FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 



81 



with us, and have erected establishments in New-Foundland 

 which nobody has opposed, where they load a very large 

 number of ships which are destined for Barbadoes, Jamaica 

 and other islands, and above all for Spain and Italy, and often 

 in time of peace, for France. Spaniards from the Bay of 

 Biscay also take part in the cod, seal and other fisheries and 

 even trade with the Indians of Labrador. The English of 

 Europe have over a hundred vessels every year engaged in 

 these fisheries, and those of Boston send more than two hun- 

 dred smaller ships of 50 to 80 tons. As a matter of right all 

 these fisheries belong to His Majesty for his subjects, yet the 

 'rench derive the least benefit from them, particularly in times 

 >f war, because our enemies have the necessary ships for the 



ST. MALO. 



protection of their commerce. Readers of this memoir know 

 how advantageous this fishing is to those engaged in it, par- 

 ticularly to the people of St. Malo, who trade in fish with 

 Spain, Toulon, Marseilles and Italy, bringing return cargoes 

 for Havre at good rates, consisting of the merchandise of 

 Spain, Provence, Italy and the Levant. It is difficult to ap- 

 preciate the abundance of these fisheries, which are capable 

 of giving rise to a practically unlimited commerce; the 

 fishes which they furnish always finding a ready market. 



"Perce and Bonaventure Islands have accommodation 

 for thirty large vessels, which can obtain cargoes of codfish 

 and oil every year. 



' ' In August, 1690, the English who besieged Quebec cap- 

 tured nine or ten vessels belonging to Bayonne and Havre 

 de Grace. Pirates from Boston took this Spring a little 



