8 



been able to find any account; but there is mention, four years later, 

 of Thomas Aubert, who came from Dieppe to Newfoundland, and 

 who, previous to his return, explored the river St. Lawrence. We 

 learn, further, that the fishery increased rapidly, and that, in 1517, 

 quite fifty ships of different nations were employed in it. 



The flag of France was probably the most numerous, since, in 1527, 

 an English captain at Newfoundland wrote to his sovereign, Henry 

 VITI, that in the harbor of St. John alone he found fishing eleven sail 

 of Norman and one Breton. Francis I, at this period, was engrossed 

 by a passionate and unsuccessful rivalry with Charles V of Spain, 

 and could hardly attend to so humble an interest. ''But Chabot, ad- 

 miral of France, acquainted by his office with the fishermen, on 

 whose vessels he levied some small exactions for his private emolu- 

 ment, interested Francis in the design of exploring and colonizing the 

 new world." Jacques Cartier,* of St. Malo, who was considered the 

 best seaman of his day, was accordingly intrusted with the command 

 of an expedition in 1534. 



The French appear to have had establishments on shore, for the 

 purposes of the fishery, in 1540; but we have no certain information 

 with regard to them. In 1577 they employed no less than one hundred 

 and fifty vessels, and prosecuted the business with great vigor and 

 success. After the accession of Henry IV — the first of the Bour- 

 bons — and under the auspices of his illustrious minister. Sully, the New- 

 foundland cod-fishery was placed under the protection of ihe govern- 

 ment. 



Previous to 1609, so constant and regular was intercouise with our 

 fishing-grounds that Scavalet, an old fisherman, had made forty 

 voyages. 



Without statistics in the early part of the seventeenth century, we 

 only know, generally, that there was a material decline in this distant 

 branch of industry, caused, possibl}^ by the civil commotions at home. 

 But in the year 1645, though the number of vessels employed was fifty 

 less than in 1577, the fishermen of France were deemed by English 

 writers to be formidable rivals of their own. Disputes and ^bloodshed 

 had then occurred — precursors of long and distressing wars for the 

 mastery of the fishing-grounds. 



Meantime the successes, the explorations, and the representations 

 of the hardy adventurers to our waters for an article of food for the 

 fast-days of the church had led to the most important political results. 

 The limits of this report do not permit minute statements ; and I will 

 cfnly remark that, when Cartier — already referred to — made his first 

 voyage, the design of the French monarch was merely to found a single 

 colony in the neighborhood of the fishing-banks, but that the informa- 

 tion of the country communicated to Francis on the navigator's return, 

 confirming as it did the descriptions of the fishermen of Normandy 



* Jacques Cartier was a native of St. Malo. Francis I sent him on liis first voyage in 15;J4. 

 He made a second voyage in 1535; and, when ready to depart from France, he went to the 

 cathedral, with his whole company, to receive the bishop's benediction. Many of his com- 

 panions were yomig men of distinction. He came to the French pos.sessions in America a 

 third time in 1540, as pilot, and in command of five ships, under Francois de la Eoque, lord of 

 Eoberval, who, commissioned as governor of Canada, was intrusted with the supreme au- 

 thority. Cartier published an account of Canada after his second voyage. 



