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J\.ATH

NEWFOUNDLAND
IN 1911.

BY

P. T. McGRATH.

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H.M. KING GEORGE V.

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NEWFOUNDLAND

IN 1911,

Being the Coronation Year of King George V.

and

The Opening of the Second Decade of the
Twentieth Century.

By

P. T. McGRATH,

EDITOR OF THE" EVENING CHRONICLE," OF ST. JOHN'S, AND CLE!
K TO THE
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF NEWFOUNDLAND,

WiTH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATiONS.

O":b.o":
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY WHITEHE.AD
:MORRIS & co., LTD.
9 & 10, FENCHURCH STREET, E.C.

1911.
[ÅLL IbGHTS RESERVED.]

.

3

FORE'iVORD.

By RIGHT HON. SIR ED'V ARD MORRIS, P.C., K.C., LL.D.,

Prime 11linister of lVlLlfoli1sdland.

IT affords me mllc11 pleasure to contribute a fore-
word to this story of N e"..foundland, by Mr.
P. T. l\:ICGRATH, than ,,,110m I know of nobody ill the
country better able to do the subject the fullest justice.
For t,venty years he has been actively connected ,vith
its daily journalism, besides which he has won his way,
by his merits alone, into the foremost publications of
the outside world, with his writings regarding N ew-
foundland and other topics.
As tIle Colonial correspondent, for many years past
of the London Times, and of leading newspapers in
Canada alld tIle United States, he has contributed lnuch
towards providing the public abroad lvith reliable in-
formation respecting its affairs dUl"illg all t}lis period;
and the fairness witll wllich he bas presented even the
most controversial topics, tIle accuracy of his information,
the wide range of matters on which he is reco
nized in
the colony as an authority, and his rarely equa]led
knowledge of its public affairs, should make this volume
of his a standard work.
As a frequent contributor to such periodicals as the
Nineteentll, Centu,.y and the FO'l"tniglltly Review in
England j and to the N01..tl
A1nepican Review, the

.

4

Atlantic Monthly, and the Review of Reviews in America,
he has come to be recognized, and rightly, as an
authoritative conlmentator on its international problems,
while his articles on less serious subjects are also promi-
nent and frequent in the magazines of Britain and
America.
In his capacity as Clerk of the House of Assembly,
or Elective Branch of the Newfoundland Legislature,
which position he has occupied for several years, he has
gained a knowledge of the country's affairs which has
helped much to assist him in making this publication so
full and complete that it may be regarded as the last
word in l"elation to the Island's progress.
To this task he has broug-ht the resources of a ready
pen and a well-stored mind, and while desirous of pre-
senting his country's l"ecord to the world in becoming
guise, he recognizes that it has suffered in the past from
exaggerated statements as ,veIl as from terms of
depreciation; and so he 11as been studiously moderate in
his portrayal of its resources and possibilities.
I am confident tbat all who peruse this volume will
feel that Newfoundland has become more of a reality to
them than heretofore, and that its material interests will
be advanced by the story he has told of its past progress
and its future prospects.

E. P. MOR,RIS.

LONDON,
CORONATION DAY, 1911.

5

PREFACE.

THE coronation time of a "Sailor King" seems a
fitting occasion for the issue of a volume relating to
Britain's Oldest Colony-the one, moreover, which saw
the beginning of her greatness llpon the seas. Our
present gracious Sovereign visited N e,vfoundland twice,
and was afforded each time ample evidences of the loyaltr
and devotion of its people to the British Cro,vn, which
will naturally be intensified among a maritime people,
when their
{onarch is one whose fidelity to his sea-
t-
faring career has been conspicuous, and who can thus all
the more appreciate the record of the most ancient and
loyal Colony as the nursery of England's naval
institutions.
The story of Newfoundland for four centuries is a
chapter from the annals of England's growing empire
upon the sea. Discovered in 1497, it was by 1511 well
known throughout England and Western Em"ope. A
century later, in 1610, the first IJermanent settlement 011
its shores was essayed by daring 'Voyagers from Bristol.
In yet another century, in 1714, the first George was
crowned, following the Treaty of Utrecht, ,vhicIl wrested
from the French the part of the Island tJJey had come to
occupy meanwhile. Almost a century again, in 1818,
the Alnericans were granteel fishing liberties on :part of
the seaboard. The coronation of the fifth George this

,

6

year sees the Island rid for all time of Frencll and
American claims to fishing l'1igl1ts on portions of its
coastline.
The Colony's laws, records, customs and traditions
all smack of the sea. Its earliest rlllers were" fishing
admirals," the captain of the first ship arriving here
annually being admiral for tIle year, the second vice..
admiral, and the third rear-admiral, a crude and make..
shift method that still survives in the admirals of the
North Sea fishing fleet. Following these came naval
controllers and floating surrogates, who in their turn
gave place to governors, all of them warship captains or
admirals-who only spent the fishing season in the
Island-until 1825, when the first permanent resident
governor was appointed. Even until to-day, as is
natural in a country whose fisheries are her chief
reliance, all other Inatters are oversl1adowed by those
which relate to the harvesting of its finny wealth.
Of late years, the Colony has been developing sub.
stantial interests along other lines, 110 wever, and the
utilization of its farm and mine and forest resources,
has tended to create industrial agencies tlmt, while still
subsidiary to the fisheries, will yet, in the aggregate,
make them a substantial competitor thereto in the years
to come. Its attractions as a sporting and health resort
have also been made more widely }(nown in recent times,
and the future promises to see N e,vfoundland attain a
degree of prosperity once supposed impossible, and its
people secure for the fruits of their arduous labours a
more generous return, to '\vhich the hardships and
hazards of their main avocation manifestly entitle them.

..
I

In these days when Impel
ial interests are being so
assiduously promoted, and mutual enlightenment as to
the Motherland and tIle Overseas possessions is
encouraged, it may not be amiss to point to its other
natural resources and capabilities, apart from its fisheries.
I have therefore devoted spe
ial attention to these
features and to an account of its possibilities for the
settler and the capitalist seeking opportunities of
developing industrial enterprise, while the record of its
financial progress during the past fifteen years will show
how certain and stable has been its material betterment.
The opportunities wllich twenty years' active par-
ticipation in the journalism and public affairs of the
Colony have afforded me of becoming familiar witll the
subject, are my warrant for offering this volume to the
public, which I hope may help to make the Oldest
Colony more widely known and better undel"stood.

P. T. McGRATH.

ST. JOHN'S,
NEWFOUNDLAND.
MaYJ 1911.

9

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL SUMMARY.
Geographical- Geological- Physiographical - Natural
History-Economic Resources-Climate.

CHAPTER II.

THE COLONY'S NE\V ERA.
Reid Contract-What it has developed-New Industrial
Departures-Enterprise of Outports- Wide-spread Pros-
perity.

CHAPTER III.

THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
The Present Premier-Record of Sir Edward Morris-
Notable among Colonial Statesmen-Progressive Policy
inaugurated by him.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Discovery by Cabot-Annexation by Gilbert-French
Aggression-Settlement Discouraged-Unjust La,vs-
Fishing Adlnirals-Better Days.
CHAPTER V.

THE ABORIGINES.
The Beothics- Racial CharacteriRtics- Decimated by
Settlers-Attempts at Conciliation-Last Reù
fen
Vanish.

CHAPTER VI.

ROADS AND RAILWAYS.
Coast alone Peopled-Settlers all Fisherfolk-Permanent
Occupation Forbidden-No Roads until 1825-Progress
since then.

..

PAGE
15

23

29

36

47

51

10

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE
57

THE REID PROBLEl\I AND RECE
T POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENT.
Election of 1900-Contract of 1901-Arbitrations-
Election of 1904-Bond-l\Iorris Rupture of 1907-Unique
Political Complication-
Iorris l\Iinistry wins.

CHAPTER VIII.
THE REID ENTERPRISES.
Raihvay System-Splendid Steamers-Dry Dock and
31achine and Car Shops-Street Railway and Electric
Utilities-Traffic Figures.

64

CHAPTER IX.

70

CRO\VN LANDS.
Ls.\vs respecting Cro\vn Lands - Conditions for
obtaining same-Generous Concessions for intending
Settlers or Investors.

CHAPTER X.

71

LUMBERING.
Forest Wealth-Potential Value-Grades of Lumber-
How Industry has Developed - Favourable Future
Outlook.

CHAPTER XI.
THE PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY.
Harms,vorth l\Iills-Albert Reed 1\1ills- 'V orld'a Records
Broken-Possibilities yet unrealized.

83

CHAPTER XII. 92
ISLAND'S ADVANTAGES FOR PAPER-MAKING.
'Vhy this Industry was introduced-Factors aiding its
success- Figures of Production last year.

CHAPTER XIII. 98
l\IINERAL RESOURCES.
The Mining Industry-Copper Zone and Output-Great
.Variety of Mineral Products obtained.

11

PAGE
CHAPTER XIV. 105
IRON AND COAL. \
Wonderful Iron l\lines-Alnong the World's Richest '
Deposits-A l\Iillion Tons Yearly-Coal Beds and
Prospects.

CHAPTER XV.

112

AGRICULTURE.
Old-Time Hostile Policy-Fertile Areas-Quality of
Soil-Variety of Products-Prospects of livelihood for
Thousands

CHAPTER XVI.

119

NEW FARMING POLICY.
Premier l\Iorris advocates Farming-Agricultural Experts
visit Colony-Directions in which progress is possible.

CHAPTER XVII.
THE COD AND INSHORE FISHERIES.
Value of Fisheries-Number engaged therein-Enormous \
catch of Cod-Lesser Fisheries described.

127

CHAPTER XVIII.

137

THE SEAL AND "THALE FISHERIES.
Seal Herds and their Characteristics-Growth of Seal
Hunt-l\1:odern Whaling and its Commercial Features.

CHAPTER XIX. 144
THE FRENCH SHORE QUESTIO
.
Fishery Treaties-French Claims.:.-Disputes between
Nations-Why France \Vithdrew.

CHAPTER xx.

152

ST. PIERRE:
A bit of old France-History of St. Pierre-Importance
of its Cod Fishery-The effect of the Bait Act-Its
unpromising Future.

.

]2

CHAPTER XXI.

PAGE
158

THE NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES DISPUTE.
Fishery Rights of Americans-Reciprocity and Fishery
Treaties-Newfoundland's Uncompleted Conventions-
The Hague Arbitration and Award.

CHAPTER XXII. 169
THE LABRADOR PENINSULA.
Great Fishing Centre - Mineral and Woodland
Possibilities - Sporting and Scenic Attractions -
Grenfell Deep-Sea :ßIission.

CHAPTER XXIII. 179
CLIMATE AND SCENERY.
Delightful Climate of New'foundland-Unrivalled Scenic
Attractions-Testin1onyof Eminent Visitors-A cOIning
Health Resort.
CHAPTER XXIV. 188
A SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE.
Hunting and Fishing-Attractions for Tourist and
Health Seeker - Game Paradise of Sportsmen -
Game La,,"s.

CHAPTER XXV. 199
As A SUBMARINE CABLE CENTRE.
Laying of First Atlantic Cable-Fifty-year Exclusive
Privilege-Incoming of other Cables-Dispute with
Commercial Cable Company.

CHAPTER XXVI. 205
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE.
Saxon and Celtic Stock-No Aborigines-Crimeless
Record of the Colony - Advanced Temperance Legis-
lation-Social Conditions.

CHAPTER XXVII.

211

GOVERNMENTAL.
Forln of Government-Legislature-Powers of its Con-
stituent Factors-Administrative Department.

13

CHAPTER XXVIII.

PAGE
222

POPULATION AND TRADE.
Population-l{eligions-Occupations-"rrade and Indus-
tries.

CHAPTER XXIX.

230

EDUCATION.
First SchoolR-Denon1inational System Adopted-How
it has ,vorked-Council of Higher Education.

CHAPTER XXX.
ST. JOHN'S AND RETROSPECT.
Progress during Past Century-Growth of St. John's.
The Island's l\tletropolis and Comnlercial Emporium.

236

CHAPTER XXXI.

242

PROSPERITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.
Growth in all Directions-Amazing Progress of Past
Decade-Value for Public Debt-Splendid Outlook for
Future.

CHAPTER XXXII.

247

THE MORRIS GOVERNMENT'S \VORK.
Comprehensive Programme-Successful Administration
-Colony Prospering-Outlook most favourable.

APPENDIX. 255
Statistical Tables.
Game Laws.
Fire Patrol Regulations.
Customs Regulations.
List of Registered Guides.
Ocean and Local Steamship Services.

15

NEWFOUNDLAND

IN 1911.

-
-

CHAPTER I.

GEOG RAPHICAL-GEOLOGICAL- PHYSIOG RAPHICAL-
NATURAL HISTORy-ECONOMIC RESOURCES-
CLIMATE.

T HE Island of N ewfo-undland lies between the
parallels of 46 degrees 36 minutes and 51
degrees 39 minutes North latit.ude, and between the
meridians of 52 degrees 37 minutes and 59 degrees 24
minutes West longitude. It is known as "the Nor,vay
of the New World" because of its scenic beauties, and as
" the sentinel of the St. Lawrence" because it forms the
Laurentian Gulf, lying athwart that vast body of water,
access to "rhich is only obtained through Belle Isle
Strait-ten miles wide-wIlicll separates Newfoundland
from Labrador on tIle North, and througl1 Cabot Strait
-sixty miles "Tide-which divides it from Nova Scotia
on the South.
The Island is the tenth largest in the world; is very
irregular in shape, witIl a general outline somewhat
like a tl"iangle; and is bounded on the Nortll, East.
R1Jd SOllth by tIle waters of the Atlantic, and on the
West by those of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Its
greatest lengtIl is about three hllndred and seventeen
miles, and its greatest breadth about the same. The
great sailing circle followed by ships in crossing the
North Atlantic impinges on its South-eastern extension,

16

and because of this, and of its blocking the Gulf of
St. Lawrence, the Island enjoys a singularly important
and valuable strategic position.
It really is the key to the control of Canada's
water-bolone commerce, and '\vere St. J olln's, the Capital,
fortified, it could dominate the ,,"hole of the sea-going
traffic of the Western Ocean. St. John's is about
11lid\vay between Liverpool and N ew York (1,640 miles
from Cape Clear, in Ireland), and forms a half-way
house for them, being a llaven of refuge for most of tIle
crippled crafts that navigate "the herring pond," while
the near-by section of coast is also tIle landing place for
most of the trans-Atlantic cables. It was at St. John's
too, that Marconi received his first wireless ocean
signals, and when the first ocean airship voyage is made
this will probably be the land-fall or departing point..
The area of the Island is about 46,000 square miles.
Its coastline is of varied and in places picturesque
character, deeply indented all round by bays and inlets,
some with scenery striking as Norwegian fiords; while
so broken is its outline that the seaboard has a total
stretch of 6,010 miles, as calculated by Professor Howley,
the Newfoundland Geologist.
In size it is only one-fifth smaller than England; it
is 11,200 miles larger than Ireland; three times as
large as Holland; and t"vice as large as Denmark.
Compared with its neighbours in North America it is
twice as large as Nova Scotia, one-third larger than
Ne,v Brunswick, and nearly equal in area with the three
l\Iaritime Provinces of Canada; VtThile it is also about
the size of the State of New York.
Because of its fiords it is admirably fitted as a home
for a fishing people, for every creek and cove teems with
fishes, and there are innumerable splendid harbours
where not alone the toiler's smack, but the largest
argosies of commerce can ride undisturbed by storm or
tempest. Until recent years the Island had not a
settlement beyond sight and sound of the ocean, since

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The Right Hon. LEWIS V. HARCOURT, M.P. '

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Mrs. LEWIS V. HARCOURT.

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17

fishing was the chief pursuit of its people, and they
naturally located in as close proxmity to the ocean as
possible.
As the map shows, there are many islets around
the coast. Belle Isle at the Eastern mouth of the strait
of that name, is best known as the land-fall of Canadian
shipping in the summer months. Notre Dame Bay is
thickly dotted with land-masses, some of moderate size.
In Bonavista Bay there are many others. Trinity Bay
has Random Island, one of the largest. In Conception
Bay is " Bell " Island, the seat of the immense hematite-
iron deposits that supply the raw material for the
smelters at Sydney, Cape Breton. Placentia Bay has
Merasheen and several others. Off Burin Peninsula is
the little French archipelago of St. Pierre-l\iiquelon, and
further West are Rarnea and Burgeo Islands-some
three hundred in all-the former the starting point of
the seaboard where Americans possess fisbing rights
under the treaty of 1818; ,yhile on the west coast, the
Bay of Islands, as its name implies, is a fiord where
these islets are abundant.
Its triangular extremities are Cape Norman, on
the north, the entrance to Belle Isle Strait, Cape Race,
on the south-east, one of the world's greatest seaboard
outposts; and Cape R,ay, at its south-west, the chief
landmark of the Gulf of St. Lawrence route. Other
headlands, scarcely less important, are Cape Spear, the
entrance to St. John's; Cape St. Francis, Cape Bonavista,
Cape Freels, Cape John and Cape Bauld, on the east
coast; Point Riche, Cape Gregory, Cape St. George and
Cape Anguille, on the west coast; and Gallantry Head
(St. Pierre), Cape Chapeau Rouge, Cape St. Mary's and
Cape Pine, on the SOllth coast.
Its principal inlets are the great bays of Notre
Dame, Bonavista, Trinity, Conception, St. Mary's,
Placentia, Fortune, St. George's, with the lesser ones
of Hare Bay, White Bay, Green Bay, 'rrepassey Bay,
l Hermitage Bay, Port-au-Port Bay, Bay of Islands,
,B

18

Donne Bay and St. John's Bay, and many others still
smaller round the seaboard, some being bays within
the greater indentations. Of the major Rays, Placentia
is the largest; Conception, the most populous and
important; Notre Dame, the most mineralised; and
St. George's the most fertile.
Perhaps its most striking physical features are the
peninsulas which jut out from its main structure-the
Avalon Peninsula on the eastern coast, which is almost
another island, the isthmus between Trinity and
Placentia Bays being only three miles wide; Burin
Peninsula, bet\veen Placentia and Fortllne Bays, Port-
au-Port Peninsula on the west coast, and the great
Northern Peninsula, formerly termed by the French the
Petit Nord and more recently known as the St. Barbe
Peninsula, as it forms the political district so designated.
Since the contour of the Island represents a slightly
inclined plane, rising from the east tu\vards the west
and south coasts, the principal rivers flow to the
eastern bays; and among these are the Exploits (the
largest in the Island), 200 miles long and navigable for
30 miles, draining all area of 4,000 square miles; the
Gander, 100 miles long and with its tributaries draining
a similar area; the Gambo, sixty miles long; and the
rrerra Nova, somewhat larger; all well wooded and the
scene of lumbering industries, while there are two large
paper mills on the banks of the Exploits. Along the
south coast the rivers are smaller, but on the west
coast are the Humber, 80 miles long, the St. George's,
Hawke's and others.
The principal bodies of water are Grand Lake,
56 miles long by 5 broad and 200 square miles in
area; Red Indian Lake, 37 miles long by 2 broad and
67 square miles in area; Deer Lake, 15 miles long;
Gander, Gau1bo, Terra Nova, George IV., and others;
while lesser areas, locally termed " ponds," bespread the
interior, and many of them are without names even
now, so incomplete 11as been its exploration.

19

The general character of the surface of the Island
is hilly, but no Inarked elevations are reached. 'l"he
mountain ranges extend north and south, and the
principal is the Lon
Range l\fountain, which be
ins at
Cape Ray and continues north-east for 200 miles, its
highest IJeaks being about 2,000 feet. The cr08S-
country railroad ascends to 1,730 feet to traverse this
," backbone" of the Island and reach the western slopes.
A Jesser range, the Anguille Mountain, fronts the
western coast of St. George's Bay, its summits reaching
about 1,900 feet; and at Bay of Islands is found the
loftiest elevation in the Island-Blomidon l\Iountain
-2,085 feet. Otllers are the La Poile l\Iountains, which
stretch along the head of La Poile Bay; the Middle
R:"tnge-stretclling througll the Island from
Fortune
Bay to Notre Dame Bay; Black River Range, on the
west side of Placentia Bay; and the vVest and East
Avalon Ranges, intersecting that peninsula. There
are hill-ranges elsewhere and isolated peaks, from one
of which, inland from the bottom of Conception Bay,
called" Centre Hill," over 1,000 feet high, can be seen
on a clear day, Fortune, Placentia, Conception, Trinity
and Bonavista Bays, and 150 lakes; while from another,
I(nown as "Spread Eagle Peak," inland from St. }Iary's
Bay, and 1,200 feet hig-h, may be seen the waters of
Placentia, St. l\iary's, Trinity and Conception' Bays, and
the Atlantic Ocean east of Cape Race, besides 67 lakes.
The g-eology of the Island is comparatively simple,
ranging from the Laurentian to the carboniferous, by
far the greatest part of its physical structure being
composed of llrcllæan, Cambro-Silurian, Silurian and
Carboniferous formations, in \vhich most of the \vorld's
llletallic wealth occurs. In N e\vfoundland the tangible
evidences of this already appear in the numerous
Inineralized areas sho,vn to exist, not a few of ,vhich
have yielded generous instalments of their merchantable
deposits for the enrichment of those concerned in their
development.

..

