FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 67 



been explored. It is a plain of about four leagues in extent, 

 but with little woods, so that M. de Courtemanche has to send 

 for firewood to a distance of three or four leagues with his 

 horses and carts. He is also able to reach it by boat from the 

 river of the Eskimo, which is at a little distance. M. de 

 Courtemanche has engaged thirty families of Montagnais 

 to settle near his house. They are of great use to him, both 

 for the fisheries in summer and for the chase in winter. He 

 has made them very sociable. 



"Near the house of M. de Courtemanche there is a 

 little river containing quantities of salmon and trout. 



"In time of war, Phelypeaux Bay is not safe because 

 it is very open, but three leagues away there is a bay and a 

 port called St. Amour, where the fishery is not so abundant 

 as at Phelypeaux Bay, but being easy of defence one would 

 be in safety there from the attacks of enemies. 



"The second establishment should be at Petit Nord, in 

 the Strait of Belle Isle, either at St. Barbe or at Chateau. 

 This establishment would have the advantage of being in 

 the Strait by which the fish and whales from the ocean 

 enter into and return from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



"At this port a lucrative trade could be carried on with 

 the Eskimos, who come there in great numbers every sum- 

 mer. 



"The third establishment should be on the east coast of 

 Labrador, at Kessessaki, which is a large river between 52 

 and 53 N. lat. The fishery of all kinds cod, seals, whales 

 is easy and abundant. There is a great quantity of fine 

 woods to build stages, houses, or ships. These pine woods 

 and large trees are a sign that the land is fertile, and one 

 will be able to keep animals of all sorts, to grow wheat and 

 all kinds of grains, vegetables, and root crops. In short, it 

 should become a considerable colony and useful to the State 

 because: (1) it is not far distant from France; (2) it will 

 return great profits for little outlay; (3) the fisheries will 

 yield certain and inexhaustible profits advantages which are 

 not found in mines of gold or silver, that are very costly to 



