238 A GLANCE AT THE CIVIL HISTORY OF LABRADOR. 



end in 1820. Until 1763 the fisheries of the whole 

 southern and eastern shores of Labrador were placed 

 under the government of Quebec. Increased impor- 

 tance was given to the orovernorship of Newfoundland 

 at that date by annexing to it the Atlantic coast of 

 Labrador. Ten years after, in 1773. it was considered 

 advisable to restore this portion of Labrador to Canada, 

 owing to difficulties arising out of grants made to a 

 number of persons under the rule of the French. In 

 1809 't ^^"3s again transferred to the jurisdiction of 

 Newfoundland, under which it has remained ever since. 

 A Court of Civil Jurisdicrion, on the coast of Labra- 

 dor, was instituted in 1S24. A special court of civil and 

 criminal jurisdiction, called 'The Court of Labrador,*" 

 and presided over bv one judge, appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor in Council, secured the administration of justice. 

 The customs duties le\ned on goods landed on Labra- 

 dor are the same as in Newfoundland. The Hudson 

 Bay Company had formerly the exclusive right of trad- 

 ing with the Indians of that part of Labrador which had 

 rivers flowing into the inlet from which the company" 

 took its name, and which is designated East Maine. 

 In 1S70, however, the company surrendered all their 

 rights of government, propertv, etc., in the whole of 

 British North America : and these having been trans- 

 ferred to the Dominion of Canada, the company beings 

 still at liberty to carry on their trade without hindrance, 

 or any exceptional tax. Canada has thus jurisdiction 

 over all the region of Labrador which does not belong 

 to Newfoundland." 



The two most notable and romantic events lighting 

 up the usually prosaic course of Labrador history were^ 



