1194 MISCELLANEOUS. 



FISHERIES OF LABRADOR. 



The coast of Labrador was partially explored by Jacques Cartier 

 in 1534. He was beset with ice, and encountered many difficulties. 

 Little was known of the country for a long period after the voyage of 

 the French navigator. It has been said, however, that our cod- 

 fishery was extensive in this region, not only previous to the Revolu- 

 tion, but in the earty part of the last century. The statement I con- 

 sider entirely erroneous. As I have examined the scattered and frag- 

 mentarv accounts of Labrador, there is no proof whatever that its 

 fishing grounds were occupied by our countrymen until after we be- 

 came an independent people. 



In 1761 Sir Francis Bernard, who was then governor of Massachu- 

 setts, wrote a brief "Account of the coast of Labrador/' which 

 found among some of his papers is preserved in the Collections of 

 the Massachusetts Historical Society. After some general remarks 

 upon the country, and the ignorance that existed relative to the 

 natives, he proceeds to say that, "What follows shall be a plain nar- 

 ration of facts, as I received them from several persons who have been 

 on the Esquimeaux coast, with now and then a digression, which I 

 hope may be pertinent." These persons appear to have been Cap- 

 tain Henry Atkins, of Boston, who made a voyage to Davis's straits 

 in the ship Whale in 1729, and who visited the coast a second time in 

 1758, and a Captain Prebble, who was sent by Atkins in 1753. The 

 Baronet describes the course of affairs between Atkins and the Indians 

 in 1729, and adds that he "is the more particular in this account 

 from the captain's own mouth, as he thinks it plainly indicates that 

 the natives on this coast and islands had never any trade or com- 

 merce with any civilized people from Europe or America; of course 

 not with the French from Canada, or the Hudson's Bay factories." 

 This is conclusive, especially if it be remembered that the object of 

 Sir Francis was to collect information "for the advantage of future 

 navigators." His memory was remarkable, and he himself said that 

 he could repeat the whole of Shakspeare. Of course, this paper em- 

 braced everything that had been communicated to him. 



As late as 1761, then, it is not probable that fishermen of any flag 

 had visited the waters of Labrador. An account of the origin of our 

 own fishery there will be found in the proper place. 



The English whale and seal fisheries were the first, and employed 

 upwards of one hundred vessel, at times, prior to the year 1775. The 

 earliest adventures were near 1763; as at that time the Labrador 

 country was politically separated from Canada, and annexed to the 

 government of Newfoundland by royal proclamation, to the end that 

 the "open and free fishery of our subjects may be extended." The 

 pursuit of the cod and salmon followed. Meantime the Moravians, 

 whose principal settlement is at Nain, who have ever led a quiet and 

 simple life, and who now annually ship furs, oils, and other produc- 

 tions of that region to England, in payment for the manufactured 

 commodities which they require, had founded a colony. 



The islands are so numerous and so near each other as to resemble, 

 and often to be mistaken for, the main land. Back from the coast, the 

 country is still unknown. Labrador still forms a part of the colony 

 of Newfoundland. The natives bear the general name of Esqui- 

 meauxs. The resident inhabitants of European origin are English, 



