35 



PART II. 



NEWFOUNDLAND— NOVA SCOTIA— CAPE BRETON— PRINCE EDWARD ISL- 

 AND—MAGDALENE ISLANDS— BAY OF CHALEURS— LABRADOR- NEW 

 BRUNSWICK. 



ENGLISH COD-FISHERY NEWFOUNDLAND. 



Newfoundland is the oldest colony of England in America. It is 

 said that in the puhlic library of Venice there is a map, constructed by 

 Andrea Bianco, in 1436, which authorizes the conjecture that it was 

 known to fishermen before the voyage of Cabot, in 1497. Ti)e story, 

 to state its substance in a word, is, that the island Scorajixa, or Stoxa- 

 Jixa, on the map, and the island of Newfoundland, are identical, be- 

 cause the codfish is called stock-fish in the northern languages. 



The Enghsh resorted to Iceland* for the cod, previous to the year 



* The Icelanders, at the present time, derive their chief subsistence and profit from the sea. 

 They live principally on the shores and harbors, where fish are plentiful. The fishinji season com- 

 mences in February, and closes in May. The fishermen wear a dress of leather, rubbed over 

 with train-oil until'it is nearly impervious to water. They fish with line and hooks, baited 

 with shell-fish, or pieces of flesh. They have lately become acquainted with nets, and use 

 them in the herring fishery. When they leave the shore they take off their hats, and offer up 

 a petition fi)r success, and recommend themselves to the Divine protection in a prayer or 

 hymn. They then row to the fishing grounds, and continue there all day. In 1804 the total 

 number of boats employed was twenty-one hundred and sixty-three, namely: 208, with eight 

 and ten oars; ],0ti8, with four and six oars; and 887 of smaller size. Bessestaar is the seat 

 of a good academy, with a collection (in 1826) of fifteen hundred volumes, which, says Malte 

 Brun, " is no doubt the most northern library in the world." Iceland, he observes, " produces 

 no salt; but the; water of the siuTouudiug sea is fully as saline as that of the Mediterranean. 

 The salt which the Icelanders obtain from if gives a bluish tint to fish." 



Kcikiavik, acconling to another writer, was selected as the seat of government "for the con- 

 venience of its harbor, and for the gravel beach — a thing of rare occurrence in Iceland." The 

 exports of fish from Reikiavik, in 180(5, were much larger than from ajiy other place. 



The Dutch cod-fighery is of importance. 



[Translation.] 

 STATE PAPER OF THE KINGDOM OF TftE NETHERLANDS, 



No. 13. — Art of Glh March, 1818, fur the encouragement of the Iceland cod-fishery. 



We, William, by the grace of God King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange Nassau, Grand 



Duke of Luxembourg, Ac. 



Be it knoWTi to all those who shall see these presents, or hear them read, greeting: 



Considering that the little, or Iceland, cod-fisliery lias iiecn eontiimally supported and en- 

 WHiraged by premiums out of the pubfur treasury in behalf of those who carry on this branck 

 of industry, so important to the prosperity of the country; 



And that tiie reasons; which, iu former times, |)leaile<l for the allowance of those premiums, 

 have still, at the [iresent time, their full force and weight : 



We have therefore heard our council of state, and, with the advice of the States General, 

 do hereby decree and direct: 



Artici.k I There siiall be paid out of the publico treasury a premium of five hundred guild 

 crs f(tr every voyage of each ship, which, for aecoiiut of our subjects, is fitted out in thia 

 kingdom, and shall sail from on«;of its jiorts during ilu^ years 181t<, IHI't, and |Hv>i(, ftir Iceland 

 t4i carry on the little lifihery — that is, the cod-lishory — between the si.\iy lifih and sixty-soveat 

 degrees of north latitude. 



