Chapter VIII. Assistance to Mariners in the Great Fishery 

 The Naval Station and the Hospital Ships 



The particularly hard life led by the professional fishermen of the 

 great fishery justifies the public and private efforts intended to ease their 

 lot. The means employed to this end and the results are closely related to 

 the history of their industry. 



It was the Malouins who, in the first half of the 16th century, instituted 

 medical care for the Newfoundland fishermen. This care was dispensed by 

 the barber- surgeons shipped on the guard-boats which the outfitters equip- 

 ped at common expense to assure them exclusive fishing rights on the Little 

 North coast. Thanks to this organization, which allowed these modest prac- 

 titioners to visit periodically the various bays, the fishermen benefitted, 

 during the course of the season, from a minimum of care. 



But this fortunate beginning affected only the small limits of the Petit - 

 Nord coast. Elsewhere, on the coast as well as on the bank, medical assist- 

 ance did not exist. Living a rude life often bordering on inhumanity, the 

 fishermen knew only one law: work at any price. Aboard their vessels, sick- 

 ness which prevented work was scarcely tolerated, and many were those 

 who, from lack of care, died at their task. The encountering of a vessel of 

 the Royal Marine alone could sometimes save the sick or injured; but this 

 was an exceptional occurrence. 



It took nearly two centuries, when Colbert established the Ordinance of 

 1681, for the principal measures destined to assure health protection for the 

 crews. Still these wise provisions were not enforced until 1717. 



This act marked the beginning of the era of surgeons required aboard 

 vessels sailing on the high seas and to the fishing banks. It first. fixed one 

 doctor for 20 men. When, in the 18th, and even more in the 19th, century, 

 difficulties of recruiting surgeons constrained the public powers to relax 

 these rules more and more, the establishment of a Naval Station at New- 

 foundland, following the disastrous treaty of 1763, was a happy compensation 

 for this deficiency. 



By extension of their initial mission, which was to maintain respect for 

 their fishing rights on the French Shore as well as on the banks, solemnly 

 recognized by the text of the treaties, these vessels brought everywhere to 

 those they were protecting, the most generous moral, medical, and material 



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