FISHERIES OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC 107 



Philip Robin & Co., and in the former at Paspebiac as Charles 

 Robin & Co., Philip and Charles being brothers. 



"When Charles Robin came to Gaspe", says Dr. Clarke, 

 "the fishing was scattered in small establishments and with- 

 out organization. Though his purpose was to seek locations 

 for new establishments on the capital he represented, 

 yet the outcome was the development of a concern 

 with interests so wide upon the coast and influences 

 so commanding upon the greater part of the fish- 

 ing industry as to practically consolidate and control 

 the entire business without serious competition for nearly a 

 century, and to set the pace for all future undertakings along 

 this line. The firm name was changed with time, but till 

 1886 it w r as Charles Robin & Co. It then took the form of 

 C. Robin & Co., Ltd. A few years later Collas & Co. amalga- 

 mated with the old firm and the title became the Charles 

 Robin-Collas Co., Ltd. Up to this time the capital of the 

 business was all in Jersey, and the entire transaction of the 

 fishing was carried out in accordance with orders from across 

 the sea. In 1904 Collas & Whitman, of Halifax, entered the 

 company, and the business is now the C. Robin-Collas Co., 

 Ltd., with headquarters at Halifax. To-day, with the main 

 establishment at the historic location, Paspebiac, the company 

 controls twenty-eight fishing stations all along the shores of 

 Gaspe from Bay Chaleur to well up the mouth of the St. Law- 

 rence, and on the north shore of the river and Labrador. 



"When Robin arrived in Gaspe he found an establish- 

 ment at Bonaventure controlled by William Smith, and with 

 him entered into business relations, Smith gaining control of 

 the stations up the bay, and Robin devoting his attention to 

 acquiring or erecting new stations on the coast from Paspe- 

 biac down. Smith and Robin had a good many disagreements, 

 and finally ceased to co-operate. Robin's enterprises were 

 proving fortunate when the American war broke out and his 

 serious troubles began. 



"It has been my good fortune through the favor of the 

 General Manager of the Robin establishments, and directly 