20

The lllore recent geological formations do not
appe
l'" except in the form of glacial débris and clay
deposits, due to the disintegration of the rocks, while
peat occupies much of the surface, especially in the
less..,yooded sections of the interior.
In considering the data supplied else"There in this
volume as to the Island's mining possibilities, it is
important to clearly understand at tIle outset, that the-
interior has scarcely been prospected at all, and even
the seaboard only partly so, because the people are
fishers and not miners, and have not generally taken
seriously to the quest for minerals.
The geological survey of the Island, begun in 1864,
under the late ..AJexander Murray, C:
f.G., and continued
up till now under James Howley, F.G.S., has acquired
vast reliable information respecting the agricultural

mineral and forest wealth of the Island. These officials
and their assistants explored much of the untraversed
interior, making topographjcal surveys in combination
with their geological work, and thus securing perlnanent
records of tIle surface features, traversing the arable
areas, forest country, and many sections exhibiting
evidences of mineral deposits. As long ago as 1760,
Capt. Cook, the famous navigator, found coal on the
western slopes. In 1842 Mr. J. B. Jukes, an eminent
Irish geologist, was sent to Newfoundland by the
Imperial Government to investigate and report upon
coal areas known to exist, and in 1858, Sir 1Villiam
Logan, the eminent Canadian geologist, predicted that
Newfoundland would vield vast mineral wealth.
&!
The fauna of the Island is similar to that of the
neighbouring portions of Canada. The principal wild
animals are the caribou, black and brown bear, wolf,
lynx and fox (black, grey and silver), beaver, otter,
martin, muskrat, Arctic and American hare. The birds
include numerous varieties of wi1d fowl as well as the
galne birds common in Eastern Canada. Nearly 250.
species of birds are found in the Island, Bind nearly all

21

-are nligratory. Tbe chief are the sea-eagle or "grepe,"
hawks, owls, king.fi.shers, raven, plover, curlew,
ptarmigan (locally partridge), sparrow, robin, snipe,
jays, black-duck, ,vild goose, gannet and loon or
"Northern diver." The famous Newfollndland dog is
now scarcely to be found of pure breed.
Apart from the cod and other fisheries ,vhich make
it one of the world's greatest fishing centres in a com..
mercial sense, the finest trout and salmon are to be
found in the Island; and it is now in contemplation to
introduce the oyster. The sea fishes are the cod,
herring, salmon, lobster, halibut, haddock, tllrbot, caplin,
squid, mackerel, plaice, sole, sturgeon, shark, sculpin,
catfish, eel and clam. The giant squid, calamary or
devil-fish is also found in the coast "raters, and reaches
an enormous size, the tentacles or arnlS, often being
thirty feet in length. There are no reptiles in the
Island.
The flora is equally varied and interesting. The
trees include the oak, elm, birch, maple, ash, pine,
:spruce, fir and hemlock. The ferns are specially
numerOllS and beautiful; while the variety of fruits is
remarkable, these including the strawberry, raspberry,
blackberry, blueberry, bake-apple, etc.
The agricultural products chiefly yielded are oats,
hay, potatoes, cabbage, turnips and fruits. Excellent
alluvial land is found in the valleys formed by the great
rivers, and on the "rest coast, plateaus where cattle and
sheep-raising can be profitably carried on. Because,
however, fishing has been the prime occu}Jation hitherto,
farming pursuits have been little practised llntillatterly,
though no,v much more attention is being given thereto.
The material l"esources are many and varied. The
fish wealth of the surrounding seas is unequalled any-
where on the globe; and the Grand Bank, 100 miles off
the coast and extending along it for 600 miles, with a
breadth of 200, is famous as the hon1e of the lordly cod.
The Islnnd's farming products even now are one-third

..

22

of the fishery valuation, the entire yield, of course,
being consumed locally. Its forest ""ealth is enormous,.
and besides the output of sa1vn lumber every
Tear, forms
the basis for t.he secolld largest paper mill in the world,.
the paper and pulp ind'ustry having been inaugurated
here by Messrs. Harms,yortl] of London, followed by a
second English concern, the Albert lleed Co., of London.
The Inineral output is like,yise large, and the annual
export of iron ore alone exceeds 1,000,000 tons, besides
which much copper is mined and exported.
Its hunting, game, fishing and natural attractions
are also drawing each Jear increasing numbers of
sportsmen and tourists, and developing into another
important element of economic advantage.
Few countries have been so maligned as N ewfound-
land witll regard to her climate. The erroneolÌ.s im-
pression is ,ride-spread that its shores are enveloped by
fog in summer and engirt by ice in winter. As a
matter of fact, St. JolIn's, near the southern extremity,
lies in the same latitude as Paris, and its most northern
point, at Belle Isle Strait, is in that of Edinburgh. It
is true the isothermal lines curve some1Yhat differently

and that the climate resembles that of Canada, and
therefore is colder than that of Europeall countries, bllt
N e-\vfoundland has none of the severity in its weather
of Western Canada or even of Quebec and Ontario.
Winter rarely l1egins l)efore the N e,," Y ear or lasts
beyond the end of March. Passenger and freight
steamers ply to St. John's the whole year round from
New YOl"l( and from Liverpool; the cross-country rail-
road has maintained its service every winter ,yithout
a retreat; and the snow-fall is in nò way comparable
with that of the K ortll-west Canada, Dakota, or the
American border States, while rarely does the ther-
mometer go belo,v zero.

23

CHAPTER II.

THE COLONY'S NEW ERA.

THE REID CONTRACT-"T HAT IT HAS DEVELOPED-
NEW INDUSTRIAI
DEPARTURES-ENTERPRISE OF
OUTPORTS- WIDESPREAD PROSPERITY.

T HE modern and progressive era in the Island's
history may be said to date from the conclusion of
the much-discussed contract "rith the Rejd Company in
1898. The many and varied phases of activity which
this llnclertaking implied meant an enormous impetus to
the colony, and it required a man of far-seeing capacity
and recognised reputation for achievement, as well as
unbounded confidence in the country and in his own
ability to promote its development, to undertake such an
enterprise as that contract comprehended. The imme-
diate effect of the arrangement "'''as to ensure the
efficient operation of the railroad, and this meant per-
manent employment at good ""ages of an army of
,vorking-men in the various branches of this undertaking.
Connecting \vith this railroad, a flotilla of eight steamers
ensured further large enlployment of \,,"orking people, and
with the development of traffic the strength of this force
was still further increased. Statistics quoted else,vhere
in this volume ,vill sho,v JIO'''' this traffic over the railroad
has grown; that of the eight steamers is not available
in detail, but it can lJe stated with absolute certainty
that this has enlarged in a still greater proportion; so that
at the present n10ment there is a call for yet another
steamer to operate on the upper side of Notre Dame
Bay and thence north to Belle Isle Strait. Gradually

"

24

Mr. Reid developed other activities. He established a
sa"\vmill at one point to provide lumber for all the needs
of his many enterprises; opened a granite qua.rry at
another place from ,yhich to obtain stone for bridge
l)uilding and for paving the streets of St. John's;
developed a slate area and undertook oil boring, coal
exploration and other kindred forms of activit.y. He
lJegan the construction of a hotel in St. John's. He also
proposed the establishnlent of flour mills in the Island,
the erection of pulp and paper mills, and had many
other projects of similar nature under consideration.
Each year has seen a further expansion of the work of
this concern, and a larger force of operatives on its pay-
roll. The Reid Company is the largest paymaster in
the Island to-daJ', next to the Government itself, and
it is recognised on every hand that it is only beginning
now to gird itself up for still further development in the
near future.
Sir Robert Reid has passed away, but Ius sons have
taken up his worl(. They have lived down those feelings
of discontent which were created a dec3.de ago, and in
the true light which time has allowed the contract of
1898 to be viewed, it is seen at present that it was a
fortunate circumstance for the colony that men of such
undoubted financial standing and progressive ideas were
induced to take hold of its affairs at that time. Even
now, however, Newfoundlanders are only very imper-
fectly realizing the great danger which the Island would
have faced had it failed to secure the continuance of the
Reid activities here; for had the Reids withdrawn then,
it is difficult to say what the outcome would have been.
The population was largely made up of fishermen whose
interests were centred in fish, and who lived near the
coast for this reason. The interior was unsettled and
capitalists had not been attracted thereto; agriculture
was but in its infancy; mining scarcely attempted; and
the lumbering industry so little developed that lumber
was actually imported for building purposes.

25

It requires no argument, therefore, to make it plain
that to undertake the operation of a railroad s
rsteln,
'steam boats, telegraphs and other forms of enterprise in
such a country, called for courage of no ordinary kind
and busine
s ac-umen rarely attained. vVithin the past
decade the colony has progressed greatly, and there is
no question but that this progress is most largely due to
the transforming genius of the Reids and the manner in
which they stimulated its development in every direction.
Through the agency of the railroad and the steamships,
the ordinary trading conditions of the colony are be-
"Coming transformed. Progressive and prosperous little
towns are springing up in various parts; fish exporters
are branching out into ne,v ventures in all the Bays;
and the future promises to see a relllarkable advance in
the economic conditions of the great mass of the people
1vho reside in the" outports "-every place in the Island
elsewllere than St. John's being cOlnprehended within
this term. To-day there are many growing communities
as affluent relatively, as progressive and as enterprising
as the City itself; ,vhile the absence of any municipal
<>r local taxation elsewhere than in St. John's enables
the dealers in these places to carryon their operations
more clleaply than their competitors in the City. Such
a departure for trade and manufacture could not have
been possible but for the facilities afforded by the Reid
Company, the ne\v spirit of progress it infused into the
Island, and the opportunities it has given for the more
Tesourceful and progressive among the population to
utilise these advantages for their o\vn, and incidentally,
for the general benefit.
The next factor that contributed Inost \videly to the
Island's progress in recent years \vas the development of
the iron ore mines at Belle Island by the " Dominion"
:and "Nova Scotia" Steel Companies, \vhich have con-
verted these beds into IllOst profitable properties, the
-output aggregating a nlillion tons a year, ,yhicll is sold
at a profit of $1 a ton. To gain this ore requires the

26

permanent employment of some 2,000 nlen, who

naturally, are paid wages in accordance ,vith the
laborious character of tlleir ,york. The operations of
these companies during the past ten years have created a
real race of miners, men who, with the proverbial adapt-
ability of the Newfoundlander, will fish during several
months, and, after leaving their snlacks one day
,yill
transfer themselyes to a mining centre the next, and
prove as effective alld capable 'YOrknlen in the one as in
the other.
The lnines of these corporations at Wabana, 'Vllich
tIle section of Bell Island where they are located is
named, are among tIle finest of their kind in the ,vorld,
being provided '\vith the most modern equipment on the
largest scale, improvements made elsewhere being
very speedily applied to these plants, '\vhich are electric-
ally lighted, thoroughly ventilated, provided with the
most po,yerful pumping apparatus, and generally are
regarded as nlodels by all visiting engineers and other-
authorities, of whom very many come to the Island in
order to study this reluarkalJle deposit and the advanced
nlethods adopted in "Tinning the ore, raising' it to the
surface, and tran
ferring it on shipboard.
The third great factor contributing to the Island's.
development has been the initiation of the manufac-
turing of pulp and paper in this colony 1)y the Harn1s-
worths and their associates, in ,yhat is officially knu\vn
as "'fhe Anglo-Ne,vfoundl
lnd Development Company.H
It reqllired courage of no mean order for a business
corporatioll with so established a rep'utatioll to take the-
risk of setting up in the interior of Newfoundland an
enterprise involving an expenditure of some $8,OOO,OOO

when its possibilities in regard to this industry were
entirely problelTIatical. Until the Harmsworths came,
there had been, it is true, authorities who claimed that
in its pulp-,\yood areas the Island possessed potential
fortunes, hut there '\vere others who doubted that the
venture ,,
ould ever materialise. Hence the advent of

27

this Company, followed soon after1varcls by tIle Albert
Reed Company of London, proved that capable and
prudent English capitalists were sufficiently satisfied of
the prospects of this unùertal{ing and confidellt enough
as to the outlool
to invest these yery large amounts in
the Island. To-day Newfoundland is recognised as
being in the forefront of the "
orld's pulp-wood COlln-
tries; and valuable as has beell the coming of these
companies for the industrial influence it has imparted
to the Island, it has been doubly valuable because of the
testimony it has afforded to all observers as to the
limitless extent to '\vhicIl this industry may yet be
practised llere, since there are numerous other forest
areas "hich can be utilised for such like operations and
wlúcIl it is expected "Till soon be n1acle the centres of
similar industrial activit)T.
'Vise measures have been enacted and are being
rigidl)T enforced to prevent forest fires and the destruc-
tion of the timber by any other than the legal metIlods,
so that the greatest advantage n1ay be deriyed by the
colony from this immense asset, the possibilities of
'\yhicll are only coming to be realised yery recently.
The result of the operations of a specially organised
fire patl
ollast
Tear was, that not an outbreak of 3, serious
nature occurred in any of tIle importa.nt forest areas
of the colony; and it is asserted by competent
authorities that nowhere else in the "
orld is there so
efficient and satisfactory an arrangement for preventing
ihe destruction of wooded areas by fire, as that 1yhich is
in force in Newfoundland to-cla)T.
As a fruit of these developments and others, less
important perhaps, lJut not "rithout their influences, the
change in this great Island 1)ecomes all the more striking
every year. Its ,vinter is no,v over and gone, and the
cheering summer is yritll tIle people at last; the voice of
the locomotive is heard in the solitudes of the interior;
the unkno,,'"n ,vilclerness has proved to 11e a fair territory,.
with mighty forests, smiling plains, rich mineral

.

28

treasures, and scenery unexcelled in this beautiful world.
Capitalists in increasing n'llmbers are finding their way
to its shores every season. It is attracting deserved
attention in the marts of commerce, and in the places
where captains of industry and the progressive spirits of
the age plan new conquests.
All things considered, Newfoundland's material
advancement of late must be admitted to be really
marvellous. She has kept pace in population and in trade
with her pow'erful neighbour the Dominion of Canada,
and the future seems destined to be still more remark..
able. Yet there was not a mile of railway built in
Newfoundland until 1882 ; the electric light did not come
until 1885 ; the telephone first appeared even later; and
it was not until within the past decade that street-cars
were run in St. John's.

29

CHAPTER III.

THE MAN OF THE HOUR.

THE PRESENT PREMIER-RECORD OF SIR EDWARD
MORRIS-NoTABLE A1IONG COLONIAL STATESMEN-
PROGRESSIVE POLICY INAUGURATED BY HIl\L

F EW Pllblic men of Greater Britain have stamped
the impress of their personality more strongly
upon the life and progress of the colonies in "\vhich they
reside than Sir Ed"\vard Morris, the present Prime
J\1:inister of Newfoundland. Elected to t.hat position on
his 50th birthday, he had for 25 years previously been
prominent in its political affairs, and from tIle very
outset won recognition as being a man of unusual
capacity, who, it was predicted, would go far and prove
himself in time a potent factor in moulding its destinies.
Chosen to represent his native district of St. John's
1Vest, when barely through his law course, he ",yon a
brilliant victory as an independent candidate, contesting
this constituency against the three regular nominees of
the dominant political party of the day, with all the
influences which those interests that had long assumed
to control the constituency could exert against him. He
headed the poll by a substantial majority; and from that
day until this has, at election after election, not alone
held this proud position, but has enjo)Ted also the unique
distinction of never having lost a colleague, this being a
boast which no other of the Island's statesn1en can make.
because at some time or other the vicissitudes of
political fortune have cost some leader his ,,
ca.ker
colleague in these larger constituencies.

30

At the age of 30, in a colony ,,,here rarely do others
than greybeards acq'uire such elnillence, 1\11". }forris was
a !linister (,vithout portfolio) in Sir 'Villi
111 vVhite1vay's
cabinet, and the recognised political spokeslnan of the
Roman Catholic people of the colony. This latter
position, too, llas never seriously IJeen disþuted since
that time; and when, in 1897, after eight years of
virtually uninterrupted retention of office, the 'Vhiteway
l\Iinistry "
as overthrown, TvIr. l\Iorri
was the only
public man in the Islal1d ,vho could claim that his
political prestige llad been unshal
en.
""Tl len , in the subsequent session the "'\V'inter
1\Iinistry introduced the famous Reid Rail,vay contract
of that year, one 0 f the Inost striking incidents resIJect-
ing it ,vas tIle withdra,val of 1\Ir. 1\forris from the
regular Opposition, tl1en led by :Th1r. Robert Bond, in
order to vote for this measure, which be cOl1ceived to
be in the best interests of the country. l'his decision of
11is has been amply j"Llstified by subsequent events; but
at tIle tÌIne it called for rare courage and fidelity, and
no better illustration. could he afforded of the character
of the man than this fact comprehends. His foresight
is recognised by even his opponents. He is admittedly
the one above all others in our political life ,vho can,
with almost unerring judgment, estimate the scope and
effect of every -project that is put for
Yard; and that he
sa\v good in this meaSllre and "
as prepared to sacrifice,
as it seemed at tIle time, his political future in order to
support it, weiglled much ,vith many in influencing
them in its favour.
The political whirligig created such altered con-
ditions in 1900 that, internal dissensions affecting the
Winter administ.ration, l\Iessrs. Bond and lVlorris, hy
combining again, on a policy of no relJeal of the Reid
Railway Contract of 1898, ,vere able to overthrow that
Government through the defection of some of its dis-
contented elements, and secure the direction of the
colony's destinies once Inore. 'fhe Bond - l\!Iorris

31

}{inistry s,,"cpt the country in the resulting election
that autunln so decisively as to carry 32 seats nut of 36 ;
and '\vhen, two years later, a telnporary reverse seelned
to threaten this administration in its turn, the only one
in the Govel
nment to ,,,,horn the then vacant portfolio
of Justice could be tendered, ,vas
1:r. l{orris, whose
strength in his own constituency ,vas such, that while
the rest of the Island seemed seething witll revolt, he
",vas able to f'ecure re-election 11pon accepting office,
,yitllout a contest; a condition all things cOl1sidereà,
that was unequa.lled in our annals.
In the general election of 1904 the Boncl-
rorris
1\Iinistry \vas again S'uccessful, its strength being
scarcely diminished, for it 11eld 30 out of 36 seats this
time; but in the sunlmer of 1907, Sir Ecl\vard }{orris
<\vho, like his leader, had been knighted for his services),
displayed the sincerity of his convictions and his indif-
ference to possi111e disadvantages, by breaking- from Sir
Robert Bond on a question of policy and going into
oppoRition, to 'undertake the seemingl)T hopeless task, as
a Roman Catholic, of attempting to gain the Prenlier-
ship in a country two-thirds Protestant, and where one
of his faith had not held that position for half a
century. The story of the trollblous times ,,'"hich
ensued is detailed elsewhere jn this Yolun1e. Suffice it
to say, that after a deadlock ,vhich created a unique
problem in the governing of the British Dominions
beyond the seas, Sir Edward J\Iorris emerged victorious
and at last fOllnd himself in a position to give the fullest
effect to his statesmanlike views for the betterment of
the condition of the people and of the colony. An
'unswerving- advocate of liberal principles, a belieyer in
progressive measures in all departments of public life,
public-spirited, hard-working, self-sacrifici11g-, capable of
conceiving large projects, and possessing the dynamic
energy and executive ability to carry them into effect,
he proceeded to vitalize again the body politic, to infuse
new blood into every artery of domestic endeavour, to

32

launch measures for ensuring decided advances ill.
every phase of industrial and comnlercial activity
within the Island. His inauguration, upon his assunlp'"
tion of office, of the policies which are described in
lllore detail in the chapter relating to "The Morris
Governnlent's Progralnnle," made itself felt in the
remotest sections of the Island, and in every industry, no
matter how small. His opponents, pretending to believe
that the boldness of his projects, departing as they did
from t.he beaten track, endangered the fiscal stability of
the colony, sought to weaken public confidence in hÜn by'
attacking his proposals in the Dual Election; but he was
able to Sll01V at the time how genuine was his advocacy
of these matters, and how essential to the colony's
progress were the lneasures he proposed; and he has
since been able to demonstrate conclusively that they are'
being and will be acconlplished successfully, without
increasing taxation at present borne by the people.
Though this Ministry has been in office but little more'
than two
Tears, the Sllm of its achievements is far greater-
than those of any previous administration during one, or
it may be two terms of four years-the normal duration
of a Legislature here. Railway building has been
enterprised, paper-making added to local industries,.
mining increased substantially, farming- stimulated as
never before, manufacturing encouraged to venture into
new undertakings; and various minor industries in
different sections of the Island, have also received their'
meed of assistance, every effort being likewise made to
extend and develop the fishing and other occupations
which form the support of so many of the people, and to'
realise more for their products \vhen marketed. The
attention of outside capitalists has been attracted to the
colony to an extent ñever before approached. Every
facility has been afforded them to invest their mone)T in
the development of its resources, and the same wise policy
has been pursued in other respects. A believer in sane
and sagacious publicity,vith respect to the Island and its

Plwfo.l

"

.....

""-
...... .
-, i!:-.:'" ,

&.

Sir RALPH CHAMPNEYS WILLIAMS, K.C.M.G.

.

_iloilo WI,!'.

Phot(), ]

.

t

1*

,.

, .

..

t

.f

Lady WILLIAMS.

fP<,tI":-;OIl::..

33

affairs, Sir Ed ward }\iorris, since assllming office, has left
nothing -undone to present its reSOllrces and possibilities
in the proper light before the outside ,vorld, and
especially before the investing communities of England,
Canada and the United States. In the newspapers and
magazines, by interviews and addresses, by courtesy to'
visitors and by facilitating the inquiries of .writers and.
scientists, he has helped to gain attention for the colony,.
and to imbue all ,vho come to its shores ,vith the well-.
fOllnded belief that it is advancing by leaps and bounds
along the high,vay of progress in the direction of abiding
material betterment-as everything goes to show.
Because of N e,vfounclland's varied importance from an
internH,tional view point, owing to its "French Shore "
and" American :b'ishery" qllestions, tbe present Premier
has enjoyed an exceptionally favollrable training for the
position he occupies, having been a delegate to Great
Britain more than once in relation to these questions,
and being, therefore, well fitted to pllrsue the negotia-
tions ,vhich had been beglln by 11is predecessors in
reference to the submission of the colony's differences
with America to the Hague Tribunal; and, by his partici-
pation in tbe conference with Canadian representatives
and the British Ambassador at 1Vashington, in
conjllnction with the American allthorities, to lessen the
dangers of friction in the futllre and reduce the number
of points in regard to which further proceedings might
be necessary. At home the Premier has set a new
standard for administrative ,york by thr01ving himse]f
ullrestrainedly into the task of carrying on the official
business of the Island with as mllch celerity and despatcll
as po
sible, and by constantly devising ne,v methods by
which its welfare may be promoted. Al,vays accessible,
working more hours a day than the hardest..driven
labourer, lending a sympathetic car to every grievance,
and a ready hearing to all ,vith proposals calculated to
prove in the general interest, lle has come to be regarded
as a model Premier, a forceftù, vigorous and yet
c

.

