PHYSIOGRAPHY. 25 



and minor inlets where the fishermen's craft find shelter. These 

 great ■watery ravines, which in many instances expand into in- 

 land .seas, hi'iiig with tliera the marvellous fish-wealth of the 

 surrounding waters, and place it within reach of the fisherman's 

 net and hook. At the same time they present unrivaled facili- 

 ties for the transport of the products of the fisheries, as well as 

 the riches of the mine and the forest, and the agricultural pro- 

 ductions whicli human labour will yet develope. To .such an 

 extent are the .shores indented that though the island is ahout a 

 thousand miles round, measuring from headland to headland, its 

 entire coast-line is double that extent of mileage. In fact it 

 would be difficult to find anywhere an equal land-area presenting 

 such an extent of frontage to the sea. 



COMPARATIVE SIZE. 



Size counts for a good deal, and in the long run must l*e a mea- 

 sure of power. In regard to size it counts tenth among the islands 

 of the globe. Its greatest breadth is 216 miles, and its greatest 

 length the same ; its area is 42,000 square miles. We obtain the 

 best idea of its extent by comparing it with other countries. It 

 is almost equal to the Empire State of New York ; it is twice the 

 size of Nova Scotia, and one-third larger than New Brunswick. 

 Ireland contains 32,500 square miles, so that Newfoundland is 

 one-sixth larger. It is three times as large as Holland and twice 

 as large as Denmark. 



SHAPE -PENINSULA.S. 



In shape it is roughly triangular, having a wide southern base 

 between Cape Race and Cape Ray and a long narrow apex to- 

 wards the north. Three large peninsulas project from the main 

 body of the island. The largest of these — the peninsula of 

 Avalon — is almost severed from the 2:)rincipal portion of the 

 island In the two large bay.s of Placentia and Trinity which are 

 separated by a narrow isthmus, in one place but three miles in 

 width. The Avalon peninsula is further divided by the two bays 

 of St. Mary's and Conception. Owing to its extensive frontage 

 on the Atlantic, its numerous harljours and its proximity to the 



