of Bremen, who wrote in the eleventh century, as well as 

 from a log book of 1556, to be quoted later on, that the ships of those 

 periods could sail more than one hundred miles a day. There is no doubt 

 but Cabot's vessel was quite as speedy. Moreover, in a strong breeze the 

 ships of an earlier period were as fast as those of to-day, tonnage being- 

 equal, although much slower in calmer weather. Again, in the smooth 

 waters of the gulf, where south and southwest winds prevail all summer, 

 the conditions were most favourable to Cabot. 



1 Trails. R. S. C, 1894. nbidem. 