34

conservative statesman; and it is bv no means llncommon
to hear even those '\vho were strongly opposed to him at
the last election, admit that he is IJrovil1g a thoroughly
satisfactory head to the colony's affairs, and is striving in
a fashion that deserves the greatest success, to advance
the colony's general welfare.
Despite the fact that in the summer of 1900 he had
to spend three months in England in connection ,,,,ith
the Imperial Defence Oonference and otller matters
relating to the colony's affairs; that in 1910 he was
obliged to spend three months at the Hague in con-
nection ,yith the Fisheries Arbitration, and that dllring
the current year his participation in the Imperial Oon-
ference and the Coronation will reqllire }]im to spend at
least three months in England, he has contrived to put
in an amount of work jn this Island, never attempted by
any predecessor. He has made an official and detailed
visitation of most of the electoral districts-a policy,
like many others, inaugurated by him I-he has actively
identified himself with the formation of the Board of
Trade, with the launching of the Festival of Empire
and with many other projects, all of which make sub-
stantial demands upon his time through meetings that
require to be attended and business that arises and calls
for consideration and decision. In addition to this, the
actual duty of conducting the GovernlTIent in a colony
like this, demands Cabinet action on almost every
matter, and this entails meetings of the Executive
Council at such frequent intervals that no small share
of a public man's time is thus occupied. In addition to
the work which fell to his predecessors, he has practically
taken it upon hiInself to create the Department of the
Prime Ministel" and to find, at home and abroad, the
subjects with ,yhich it llndertakes to deal, so that it is
easy to realise how the average observer marvels at the
amount and the variety of work which Sir Edward
accomplishes from day to day, and at the manner in
which he presents new problems for the consideration

35

of the COlTIIDUnity as well as his :\finistry, and all of them
designed to promote the interests of the country in some
shape or form.
It is a safe prediction
that if the health of Sir Edward
Morris bears up under the strain of this incessant and
exhausting work, the colony ,viII experience the fruits
of his labours in such a sustained and far-reaching
improvement, in every phase of its economic existence,
as ,viTI make it prosper beyond the hope of its most
enthusiastic and optin1istic ,veIl-wishers, and earn for
the Prime
íinister who has contributed so much to this
result, the undying gratitude of his fellow-countrymen.

,

36

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

DISCOVERY BY CABOT-ANNEXATION BY G'ILBERT-
FRENCH AGGRESSION-SETTLEj\IENT DISCOURAGED-
UNJUST LA'Vs-FISHING ADMIRAL
-
BETTER DAYS.
T HE history of K ewfoundland forms one of the
most absorbing chapters in the annals of Britain
overseas. This Island is at once the oldest and nearest
of the Colonies and ,vas f:n'l nl01
e than a
ntul'Y
England's only possession in the Ne,y ""'orld. \ By the
knowledge spread through vVestern Europe soon after
its discovery, that the neTf isle's seaboard tepmed \yith
fish, the West-or-England and Continental mariners
were attracted there to I'eap this finn)T haryest, and
gradually the stalwart, fearless and enduring' English-
men assunled mastery of the region, overshado\yed aU
competitors, and formally declared it an apJ)anage of
the Kingdom)
Newfoundland should he of special interest to the
British people, because it was their first foothold be)Tond
the Western ocean, the spot 1yhere their adv
nturou&
ancestors, ,,"hen the daring spirit of the
e }n'olnpted
them to seek the ne-\y lands that form "a vaster empire
than has been," had their initial lodgn1pnt. It proved
a prin1e factor in the beginnings of England's navy and
the growth of England's greatness upon the seas. It
became the engendering spot of admirals, the training
ground for the sturdy adventurers who rode the billo,vs

37

in the da,vning days of the Ne,v World's discovery,
where were bred the men who scollred the Spanish
1iain, sank the Armada, and carried " the meteor flag"
to every clin1e-Gilbert, Raleigh, Drake, Hawkins,
Cook, Rodney and other figllres in naval records being
associated ,vith its early daYR.
N ewfollndland also enjoys the distinction of being
the first Anglo-American plantation, in the sense that
here, for long years prior to permanent settlement in
the New 1V orId, English sealuen gathered e
ery summer
to fish, and tllat here were these colonies attempted
which later spread from
1:assachusetts to the Carolinas.
It was Inainly the weåltl1 of the fishing banks whicll
tempted Pilgrim and Puritan, Cavalier and Roundhead
to cross the stormy oceall and root themselves in un-
familiar soil. It "ln
1:Y seenl hard to credit that the
nursery of the Ameri
an nation ,vas the coast of Terra
Nova, bllt a centurJ" 1Jefore the Pilgrim Fathers landed
!)n Plymouth Rock this "lle\V fouude lande" ,vas the
common resort of the daring Devonshire voyagers-
half pirate, half trader-,vho scorned the hazards of the
unknown "ì est and ,vorked the never-failing mine of
the Grand Bank fisheries.
'J
he discovery of Ne\vfoundland followed, '\yithin
five years- after thë-great -achiev ëÏi1en tof - Columbus.
Henry VII., jealous of the glory that had come to
Spain by the exploits of the g-reat navigator, lent ready
,ear to the proposals of some "lnerchant venturers" of
Bristol to CqlliP. .John Cabot, a Venetian luariner then
residing there, for a vO
Tage of discovery into--.1.he
Western seas. He conferred a charter upon Cabot to
"seek out, discover and find ,vhatsoever isles, regions,
countries or provinces of the heathens alld infidels,
whatsoever they be, and hI ,vl1atsoever part of the
,vorld, ,vhich before t.his time have been unkno,vn to
all Christians," and the return 1\ T hich the king exacted
was, that he was to receive one-fifth of the profits of
.the voyagc, together ,vith the prospect of
nlarge-

38

ment of territory, he having given tllem "our license to-
set up our banners and ensigns in every village, town,.
castle, isle or mainland of them newly found." En-
couraged by the Royal countenance, Cabot prepared for
the voyage "rhich, so far as we know with absolute
authenticity, resulted in the discovery of the American
Continent. His ambition was to discover a North-west
passage to Cathay and Cipango, which we now know as
China and Japan, and on May 2nd, 1497, he sailed from
Bristol in the ship Mattl
ew of about 50 tons burden,..
manned by sixteen seamen of that port and one Burgun-
dian, he being captain-general of the expedition, with
the king's commission to "subdue, occupy and possess
all territory he can subdue as our vassal and lieutenant."
Glancing back upon that period, we Inay conjure up the
picture of the little caravel setting forth from the river
Avon on that fair May day, more than 400 years ago,.
with all the good folk of Bristol thronging the banks to
cheer them; for this tiny craft embodied the pride of the
nation, tIle expedition under the auspices of the king
being a defiance to the arrogant Spaniard and represent-
ing, as we know, the first step towards the acquirement
of far-stretching territories in every clime.
Cabot voyaged on,yard for 50 days, and then made
a landfall in a new country; just where, is a matter of
dispute, but local tradition in Newfoundland implies.
that he reached Cape "Beunavista," which he named
" Happy Sight"; that the nearest inlet, now known as
" King's Cove," was so called after t.he British Monarch,
and that the next, known as "Keels," was where his
boats first touclled the shore. Tradition also declares that,
cruising southward, he entered St. John's harbour on
June 24th, and named it for the the Saint ,,,,hose festival
it was. All authorities agree that on his homeward
voyage he cruised al2P-g J.h&_s h of N ewfound-
land and Saw-,vondrous sights-great soles (halibut) a
yard long, fish taken up in baskets (caplin), strange
animals which lle nè11ned "sea-co\Ys" C-\yalrus), and

39

___ amaz i
KQther _ ne1L.heasts a nd birds and fish es, so that
on returning to England lle was able to tel of ne,v
territory so rich in all these things, that the English
Monarch granted ælO "to hym who founde the new
isle"; and the next year gave his patronage to a larger
expedition and a pension of ëß20 a year to Cabot, though
he was careful to make this a charge on tIle revenues of
Bristol.
Cabot's second expedition made further discoveries,
and venturing northvvard penetrated into a region wIlere
there were ",vondrous heaps of ice, swimnling on the
sea, and in a manner, continual daylight," so he shifted
helm and proceeded south, supposedly to what is now
known as Florida, whence he returned to Bristol in good
time.
T he f ame of the fishery wealth of N ewfo undland
soon
read , and o ther- voya gers hurried there ;ithin a
year or two, for his discovery must have been a momeñ="
tous incident in the history of England in those days.
In 1502, three natives of the "new isle" brought home
by Cabot, or some fishermen who followed hÜn, were
exhibited before the English King, and the records of
the period soon refer to English vessels fishing there.
Gradually the daring seafolk of all Western Europe
gathered there, the Basques and the Biscayans enter-
prising it most extensively at the outset, until eventually
its lutrbours became the meeting place of fishers fron}
all these parts, who traded with each other in thcir
various commodities, and made it an international
clearin g- house. Their presence is perpetuated in its
nomenclature down to the present day, by such places
as English Harbour, Frenchlnan's Arm, Spaniard's Bay,
Portugal Cove, Port..au-Basques, Biscay Bay and
Harbour Breton.
The lure of the gold-yielding tropics, contrasted
with the storms and hazards of the Northern "raters,
and the toil-,von spoil of the seas thereof, probably did
mucll to attract the Spanish and Portuguese ill time

,

40

from N e"1'foundlancl to Mexico and Peru; but all throllgh
the sixteeJ1tll century tIle" New land" was a famous
fishing place. By 1550 it was important enougll to be
included in tIle Acts punishing officials for plundering
the fishermen of Iceland, Ireland and the "New land,"
and its fishery product became so great that "sack
shi s" or frei hters l1ad to b e p,mployed to ca:fri salt
-- cod to market. ur i ng this period of course, it ,vas a
" No
Ian' s land," the common resort of crafts froin
every quarter, but on August 7th, 1583, Sir Humphrey
GillJert put into St. John's harbour and took possession
of the Island for his royal mistress, Queen Elizabeth.
By that time the lu1rbour ,vas kno,vn as a shelter port by
every 1nariner sailing the seas; and Gilbert found fort.y
vessels there, of ,vhich sixteen were English, ,rho pre-
pared to give hiIn battle, until lIe sent in a boat to
explain his lnission; ,vllen, as tIle narrative st.ates,
"they caused to be discharg-ecl all the great ordnance of
their fleet in ,velcome." IIis historian tells how he ,vas
entertained most heartily by the English at their
" Summer Garden," and ho,v surprised were his crews at
the importance of the place. Well might they be, and
well might the ,vorId to-day be surprised to learn that
these humble fisllerfoll( had a "Sumnler garden" in
Newfoundland thirty years before the Dutch occupied
,\yhat is now K e,y Yark, and that scores of vessels from
Spain nortll,vard crossed the ocean every Jear to fish
for cod in it.s waters, long before the mainland of America
,vas effectively settled, as the Virginia plantation was
not established nntil1610, nor did the Pilgrim Fathers
land in
Iassachusetts Bay until 1620.
When Gilbert, in the Sq1lir1"el, va.nished with all
his company on the homeward tril), his half-brother, Sir
V\T alter Raleigh, obtained from the Queen a grant of a
]arge pJantation Ilear St. J ohu's, and in 1593 he
declared that the New Land fishery" 1vas the mainstay
and sllpport of tIle "T estern Counties," then the principal
nlaritime centre of England; and that" if any misfortune

41

l1appened to the X e"rfoun dlal1d fleet, it "Tould be of the
greatest calalnity that could befall England." By 1600
there '\vere 200 English fishing vessels in the N e,,
found-
lalld trade, enlploring 10,000 men allcl boys, and
garnering a product valued at ;ß500,000 sterling, a
handsome sunl in these days, and when a pound sterling
had lnnch greater intrinsic value than it has to-day.
Ten years later Sir 1Villiam
Ionson asserted that in
the qllarter-century after Gilbert annexed the Island,
its fisheries ,vere ,yorth ;BIOO,OOO a year to the English
engaged therein, besides greatly increasing the number
of English ships and mariners.
Through this fishery ,,,ere created the mariners "rho
later broke the sea-polrer of Spain and France, and
made England \vhat she is to..day-the mistress of the
ocean. Queen Elizabeth established a "Protestant
Lent," enacting that throughollt England fisll shollld he
eaten every "r ednesday and Saturday; rations of it
,vere supplied to the soldiers in their campaigns, cod
came to be esteelned a great luxury, and fetched goodly
prices in England, Ireland, Channel Islands and }-'rance;
and to tl1is day lnany of these connections are 111ain-
tained and sales effected, a comn1erce unbrokell for
300 years, ,vhile }'rance provides bounties for her fis11er-
men in rcsorting to N e,yfoundlal1.d ,vaters, even in
this t\ycntieth century, because from this class she
dra,ys the recruits to ,man her navy ancllnaintain 11er
fleets.
After the defeat of the Armada in 1588, in ,,,,hicIl
the Engli
h fisherfolk resorting to N e\vfoundland
pla
Ted no mean part, Spanish vessels virtually
abandoned fishing' on the Granel Bank, but ,vere suc-
ceeded by the French, no\v planning colonies in the
N e\v World, as denoted by Champlain's occupation of
Quebec; \VhC11Ce began the straggle for supremacy in
North Alnerica bet\veen the t",.o nations which con-
tinlled for 150 ycars, until France. s claims were shattered
on t.he Plains of ..A.braham in 1763.

42

The first permanent sett lement in Newfoundland
was made in 1610 by J ohnGuy, a merchant, and Sñb-
sequently Alderman and Mayor of
ristol. He and his-
follo,vers, 52 in aU, located at Qupar's Cove, in Concep=---
tion Bay, as nluch of the East coast near St. John's had-
already been granted as plantations to notables or com-
panies in England. Lord Bacon and others \vere asso-
ciated \vith Guy; and Bacon declared that" the N ew-
foundland fisheries were more valuable than all the gold
of Peru." Pirates had, ho\vever, already nlade lairs in
this Island, and their misdoings caused tIle failure of
Guy's colonJ.
In 1615, Capt. Richard Whitbourne, of Exmouth,
was sent to N e"rfoundlancl to oversee the fisheries, and
found 250 English fishing vessels there-conclusive
evidence of the importance of the cod fishery even then.
He was an unusually able and observant man, and wrote
a treatise on the Island, entitled "A Discourse and
Discovery of K ewfoundland," to inùuce Englishmen to
settle there and develop its fishery and farming
resources, describing its climate, soil and possibilities in
terms now abundantly confirmed. King James so highly
approved of his book, that he ordered a copy to be sent
to every parish in the Kingdom; the Archbishops of
Canterbury and York conlmended it to the clergy and
laity; and to nobles and commoners the name of the
"new Isle" was familiar, so that settlement there was
widely discussed as its fisheries were extensively enter-
prised. For these were stirring times for England on
the seas; the Eastern coast of Newfoundland was the
resort of large fishing flotillas; Devon and Dorset alone
sent scores of vessels there, and thousands of quintals of
cod were shipped annually to every country in 1Vestern
Europe, ,,,hile yet the Indians lighted their camp-fires
along the 1tiassach usetts shore.
Sir George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, established in
1623 a plantation at Verulam (now Ferryland) forty
miles from St. John's, to,yards Cape Race. It proved a

43

failure because the French, ,vho ,,"'cre disputing i the
control of the soutIl coast, harassed him so, that he
abandoned the place, thOllgh some of his colonists
r
mained pern1anently there. Sir David Kirke succeeded
him in 1638 with a charter from Charles I., and -resided
at Ferryland 27 years, governing the territory till his
death in 1665.
Meanwhile the Frenc.h hacl secured a footing on tIle
southern seaboard, and in 1635 obtained permission to
dry fish tllere. In 1660 they were ceded Placentia, and
fortified it as a fishery and strategic stronghold, whence
in course of time they overran most of the Island and
captured St. J ohu's more than once. By the Treaty of
Utrecht in 1713 they abandoned all territorial claims
and possessions and relinquished Placentia, but were
granted fishing rights on the west coast. Fifty years
later, in the incessant wars of the period, they captured
St. John's again, but ,\yere soon ousted; and tIle 'l"reaty
of Paris confirmed England's sovereignty, though the
French fishing rights continued, thus creating the
"French Shore" Question, '\vhich defied all efforts at
settlement for nearly two centuries.
Meanwhile the prosecution of the fisheries by the
English came under the control of bodies of merchant
"venturers," 'VI10 thus originated the "chartered
companies" trading into Hudson Bay, East Indies, and
lTIOre recently Sou th ..A..frica, associations ,\y hich, by
conquest and trade, bave done so much to enlarge
England's territory and prestige, even if at the cost in
many instances of humall liberty and popular rights.
These "venturers" speedily controlled N e,,
found-
land, '\vhich they owned, to all intents and purposes.
Then began the record of llcglect and n1isgoverU111ent
which makes her sad story '\vithout parallel in Colonial
history; for she has suffered as much froll1 British
indifference as from French aggression; and, while ller
fisheries have lJccn tho source of her '\
ealth, they have
also been the origin of the troubles that for c
llturies

44

have made ller, as Lord Salisbury observed, "the SP01't
of historic Inisfortlllle." '
"'hell one reflects upon the
cruelty alld oPlu'essioll she has llad to contend ,vith, tIle
",yonder is, not that N e,yfoundland has acconl.plished so
little, as that sI1e has achieved so much. 'l'his year,
for tIle first time ill her hi
tory, the complete overlord-
sIlip of the soil is ller 0"11; no foreigli po,ver call claim
her stralld or blocl
her plans for industrial development;
no aliell race can enforce the blasting influence of
oppressive or vexatious demallds as 11eretofore,-lJrior to
the settlement of tIle "Frencl1 Shore" Question by the
All.glo-Gallic accord of 1904, and the "American
Fishery" dispute by the Haglle Arbitration of 1910.
Though Newfoundland lies at the threshold of the
N e"r 'V orld, with undoubted 11lineral 1yealth, forests
covering vast areas, and farm and 11[tstllre lands to main-
tain thousands; yet, because of the selfisIl greed of the
early fishing "venturers," colonization was forbidden at
first, comn1erce ,vas discouraged later, valuable fishery
and seaboard rigIlts \vere surrendered, and policies of
studied neglect ,vere observed to"rards it, which bear
evil fruit to this day. The" venturers" secured tIle
most eligible 11arlJours, and gathered tIle "Thole control
of the fishing into their O'VII hands, while tIley devised
})lans for discouraging alld eventually preventing per-
mallent settlement, ,vhich deflected the old-time
elnigration to the
1\.mericall mainland. They never
regarded N ewfoullc11and as other than a fishing station, to
be utilised dllring the SU111mer months and not otherwise,
l)ecause it was only by keeping its magnificent fisheries
in their Ol\Tll hands that they could extract the largest
profits therefrom. The enactments of ,yhich tlley
l1rocllrpd the passage ,,"'ere l)arbarous. I t ,vas illegal
for a man to "rinter on the Island or to build a
permanent house tllere. If he did, he could be im-
prisoned and his domicile destroyed. Every shipmaster

lad to bring bacl( in the fall each man he took
out in the spring, lll1der heavy penalty. All

45

fishery requisites, except salt, hacl to be procured
in England, and no l\'Oman ,,,,as allowed 011 the
Island. There '\vas no government, judiciary, or code of
laws. Justice, so-called, ,vas dispensed by "fishin

admirals." In British history there is surely nothing so
extraordinary as this expedient of ruling a colony froln
the quarter-decl{ of a fishing schooner. The la,v ran
that the captain of the first vessel arriving in a llarbour
became admiral for the season, the second vice-adn1iral,
and tIle third rear-aclnliral. The sort of j"ustice these
rough, ignorant seanlen administered can easily be
imagined; yet their regime endured for 150 years, and
until the close of the sixteenth century, when the naval
commanders ,vere endowed ,vith superior authority,
there was no appeal from their decisions. They were
specially zealous in preventing settlement of the coast;
harried the runaway fisherfolk, burnt their huts and
destroyed their few effects. This freqllently cOITlpelled
the victims to surrender, or ren10ve in fripnclly cr"afts to
New England, for the" venturers" controlled the coast
and the interior ,vas impossible, because of the
aborigines. But some settlers defied oppression and
retired into the fastnesses, applying torch and axe to
tIle fish -Ilollses of their persecutors, after these left
each autumn. As the years passed it was seen that all
barbarities were po,verless to })revent settlemel1t, and
later enactments, if equally oppressive, recognised this
fact. TIley forbade structures ,vithin six miles of the
coast; required offenders to be tried in England; and
one edict ,vas for the deporting' of all the settlers to
America. This brutal order was, it is true, not enforced
lJecause of its difficulty; IJut it inftuenced hundreds to
migrate to N e,v England, fearing forcible expulsion.
These vexatious enactments were continllccl even to
periods "Then a more elllightenpù policy ,vas nutuifested
to,yards the Colony, and it was not until,vithin a century
that the last of these ,vas repealed.
The scanty resident population strllck root all the

"

46

deeper at every atten1pt to remove it. The struggle ,vas
bitter and }Jl'"olonged, but ended by the settlers in time
becoming numerous enough to assert their rights.
Clergymen volunteered to labour alTIOng them) and
recounted to friends in England the infaillies perpetrated,
so that gradually the most inhuman enactments were
repealed. Governors ,vere appointed, lavrs framed, and.
oppressions checked. Naval commanders replaced tIle
fishing admirals, and the country saw peace at last.
Because of its early " plantations," tIle 'Tord
" planter" is still current in the insular vocabulary, and
tIle " supplying system" still prevails, the solitary links
whicll connect ,vith th
se bygone days. A" planter" in
N e,yfolllldland parlance, is a fish trader on a moderate
scale, the middleman l>etween the merchant. "rho ships
the cod to 111arket and the toiler ,vho hauls it from the
water. " Plantations" are yet interwoven "rith local
tradition, and sho,v on ancient maps and charts. The
tenure of some has never been broken; the names and
locations of others are perpetuated in the existing fishing
halnlets which dot the shore line. Under tIle" supplying
systeill" the mercilants and planters "supply" the
fisherÎolk each spring witIl all the essentials for their
adequate prosecution of the industry, and when the
season ends, take over their produce against the advances
lnade them six months before. The" merchants" are
the descendants of the early "merchant adventurers "
"rho exploited the new..found Colony.

