1192 MISCELLANEOUS. 



FISHERIES OF THE BAT OF CHALEURS. 



The Bay of Chaleurs was explored by Jacques Cartier, in 1534. 

 He gave the name it bears the "Bay of Heat." On its shores are 

 some of the oldest settlements in North America. 



As at the Magdalene islands, many of the fishermen here are Aca- 

 dian French, a people whose story possesses a melancholy interest, and 

 whose sufferings at an eventful period of their history have been com- 

 memorated by the poet Longfellow, in "Evangeline." They continue 

 to live in villages distinct from the English settlers, and within sound 

 of the chapel bell. The most devout and decided Catholics, they sel- 

 dom intermarry with Protestants. After the services of Sunday, they 

 assemble for social enjoyment and amusement. Few of them are cor- 

 rupt and vicious, but most are superstitious and ignorant. The 

 women, like those of the ancient fishing-town, Dieppe, in France, from 

 which their ancestors came, wear calico caps or handkerchiefs tied 

 over the head, short petticoats of woollen stun striped with red, white, 

 and blue, and plaited in large folds at the waist, and blue stockings; 

 while on Sunday, over a neat and clean attire, they throw upon the 

 shoulders a small blue cloak, reaching about half way down the body, 

 and fastened at the breast with a brass brooch. The men appear in 

 short round jackets, with straight collars and metal buttons set close 

 together, blue or scarlet waistcoats and blue trowsers, and sometimes 

 the bonnet rouge, but generally round hats. Individuals, however, of 

 both sexes, dress differently. The women, or "fish- wives" as at the 

 fishing ports of Normandy, Piccardv, and Brittany, in France work 

 very hard, performing the whole labor of curing the fish, in addition 

 to the ordinary duties of cooking, spinning and weaving, and the care 

 of the children. 



The cod-fishing establishments in this bay are ancient and exten- 

 sive. Of those of modern times, that of Messrs. Robin & Co., founded 

 in 1768, is the largest, best ordered, and most prosperous. They 

 have a number of finished buildings, which are conveniently arranged, 

 and kept in excellent repair. They export about 30,000 quintals of 

 cod annually, besides a quantity of pickled fish and oil. Their vessels 

 come from the Isle of Jersey in the spring, are dismantled on arrival, 

 and lie moored until the close of the fishing season; the masters and 

 crews either fishing in boats, or collecting the fish caught by residents, 

 who obtain their supplies and outfits of the firm. In the autumn the 

 vessels are equipped, and depart for Europe with full cargoes. It is 

 said that the first head of the firm, the late Charles Robin, among 

 other rules for the management of the business, directed in his will that 

 no female should reside at, or be employed at any of the fishing estab- 

 lishments of the concern; and that, in accordance therewith, the gen- 

 tlemen and clerks of the present firm of Robin & Co. leave their 

 families in Jersey while sojourning in the Bay of Chaleurs. 



The fishery is carried on almost entirely in boats, two persons in 

 each, who return home every night and land the day's catch. At the 

 close of the season the resident fishermen settle with the merchants 

 with whom they deal, carrying to their storehouses all the fish not 

 previously collected by their agents. 



The whale fishery is pursued to some extent in the Bay of Chaleurs 

 and the adjacent seas. "The whales caught within the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence," says Macgregor, "are those called 'hump-backs,' which 



