[siebert] SETTLEMENTS ON THE GASPÉ PENINSULA 403 



plots, he continues, worked by the fishermen in the most slovenly 

 manner, produce exceedingly good wheat, peas, potatoes, flax, etc., 

 and the industrious are always sure of a good market. 1 



In settling the Loyalists and in distributing their provisions, 

 clothing, and implements, Captain Law had rendered important ser- 

 vices, which were highly appreciated by Lieutenant Governor Cox. 

 Moreover, the latter thought that the new settlements needed special 

 supervision, and recommended Law as a suitable person to exercise 

 this function over them. Haldimand acted on the suggestion and, 

 November 2. 1783, appointed Captain Law as superintendent in the 

 District of Gaspé, with authority in all matters pertaining to the 

 Loyalists. He also authorized Cox to commission him as justice 

 of the peace and Thomas Mann as sheriff. 2 



Meanwhile, the colony at Paspebiac had spread to the lands 

 contiguous to the first township surveyed by Captain O'Hara, and 

 some of the refugees had settled at Gaspé, where they founded Douglas- 

 town. In both localities fishing became one of the chief occupations, 

 as shown by the official report of November 10, 1784. This report 

 stated that during the previous months the new settlers at Gaspé 

 and the Bay of Chaleurs had exported 25,500 quintals of dried codfish. 3 

 At the close of June, 1785, O'Hara reported from the former place 

 that the catch had been good up to that time, and that the Loyalists 

 of both his neighborhood and the Bay of Chaleurs were improving 

 their lands "in spite of some restless spirits among them." He 

 called attention to the inconvenience to which vessels trading in 

 Chaleurs Bay were put by having first to enter and clear at Gaspé, 

 and enclosed a memorial asking a change. The. change contemplated 

 was the establishment of a customs-house, of which O'Hara wished to 

 become collector. In another letter, dated September 12, he men- 

 tioned that Cox had transferred the seat of government from Percé 

 to the Bay of Chaleurs. 4 



We are able to get some idea of the distribution of the Loyalists 

 in the region whose newly acquired importance was thus recognized 

 by Cox from the register of inhabitants which that official prepared 

 in 1786. From its pages we find that three had taken up lots at Port 

 Daniel, sixteen, at Hopetown, nine, in the Township of New Lake, 

 seventeen, in the Township of Cox's Lakes, and eighty-five in the 



1 Haldimand Papers, B. 202, p. 209. 



2 Ibid., B. 64, pp. 379, 380; B. 202, p. 204; B. 64, pp. 100, 112-114, 379, 380. 



3 Ibid., B. 202, pp. 196, 218; LeMoine, Chronicles of the St. Lawrence, 13; 

 Haldimand Papers, Q 24-1, p. 61. 



4 Haldimand Papers, B. 202, pp. 218, 222. 