4ï

CHAPTER V.

THE ABORIGINES.

THE BEOTHICS-RACIAL CHARACTERISTICS-DECIMA1'ED
BY SETTLERS
ATTEl\iPTS AT CONCILIATION-LAST RED
MEN VANISH.
T HE Beothics, the aboriginal inhabitants of New-
foundland, are supposed to have been a branch of
the gsreat Algonquin tribe, a ,var-like race occupying
the North-east of the American Continent. Little is
kno,vn of the Beothics in the early days of the island's
discovery, save that they were a numerous and power-
ful race then, and that a fe\v were taken to England
very soon, and proved of great interest to all beholders.
Cartier, who visited Ne,yfoundland in 1534, describes
them some,vhat minutely, and in 1576 Frobisher
induced SOllIe to go to England with him, ,vhile Gilbert
in 1583 mentions seeing them on the coast. John Guy,
the first colonist, opened trade ,vith them in 1610, and
eventually induced tliem to fisll for him. But another
shipmaster coming to the coast, and seeing the Indians
gather, as he thought to resist his landing, opened fire
and }(illed several, and never again could friendly
relations \vith them be resumed.
Because of their habit of coloring their faces and
garments they were kno"\vn as ,- the Red Indians," and
thus they are Inentioned in the early records. They
frequently stole the white men)s axes, knives and other
implements, so that quarrels arose; and they were
slaughtered ruthlessly. They were a simple, nomadic
people, living by the chase and their skill in fishing,
and inhabiting wig\vams made of skins or bark. Gradu-
'ally they ,vere driven from the seaboard into the
interior, and ultimately forced to,vards the Nortbern
peninsula, known to the
"rench as the "Petit Nord."

48

Later,
iicn1ac Indians n1ade their way across from
Nova Scotia and between them and the Beothics hitter
hostility developed. Gradually, the massacres of the
Beothics gre,v worse and ,vorsp, bot}l French and
English made ,val" upon thenl, and the French authori-
ties offered at one time, a bounty for their heads.
About 150 )"ears ago Newfoundland Governors hegan to
realize the cruelty of the existing policy and -friendly
overtures werè attelnpted; Governor Palliser, in 1760,
sending l\Iajor Cart,vright to the region where they
still lingered. He failed to get in touch ,yith them, but
reported so strongly of their ill-treatment by the settlers,
that the Governor issued a proclamation thl"eatening
condign punishment to all who maltreated or Inurdered
any in future. Twice about this time Indian boys
we"re captured by settlers, partly civilized, and us
d
for fishery servants; but they died early, l)ossibly
of ill-treatment. In 1803, a settler named Cull
captured an Indian woman and brought her to
St. John's, ,vhere Governor Gambier gave hpr n1any
presents and sent her back to the tribe, hoping to
conciliate them, but there is no evidence that she ever
reached them, and the belief is, that Cull killed her to
secure the gifts. Governor Hollo,vay, in 1808, had a
large picture l)ainted, sho"ring 'v hites and reds in friendly
attitudes, and sent it to Exploits by Lieut. S pratt in all
armed schooner, with instructions to proceed up the
river, to what is known as the" l'ted Indian La,ke," and
endeavour to gain the confidence of the natives by
displaying this picture in some resort of theirs; hut the
expedition failed in its object, not a ðiugle red lllan
being seen. In 1811, Governor Duck,yorth sent Lieut.
Buchan on a similar mission, who did meet some of the
natives, but the result was disastrous, for, leaving two
of his men as hostag-es "\yith the tribe, ,,-lÚle he took four
natives to where he had stored presents, SOlue twelve
miles distant, he found, on returning the next day,
three of the Indians having deserted meanwhile, that

.

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49

the tribe had murdered his t\l'O mariners, in the belief
that the naval party had destroyed the Indians ,vho had
been taken along. In 1819, John Peyton, of Twillingate,
having represented to Governor Hamilton that Beothics
were in that vicinity, ,vas empowered to treat with then1,
and surprised a party in their wigwam by crossing the
ice on tIle Exploits River. He captured a woman,.
later known as ".ßlary l\Iarch," ,vhose husband, the
chief, ,vas shot by Peyton as he tried to kill hinl with
an axe stolen from S01l1e settler's boat. She ,vas
brought to St. John's, treated well during the winter,
and sent back in the spring on a naval craft, but died
on the "ray. Her body was coffined, taken to a wig,vanl
inland, and there erected on a platform, to preserve it
from wild animals, with the idea that others of the
tribe might come upon it and bury it according to
native custom; and in 1828, when Cormack, the first
white lnan to traverse the interior, passed that way, he
noted that the body had been removed, later finding it
buried according to the Indian custom. In 1824, three
Indian women, a mother and t\VO daughters, ,vere
captured at Badger Lake and brought to St. John's,
where they told that the tribe w('ts then reduced to abollt
fourteen, thro1.1gh famine and disease. They were taken
baek after some months, but preferred to settle with the
colonists on tIle coast. The nlother and one daughter
died of consllmption at 1\villingate a year or t,yO later,
and the other daughter, Sha,vnandithit, returned to
St. John's, ,vherc she survived untillS29, when she, too,
succumbed to the S3:me disease. In 1827 an institution
,vas founded for the civilizing of the Beothics, and the
expedition of Cormack was unùertakpn under its
auspices, but it failed to find a single n1elnùer of tho
tribe; and it is believed that all had died before that
time. Certainly the last record thero of these Indians
being seen is that they ,verc observed crossing the icp at
N ow Bay in 1823, and Shalrnandithit's deatll probLtbly
ended the Beothic race.
'These natives never attained any kno,,"ledgc {)f fire..
D

50

arms, and were apparently peaceful and disposecl to be
friendly in tIle earlier days, though they developed a
savagery in later dealings ,vith the settlers, for 1",hich
the ill-treatnlent they had suffered was doubtless respon-
sible. Their practice ,vas fo Cllt the heads off their
enemies whom they killed, and not to scalp them.
They usually inhabited conical ,vig\\ran1s, though in
rare cases lived in square llut-like structures covered
,vith bark. They kindled their fires by directing sparks
into the down of dry mosses; they knew nothing of
pottery, and thougll they apparently used soap-stone
vessels hollo,ved out, they boiled their food in baskets
of spruce bark. They believed in a future life, for
they showed great care in disposing of their dead and
interred ,vitIl them articles apparently of a religious
character, and also bo,vs, arro"rs and fishery inlplelnents,
as well as food.
In deer hunting they felled trees, to fOr111 fences
to stop the caribou in tIleir annual migr::ttion and head
them towards tIle rivers where they could 1110re easily
kill them. Travellers who subsequently came llpon
these fences say they often extended thirty and forty
miles, and were most ingenious in their construction,
t.he trees being cut so that they fell on one another and
their branches being then interlaced in such a fashion
as made it impossible for the deer to escape. That the
Indians cut down so n1any trees with tIle rude imple-
ments they possessed is little short of a marvel, and this
fact, as well as the excellent workmanship sho,,"n ill
their various relics now exhibited in the Museum at
St. John's, proves that they must have possessed intelli-
gence of no mea.n order. In the summer of 1910, His
Excellency, Earl Grey, the Governor-General of Canada,
who paid a visit to the paper-mills at Grand Falls on
his way back from his Hudson Bay trip, stopped his
special train on the sIlore of Grand Lake, which '"as
oue of the princilJal resorts of the Beothics, and at a
hunting bungalow there, inspected many relics of the
vanished red men.

51

CHAPTER VI.

P\JO...4.DS AND RAILW.A.YS.

COAST ALONE PEOPLED-SETTLERS ALL FrSHERFOLK-
PER)IANEKT OCCUPATIO
FORBIDDEN-No Ro.A.DS
UNTIL 1825-PROGRESS SINCE THEN.
N E'VFOUNDLAND is some,vhat of a paradox
regarding its transportation facilities. A fishing
country before everything else, with its people settled
almost wholly around its coast line, it possesses to-day
the largest per capita mileage in railways of any coun-
try in the world of similar character, while its system of
coast and bay steamers has no equal in Eastern Canada;
and, 1vinding their way around the coast villages are
thousands of miles of highways. The change effected
by all these agencies of communication is all the nlore
remarkahle because no country has ever suffered so
much from repressive la"rs and official indifference as
N ew.foundland. Not until 1825, or only 86
Tears ago,
was the firRt road In the island constructed-all travel
previously being over trails or 11arro'\v paths, and the
draft animals the famous Ne\vfoundland dogs.
These conditions ,vere the outgro\vth of the cruel
enactments, conceived entirely for retaining the colony
merely as a fishing place, and discouraging permanent
settlement or other forms of industry. The la,vs
against the cultivation of the soil, and even against the
erection of permanent d,vellings, were enforced up to
the beginning of the last century. In 1790, Governor
Millbanke proclaimed that lIe "was directed not to
allow any right of private property "\vhatever in any

.

52

land not actually employed in the fisllery." In 1799,
Governor W alclegrave ordered fences enclosing a piece
of ground in St. John's to be torn down, and prohibited
chimneys even in temporary sheds. Only in 1811 were
permanent buildings allowed; and two years more
elapsed before grants of land were issued. Not until
1825 was road lnaking begun, though St. John's had
then 1-2,000 people; and within tlrenty 111iles there
,rcre prolJably half as many lTIOre.

ehe first road extended from St. John's to Portug-al
Cove, on the south shore of Conception Bay, nine miles
distant, with a boat service to carry luails and passen-
gers across the inlet to the thri ving to'Vl1S of Brigus,
Harbor Grace and Carbonear, on the northel"n shore of
that Bay, which then held 2,000 people each and ,vere
large fishing centres. Gradually, as the years p
ssed,
road nla}cing \yas extended, the Colonial Legislature
voted funds for such fronl year to year, and occasionally
when circum
tances ,varranted, sums on capital account
\vere lil{e,vise disbursed. At present most of the sea-
board is provided ,vitll roads.
Newfoundland's experience throws an instructive
side-light upon the question as to ,vho should o,vn
l"ailways-the country or the cJrporations ? An analysis
of the conditions underlying her case ,viII probably
satisfy the investigator, that in this colony corporation
control is inevitable.
Perhaps no phase of colonial economics in recent
years has evoked more conlment than that comprehended
in the Newfoundland rail \vay-its construction by the
colony and its transfer to the contractor.
ro clearly
understand it one must bear in nlind that the principal
industry of the colony is fishing-for cod, seal, salmon
and herring, and that this pursuit occupies most of the
inhabitants. 'llhough the island is the tenth largest in
the world, its entire population of 240,000 is scattered
around the coast line in fishing hamlets near the sea,
which provides then1 ,vitIl sustenance. There 'v ere not

53

until this century opened, three settlements in the island
lacking an outlet by sea. For a maritime people like
this, therefore, to llndertake rail\vay building wO'uld
seelll little short of insane. The interior em bodied
possibilities for agriculture and lumbering, admitted
though undefined. The value of its Ininerals, notably
copper, was 1110re assured, and the argulllent for the new
depal.ture ,,,as tllat the population, having gro\yn beyond
scope of the fisheTies, ,vas entitled to have the potential
wealth of the interior developed and new industrial
avenues opened up for the needy and ul1enlployed.
Accordingly, in 1880 the rail\vay policy was launched.
An Alnerican'" COlnpany undertook to build a narrow
gauge railroad (3 ft. 6 in.) to Notre DaHle Bay,
with a branch to Ilarbor Grace, in all 3.:10 miles, for
5,000 acres of land and a Inail subsidy of $530 a mile
per annum for tllirty-five years, and the first sod ,vas
turned on August 9th, 1881. B.,g,nds of the Company
were floated in England, and witll tIle money thus
obtained the ,york. ,vas begun. But mismanageluent
and extravagance S0011 dissipated the funds, and after
completing sixty miles the Company defaulted, the line
reverting to the English bondholders ,vho cOH1pletecl t.he
section to Harbor Grace, 8:L nliles, by Noven1ber, 1884,
the colony being left ,vitll the eX11erieIlce, and ,vith a
la;\vsuit ,,,hicll absorbed thousands of dollars of the tax-
payers' money in the s'llcceeding years. 'fhe
Vhite'Yay
administration, "\vhich had inaugurated the railway
policy, ,vas s'llcceecled in 1885 by the Thorburn Govern-
ment, which essayed the construction of another section,
26 miles, frolll "Thitbourne to Placclltia, as a public
,york, managecl by con1missloners and financed out of
the colonial treasur
T. This proved so costly that it had
to be abandollPd, and in 1880 it was decided to have the
line completed by a reputable outside contractor, for
Sir \"""illialn White,vay ad agt ,. n become Premier and
sho,ved hinlsclf as earnest for rail \vay extension as
before.

.

5-t

,l\..mong those ,,
ho responded to the invitation to
construct the proposed line ,vas J\ir. (afterwards Sir)
R. G. Reid, of Montreal, who had sllccessfullv carried out
several large contracts for the Canadian Pacific llail,vay.
His tender 1yaS accepted for $15,600 a lnile, payable in
the colony's forty year 3! per cent. bonds, 11e under-
taking their conversion into cash. This contract ,yas
signed in 1890, the Inileage involved being about 280.
By 1893 he had the road almost completed to Notre
Dame Bay, bllt it then became clear, that in order for it
to prove of any yalue to the colon
T, the line should be
extended to Port-aux-Basques, the south-western ex-
tremity of the island, ,vhence daily comu1unication could
be nlaintained "lrith the Canadian mainland by a fast

teamer. Accordingly, another contract ,vas concluded
1vith 1.1:r. l
eid for the construction of the ,vestern
division of the road on the saIne terms.
Concurrently,vith this arose the qllestion of operat-
ing the systenl ,vhen completed, for it 1ras realized that
it ,vould be a profitless undertaking for the colony to
attempt to nurture this " infant enterprise," so a further
agreen1ent was effected ,,,ith
Ir. Reid in 1893, by ,yhich
he undertoolr to operate the road for ten years in return
for a grant of 5,000 acres of land for each mile of track.,
i\.S he was aIlo1\ T ed three years for the constru ction of
the railroad, this really made his operation period only
seven years.
His idea ,vas to set on foot n1any labour-giving
industries, and develop the D1ineral, agricultural and
timber lands included in his holdings. He did initiate'
,yorks of this character, bllt not on a large scale, hecause
the seven-year period did not justify more amlJitious
projects, as the road might then pass into the hands of
parties hostile to him and his ventures. In 1897 he
proposed to the vVhite,vay Goyernment to extend his
operating contract, but in the general election ,vhich
toolr place that
Tear, the Liberall\iinistry was defeated,
and the Conservative party, led by Sir James ,"Vinter"

55

assumed power. The Winter 1\Iinistry the next JTear
concluded '\vith 1\1r. R,eid the conlprehensive contract
"\vhich subsequently became famous as the" Re. deal,"
or "'98 Con tract." I ts provisions "
ere as follows :-

The Rail,vay: Mr. Reid undertook to operate the'
entire system of the colour, 638 miles, for fifty years )
for a further land grant of 2,500 acres to each n1ile of
track; and he purchased the reversion of the ownership
of the property at the end of that period for a present I
payment of $1,000,000.
The Dry Dock :
rhe colony had bllilt a graving
dock at St. John's some years previously, at a cost of
$560,000. It would make an excellent deep-water ter-
minal for his railway and he purchased it for $325,000;
as the colony ,\yas losing heavily on its operation.
The Telegraphs: '1'0 more effectivelJT operate his
trains and steamers he agreed to purchase the colonial
telegraph system, 1,000 miles in length, for $125,000 its
cost to date, and to reduce the rates to the public by
one-half at the expiration of the Anglo-American
monopoly in 1904.
.l.heMail Steamers: Instead of casual steamers
around the coast, he undertook to build eight modern,
high-class boats to serve tIle "Thole seaboard, for thirty
years, at subsidies agp:regating $92,300 annually.
The Lands: Provision for the develoPlnent of these
"ras made, and they ,vere regardecl as being the founda-
tion of the possibilities of the whole undertaking.
Dealing- ,yith these properties in detail, the situation
was:
Ir. Iteid }leld that a proprietary right in the
railway "
as essential, as a mere leasehold ,vould be
insuffi
ient for financial purposes. The comlJining of
the steanlers ,vith the train service ensured the carriage
of freigllts to all parts of the colony on the lowest terms,
as the rates were assessed bv mileage over land or ,vater.
The dock and telegraphs '\

re both being operated by
the colony at a loss, and the lands were valueless to the
people unless t,hey could be de'
eloped.

.

56

The criticis111 levelled against this deal V\Tas that the
Government "sold" the railroad to ]vIr. Reid for barely
one million dollars. The argument, however, on the
other hand was, first, that by his compact the operation
of the systen1 was assured for half-a-century and the
colony relieved of all obligation in this respect, so that
the railroad was really converted frOln a liability into
an asset; second, that by Inaking so wide-reaching an
agreement the colony really ensured its own greatest
development, as only by straining eyery effort to this
end could
Ir. Reid earn a profit on his investment;
third, that he could not remo'''e froln the colony the
railway, dock, telegraphs, lands or any enterprises lIe
establislled, and if he failed in his contract any time in
the fifty years, these ,yould revert to the colony and l1Ïs
million dollars becolne forfeit; fourth, that a proprietary
interest was essential to hin1 in financing the projected
undertakings, and that if the colony took his million
dolIars and deposited it at compound interest at four per
cent., tIle amount it ,\yould yield in fifty years wOlùd be
$7,500,000, or enough to build another l'"ailroad alongside
of Contractor Reid's, if it became necessary; not to
mention at all by that tinle new agencieSì, like airships,
Inight render his railroad so Inllch old iron.
The contract, though much criticised, has since
amply justified itself to the country as it did to the
Legislature then, as the best al"rangement possible in the
interests of the colony. It passed the I-Iouse of Assembly
l>y a vote of t\yenty-eight to eight, five lTIen11)ers of the
Opposition, including Sir Ed,vard J\Iorris, tIle present
Premier, and his finance minister, the lIon. M. P. Cashin,
breaking from their party to support it; and in the
Legislative Council by a vote of fourteen to one.
'l'he obligations which it in1posed upon the
contractor ,,?ere loyally carried out, and 11is measures
for the develop111ent of the country ""ere shaped with
a vie\\r to assuring the permanent character of the
industries ,vhich ,vere to be set on foot.

5:l

CHAF1'ER VII.

THE REID PROBLE
I AND RECENT POLITIOAL
DEVELOP
IENT.

ELECTION OF 1900-CoNTRACT OF 1901-11-1tBITltA'.rrONS
-EI
ECTION OF 1904-BoND-l\IollRIS RUPTURE OF 1907
-DOUBLE ELECTION, 1908-9 - UNIQUE POLITICA.L
CO)IPLICATION-MoRRIS 1\IINISTRY "\VINS.
M R. REID'S operation of the rail\vay and kindred
services llnder his contract \vas 'undertaken with
the determination to set the colony well on the march
towards real progress and prosperity. Splendid modern
steamers ,vere built by him for the coast and in-bay
services. Sumptuous carriages and I)o"
erful engines
were provided for the railway trains. He improyed the
road bed, began a palatial hotel in St. J"ohn's, and
inaugurated several ne\v industries. 'l'hese develop-
ments confirmed the contentions of those ,vho advocated
that the transfer of these public utilities to the
contractor ,,,"ould be to the public advantage-namely,
that he, being saddled ,vith their operation, ,vould have
to spend millions in utilizing the resources of the island
if he ,vas to obtain dividends and ultimately recoup
hiu1self for his original outlay.
Influenced by these views, Mr. Reid then proposed
that the Governlnent, whose sanction \vas essential,
permit him to convert his personal holding into a linlited
liability con1pany, capitalized at $25,000,000; one-fifth
of that SUIll to be raised at once on mortgage bonds, for
carrying out the several industries projected, notably a
IJlllp n1ill, designed to be one of tIle largest in the ,yol'ld.

.

