NEWFOUNDLAND. 



(See Plan, p. 176.) 



THIS island is situated between the parallels of 46 and 50 north latitude and the meridians of 

 52 and 59 west longitude, at the mouth of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and has an area of 42,000 

 square miles, with a coast line of over 2000 miles. 



It has also belonging to it the Labrador territory, with a coast line of nearly 1000 miles. 



Newfoundland is the oldest colony of Great Britain, having been discovered in 1497; it is 

 also the nearest to the United Kingdom, being but 1640 miles from the Irish coast. 



Along all these coasts are the celebrated fishing grounds to which the fishermen resort in 

 pursuit of their avocations. 



The island has besides very valuable and extensive mineral resources, which have but 

 recently been brought to light, but which promise to become an important source of industry 

 and wealth. The principal of these are copper and lead ; and when the country is opened up, 

 by means of tlie railway now in course of construction, it is the opinion of the best scientists, 

 that Newfoundland will take a leading place among the mineral countries of the world. 



PRESENT VALUE OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES. 



The principal commercial fishes taken from the waters around Newfoundland and 

 Labrador are the Cod, the Seal, the Herring, the Salmon, and the Lobster. The quantities of 

 other fish taken are too small to render them of commercial importance. 



THE COD FISHERY is by far the most important, its products averaging in value three- 

 fourths of the entire returns of the fisheries. 



The following statement shows the values of the cod-fishery products for the years 

 named: 1880, exported, $5,309,481, consumed in the colony, $408,000; 1881, exported. 

 $5,542,576, consumed in the colony, $384,000 ; 1882, exported, $5,978,668, consumed in the 

 colony, $480,000. Total exported, $16,830,728; Total consumed in the colony, $1,272,000. 

 Total value in three years $18,102,728 or 3,771,402 sterling. Average annual value of the 

 products of the cod fishery for the last three years $6,034,242 or 1,257,134 sterling. 



The following statement shows the value of the codfish taken by the French on that portion 

 of the Newfoundland coast over which their fishing privileges extend, and is exclusive of their 

 bank fisheries: 1880, $250,920; 1881, 342,588; 1882, 244,800. Total, $838,308. Average 

 annual value, $279,436 or 58,216 sterling. The products of the cod fishery above referred to, 

 include the dried codfish exported, the common cod oil, the refined sod-liver oil, the roes 

 exported for bait in the Sardine Fishery, and the dregs. The cod oil is chiefly exported 

 to Britain, where it is found peculiarly valuable in dressing leather. The refined cod-liver oil 

 is used for medicinal purposes. 



The following statement shows the quantities and value of these products respectively, for 

 the years named: 1880, Dried Codfish, 1,419,503 quintals (112 Ibs.), $4,826,317; Cod Oil, 

 4,483 tuns, $448,300 ; Refined Cod Liver Oil, 172 tuns, $30,960. 1881, Dried Codfish, 1,583,132 

 quintals, $5,066,022; Cod Oil, 4,127 tuns, $445,716 ; Refined Cod Liver Oil, 144 tuns, $25,920. 

 1882, Dried Codfish, 1,463,439 quintals, $5,853,756 ; Cod Oil, 4,254 tuns, $493,464 ; Refined 

 Cod Liver Oil, 147 tuns, $28,224. 



SEAL FISHERY. The Seals are taken by the crews of steamers and sailing vessels on the 

 ice fields off the north-east coast of the island, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, during the 

 months of March and April. 



The following statement shows the number of Seals taken and their value, in the years 

 named: 1877,. 451,678, $1,116,360; 1878, 409,658, $1,006,568; 1881, 447,903, $957,760. 

 Total number of Seals, 1,309,239. Total value, $3,080,688, or 641,810 sterling. Average 

 number of Seals taken in three years, 436,413. Average annual value of Seals taken in three 

 years, $1,026,896, or 213,937 sterling. 



