CHAPTER XII. 



A GLANCE AT THE CIVIL HISTORY OF LABRADOR, WITH 

 AN ACCOUNT OF ITS FISHERIES. 



The history of Labrador can be told in few words. 

 The permanent residents dwell exclusively on the coast, 

 and, as a rule, in the more sheltered harbors and fiords. 

 The principal settlements on the shore south of the 

 Strait of Belle Isle are Bonne Esp^rance, Forteau 

 Point, Blanc Sablon, Belles Amours, and Henley Har- 

 bor, a few families being scattered along the shore be- 

 tween these points. On the Atlantic or eastern coast 

 the most important settlement is at Battle Harbor, "a 

 sheltered roadstead between Battle Island and Great 

 Caribou Island, about half a mile in length and quite 

 narrow." Farther north are St. Francis Harbor, Batteau 

 Harbor, Occasional Harbor, Square Island Harbor, 

 Domino Run. At Cairtwright Bay is the southernmost 

 Hudson Bay Company's post, and these are scattered 

 along at rare intervals as far north as the fiord or inlet 

 of Nachvak, the most important post being situated at 

 Rigolet in Melville Bay, while at Fort Chimo in Un- 

 gava Bay is another post belonging to this company. 



The population of the St. Lawrence coast of Labra- 

 dor from Port Neuf to Blanc Sablon numbers about 

 4,400, comprising English, and French of Canadian or 



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