58

Sir Robert Bond, who, as leader of the Opposition
in the Assembl
r, succeeded to office on the do'\vl1fallof
the "Tinter Cabinet, was not favorable to this proposition,
fearing that it concealed an attempt by l\Ir. Reid to rid
himself of his IJersonalliability, 1V hich was so complete
that his entire personal estate ,yould have to respond to
any derelictions, but of which obligat.ions it wa
con-
tended that a transfer to a company would relieve hiJTI
in a large measure. He urged the contrary view; that
he had secured English capital to assist him in turning
to profit our '\vealth of forest and farm, and TIline and
stream, and that the colon
T's security for carrying out
the contract obligations ,vas ample, in that all the
imuloveable property involved WOllld l"eyert to the
colony if he or the propo
ed company failed to operate
the system. The Bond Cabinet, however) insisted that
in return for such a concession 1\1r. Reid should return
to the colony the telegraphs, lllOdify his land grants in
the interest of the settlers, and so as to ensure the
reservation of tracts for -various public purposes, give
guarantees as to the amount of money to be sl)ent
in the colony of the sum raised, and relinq'uish his
proprietary right in the railway. He accepted the
second and third conditions, but rejected the others.
On this issue tIle general election of 1900 was
fought, Premier Bond being returned with a following
of thirty-tv \TO, while the Opposition carried only four
seats, including that of the leader, Mr. A. B. 1\Iorine.
Despite the result of the election, it was recognized that
the operation of . the railroad by the GovernUlent ,\yould
he inlpossible; and tllat only by the inauguration of
diversified industries a10ng the line by 1\1::1". l{eid could
this venture be made a financial success; and in the
1Jenefits of this, the colony and its people nlust of course
largely share

Accordingly, in the sumlner of 1901, the Bond

Iinistry cOllcluded a further contract with Mr. Reid.
By its terms he surrendered the reversion of the owner-

59

ship of tIle railroad on being returned his one million
dollars witll interest at six per cent. for the time
the colony had held it, he accepting a leasehold
interest in the railroad for fifty years; he surrendered
2,550,000 acres of land, ,vhich llad accrued to hinl under
the 1898 contract, receiving $850,000 in casll therefor;
and he surrendered the telegraphs under an agreement
that either side might submit its claim for damages to
arbitration. lIe had Ineanwhile an outstanding claim
for rolling stock and equiplnent, provided under previous
contracts, in excess of those which he \ya,s required to
suppl
T, and this ",vas like\vise arbitrated, resulting in an
award for him of $894,000, ,vhile an arbitration in 1905
as to the telegraphs, ,von him an a1vard of S 1,500,000.
Before this latter award the general election of 1904
took place, and its approach was waited with keen
interest, because in a b
T-election in the autumn of 1902
the candidates of the 1vlinistry sustained a decided
reverse, a result ascribed partly to a short fishery and
partly to popular dissatisfaction at the substantial
monetary victories secnred by Contractor Reid, who
had obt.ained, as shown above, nearly three million
dollars in cash already, and had this telegraph arbitration
still outstanding.
The struggle in 1904 was further cOlllplicated by
the fact that the opposition now really consisted of two
factions-one led by
lr. A. }-'. Goodridge (an ex-
Pre]llier), and
ir.
Iorine; and the other by Sir )Vïlliam
"\Vhite"ray, another ex-Premier and Mr. D. .l\Iorison, an
cx-judge of the :::)uprenle Court, while Sir Jal11eS Winter
(ex-judge and ex-Premier), also entered the field, the
whole cOlnhining their forces in the end, so that the
persons opposing the Bond-
[orris Ministry nlight be
fairly described as having fiye leaders and embracing
every elemcnt in the island disaffected with the party in
power.
At the merging of all tl1ese diverse interests the
country took alarm, and it being charged against them

.

60

that their unc1er]yillg object ,ras union. ,yith Canada,
the aggregation suffered a crushing defeat. Mr. 1.1' orine
alone held his district, all the other leaders nleeting
disaster, and he found himself '\vith but fl ve follo,,'"ers in
the Assembly. This s\veeping victory occasioned no
small surprise, seeing that the vrevious by-elections
had gone other\yise, alld as the 1'e5ul t practically meant
the disappearance of nlost of these Opposition factors
from the political arena l1ernlanently, it ,vas generally
considered that Sir Robert Bond's adminÎstratioll
was guaranteed by this election a long continuance
in office.
H01vever, in J'lllJ', 1907, Sir Edward
Iorris, then
l\Iinister of Justice in the 13o
ild Cabinet, resigned his
portfolio and broke from that part
T, having disagreed
,yith the .Premier 011 the amount to be paid labourers
employed on Public 1,'" orks, and he and Sir Robert Bond
having l)rßctically entered public ]ife together, been
colleagues in the "Tllite1ray ]'Iinistry for Inany
.pars,
and Sir Ed,\yard being Sir llobert's "right-hand man"
in his o\vn .11inistry, it "ras seen at once that his '\yith.
drawal portended stirring events in the political arena.
l'hese expectations '"ere soon an1ply justified. 111".
l\Iorine llad left the colony the previous year and
established himself in Canada. The Opposition ,vas
then being led by Cal)tain CharJes Da1\"e, \\'ho, 110'\yeVer,
,\yas in IJoor health a.nd died during the ensuing year,
",-hen the Hon. D. ]'forison, the present Attorney-General,
succeeded !lilli, having been elected for Mr. 1\iorine's
seal. This regular OPIJosition andl1rominent supporters
of Sir Ed,vurd
lorl'is no,y combined and invited him to
assun1e the leadership Ot a united 11arty; and to this he
agreed, issuing fi n1anifesto to the electorate in March,
1908, setting forth his l)olicy. He also assunlecl a
,,'igorous COUl'se in the Legislature in that session, and,
ùeing remarkable for his energy and foresight, he
speedi1y secured effective tacking throughout the
island.
'he quadrennial general electiol1 being due

61

in November 1908, the intervening period ,vas occupied
by both sides in l)]anning for a ct111lpaign unique in the
island's history. The election ,vas held in Novemher-
and resulted in Sir Robert Bond and Sir Edward l\iorris
eacll securing eighteen seatsM This was regarded as a
notable achievement for the latt.er, because he sufÍpred
from three disadvantages. First, 11e ,vas a Roman
Catholic and the adherents of that faith nllmbering- but
one- third of tho total population, and every Prenlier fOl.
fifty years having been a Protestant, this was a seriolls
llandicap, as sectarian appeals are not uncommon in the
bitter election contests ,yaged here. Then, he ,,-as
accused of being at heart an advocate of union ,vitIl
Canada, and it ,vas also ehargecl that he ,vas in close
sympathy ,vitIl Contractor Iteid; the expiring embers
of the fires of political animosity against this corporation
being fanned into renewed life in the hope of inj uring
him.
The Bond l\linistry, on its part, enjoyed the advan-
tage of possession of office and control of all the election
machinery, valuable factors in local political struggles;
1)ut, on the other hand, it suffered from the real or
irL1aginary sins of eight years of po,ver. 'Vhen the
results were finalized and each leader h:1d seventeen
followers, speculation as to the outcon1e \yas intensified.
Premier Bond had elected every departmental officer,
anù it onlv remained for him to secure an adherent frolll
the 1\lorr1s side to break the deadlock and, possibly, in
a second election, to ,vin easily, while the J\forrisites, 011
their part, if they gained a recruit from the Bondites,
,,,"ould have to face at least six by-elections, consequent
upon the appointnlent of as man
T members to the
departmental portfolios.
The colony ,vas fortunate in having as its Governor
at the time Sir William MacGregor, a nUlll of exceptional
ability, who studied thoroughly every l)hasc of constitu-
tional questions. 'l'he pro Llem "r hich beset him coulù
exist in no other British colony. 'rhe LegisJaturc had

,

62

to meet in the early vvinter, so that the Bond )íinistry
might have an opportunity to pass the necessary appro-
priation bills, and if they could not do this, that they
might resign and give place to a 1\Iorris Ministry, who
should enjoy and fail to profit by a sinlilar opportunity;
and even in such an event time had to be provided for
a possible coalition. J\Iinistry to be forIned; and if that
proved Ünpossible a new general election wOllld be
necessary, \vhile to hold this in the spring ,vould be very
difficult. Sir Robert Bond was required by the
Governor to summon the Legislature; and having done so,
recommended him
on the eve of the Session, to dissolve
the Parliament which had been elected in November,
,,"itIlout affording it an opportunity to meet, and to grant
him another appeal to the electorate. This the Governor
declined to do, and then, in accordance with recognized
usage, Pren1ier Bond, when the Governor declined his
advice, tendered his resignation and that of his Cabinet.
The Governor no,," invited Sir Ed,vard l\lorris to form a
Ministry, which he did; and, unlike his predecessor,
act-ually had the Legislature ll1eet and attel11pted to
elect a Speaker, but this attelnpt the Bond party defeated,
by voting against nominees from both sides of the
House. The Governor next attempted to secure the
format.ion of a coalition Ministry, and called into con-
sultation other ex-Pren1iers; but they ,yere unable to
help him, so he granted a dissolution to Sir Edward
Morris.
He ",vas bitterly censured by the Bondites for alleged
partisanship in this course, but his reasons for the step
he took seem all-conclusive. He appears to have argued
that Sir Robert Bond had enjored the ad,-antage of an
appeal to the country and had not been sustained; that
Sir Robert Bond, when the Legislature met, had pursued
an unpatriotic policy in refusing to allow the election of
a Speaker, and that if a second appeal to the country
became necessary, it was only fair that Sir Edward
Morris should be given the opportunity of facing the

63

country ,vith the reins of po,ver, as Sir Robert Bond had
been given the previous autumn. According-Iy, the
Governor dissolved the Legislature on ..A.pril lOth, and
()J'dered an election for l\Iay 8th, ,vhich resulted in the
l\Iorris
iinistry being confirmed in office, carrying
twent
T-six seats against ten secured by the Bond party;
every seat ,yon by the )Iorrisites in the autumn election
being retained by them in the spring and ten others
Cal)tured fronl the Bondites, ,vhile now every depart-
mental officer under the }Iorris Administration retained
his seat by a substantial majority.
rhe result was
regarded by the country generally as amply vindicating
the course taken by Sir \Villiam ];IacGregor, ,vho also
won the approval of the Imperial authorities, as testified
by a despatch from the Colonial Office, signed by Lord
Crewe and dated N ovelllbcr l,::tth, in which the Secretary
()f State observed:
" I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
" of your telegram of the 12th of Thlay, regarding
" the result of the general election in Xe,yfound-
"land. I t ,,,ill Le learned from Iny previous
"despatches and telegrams that your action
" throughout the difficult political situation, which
"was created in the colony by the indecisive
" result of the last general election has met \vith
" my approval, but -I desire to place publicly on
"record my high appreciation of the manner in
" which you have handled a situation practically
" unprecedented in the history of responsible
"Government in the Dominions. I may add
" that I consider your decision to grant a dissolu-
"tion to Sir Ed,yard Morris-which has, I
"observe, been adversely criticized in a section
"of the Kewfoundlalld press, to have been fully
" in accordance witll the principles of responsible
" Government."

64,

CnAP1'ER VIII.

THE REID ENTERPRISES.

RAIL1VAY SYSTE
f-SPLENDID STEA:\iERS-DRY DOCK
AND MACHINE AND CAR SHOPS-STREET
RAILWAY AND ELECTRIC UTILITIES-
f11RAFFIC FIGURES.
T HE railway is very substantially constructed and very
efficiently operated: the road-bed is splendidly
built; the rails are the best procurable; the bridges
are of steel ,vith granite abutments, and the rolling
stocl( is the finest that is made. Express trains cross
the island every alternate day in ejther direction, and
the present summer ,viII see a daily express service
inaugurated. These trains are made up of ordinary
baggage and mail cars, coaches for second class and first
class passengers; dinin
cars and sleeping cars, all of
tIle style used on the Canadian Pacific Line. Through
freights trains are run every day, and morning and
evening trains ply bet,veen St. John's and Carbonear,
along the shore of Conception Bay, and likewise to
Placentia, tIle chief town in the Bay of that name. A
splendid gran ite station is the head-quarters of the
Reid system in St. John's; machine sh01)S of h
ost
approved type are established in the vicinity and avail-
able both for the rep
tir and construction of raillray
equipment and for steamers and vessels effecting changes
in the Dry Dock ne" ,r by. At all the principal points
along the main line and the branches, substantial and
commodious stations llave been erected, and at the

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On the little River Codroy.

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65

terminals point, where the several bay steamers connect
'\vith the trains, substantial wharves and adequate
freight ships are provided. The Company's steamers
are equally up-to-date and satisfactory in every respect.
The Brzlce, plying between Port-aux-Basques and
North Sydney, Cape Breton, 'v here she connected every
other day with the Intercolonial Railway system of
Canada, and thus enabled communication to be made
with every part of the outside world, had became almost
a household word in the colony, during her twelve
years' performance of this service, until she ,vas unfor-
tunately ,vrecked on the Nova Scotia coast last l\1arch.
She was a seventeen-knot steamer of clippertype, specially
constructed to '\vithstand ice, and was the staunchest
and stoutest ship in North American waters; costing
$250,000, having excellent accommodation for passengers,
and even in mid-winter able to battle witll the heaviest
ice floes and to make her trips, except on rare occasions,
,vith clockwork regularit)r. Slightly smaller than the
Bruce is the Glencoe, which plies between Port-aux-
Basques and Placentia every week, touching at the
principal ports on the south coast and connecting ,vith
the B'l"uce and the west coast by rail at Port-aux-
"Basques, and with St. John's and the eastern coast via
the railway at Placentia. The Al"U.'lle, one of the bay
boats, operates in Placentia Bay; the Dundee in
Bonavista Bay; the Clyde in Notre Dame Bay; and
the Home between Bay of Islands and l
elle Isle Strait
on the west coast, ,vhile the IJlve 1 "e, a ship of the
same size, speed and accommodation as the Bruce, plies
bct,vecn St. John's and Labrador during the summer
n10nths. ..AIl these sllips are sumptuously appointed,
,admirably maintained, and handled by such capable
1nasters anù cre,vs that accidents are rare and loss of
Jife unkno,vn; it being the record of the railroad, too,
that it has never killed a passenger. It is proposp-d to
have a daily steamer on Cabot Strait this summer, as
\vell as a daily train across the Is]and. The grO\vtll
E

66

of the traffic of the Reid system the past six years is
attested by the following figures:
1903-4. 1909-10.
No. of Passengers Carried 136,010 194,844
Tons of Freight Carried... 122,935 173,343
l\liles run, Passenger Trains 150,425 207,573

Iiles run, Freight Trains 51,296 78,366
1tliles run, 1\lixed Trains 200,821 287,529
Passenger Traffic Earnings $206,940 $274,490
Freight Traffic Earnings... 159,941 231,266
l\Iail Traffic Earnings 41,812 42,000
Other Earni
gs ... 22,724 43,834
The railroad starts from the Dry Dock in St.
John's, which is deep water terminal and runs through
the Waterford Valle
T, a delightfully picturesque suburb
of the city, for about four miles, ,rhen it traverses the
section of the peninsula to Topsail, in Conception Bay,
a beautiful watering place, much affected by the city's
residents during the summer months. Then it skirts
the South Shore of Conception Bay, keepin
within
sight of the ocean and of farming villages the whole
way. From IIolyrood, at the head or that Bay, it runs
inland a few miles and at Brigus junction a branch line
continues along the north shore through several populous
centres to Harbor Grace, the second town in the colony;
and three miles further, to Carbonear, the present
termÏn1.1S there, though it is proposed next year to
extend this brancll to Grate's Cove, the tip of that
peninsula. From Brigus Junction the main line con-
tinues to Whitbourne, "rhere another spur extends to
Broad Cove in 'l'rinity Bay and across the peninsula
also to Harbor Grace. The Eroad Cove branch is being
extended the present year to Heart's Content, the
landing place of five submarine cables. Seven miles
beyond vVhitl10urne is Placentia Junction, whence a
line of twentj1-six miles extends to Placentia and taps
that Bay, all of this country being lllore or less settled
and given over to agricultural IJursuits. Thence the
road traverses the Isthmus of A yalon, where, from the

67

car windows can be seen the waters of both Trinity and
Placentia Bays. Still going north, the railway crosses
the 'l"terranova, Gambo and Gander Valleys, through
tracts extensively wooded and which it is hoped will
see pu1p and paper enterprises in the future.
T"TO important points passed in this section are
Clarenvil1e, the
erminal for the Trinity "Bay Steamer,
and Port Blandford, the terminal for the Bonavista Bay
ship. About 240 miles from St. John's, Notre Dame
Junction is reached, ,,
hence a spur, nine miles long,
connects with I.Jewisport, the terminal of the steamer
on Notre Dame Bay, while seven miles further Norris
Arm is reached, where the valley of the Exploits is
entered and beautiful panoramas of :fiord scenery are
disclosed. The Exploits is crossed at Bishop Falls,
twelve miles from its mouth, and here can be seen th
pulp and pap ks of the Albert Reed Company.
Eight miles further up the river, on its north bank,
Grand Falls is reached, the home of the great Harms-
worth pulp and paper enterprise, the pioneer of its
kind in Newfoundlan(l and the second largest, in point
of size, in the world. For some miles the river is in
full view, with densely wooded forest country visible in
the background, while the nearer tracts promise splendid
cultivation. At Badger J3rook the road leaves that
vall
y, takes 3 north-west route across the White Hill
plains, climbing these to the Topsails country, the great
central p]atpau being crossed at an elevation of 1,737
feet above sea level. The line then follows tbe course
of Kitty's Brook to the north-east of Grand Lake,
continuing along the south side of Deer Lake and down
the delightful Humber Valley to Bay of Islands, which
it traverses completely, circling round towering bluffs,
and then througJ} the Harry's Brook valley to Bay
St. George. From this point it passes back of the
Anguille mountains along the valley of the Codroy Rivers
to Cape Ray and skirts the seaboard to Port-aux-
JJasques, which is its western terminal.

68

. Last year the Reid Company took further contracts
to construct branch lines of railroad; from Clarenville
through the Bonavista peninsula in Bonavista town, the
work of which was about four-fifths completed last year
and ",vill be finished early this summer; from Broad
Cove to Heart's Content; from Carbonear to Grate's
Cove; from St. John's along the eastern front of the
Avalon Peninsula to Trepassey, near Cape Race; from
the Avalon Peninsula south-west to Fortune Bay; and
from Deer Lake to Bonne Bay. The total mileage is
about 300 and the construction figure is $15,000 a mile,
vayable in cash, as against $15,600 a mile, payable in
bonds in the past; with 4,000 acres of land per mile for
operating for forty years, as against 5,000 acres for the
fifty-year operation of the main line, ten years of which
have practicaHy expired.
As already stated, the Reid Company maintains

eight steamers operating in connection with the railroad
syste\ll, touching practical1y every settlement of im-
portance in the island and on Labrador, and by their
connecting with each other, they enable the traveller to
circumnavigate the island, and business to be done most
expeditious]y and economically between every centre of
population in the Island. For freight and passenger
traffic purposes, the mileage of the railroads and steamers
is regarded as one, and through l'ates are given.
The operations of the combined system are entirely
satisfactory to the travelling and business public, and
the efficient and up-to-date administration of the '\vhole
is commended, both by the resident and visitors.
In St. John's the Reid Company operates the
graving dock in the west end of the port on a very
large and steadily expanding scale. It is constantly
occupied by steam and sailing vessels, the Company's
own flotilla and other cO:lst\vise steamers, the powerful
sealing fleet, scores of fish-freighters, foreign ships, and
the hundreds of local fishing crafts; while in the vicinity
the Company has various mechanica1 enterprises. There

69

are machine shops, where boilers are built, marine and
loconlotives engines constructed, all parts and fittings
for steamers-and railway cars made and repaired; and
in car-shops adjoining, the Company no,,'" builds its o\vn
freight vans anel passenger coaches, including sleeping
and dining cars; and has undertaken, in its latest
contract, to build the locomotives and every other class
of l'olling stock required ill the operation of the ,vhole
railroad. This, as might be imagined, calls for the
employment of an army of skilled mechanics and other
operatives.
In St. John's, too, the Company operates the street
ar system and suppl. es the electric light for heating
and power pllrposes. The necessary electricity is
generated at Pettr Harbor, some twelve miles from tl1e
city, through the agency of a chain of lakes occupying
that section of the country, and which ,vere granted to
the Company for this purpose.
In the original project of 1898 the erection of a
suitable modern hotel in St. John's was contemplated,
and work was actually begun on it, the concrete foun-
dations having been put in and some of the Inaterial
for the superstructure actually being in course of
preparation, ,vhen the re
ulting difficulties caused
Contractor Iteid to abandon the project. Latterly the
movement for a hotel has regained vigor and activity,
and while tIle Reid Company has since SllO\Vn no
pecial
desire to move in the matter again, it is hoped that
eventually arrangements may be made ,vhereby this
Company will take a foremost part in the promotion of
this undertaking, the Ilecessary cOJnplement to the other
phases of enterprise and progress with which it has
ùecome associated in the public mind at home and
abroad in assisting in the material development of
Newfoundland.

.

70

CHAP1'ER IX.

CROWN LANDS.

LAWS RESPECTING CROWN LJ.\NDS-CONDITIONS FOR
OBTAINING SAME-GENEROUS CONCESSIONS FOR
INTENDING SETTLERS OR INVESTORS.

T HE public domain of the Colony, including its
lakes, streams, anù other fresh-\vater areas, and
embracing- as well tlJat ])ortion of Labrador which
is a depëndency of N ewfol.mdland, is vested in the
Crown, and, save ,vhere grants have been made to
corporations or individuals for farming, mining or other
purposes, the whole of its areas are known as "Crown
Lands," and administered by the Department of .A.gri-
culture and Mines.
The laws wInch regulate the selling or leasing of
Cro,vn Lands for various purposes are most liberal in
character, and framed specially to promote the settlement
of the country and the development of its natural
resources.
Such lands (and waters) may become temporarily
or permanently the property of persons or companies
for homesteading, farlning, mining, lumbering, pulp or
paper ll1aking, quarrying, peat-making, fish breeding,
etc., through the agency of licenses, leases and grants
in fee simple. Under the term" minerals" are included
petroleum and other mineral oils, and under the term
" timber" are included trees, standing or cut, or cut
into logs, but not sawn into board or otherwise manu-
factured, it also inClllding the bark of t.rees.

71

In the past, criticism has been directed against the
Reid Company because it has been granted so much of
the public domain, but the ans\ver to such complaint
is, that a strip eight miles deep, along one side of the
railway line \vonld more than comprehend all the lands
this company has acquired, leaving the corresponding
strip on the opposite side of the tracl( and all the rest of
the lands in the Island, as \veIl as on H N e\yfoundland "
Labrador, available for every other purpose anrl interest.
}{oreover, the Reid Company has a standing offer
to sell lands to any person WIlO wishes them for farming
or settlement purpo'3es, at thirty cents an acre, 1vhich is
the Government's upset price therefor; being prepared
as well, to lease or sell them for mining, lumbering or
paper-making purposes at reasonable terms. The Com-
pany, in other ,vords, realizes that it can only ]Jromote
the settling and developing of the country by offering
favorable inducelnents to all intending to locate on the
land or establish ne,v ind ustries in the colony, since
such will mean enhanced prosperity and increasing
business :for the company's railroad and stealllships.

FAR)! LA:sns.
Crown Lands are sold for farming prices at an upset
price fixed according to their location and value, but in
no case less than thirty cents an acre; every grant of
more than t\venty acres requiring the grantee within
five years, to clear and cultivate in good faith ten acres
for every 100 acres in the gr
nt, no grant of more than
640 acres being made to anyone person, except in
special cases.
Larger areas up to 6,400 aères are granted, con-
ditional on the licensee settling upon the land within
two years one family for each 160 acres, and in five
years clearing t\VO acres per year for everyone hundred
acres, continuing them under cultivation and fa.milies
thereon for ten years more, 1vI:cn he is entitled to a
grant in fee of the said land.

