69 



fought with desperate valor to retain and to win it ; that the deep silence 

 which prevails was ever broken by crowds of busy people ; that ships 

 laden with rich cargoes ever anchored in waters which dven fishermen 

 of our day seldom enters except for shelter; that around them were 

 lofty and, as was thought, impregnable walls, and nunneries, palaces, 

 terraces, and gardens. 



The English history of Cape Breton, as connected with our subject, 

 is brief. ' 



Separated from Nova Scotia by a narrow strait only, it was annexed 

 to that colony, soon after its final cession, at the peace of 1763 ; but in 

 1784 was created a province, and allowed corresponding rights untU 

 1820, when it was re-annexed to the govemrtient of Nova Scotia. The 

 population in 1839 was about 35,000, and in 1848'nearly 50,000. 



Great as were the expectations of the conquerors, its fisheries have 

 never beeiii of account since the conquest. The statistics indicate no 

 increase, but, on the contraiy, a considerable decline. The exports, at 

 the present time, are less than in 1828. In fact. Cape Breton is the 

 poorest part of British America. 



As late as 1840, a gentleman officially connected with its fisheries 

 gave a most lamentable description of the poverty of those who de- 

 pended upon thein for subsistence. Having stated that, while in pos- 

 session of the French, the exports were of the immense value of 

 i9S!7,577 sterling, that 564 ships and 27,000 men were employed, and 

 that the whole produce now was only 80,000 quintals, and 50 tuns of 

 oil, he proceeds as follows: "The fisherman is supplied at such ex- 

 trernely high prices, that, after his season's work is over. What he has 

 caught frequently does not amount to the cost of his outfits: thus he 

 returns to his faniily with a poor prospect of providing for their winter's 

 supply.". "I have seen families," he continues, "covered with scurvy, 

 applying for medicine, and although they obtained it, were informed by 

 Ithe doctor that it was fresh arid wholesoine provision they wanted most ; 

 at which time one of the parties admitted that his stock was reduced 

 to some herrings and a few potatoes." " In like manner," he adds, 

 *'wheri the militia muster took place, I knew of some who came seven 

 pules,, and who, without money to purchase food, returned home, fast 

 ing", 



Had the cases related by this functionary been such as exist m 6very 

 conmnmity, they would not have heen thus mentioned. It is not to be 

 presumed, however, that while so great destitution is prevalent, it is 

 general among the fishermen of Cape Breton. Yet tales of their 

 wretchedness and poverty are common. Masters of our fishing ves- 

 sels, who visit the coast, have told me repeatedly that in the spring 

 they were beset by persons who offered to barter away altaost their 

 last article of value, and even begged for food. To make every allow- 

 ance, we may still fairly conclude that those who earn their bread in 

 fishing boats and shallops, as a body, enjoy few comforts, and often 

 suffer for the absolute necessaries of life. ' 



The seas of Cape Breton,' neglected, shunned even, as if a curse 

 rested upon them, and as if the spirits of the slain of a by-gone genera- 

 tion hovered over them, are as rich as they ever were ; and as safe, too, 

 for the employment of cstpital, sMll, and labor, as when the successful 



