A. D. 1 745. 247 



and to thofe bound to Canada, on occafion to refort to for wood and 

 water; to clean or to repair, &c. not being fo much in their view as fe- 

 curing and upholding the fifliery. Their conviction of the growing pro- 

 fits of the fidiery there, and the hopes of one time or other monopoliz- 

 ing it, made them take fuch indefatigable and indired means the lafl 

 war (i. e. of Queen Anne) to procure a neutrality, fo far as related to 

 the fifliery, which they obtained by dint of money; and on the peace, 

 in order to fecure it to them for the future, fluck at no terras to obtain 

 this ifland, which they had no fooner effeded, than they immediately 

 fettled it with a new colony of fifliermen only. And a fifliery flourifhed 

 here fo fafl:, that they could, and did, afford to underfell us at foreign 

 markets. And for the protection of the trade fo to do, they had annual 

 fliips of war fent them from France to vifit and fupply them, with or- 

 ders to protect and defend not only their fea-coafts, but their veflels on 

 the banks of Newfoundland, &c. ; and alfo to make and keep their pre- 

 tenfions good to the feveral banks, either within or without their line ; 

 and to make themfelves a privilege as it were of fifhing almofl: where 

 they pleafed, by force of cufiom, in which they gradually 'incrCafed ; fo 

 tlKit in the year 1732 two of their men of war vvere ordered on that 

 fiation, to cruife on the banks, to examine into the ftate of the fifliery, 

 and to give them any necefiary affiflance and protection ; and to go 

 from thence to Canada, and fo back to the fifliery again, and thence to 

 convoy thofe fliips that had made their voyages, and were ready to de- 

 part for Europe. The marquis de la Maifon Forte, (continues Sir Wil- 

 liam Pepperell) in his journal, thus remarks, Louifliourg is a good port 

 and a fafe harbour. More than 100 veflels from France arrive there 

 every year to fifli, and make fifli (i. e. to cure them) of the cod which 

 they catch in fmall craft of the country, and are after put into larger 

 vefll'ls, where they fait them and dry them, from the beginning of June 

 till October, when they all get ready to depart each for his afllgned 

 port. This ifland produces fome grain ; but though there are more 

 than four thoufand inhabitants, they find their account much better in 

 fifliing than in liunKindry, and confequently the land lies wafie ; they 

 procuring all neccflarics in exchange lor their fifli. 



Our author proceeds to illuflraie the magnitude and profits of the 

 fifliery of the French in thofe leas, viz. 



From the gut of Canfi) down along the fliore to Louilhourg, and 

 from thence to the north-eafi part of Cape-Breton, there were annual- 

 ly employed at leafl 500 fliallops, each of which required at fea and on 

 fliore at leaft five men ; in all - - 2500 men. 



Sixty brigs, fchooners, and floops, with each 15 

 men, - - - - - 900 men. 



Total men employed, 3400 men. 