.

72

Areas of 5,000 acres may be acquired on clearing
and cropping specified quantities annually and settling
families thereon, as above. The Crown may set apart
from time to time, lands to layout for towns or villages,
or other public purposes, and survey and la
" out the
same; and set apart lands for the sites of market places,
public buildings, court houses, churches, cemeteries,
schools, parks, pasturages, bogs, beaches or shores for
general public purposes.
The holder in all cases must preserve at least 5 per
cent. of all trees or wooded lands as shelter for stock,

nd, where there are no trees, must plant and cultivate
twenty trees annually for ten years, for every acre held,
while there is also reservation for public use of not less
than t,venty-five f
et, arollnd all lakes and ponds and
both banks of all rivers.

:BOG LANDS.
Leases are granted for quantities not exceeding
5,000 acres, of such areas as are declared after survey
and report, to be bog lands, holders of which mu;t
utilize them for peat-making and similar purposes, for
such term, at such rent and subject to such conditions,
as the Crown ma)? stipulate.
QUARRY LANDS.
Leases are granted of land for quarrying purposes,
for terms not exceeding 99 years, and for areas of not
more than eighty acres, at rentals of not less than 25
cents an acre annually; the lessee to begin worl
,,,,ithin
two years an(l continue it effectively during the term,
while he may obtain a grant in fee on expending $6,000
in quarrying on the land, \vithin five
rears.
WATER POWERS.
Leases are granted for terms of years of the right
to use the waters of any river for driving machinery,
subject to such rent and conditions as the Crown may
prescribe, and to the preservation of the vested rights

73

of all persons holding lands whose interests may he
affected by the use of such ,vater with a fine of $100
for each offence for introducing sa,,
dust or other
deleterious matter into such water.
FISH BREEDING.
For the encouraging of the breeding- of fish, leases
are granted for terms of years of the right to use any
pond or river, or. such quantity of lalld adjoining the
same, as may be necessary for fish-breeding purposes,
subject to such conditions as are deemed expedient.
TIMBEJt AND PULP.
Licenses are granted to cut timber on Cro1'\'ll Lands
for the manufacture of timber and pulp, for periods of
ninety-nine years, sllbject to the following conditions-
(a) The right to cut timber to be at a bonus
per square mile, varying according to the situation
and value of the land, and not less than $2 per
square mile, this to be paid within thirty days from
tilC date of approval.
(b) 'The licensee to erect a sa ,,-ulill or mills or
a pulp or paper factory or factories, and to operate
tIle same in good fait}l and continuousl
T, according
to the conditions prescribed by the Cro,,-n and
clnbodied in the license. He lnust tal
e from every
tree cut dOWll all the timber fit for usn and Inake
it into sawn lUlnber or other products; prevent
any needless destruction of growing tinlber by his
men; exercise strict and constant supervision to
})revent forest fires; make s,,"orn I'eturns quarterly
of the quantit
,. of marketable materials taken from
his area and the price or value thereof; and pa
t in
addition to the l)onus a.bove, an annual Crown rent
of $2 per square mile, and a royalty of fifty cents
per thousand feet board measure for all trees cut
down-on1r half this rate being extracted as to
lands on Labrador; his books to be suhject to
inspection by officials authorised therefor, to verify
,

74

his returns. The license describes the land and
vests in the licensee exclusive }Jossession, subject
to the conditions of the oA-t\.ct, ,vith po\ver to seize
as his property any timber Cllt tIlcrefrom by any
unauthorised person and to bring suits against such
persons and prosecute trespassers; though other
parties may be granted farming or mining rights
on such lands, and any fisherman may cut from
f;uch lands for the bontt fide needs of the fisheries,
fencing, firewood and similar purposes. The
licensee becomes forfeit for non-payment of rent
or royalties ,vithin six months of the date ""hen
same are due:> and for the infraction of any other
condition, the licensee and his assigns are liable
to a penalty of not less than $10 and llot more
than $100 per day while sl1;ch continues.
Every applicant for a timber license must, at his
own cost, have the area surveyed and the boundary
lines marked and diagrams filed within a year, or his
claim is forfeited, but if he can prove that for adequate
reasons these conditiollS could not l)e complied with, the
time may be extended for another year, but not longer,
by paying a rent for the year then past and an extra
bonus of $2 per square luile.
No persons without license mttJ cut, take or carry
away from ungranted Crown Lands, and no licensee
may remove timber from his lands llntil the same has
been made into pulp, lumber, etc., llnder penalty of $20
for every tree, besides its value; and no holder of any
grant, lease or license, or Government contractor,
servant, assignee or agent of such person may cut
timber on any Crown Lands, other than under the terms
of the said grant, lease or license, or purchase timber
cut on such lands under similar penalt
T.
MINERAL LANDS.
Any person may search and prospect for mineral
upon all lands in the colony ,\\Tithout license to search,

7i

and may explore the same by a11 such means as may be
necessary to prove their mineral \vorth, whether by
surface or subterranean prospecting or excavation,
provided such is in good faith to obtain a Inining
location and lease; but no person may take away any
greater quantity of ore than needed for san1ples, though
this section does not apply to any lin1it reserved by the
Cro,vn for any purpose, nor doe'S it give any exclusive
l
ight to the searcller.
,A_ny IJerson discovering mineral on Crown Lantl
and desirous of obtaining a license thereof, ll1Ust mark
tbe deposit by driving into the ground èt sh,-1ke '\vith
11is name and the date thereon; and then applying
for a license for :t year by filing affidavit and diagram,
with deposit of $10; any license granted ,viII cover all
area one mile by one-half mile; and other areas adjoining
this may bo secured at the same time by pa:ring

10 for
each: other parties can alsò secure areas there,
without staking', on paying the sanle fee. .l\.t the end
of t,velvo months, jf the lessee notifies his intention, L"tnd
deposits $20 as one year's rental, he is entitled to a
lease for 99 years, suhject to the payment of tIle follo,v-
ing rents :-$20 for the first year, $30 annually for the
next five years, $50 annually for t,vcnty-five ye;ll"S,
and $100 annually for thp renlainder of tIle tern1,
all these rents to be paid in ndva.nce. Applica-
tion for licenses of mining locations Inay be made
withollt staking if the locations are covered by the

ca or tidal ,vaters, or are situated on an island off the
coast of Kc\vfollndland or Labrador, which docs not
exceed an area of :3
O acres, or if the ,vhole area, of the
jsland he applied for; but u, lease 'llnder water does not
entitle the holder to construct buildings or carry OJl
,yorks ,vhich \vould prevent the holder of adjoining land
from access to it over such ,vater. 'l'he lessee n1a
r pay
in advance the whole or any part of the rental; ant.l
paynlent of the \vhole, Lor the entire term, entitles lliul
to a lease for !)Ü years free from liability to forf
iturc

.

76

for any cause ,,
hatever, while an outlay of $6,000
dllring the first five years in surface mining, or within ten
years in subterranean mining, entitles to a grant in fee
simple of the Ininerals in the area. Every lessee gets
fifty acres of llnoccupied surface land within his location
for his mining needs, and can obtain from the Crown
right-of-way for trams and roads, sites for ,,"harves and
piers, and more surfa.ce land, if required, while if lIe
needs to traverse private property \vith tramways or for
mining, or more surface land, and is unable to agree
,vith the owner of the property as to terms, the Crown
may adjust the matter by arbitration. Special con-
ditions are prescribf1!d for obtaining rights to work
submarine mining areas through other such areas.
The Cro"n officials have free access to all mining
enterprises for purposes of inspection; and books of
account of the working of mines must be kept by tIle
lessee and be open to these officials.
Where sufficient money has been spent on one or
more mining locations in boring for oil, the lessee is
entitled to a grant in fee of anyone or more as the case
Inay be, which he may select. The holder of a mineral
lease may acquire foreshore and water areas for
wharves, quays and other buildings, or other purposes
connected with his mine, but no mineral lease may
interfere with the grant.ing of surface land over that
lease for farming, lumbering or other purposes, except
to the extent of fifty acres as aforesaid. Non-payment
of mining fees entails forfeiture of the areas.

77

CHAP1'ER X.

L U}.:IBERIN G.

FOREST WEALTH.-POTENTIAL VALUE.-GRADES OF
LU:MBER.-How INDUSTRY HAS DEVELOPED.-
FA VOUR,ABLE FUTURE OUTLOOK.
N EWFOUNDLAND, while not claiming to be re-
garded as possessing unequalled timber resources,
still holds undisputed forest wealth, and that has helped
to swell the volume and value of its exports for many
years, besides providing for all the local requirements in
the ,yay of lumber. Thus it has afforded employment
to hundreds, and latterly tIle ,vooded tracts unsuited for
lumbering are being profitably utilized in the manufac-
ture of pulp and paper, the Island being to-day the home
of t\VO of the world's finest paper mills, while others are
likely to follow ere long.
Until recently, little or no effort was made to pre-
serve the potential ,vealth represented by the vast
wooded areas with which the interior was covered; and
not until the present Governlnent assumed office ,""as
an effective measure adopted for grappling with this
all-important problem, throug}1 the energetic efforts of
Sir Edward }Iorris, ,vho, in April, 1910, summoned a
convention at St. John's of aU the parties interested in
the utilization and preservation of its forest wealth,
,,,hich resulted in the adoption of plans that have proved
successful in effectively patrolling tIle "l'oodlands and
preventing forest fires.
The Prime 11inister, in his speech in opening- this
conference, pointed out that, allo\ving 14,000 square
miles of forest land in the colony, and asguming it

.

78

worth $45,000 per square mile, according to the estimate
of the Harmsworth Company, the valuation of this
,vooded territory ,\-ould therefore be, in potential labour
alone, $630,000,000; but even if this estimate were cut
in half, its forest wealth "rould still represent the very
large sum of $315,000,000. Assunling nloreover, that
one-thirtieth of this area was cut for pulp "rood to be used
in making pulp and paper every year, and fixing thirty
years as the period of rotation for. the cutting of the
forests, there would thus be provIded labour for the
people to the equivalent of $10,000,000 annually, an
amount equal to the value of the whole of the Isla
.d's
fisheries at the present time.
This estimate is made up thus: Every ton of paper
represents at least $12 paid directly or indirectly to the
wage-earners engaged from the tin1e the tree is Cllt
down in the forest to the time the finished product is
put on board ship. Every ton of paper represeúts
roughly, a cord and a half of '\Toad. An acre of good
forest land will produce about nine cords; in other
words, every acre of good average forest land supplies
the raw material for about six tons of paper, and thus
represents not less tha.n $72 as a potential source of
wages. This means further, that every square mile of
good forest land protected from devastation by forpst
fires, represents about $45,000 preserved as a source of
wages to the community.
In Newfoundland the forest areas reproduce theln-
selves so rapidly, that any tract, cut out or burned over,
will yicld within tllirty years wood fit for making pulp
and paper. Director Ho\yley of the Colonial Geological
Survey, ,"-rho has had over 40 years' experience in that
service, and is the best living authority on the resources
of the Island, has carefully studied this problem, and
supplies conclusive testimony that such conditions are
to be relied upon. One of the dra,vbacks frequently
incidental to the business in other countries is, the slo"\v
reproductivity of the forest growth; but here it can be

79

definitely a pI)rehended that all den uded forest ar&'1S
will be again available within thirty years.
The Newfoundland timber ischießy found in the river
valleys and around the shores of the lakes and streams. It
suffers somewhat from the trees being normally too thick,
so that they crowd each other and their growth is stunted.
Wnen, however, judiciolls cutting is practised and forests
are thinned, the remaining trees grow much more rapidly
and attain greater height and girth.
The forest wealtll is varied and extensive. The
trees include white pine, yellow pine, red pine, spruce,
fir, juniper, white birch, yellow birch, "\vitch hazel,
aspen, aider, white maple and numerous others. The
white pine is very superior in quality and the mainstay
of the luml)ering industry. Latterly p' ijtab markets
have been developed for it in South America, and it has
even proved possible to make substantial sales of it at
N ew York and Boston on beneficial conditions. It
compares favorably with the Canadian article and is
sought after òy dealers. The trees are from 12 to 36
inches at the l)utt, and go forty feet before a limb is
reached, then stretching 10 to 30 feet further.
The red l)ine grows plentifully and is used extensively
for vehicles and household furniture. It is also used
for railway ties. The fir kno\vn in England as
" balsam" is notably excellent and superior to that of
Nova Scotia. It gro-\vs to good size and is unusually
sound. It is largely used for house-building of late and
has been successfuJly employed in making pulp and
paper. Spruce is chiefly used for this, however, and
the island has enorrnous areas of "That is now known
locally as "pulp-woods."
Spruce goes largely into local use also, for rough
building work, where its great strength gives it a prefer-
ence. . 'fhe juniper, really a species of larch, and kno,vn
in Canada as tamarack, is in goodly demand for ship
buildin
, as it is dura ble and resists the sea ,vater, while
hirch IS also much employed in the same industry.
There are quantities of ,,'hite birch suitable for spool

80

wood, and this is also used for finishing work in house
carpentering and cabinet-making.
The timber belt exists principally in the north-
eastern parts of the Island; and along the Exploits
River and its tributaries, the Gander River and Lake,
the Gambo Pond and streams, Grand Lake, Deer Lake,
and the Humber Rivers, and the rivers flowing into
St. George's Bay an.d Bay of Islands. These timber
areas have been more 'or less cruised and rough estinlates
made as to the kind and quantity of timber they con-
tain. But only small percentages of these timber limits
]lave been cut over, so the forests are all virgin gro"\\Ttll,
except "There swept by fire; and even in this case l)ine
is not necessarily injured as saleable lumber. Decay
does not set in for years, anà pine lands burnt a decade
ago are now producing wood that lurn ber dealers welcome,
being dry, easily handled and not affected by worms,
owing to the climatic conditions.
The Government is now carefully considering
re-afforesting measures, not so much because it is
thought that there will be any immediate necessity
t.herefor, but o,ving to the desir8 bility in the general
interest, to enSUl
e that the fullest J)ossible ad vantage

)nay be given to those \vho contenlplate investment in
the forest resources of the colon
T.
What is true regarding the forest resources of
Newfoundland is likewise mainly true of those of
Labrador, where N e"Tfoundland O\YllS the eastern section
and therefore the outlets to the Atlantic of all the
territory drained by Sandwich Bay, Halnilton Inlet, a.nd
the lesser fiords which indent that coast, and the tinlber
resources of 'v hich are believed to lJe enormous. Official
reports show much of the country to be splendidly
wooded; and Sir William JfacGregor, the late Governor
of Newfoundland, an explorer of repute who trayclled
extensively in New Guinea and Lagos, visited that ter-
ritory in the summers of 1906 and 1908, and in his
offici-al reports described the great areas of timber he

.to

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Marble Head-Humber River.

[Hollo 11"0 !I,

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Paddling along d. Steady.

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Photo J

Cascade t St. Paul's.

[HoHoll' a ll.

81

had seen, confhlently predicting that Labrador ,,"ould
one day become the centre of greatlumhering industries.
One advantage enjoyed by Newfoundland in this
respect is, that all its wooded areas are "Tithin easr access
of the seaboard. ""Vith deep bays and inlets, nUlnerous
harbours and rail\vay communication, it is possible to
transfer these I)roducts to shipboard ,vith the least cost
and delay. There is no part of the Island more than 57
miles from the sea, and mostly all of the principal
timber properties are located along the rail\yay line or
within convenient outlet to the ocæn. Other advan-
tages enjoyed by the colour in respect of its forest
areas are, that it is so near the British Isles and the
American continent, being only 1,500 to 1,700 miles
from either, and that abundant ancl efficient labour is
obtainable at lower figures than in Canada or America,
experience having proved that the colonists IJecome as
capable lumbermen as any . from abroad, after a year's
training in the ,york.
The official returns for the fiscal year 1009-10 sho,v
that during that period 273 saw-mills were being .
operated, the aggregate output of ,vhich ""as 44,500,000
feet of lumber of different kinds, valued at $624,764,
l)csides which, 35,000,000 feet of timber was cut by the
Harms\\"orth Company for use in its pulp and paper
mills. 'fhe 273 sa\v-mills employed 3,900 men for
about five months, and averaging their wages at $25 a
lnonth for this IJeriod, these mills disbursed for labour
<llone $
t88,750, ,,"hich amount shows that this industry
returns perhaps a larger perccntag-e of its earnings to
,yorkmen than any other in the Island. Of the total
number of stt,ymills ahove stated, only lò are being
supplied ,vitIl timber cut from licensed areas, the other
257 dra,ving their supply from Crown Lands and chiefly
from thc aI-cas along the coast. The export of lumber
has declined the past fc\v years, because some of the
areas, the product of "rhich ,vas largely cut into lumber,
have no\y been included within the sections devoted to
.
J!'

82

plllp ancl paper production. Still, during 1909-10 the
sawlnill operations ,vere larger than at any time sincp
the inception of this industry, the output of lumber
being 10 IJer cent. greater than for the previous year,
when the total cut by 270 111ills ,vas 40,000,000 ft.,
vallle(l at $510,128.
The dOlTIestic denland for lumber is increasing
largely every year, partly by the upbuilding of new
towns, such as those at Grand Falls and Bishop Falls,
and the housing of ,yorkmen at mining centres, as ,veIl
as by increasing ordinary requirements ever:ywhere over
the country. Furthernlore, the cut of logs for the pulp
and paper nlills is no,v quite as large every year as that
for the '\vhole of tIle IU111bering operations of the colony,
and in a few years this will be still further augmented
as these ,yorks double their capacity and as other similar
enterprises take root here. The lUlnbering industry is
'\vorth to the colony every )Tear $750,000, and the pulp
and paper industry $1,250,000, or $2,000,000 per annum,
whereas the forest products did not realize one-tenth of
that sum a decade ago.
A slJecially gratif
,ing feature of a trip through the
interior or along the coast is t.he spectacle of the large
quantities of lumber at the various nlills or in the many
olltports, the lleat and cOlnfortable houses, stores, schools
and churches everywhere under erection, and the
visible evidences on all sides of how the ability to secure
. an ample and increasing supply of local lumber, excellent
in quality and moderate in price, has reflected itself in
the increased conlfort of the people, in their homes and
in the structures in which they do their business, while
the development of the shipbuilding industry, extensively
practised and utilizing local lumber also, attests the
further possibilities in this direction, now that the
Morris Ministry is taldng steps to further encourage this
industry at home and to retain in the colony the
$300,000 ,vhich it is estimated, is annually spent abroad
in purchasing ships for the local trade.

83

CII.A.Pl'ER XI.

THE PULP AND Pl\.PER INDUSTRY.

