79 



FISHERIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK. 



There were French fishinii^ estahhshments in thnl pnrt of Acadia now 

 known as New Brunswick, as early as 1G3S. Tlie Knghsh succeeded 

 to these at the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713; but they do not seem to have 

 Ibrmed many otliers until after the cession of Canada, in 1763.* Among 

 the lirst, I suppose, was that of Lieut. Walker, of the royal navy, in the 

 Bay of Chah^urs, which was extensive, controlling tlie fur mid lisli trade 

 of that region for several jxars. There were similar settlements on 

 the river St. John; but from the estimates of Mr. Grant, made in 1764, 

 at the request of the Rev. Dr. Stiles, the whole population of British 

 origin could not have exceeded one thousand. 



At the peace of 1783, several thousand "tories," or loyalists, com- 

 pelled to abandon their native land, settled in New Brunswick, and 

 transferred tliither the jurisprudence, the social and political institutions, 

 of "the old thirteen;" and, the year following, were allowed to organ- 

 ize a separate colonial government. Like those who went to that part 

 of Acadia still called Nova Scotia, many of the loyalists were gentlemen 

 of education, eminent private virtue, and distinguished consideration. 

 Some olitained offices of honor and emolument; others adopted agricul- 

 tural pursuits; and another class, fixing their abodes on islands and the 

 shores of the main land, resolved to earn their support on the sea. Of 

 the latter description, several, though compelled to toil and exposure 

 in open fishing boats, had been persons of note and property. But, 

 ruined by the confiscation laws of the whigs, or by the general disasters 

 of a civil war, they resorted to the hook and line to relieve the pressure 

 of immediate want, indulging the hope of "better times," and more 

 congenial avocations. Few, however, abandoned the employment, 

 and their children, trained to it from early youth, arid acquiring fisher- 

 men's habits, succeeded to boats^ fishing-gear, and smoke-houses, as 

 their only inheritance, and continue it at the present day. I have often 

 met with common l)oat fishermen of this lineage, whose earnings were 

 hardly sufficient to procure the absolute necessaries of life. 



The fisheries of New Brunswick are prosecuted with neither skill 

 nor vigor. The apimrent exports, small as are the statistics, do not 

 indicate tlieir real condition; since it is certain, that of the products of 

 the sea, shipped to other countries, a part is first imported from Nova 

 Scotia, and form a proportion of the exports of that colony.t The 

 number of vessels sent to Labrador and other distant fishing grounds 

 is never large, and often almost nominal. The cod-fishery in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence and the Bay of Chaleius is not as extensive as might be 

 reasonably exp(>ctod from the long exj)erience of the inliaf)itants therc^ 

 and the general salety and productiveness of the harbors and indenta- 

 tions of )thedoa:sn'"/<JJ nuurUST.u ^ 



,--:':i , . :..:'■: ".;--,:-n.:.»p!^f " -yvyr/ )[ ni -Wfr 



->Tlio French lruiWht'6 frfrts cm the' ^iTtJr 'St. .John prl»»!i- ta itlmJ jlcace irfUtrecbt, OllZ,"^' 

 which they ropairctl iu'l754, iilthmigh tho' couiitiy had beoa euded to tEnglariii quite half a> 



couiiiry. -■,,., : ■ , • ,' j I : i ..'■.'/• 



, t Tlie iiiiportH ibfo St Juhn fnuii Nwv.i Pfotia fur three nionths opty (July 10 to Octobei; 

 )0, I>*.V2) (if (he jirc-rtent yenr, were 7v^HI r|QbtaLs of driciTfisn, i:<6l» banrls of mafkefol;' 

 24^3 barrels of huniug, oud other pickled liwh, 



.Rdviw aioiii iO Jcoqa fv&i ^siTl' 