HARMSWORTH MILLS.-ALBERT REED MILLS.-
. WORLD'S RECORDS BROKEN.-POSSIBILITIES
YET U NREALISED.
I T is indicative of their reputation for doing striking
things, that the Harmsworths, the famolls London
publishers, brought in 0 existence a pulp and paper
industry in Newfoundland, a country previously sup-
posed by ill-informed people to be hopeless except for
fishery purposes, and still thought by great numbers to
be a region absolutely covered ,vith snow and ice and
devoid of forest growth. The Harms,vorths though,
after searching the whole of the available territories
elsewhere in quest of suitable pulp areas before visiting
Newfoundland, satisfied themselves ultimately, by the
most exhaustive inquiries, that the resources of the
Island in this respect \\rere such as to warrant them in
establishing their industry here. Naturally therefore,
this decision, when it was reached, attracted the most
widespread attention, and the progress of the construction
of the mills \yas follo,ved ,vith the closest attention bv
..
all concerned in the business of pulp and paper making,
and in the providing of the necessary supplies of ra\v
material for such purposes.
In Newfoundland, when poor fisheries }lad occurred
in the past, the country suffered serious setbacks, so
that the people longed for other permanent industries
capable of employing large numbers constantly, that
contingents might be withdra"Tn from the fisheries,

,

84

and oCC1lpation afforded those who, during the 'v inter
months, ,vhen fishing is not possible, ,vere condemned
to enforced idleness. Of late years the copper and iron
mines at home, and the coal beds and steel mills in Cape
Breton, had opened avenues of labour for many who
previously lacked this means of utilizin
their un-
occupied months; but this was not the most acceptable
solution of the problem, because those who sought work
abroad bad to part with much of their earnings for
their own subsistence, and the colony lost this; besides
'\v hich, they often removed their families and settled
permanently in these places, so that on every hand the
cry was for some styptic to stop the flow of this lifeblood
of the colony; since here, as elsC"\v here, those emigrat-
ing were the flower of the population.
Hence, the news that the Harmsworths had acquired
a property in the Island, and would erect there paper
mills equal to any in the world
besides awakening all
competitor countries to a realization of Newfoundland's
possession of other resources than those of the sea,
likewise a'\vakened its own people to a, better apprecia-
tion of its undeveloped possibilities. This altered aspect
of the world abroad, respecting Newfoundland as a
factor in the pulp and paper business, was int
nsified as
-4:he ne\v proposition took shape, and the plans of its
projectors were developed. These materialized in an
installation ,vhich, in its various aspects, challenged
admiration, and soon stimulated another prominent
English concern to establish itself in the vicinity; while
other capitalists from Britain and America are likely to
locate here before long.
Six years ago this July, Mr. }I. M. Beeton, Presi-
dent of the Harn1S,,'orth enterprise, camped in a tent on
the bank of the Grand Falls of the Exploits river to
survey and decide on the site of the proposed new pulp
and paper mills. The place was then, so to speak, a
\vilderness almost untrodden and without a solitary in-
habitant. To-day it is the site of an enterprise that

85

promises to make it within a few years the second to,vn
in the Island in point of population and commercial
interest. l\lill buildings of concrete, covering several
acres, have been erected there and equipped ,vith costly
and IIp-to-date machinery; many lniles of railway haV(.
heen built, \"ith largo terminal \vharves at the sea-coast;
and dams, boolns and boom-piers constructed Ï11 the
river, all of whicll represent many \yorking months of
labour and thousands of tons of 111aterial, the whole
standing for an outlay of some millions of dollars. A
town site bas been laid out with streets and 1 a ions for
public buildings; a system of sanitation has been
provided; homes for the staff, hotels for the workmen,
and rp..sidences for the chiefs of the various departments
have been erected; and the company last year built two
hundred more workmen's and foremen's houses. Nearlv
one thousand men are en1ployed there daily and th

payments of ,va
es, including the operations in the
,voods near
iillertown, have been for the last year
aggregating $60,000 a lnonth, or nearly $750,000 per
annllID.
The reason the Harmsworths decided upon estab-
lishing in Newfoundland ,vas, that they desir
d to secure
a self-contained area ,vhich they might effectively patrol
and police; administer as they thought best, subject, of
course, to the general la
rs; and ,vherein it \yould be
possible for them to gain for then1selves the nlaximuDl
degree of protectioll against the dangers of forest fire
and spring-time flood to which this industry is open.
Accordingly, they selected the upper section of the
Exploits valley, the very centre of the Island, enlùracing
that river and the l"ted Indian Lake watershed, lllaking
an area in all of SOlne 2,000 square miles, to ,yhich they
have since addecl hy other compacts, a further 1,100
llliles, so that they control the entire terrain aboTe thë
Grand Falls of the .Exploits on both sides of tho river,
the Red Indian Lake, and all the tributary strcalllS and
:ponds. They are thus in absolute mastery of thp

86

situation, and their territory is so enormous, tl}at it "Till
be possible for the forest gr01vth to reproduce itself
perpetually at the rate at which the cutting of pulp-
,yood will be necessary for the needs of the IJresent
output, and as much more as ",yill follow from the
douhling- of its capacity.
Having acquired this region and the amplest powers
from the Newfoundland Legislature, consistent witll due
regard for the public l"ights, the Company began the in-
stallation of its IJlant, which ,\yas completed towards the
end of IDI0, when it was formally opened with appro-
IJ1'iate cerelnonies by Lord NorthclifIe, the function being
attended l)y the Governor of N e1vfoundland, Premier
:\Iorris and the members of his Cabinet; the leading
dignitaries of ChurcJl and State in the colony, and n1any
visitors from England. 'fhe mills were absolutely the
Inost n10dern of their kind in the world, and, with a
single exception, the largest. They represented the
most complete varied aggregation of pulp and papel'-
making equipment that had ever been. assenlbled, the
yery finest of t.he machinery and contrivances used in
the industry being incorporated into tlleir installation
from every country ,vhcre this lnanufacture had made
any pI'ogress.
The Grand Falls mills are made up of 11 steel
and concrete builàings, in ,vhich all the various
P rocesses are carried on. a sul p hur to"rer 200 feet hio'h
... , , ö ,
toppecl hy a ,vater tank with a capacity of 250,000
ga]lons, a :penstock or double flume, composed of t1VO
circular steel pipes, fifteen feet in dia.meter and
2,lüO feet long, stretching from the nlills to the falls
farther up the river, where the channel of this stream
)vas cut off by a dam 800 feet across and 25 feet abo-ic
the lJottom of the river, there being lesser dams of all
equal bulk constructed at one side, to direct the water
into the fore bay, V\Th
nce it passed to the penstocks, and
in tinle energized the machinery in the pO\f'er-house,
be,vn out of the solid rock beside the bed of the stream,

87

120 feet belo,V", this work OCCul)ying hundreds of lllcn
for several months.
The whole installation at Grand Falls is of the lTIOst
permanent and enduring character, and so successful has
the venture been thus far, that at the present tÏ1ne au
extension of the works is lJeing set on foot, 'Vllich wiU
double the output capacity of the Inills as they are no,v
developed an(l equipped, ,yhicll is as follo\vs :-
Ground wood mill: :)60 tons (of 2,000Ib8.)
mechanical pulp per (lay.
Sulphite lllill: 60 tons sulphite pulp IJer day.
Paper mill: 120 tons finished paper per day.
By next year it is hoped to have the extension
completed and to be turning out t,vice this daily product;
and on that basis the market value of the output ,viII be
over $3,000,000 per year.
'fhe wood for tIle purposes of nlanufacturc is
obtained at present from the territory contiguous to Red
Indian Lake, ,vhich water is used for the purposes of
log-storage anù floatage. The gangs of loggers are
distributed around tIle sIlores of this Lake, allcl the
convenient streams and ponds connecting ,vith it;
t.he Company has its o,vn steamers for towing the logs
to the booms at the foot of the Lake; thence they are
con-vcyed to Grand Falls tIll"Ongll the agency of the
Exploits river, vast "drives" being made every
summer, some 2
million pieces or logs being cut each
,vinter and so transferred during the ensuing lnonths,
making in all about 50,000,000 ft. of tinllJer, this
sufficing for a season's needs; though, of course, it "ill
require to be doubled as soon as the ne\v buildings are
constructed.
At ltlillerto,yn, the Company possesses a IUlnhering
village ,,,,ith some 90 d,velling 110USCS as "Tell n8 ,yorks,
factories, buildings and n1achinery; and this place is
reached by a line of railroad o,vned by the Coml)an
r and
extending some 20 miles fron1 the main line of the ltcid
system. l\.t Grand :Falls the COID!)any possess{\s quite a

.

88

town in the vicinity of the works, and has an outlet to
the sea by means of another railroad of itß own, which
extends from Grand Falls to Bishop ]'alls-the seat of
the second pulp and paper enterprise-and from there
to Botwood llarbour in Exploits Arln, Notre Dame Bay,
a total distance of 22 miles, which is the Company's
shipping port, and where docks, piers a.nd other
accessories have }Jeen provided.
In deciding to establish in this colony, the COIn..
pany resolved that it 1rould erect a model town at Grand
Falls; and this is not the least conlmendable feature of
the undertaking,
-here a decade ago the forest denizens
roamed llndisturbed. The scene has changed entirely
now; the stream is dammed and made subservient to
the control of Dlan; the rocks have been riTen and
Inighty structures replace theln; the bush and woods
have been succe(\ded by enorn10US buildings packed with
,\"onderfullnachinery, and by shops and llouses, streets
and clearings, churches and schools, and every other
accessory of modern civilization. A sand-filtered water
supply lIas been installed, se,vers and mains built, streets
and parks laid out, electric ligilt provided, and 8 hospital
erected. An enlinent English expert was brought out
last year to plan the sanitation scheme, and the COInpany
hope to make Granel Falls the 1110St healthy town in the
Island.
The organs of the ...L\.nlerican paper trade stated that
these mills in tIle first week of June, 1910, broke all the
world's l"lccords in the production of H newsprint U paper,
such as is used in daily journals. Only the previous
October ,,"ere tIle mills fornlally opened. Not until
Cl1ristlnas ""reek, 1909, was the making of pulp begun;
and it was March, 1910, before the first shipment of
paper was for\yarded to England. Yet, so satisfactory
was the colonial wood for the purpose, and so completely
did every feature of the enterprise develop itself, that
within three months this notable achievement was
effected.

89

The exalnple of the Harmsworths in establishing
themselves in Newfoundland was followed by the Albert
Reed Company, a paper-making concern of Cannon
Street, London, ,vhich has just completed extensive
lnilis at Bishop Falls, eight miles from Grand Falls, that
are being operated the present sumlner. These mills
are about three-fourths the original capacity of those at
Grand Falls, and were designed at first for the produc-
tion of ground-\vood pulp alone, for \vhich this company
llas an immense demand; but the conditions were found
to be so favourable, that it was soon decided to begin
the making of paper as ,"veIl; and an enlargement of the
plant" with tIlis object in view, was undertaken and has
just been completed.
This Company's advent furnished the final proof,
were further evidence needed, of tIle feasibility of
making pulp and paper in Ne,yfoundland on a business
lJasis. It might have been argued that the Harmsworths'
undertaking was an adjunct to their nc,,"spaper enter-
prise and that, as they required paper as an indispensable
auxiliary in their daily operations, they could afford to
manufacture it under conditions impossible with a regu-
lar paper-making concern, which would have to exist by
furnishing ,"vares capable of selling on their merits and
at prices comparing favourably with others. l'herefore,
the ...I\..lbert Reed Company's decision to establish in
Newfoundland Inade it manifest that the region "ras
regarded by English business concerns as being one
where the inauguration of such an enterI>rise witll
reasonable prospects of success, ,vas amply justified.
The ....t\.lbcrt Reed ,yorks at Bishop Falls embrace
engineering features altogether different fronl those to
be seen at Granel }'alls. Instead of clnploying- a pen-
stock, the requisite "head" of ,yater is secured by means
of a forebay and flume chamber contiguous to the ,yorks
themselves. The dam, too, is of the Ambursen or
hollow typo of construction. Its averagp heigllt is 30
feet and avcrag-e ,,'idth at the base 50 feet.. the maximum

.

90

of the ,videst part l)cing 67 fect. It is not, however, a
solid structure, bllt consists of a series of almost solid
concrete piers, set parallel with the course of the strealTI
at 15 feet intervals. Steel rods connect these and serve
as a screCll 011 which a thick layer of concrete is
deposited, so that an unbroken surface is presented ill
resistance to the force of the "rater; and, viewed from
the outside, the dal11 seems absolutely solid, tllOUgh there
is a Ineans of passing along in its interior as through a
tunnel, almost from one han]( of the river to the other.
This datu raises the level of the river SOlne 28 feet,
a.nd its etIects are sho\vn for five lniles back along the
course of the streanl. 'fhe Inills were designed by tIle
same Americall arcl1itect Wl10 originated those at Grand
}'alls, and are constructed in the same substantial
fashion, thong!l the cquipnlent is IJeing obtained in tIle
main from Norway, '\vhere the Albert Reed Company
has many mills already in operation.
.....1\. similar policy has also been adopted ,vitIl reference
to the construction of the town which Dlllst follo\\'" the
operatioll of this plant. ..l. town site lIas been laid out
and made l'eadv; "\vorkmen's homes and residences for
the officials h
ve been constructed; sewer and water
systems have been installed; the electric ligIlt has been
furnished, and everything has been done to ensure th

comfort and convenience of tIle operatives "rho ,vill lJe
employed there.
'fo realize ,vhat the establisllnlellt of enterprises of
such a character in our Island will represent to New-
foundland, it is only necessary to take the case of the
village of Grand :ThIere on the St. La\vrence. At this
point a Paper Company establishecl its mills, alld no,v
the place lIas a population of five thollsand, of "rllom
1,200 are employed in the works. It is estimated that
the value of pulp '\vood as cut from tIlC forest and ready
for export, is from $6 to $7 per cord,. '\\-hile every co:rd of
wood ground to pulp has a value of $20; lYlade into
fibre it has a value of $30, and conycrtcd into paper it

91

has a value of $40 and upwards, according to tIle qualit.y
of the product. Therefore it will be seen that it is
greatly advantageous to this, or to any country, to
secure the establishment ,,"ithin its borders of the mills
for the making of pulp and IJaper; and for tbat reason
Newfoundland has cause to feel gratified that these
enterprises are now established in its midst.

.

92

CHAPTER XII.

ISLAND'S ADVANTAGES FOR PAPER-
MAKIl\G.

WHY THIS IXDUS1'RY WA.S INTRODUCED-FACTOltS
AIDING ITS SUCCE
S-FIGURES OF PRODUCTION
LAST YEAR.
C APITALISTS and Investors will doubtless be
interestccl ill studying the reasons which influenced
these two cOlnpanies to locate in Newfoundland, and
,\y'hich are influencing other corpor"c1tions to follow their
example. 'l"hese reasons may be briefly stated as
follows :-
1. Proxinlitv to the British Isles.
2. Unlimited supplies of Pulp-'\vood.
3. Abundancp and Cheapness of Labour.
4. Security of 1'enure in a British Colony.
Reviewin
thesc facts in detail, it will suffice with
reg
rd to the DTst, to point out that N ewfollndland lies
a t.housand miles nearer to Great Britain than the
sections of Canada and America where paper is manu-
factured from ,vood-pulp; that all Newfoundland's
southern seaboard is free from ice the whole winter;
and that it thus cnjoJ's open navigation ,vhen tbe St.
Lawrence is blocked ,vith Hoes. As there is no point
in the Island sixty Iniles froln tidewater, the long and
expensive rail-haul is virtually elinlinated; and one
of the largest itenls in the cost of American and
Canadian pulp is avoided.
With reg-ètrd to the second factor-the abundance of
pulp-,vood-the folloviing details will be of interest, as

93

they are given upon the authority of one of the leading
Forestry authorities of the Dominion of Canada:-
The Newfoundland forests are chiefly composed of
tIle woods preferred by paper-makers, such as spruce
and fir, and thus contain greater proportions of pulp-
wood timber. Some lllay claim that even seven cords
to the acre-'\vhich is what lumbermen figure for
Newfoundland-is an excessive estimate to make. This
might be true as to tIle State of 1vlaine, the Adirondacks
of New York, or the Province of Quebec, ,vhich are all
well-known as sources of pulp-wood supplies; but in
the places mentioned, and also in Vermont, N e,v
Hampshire, Wisconsin and 1IinnesoÍA'1, that have still
moderate stocks of sIJruce pulp-wood, the proportion of
pulp-wood timber to the other timber in the forests
is frequently less than one-tenth of the amount,
whereas the pulp-wood tin1be
in Newfoundland is
often found to be nearly the entire growth of the
woods. Surveyors llave traversed many rui1es of IJulp-
wood land within twenty miles of Grand Falls, whel'e
the growth of pulp-"\yood was thirty cords to the
acre, and competent tiInber cruisers report the finding
of fifty cords to the acre over extensive area
.
Indeed, one of tIle best informed timlJer cruisers on the
Island reported that he had cruised :1 blocl
of green
pulp-wood on the Harnls"rortll limits, forty miles in
extent, that he ,vas confident ,,'"ould cut fifty cords of
pulp-wood to the acre, ,vhich ,vou]d make over a millio}l
and a quartcr cords to lJe got fronl this comparatively
small area; and another reliablc cruiser said he had cut
over cioht y cords from a sino'le measured acre.
b \"'"I
The cost of timber delivered in the lJOOnlS of the
Company at Grand }'alls is estimated at $3 to $3.50 !)er
cord, as it is driven by the stream the ,vhole ,yay fronl
3Iillertown to Grand }'alls; but a better idea of it

cheapness for these })Urll0Ses may be gained from the
fact that an American concern, possessing other timber
land in the colony, ulldertook to deliver 200 cords per
,

94

day at $4 per cord, though this figure involved freight
charges for railroad haulage of fifty miles, and the use of
twenty-five cars eYer)'" dare United States Government
reports give tIle average price per cord of spruce pulp-
,vood at all the 1\iaine lnills in 1907 at $8.34" and at the
New York mills at $10.40 a cord; and with present
prices in America turo or three dollars higher than these,
the figures of the deliYer
T of pulp-,,"ood in Newfoundland
are illuminating. In Alnerica to-day the owner of
pulp-wood areas bas to pay taxes, dues and other
charges on mills, logs, tiluber lands and lunlber, but in
Newfoundland no such ilnposts are levied.
Whilst there are some sections in the Island where
white spruce is fairly abundant, the chief product is the
black spruce, \{hich is seldom found either in New
England or Eastern Canada, averaging in size larger
than here. This black spruce is in some respects more
valuable to the paper-Iuaker than tIle ,,,hite spruce,
because a log of blacl( spruce contains fifteen to twenty
per cent. more fibre than a white spruce log of the same
bulk, owing to the larger size of the wood cells of the
white spruce. Moreover, the black spruce of New-
foundland is a more durable wood than the white spruce
of the continent, as proved by its use for railway ties
by the Reid Company, since the ,vhite spruce of
the Atlantic slope is not considered suitable for this
purpose. The black spruce of the colony is declared
by expert pulp-Inen to be the finest in the world
for their needs; and one feature of the colonial
forests is the immense area covered by this spruce.
Where the country has been burnt over, or where
the soil is not strong enough for heavy timber,
the lighter growth has taken its place and covers
thousands of miles. On the basis of 5,000 miles of
pulp-wood, a low estimate for the quantity of pulp-"Tood
is 35,000,000 cords. Probably in no part of North
America are there SllCh opportunities for carrying on
the pulp and paper-making business as in Newfoundland.

95

}'urther, there is an abundance of labour obtainable
h
re for pulp and paper-making- as fOt" any otller in-
dustry, and the adaptability of Ne,yfoundlanders is
remarkable and has been attested by all concerns em-
ploying them, even for most varied p
rsuits. Living as
they do, in isolated settlements around "ride-stretching
seaboard, and obliged by this condition to rely upon
themselves alrnost wholly, they become proficient in any
kind of handicraft, with a minim 11m of instruction.
'fhey are fishers, farmers, miners, ralli"oaders and factory
hands in turn, and, as each new enterprise arises, men
arc speedily and easily trained to the tasl{s necessary
for its maintenance. One of the predictions when the
Hal"msworth project was launched here ,vas, that they
could not make paper in a country where the people
,vere fishers only, ,vho could not be induced to abandon
that work and become Inill-men, and who, if they ever
'\vere initiated into this industry, would never prove
successful at it. Instead, ho,vever, it has been proved
by the '\vor1
done on the Harmsworth plant, that these
untried and untrained Newfoundlanders became pro-
ficient worlcnlen in every department, and the principals
are confident that ultimately these extensive plants, and
any others that may be established, will be operated
wholly hy local labour.
When this criticism was developed against the new
enterprise, the testimony of independent and unbiased
employers of labour allover the country ,vas secured,
all of WhOlTI declared that local workmen proved most
satisfactor
T, adaptable and progressive, and that no-
where could the labour problem be solved more easily,
or more satisfactory men be found for industrial purposes.
Moreo er, strikes are ,vh 11y 0, and the rate of
wages is lo,ver than anY'vherc else en the vVestern
Hemisphere. An illustration of ,vhat Kewfoundland
workmen are capable of doing, is afforded by the residence
for Lord Northcliffe, which was built at Grand Falls.
This country cottage of Tudor architecture is 70 feet
.

96

long by 30 feet deep, and three storeys high, and ,vas
constructed in less than two months by Newfoundland
workmen, not one of ,vhom had ever" sf'rved his time."
They had a most meagre outfit of tools, but the Super-
intendent of Construction, an English architect, stated
publicly that with these few utensils they did as good
work as experienced English tradesmen, '\.vho had under-
gone a regular apprenticeship.
Another advantage of operating in N e,vfoundland is,
that in a Britisl1 colony with settled Government, and
security as to title and tenure, freedom from inter-
ference, and law and order adequately maintained, the
industrial investor enjoys a safety \vhich he does not
possess in many other countries. 'fhc X e\"foundland
Jaws are favo:urable to the progress of this indus y, the
obligations which they impose being comparatively
slight beside those "\vhich exist in Canada and the United
States. The colony, it is true, prohibits the exports of
unmanufactured logs, but in view of the present needs
of the pulp and paIJer industry throughout the world,
the feeling here generally is that it is ,veIl the colonial
laws should contain this provision, as it ensures that the
Island, as the years go by, will become the home of
many enterprise5 having this industry as their basis.
It is not possible to exactly estimate at present
what the product of the pulp and paper mills willlJe
henceforth. 13ut the Customs returns for the past fiscal
year, which ended on June 30th, 1910, show that the
exports of the products of the Grand Falls mills from
the starting thereof in January until that date amounted
to:-

7,866 tons of paper valued at $352,15;)
6,853 " ,,11ulp " " 6D,16<

$421,319

The exports of the same products for the SIX

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97

mOllths from July 1st to December 31st, 1910, were as
follows :-
11,120 tons of paper valued at $498,208
14,453 " "pulp " " 144,463

$642,671

It would therefore appear that during the calendal
year, 1910, the export of pulp and paper amounted to
$1,063,990. This would not however, represent a
normal output, because the mills at the start were not
operated to full capacity, and the output the present
year should be much larger.
loreover, this year the
Albert Reed Company, at Bishop Falls, will also be
swelling the total volulne and value of this export by
the results of its operations also.

G

98

CHAPTER XIII.

MINERAL RESOURCES.

THE MINING INDUSTRy-COPPER ZONE AND
OUTPUT-GREAT VARIETY OF MINERAL PRODUCTS
OBTAINED.
N EWFOUNDJ--lAND'S mineral wealth is varied and
extensive; and deposits of copper and iron are now
being worked largely and profitably. One copper deposit
at Tilt Cove, in Notre Dame Bay, yields its owners divi-
dends of 20 per cent. annually, and from hematite iron
deposits at Bell Island, in Conception Bay, more than a
million tons are taken every year, ,,
hich is sold at a
profit of a dollar a ton. Gold, silver, lead, antimony,
talc, asbestos, coal etc., have been worked at different
points, and there is reason to hope, that .when the
interior is better prospected the mineral output will be
much increased.
The physical structure of Newfoundland consists
mainly of the most ancient geological formations, it
being thus among the oldest countries in the world.
Large areas within its confines are occupied by igneous
and eruptive materials, evidencing extended volcanic
act.ion in the formative periods of its history. During
the glacial epoch it ,vas covered by a mighty ice-cap,
and when that began to disappear it transformed the
surface of the Island, rounding and smoothing the

99

hill-ranges and lesser ridges into the present contour
which its topography presents. The geological strata
resembles that of parts of England, notably the Cambrian
deposits in Trinity J3ay, which are similar to those ÎII
Wales, slates of the famous Carnarvon deposit being
found there, while fossils li1re those of Europe appear
in the eastern and southern bays.
As might be expected of such a country, one of
the most ancient geologically and subjected to such
physical disturbance in its upbuilding, it possesses
mineral deposits of unusual value; and ample proof
exists that it is so endowed, because almost every known
metallic substance has been found here; and although
mining is yet only in its infancy and prospecting is
confined, in the main, to the seaboard, enough has been
'ascertained to warrant the conclusion that a great future
awaits it from a mining view-point.
The mining of copper and pyrites lIas been almost
.entirely carried out along the shores of Notre Dame
Bay. In this region are large deposits of sulphurets,
some yielding as much as twelve per cent. of copper;
and since 1864, '\vorl( on these has proceeded with more
or less vigour, as the price of the metal rose and fell.
Associated with these copper ores are large bodies of
magnetite and iron pyrites. Quantities of the latter
have been '\vorked, and at Pilley's Island in the san1e
region, a large lode, containing over fifty per cent. of
. sulphur, has been extensively mined and shipments
made to the United States.
According to the late Sir William Logan, an
.eminent geologist, ,vho was at the head of the Canadian
Geological Survey, the Lauzon division of the Quebec
group is the chief metalliferous zone of North ...t\.merica;
and it is in this Lauzon division, which is developed largely
in N ewfoundlanù, that most of the copper mines arc
located. Respecting the probable extent of the Lauzon
mineral-bearing series in the Island, the report of the
Geological Survey sho"\vs that the follo,ving compose

.

100

the Serpentine Hnd associated rocks comprising this
division :-
Hare and Pistolet BaJis
North from Bonne Bay
Soutll from Hare Bay
South from Bonne Bay
South from Bay of Islands
Notre Dame Bay
Grand Lake and River
Bay d'Est

Total

230 sq. miles.
240 sq. ll1iles.
175 sq. miles.
150 sq. miles.
184 sq. Illiles.
. .. 1,400 sq. miles.
... 2,310 sq. lTIiles.
300 sq. miles.

. .. 4,989 sq. miles.

The whole shores of Notre Dame Bay, including most
of its islands, are occupied by this serpentine fOl"lnation.
On the opposite side of the Island along the west coast"
in Bonne Bay and Bay of Islands, there are large
developrnents of this series as well; and the frequent
uncovering of copper deposits all around Notre Dame'
Bay and the occurrence of the same on the west coast,
indicate that valuable areas of this ore ,,'ill be found in
the interior, and profitable industries developed thereby.
A well-kno"\vn Unitpd States mining expert, Professor
Stuart, v{ho visited the Island a few years ago and made'
an exhaustive examination of this region, observes in the
course of his report that: "The copper ore of N ewfound-
land is a beautiful yellow sulphuret, free fron1 arsenic or
any other undesirable ingredient, with a little iron, and
containing from eight to t"\velve per cent of copper.
1.'iner copper i
nowhere to be found. The character of
the rocks in l\Thich it occurs gives an absolute assurance
of per11etuity in the ,vorkings."
The Island's mineral history may be said to be only
fifty years old. In 1857, a copper deposit ,vas discovered
at a small fishing vil1age called Tilt Cove, in Notre
Dame Bay, where in 1864, the "Union l\iille" ,vas
opened. Prior to that some mining did take place, but
for ten Jears the output seems to have been only 628

101

tons. Tilt Cove has been continuously operated ever
'since and its annual output is about 50,000 tons of
,copper ore, valued at about $250,000. In 1875 another
-copper mine "ras opened at Bett's Cove, twelve miles
from Tilt Cove, and in 1878 a still richer deposit was
worked at Little Bay, in the same vicinity. The out-
put of these mines placed Newfoundland for some
.years, sixth among the copper producing countries of
the ,vorld. Other mines in the same bay ,vere developed
.at later periods; the ,vhole of this region is copper-
bearing, and promises yet to become one of the Island's
:chief industrial regions.
Other sections of the country have promising

opper areas likewise. One at York Harbour, Bay of
Islands, is highly productive; another at Baie Verte,
across the peninsula from Tilt Cove, and one at Goose
Cove in Hare Bay, near Belle Isle Strait, give similar
promise; and many indications of copper are found all
.around the coast and on some of the outlying islands,
notably on the SOllthern seaboard, which may any time
.yield ample returns for their working.
Mr. J. P. Ho,vley, F.G.S., Director of the Geological
Survey, writing in March, 1909, says :-" Altogether,
the statistics of our copper InÏ11ing up to date give a
total output of 1,319,594 tons of ore, 78,015 tons regulus,
and 5,418 tons of ingot copper, shipped from all the
mines. The percentages of metallic copper contained
in these ores have varied considerably, running from 3
()r 4 up to 30 per cent. I cannot obtain an average,
but taking it at about 10 per cent., the total yield
.of metallic copper should be in the vicinity of 140,366
tons. "
To promote the further development of the
copper dCllosits and especially to test tho value of
small areas \vhich people of limited means, within the
colony, were endeavouring to exploit, the Legislature
at the last session provided bounties on copper
.ore smelted, of 3! per cent. on a sun1 not to exceed

102

$50,000 for anyone person or company annually for'
twenty years.
Among other mineral substances of which several
large deposits are known to exist, is chromite. It has.
been found near Port-au-Port Bay, and between 1895
and 1900, some 6,000 tons of high grade ore were mined
and exported. Several new and extensive areas have
since been discovered in the same locality, and others on,
.
the Gander and Bay D'Est Rivers.
Nickels, associated with copper, cloanthite, and
nickel})yrites, have been found in the Tilt Cove copper'
ore and extracted therefrom. Antimony or stibnite
exists at Moreton's Harbour, Notre Dame Bay, and
several thousand tons have been exported. Ores of
g-alena or lead also have been found at many places, and
lnines actively operated, one at Lamanche, Placentia
Bay, producing nearly 30,000 tons, 1vhile other beds at
La1vn and Argentia in the sanle Bay, also gave
generous yields. Manganese occurs in extensive deposits
on the South shore of Conception Bay. Gold has been
found in thé Tilt Cove copper ores, and in some years
3,000 to 5,000 ounces have been extracted from the ore
shipped there to the refining works at Breton Ferry.,
Free gold in quartz veins has also been found in many
pl
ces and two deposits, at Ming's Bight, North of Cape
St. John, and at Sopp's Arms, in -White Bay, have
been worked sufficiently to prove the existence of the-
precious metal in quantities that elsewhere have
warranted active operations. Professor Howley declares
his belief that" if some of the local gold-bearing areas
were carefully and economically handled with up-to-date-
appliances for recovering all the ore, they might develop
into paying propositions." Silver occurs frequently"
combined witll both copper and galena. Some of the
galena ores show high percentages of silver, and,
11ave yielded as much as 400 ounces to the ton of
metal.
Among the non-metallic substances of value arð

103

asbestos, barytes, feldspar, graphite, grindstones,
gypsum, kaolin, lithographic stone, mica, petroleum, salt,
slate, talc, etc., and various clays. About 6,600 tons of
barytes have been shipped and 6,000 tons of talc.
In 1904 petroleum wells at Parsons' Pond on the
west coast yiëlded 700 barrels, but large quantities
have been pumped from the wells since then, while in
1908 several hundred barrels were employed at the Gas-
works in St. John's, to enrich the gas product of the
coal used there, and gave most favorable results.
In 1910 the 1ttforris Government granted special
concessions to corporations to develop the oil-bearing
areas, which exist chiefly on the west coast, and this
stimulated development extensively.
The slate obtainable in the Island and declared to be
equal to the best Welsh slate, exists in abundance, and
is found in large bodies on both the eastern and
western coasts. Some of the product has been exported
and has fetched th.e same prices in England as the
finest of the domestic product. Many varieties of
building and ornamental stones-granites, porphyries,
sandstones, freestones, limestones, marbles of various
shades, and others exist, and last year the export of
beach stones was begun. The coast is fringed with
many beaches, made up of stones worn smooth by the
ceaseless action of the waves for ages; and as these are
in large demand in America for use in various forms of
nlanufacturing, and as they are already largely imported
from Iceland and France, it was felt that Newfoundland
could cOlnpete therein, and the venture was begun so
excellently, that it is being repeated this year more
extensively.
Clays of all kinds-pipe, brick, fire, terracotta,
china-and other similar substances likely to become of
economic import at some time in the future, are also
found in abundance in various parts of Newfoundland.
Already the brick clays have been utilized to a con-
siderable extent in the manufacturing of brick for local

.

104

consumption, these articles being proàuced of excellent
quality and of a durability unsurpassed. Indeed, except
for pressed brick, used in ornamental work, the local
product is largely displacing the imported, and in Trinity
Bay, where this brick-making is carried on, it forms a
subsidiary industry of appreciable value.

105

CHAPTER XIV.

IRON AND COAL.

WONDERFUL IRON MINES - A]'IONG THE WORLD'S
RICHEST DEPOSITS-A MILLION To:xs YEARLY-CO
U
BEDS AND PROSPECTS.
T HE Island's chief mineral product at present is red
hematite iron fronl Bell Island in Conception Bay,
eighteen miles from St. John's. Nowhere in the ,,,"orIel
is there such a deposit, and even now its possibilities are
but very inadequately appreciated. T01vards the south
shore of Conception Bay are three islands-Great Bell
Island, Little Bell Island and Kel1y's Island. The
first is the largest-six miles long by two wide-with
an area of about t,velve sq'uare miles. It forms with
the other two, the remnant of a great trough of Cambian
roc}{, occupying the entire area of the Bay.
This group of islands forms one of the most strikingly
beautiful pictures in the region ,,"hen observed on a clear
summer day, with the unrufHed surface of Conception
Bay shining like a silver mirror and reflecting back tbe
shadow of these land-masses from its glealning surface.
Formerly Bell Island ,vas one of the most promising
agricultural sections of the colony, and even still it
produces farm stuffs to an amazing extent; but this
industry has DO'V become a secondary one by comlx1rison
'\vith the great mining enterprise carried on there.

rhe remainder ,yas submerged in SOlne 11re-historic
convulsion and extends SOlne miles belo,",r the \vater,
north from Great Bell Island, on ,yhich crops out the
remarkable hematite deposit referred to, from ,vhich

..

106

more than a million tons of ore are taken every year..
Altogether there are twelve "bands of this ore, ranging
in thickness from one to ten feet. The largest are so
accessible that almost all the ore they contain is mine-
able, for the ore easily separates from the under-lying
and over-lying strata, has a perfect cleavage and breaks
readily into cubical blocks of convenient size for hand-
ling. The easy grade of the dip, not over eight degrees,
enabled large quantities to be mined for several years by
open-cut work, akin to quarrying along- the line of the
outcrop. The Nova Scotia Steel Company first began
mining here in 1895, and four years later, retaining the
upper bed, with contents of about 6,000,000 tons, sold
the lower bed, of about 28,000,000 tons, to the Dominion
Steel Company for $1,000,000. Since then both com-
panies have vigorously operated, and each takes out fully
500,000 tons of ore every year. The mineral is very
cheaply mined and handled. It is won by exploding small
charges of dynamite and is then loaded into cars calTying
about one ton of mineral each, whicll an endless cable
conveys to shipping piers about a mile distant, where
enormous hoppers receive the material and transfer it
to the holds of large steamers, which lie below, as
twenty-four feet of ,yater is obtainable at the pier head.
It is not uncommon for 7,000 tons of this ore to be put
on board a steamer in four or five hours, so perfect are the
loading appliances; this year both companies are
employing lO,OOO-ton ships in this trade, the first cargo
for the season, 13,500 tons, having been taken away by
one of them at the end of April.
Most of the Dominion Company's ore goes to its
smelters at Sydney, Cape Breton, while the "Scotia'

Company sells the bulk of its output to various markets
in Europe and America. The pig iron and steel pro-
duced at the Sydney Works is in large demand all over
Canada, and steel rails made therefrom have been sent
round Cape Horn to be used in the building of the
Grand Trunk Railroad to the Pacific Coast, "\\Thile other

107

cargoes have been sent to India for railroad construction
there. Latterly extensive holdings of
ubmarine areas,
covering the extension of the ore deposit under the Bay,.
have been acquired by various parties, and notably by
these companies, '\vhich, durin
the past three years,
llave been driving out belo,v the sea, mining the ore as
they go, and finding it not alone maintaining its general
character throughout, but increasing both in thickness
and quality, as the centre of the trough is approached.
.Professor Howley has estimated that, including all
the ore bands no,v known to exist on Bell Island, the
entire deposit, submarine and above water, contains the
enornlOUS total of 3,635,543,360 tons, observing "the
amount that may be recoverable will largely depend
upon the conditions met with, the engineering skill to
cope with any difficulties that may present thelTIselves,
and the adequacy of the machinery employed to keep
the mine dry and fully ventilate it."
As evidence of the value of this deposit, it might
be stated that
ir. A. J. Moxham, the falTIOUS .1-\..merican
iron and steel expert, ,vho built the smelters at Sydney"
declared in a lecture delivered at Toronto in
February, 1901, that "at the Bell Island nlines, the
actual price of mining and putting the ore on cars is
less than the traditional contractor's price for the
removal of earth; in fact the ore is capable of being
mined as cheap as dirt, and in making steel at Sydney
the cost of freight on the assemblage of the ra,v
materials there, being-coal, nothing, as the smelters
are built over the coal beds; limestone, fifteen cents a
ton; and ore, forty cents a ton-or fifty-five cents in all;
the cost of assemblage is the lowest in the ,,''Orld, and
represents a saving of $2.4:J a ton over the assemblage
cost in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania."
An added importance is given to these N e,yfolmdland
iron ore deposits by the recent decision of the Canadian
Parliament to establish a Canadian Navy and the
l1urchG.se of nllcleus ships from the TIritish Adluiralty,.

108

.pending the construction of squadrons of warships
on the .L\.tlantic and Pacific seaboards by Canada herself.
Naturally, this policy ,viII imply the providing of dock-
yards and a demand for steel in the form of plates, ingots
.and other pieces necessary for all this class of worlr.
J\foreover, it is highly probable, that as a cOlnp]ement
to this policy the construction of steel ships for the
merchant service ,,'ill be undertalren as well, ,vhich ,yill
likewise help to increase the demand for the products
of the Dominion Steel Company's smelters at Sydney and
those of the Nova Scotia Steel Company at North Sydney
and at New Glasgow.
Already there is talI{ of the locating of a ship-
building plant at Sydney; it has been declared by
the Canadian 1\Iinisters at Ottawa that the new fleet
will be built in Canada; this must be followed by the
use of domestic 111aterial in the ,york, alld all of these
departures open up a vista of largely increased 'usefulness
for the steel products of these smelting centres.
Consequently, as the iron ore which they need comes
entirely from Bell Island, this will mean a greatly
"augmented consumption of the raw material and a much
enhanced output from the V\T abana mines. This will be
a welcome circumstance to the colony in every way,
and ,viII probably tend to stimulate prospecting for other
iron areas, the product of ,yhich might be dra-,vn upon
to supplement the outPllt froln those already existing.
It is currently understood, that the Britisll Govern-
ment ,vould be l(eenly desirolls of learning of the
discovery of other similar ore beds in this island, as the
iron ore resources of many parts of Europe are
diminishing of late. The supply of hematite from the
Spanish mines near Bilbao is falling off, and th
deposits
,at Narvak, on the north of Sweden, are, it is feared,
likely to fall into the hands of competitors of the
British Empire. In view of the immense importance of
the iron and steel industries to the British Isles, and of
how largel
T Britain's supremacy on the sea depends

109

upon ller ability to produce cheap and abundant
shipping fabrics, the significance of this fact should not
be overlooked. Under these circumstances, it ",vould
Jook as if there Vfas a splendid opportunity for enter-
prising mining capitalists and prospectors to devote'
themselves to the developlnent of the iron. ore resources
of N ewfounclland.
It by no nleans follows that these deposits
at Bell Island are the only ones of the kin(l in
Newfoundland. On the contrary, some other very
promising iron prospects are kno,vn to exist, but for'
various reasons their development has not been
energetically purs'ued. The remarkable feature about the
Bell Island mines is, that their existence was discovered
by accident rather than by design. They had lain
unknown and unused for generations until, somewhere
about twenty years ago, so the story runs, a fisherman
sailing in his smac]( from one of the coves there to
St. John's, ballasted his boat with lumps of reddisll rock
that cumbered the strand. When he unloaded this on the
,vharf at St. John's, an Englishman on a schooner Iring
at the next pier, saw that it seemed to be highly
mineralized and took a portion of it across the Atlantic
where he llad it assayed and its value deternlined.
The original Ilolders of the property received $120,000
for it from tIle Nova Scotia Steel Company ,,-hich, in
its turn, was 11aid by the Dominion Steel Company
$1,000,000 for the larger of the t,yO beds; and each
of these Companies is now producing 500,000 tons of
ore annually and selling the san1e Lat a profit of tt dollar
a ton.
COAL DEPOSITS.
According- to the Geological Survey's re110rts
Newfoundland possesses extensive coal measures, but
tIleir full extent is not yet determined. There arc three
distinct and ",veIl-defined coal-bearing tracts-one near
Grand Lake, by the upper reaches of the Humber River;
another inland from the south side of St. George's Bar;

.

110
and a third in the Codroy valley, farther south and
to,vards Cape Breton, They extend over an area of
some hundreds of square miles, and are believed to be
extensions of the vast coal beds near Sydney, Cape
Breton and Pictou, Nova Scotia, whence an output of
several million tons is now annually made.
From Sydney most of the colony's present supply
of coal is obtained, and as large sums are sent abroad
annually for this commodity, the discovery of workable
coal areas at home ,vould mean an irnportant industry,
to be enhanced lnaterially with the development of other
mining, palp and paper making and varied industrial
undertakings, throughout the Island.
The three coal regions discovered in this Island
are conveniently situated for shipping purposes, the
deposits in the Grand Lake region being near the line
of rail1vay and within forty miles of tide-water on the
Humber River; in St. George's Bay they are only
eight Iniles from the coast; and tb.e Codroy coal could
be conveyed to Port-aux-Basques, ,yhicll is a deep water
baven, and loaded on steamers there the whole year
round. Latterly the Government has expended sub-
stantial sums in testing the extent of the coal deposits
near Grand Lake, and during 1908 and 1909, an expert
American driller was engaged for the same purpose.
The true coal measures in the Humber valley are
embraced in a long narrow trough, skirting the south
side of Grand Lake. Borings have she"\vn the existence
of at least two septtrate beds in this region, and thirteen
seams have been discovered. Professor Ho",-leysavs: "'fhe
importance of this coal-field in the future dev
lopment
of the Island cannot be over-estimated, but on account
of the abnormally difficult conditions prevailing all over
this region, the ,york of successfully prospecting it must
necessarily prove slow. Sufficient data has certainly
been gathered to warrant either the Government or a
company of capitalists in entering upon the development
of the principal seams known to exist."

111

The St. George's coal area lies eight miles inland
from the south shore of that Bay, and almost parallel
with the coast. Its full extent is not kno\vn, but it has
been tested for about five miles. Three brooks which
cut across it, enable the measures to be estimated. On
Barachois Brook twelve separate seams shew, the
"Murray" 3!- feet wide, and the" Jukes" 4-! feet wide
being the principal, with others of lesser ,vidth; but the
coal in several being of first-class quality. On the
Robinson river, two miles east, five other seams shew,
the" Howley" being over 4 feet wide of good solid coal.
The aggregate thickness of nine seams in this trough
of over one foot, and including the three named, is 27
feet, which, if they maintained this average throughout,
would give for every mile of surface they may be found
to underlay, 25,920,000 tons of coal.
The Codroy Valley is of more limited extent-a
segment of a trough, cut off by a fault. The greatest
thickness of the true coal measures does not exceed 250
to 300 feet in all, but in this are six seams of coal, four
small and two quite large. One at its outcrop shewed
9t feet of good clean coal, while the other was 23 feet
wide, 15 feet being a fairly good coal, and the rest, layers
of shales and clay. The Reid-Newfoundland Company
has mined coal from all of these areas and used the
same in its locomotives at intervals with, it is said,
excellent results.

112

CHAPTER XV.

...t\.GRICULTURE.

OLD-TI1\1:E HOSTILE POLICy-FERTILE AREAS-QUALITY
OF SOIL-VARIETY OF PRODUCTS-PROSPECTS OF
LIVELIHOOD FOR THOUSANDS.
S O long has this Island been thougllt a desolate, fog-
1)ound region, ,,?ith llarsh climate and sterile soil,
precluding all attempts at farlning, that claims respecting
its agricultural advantages obtain little credence abroad.
Western Canada was until recent times, believed to be only
a wilderness of sno,y and ice, but now is known as one
of the world's granaries. Similarly Newfoundland has
farming possibilities to which the leading agricultural
authorities of the Dominion do justice.
The farm-lands here lie in belts, mainly in the
valleys througll which the principal rivers run, or around
the lleads of the great bays, and are capable of supporting
a population many times as great as that which no,y
occupies the Island. Tllis statement might be considered
overdl'a,vn, but that the statistics show what progress
lIas been made in agriculture of late, and how much
greatpr it may become henceforth. The reports of the
Geological Survey, conducted by reliable scientific men;
the data obtained by official surveyors mapping out the
Cl
own Lands for lTIany years; the experience of farmers
and stockmen and the testimony of experts who have
visited the colony, prove that it has an agricultural
future 1)y no means negligible. 'I'o-day the farm
products are ,\yorth probably half as much annually as
those of the fisheri es.

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113

That farming is backward here ,viII scarcely occasion
surprise, for .t was a penal offence to plant a potato in
Newfoundland when a royal college was founded in
Nova Scotia; self-Governnlent ,,"as denied this colony
until eighty years back, though granted that province
seventy years before, and the present time is only about
the centenary of the recognition of agriculture in this
Island, for not until 1813 were grants of land for farm-
ing issued.
As recently as 17R9, or 121 years ago, Governor
Milbanke ,vrote that "it is not in the interest of Great
Britain to encourage people to winter in Newfoundland."
Not until 1811 ,vas permission granted to erect per-
manent })ouses, and t"\YO years lllore elapsed before
Governor Keats ,vas " authorized to grant leases of snlall
plots of land to industrious individuals for the IJurposes
of cultivation, taking care however, to observe an annual
quit rent, either nominal or real, according to the cir-
cumstances of each individual case."
'fhis tax on land ,vas abolished in 1822 on the
advice of Chief Justice Forbes, who reported "That it
,vas desirable, in order to open up the country and afford
employment to the inhabitants, that all restraints upon
the cultivation of the soil should be removed, and th('
hreeding of live stock be encourager)."; and ill 1825,
Sir rrhornas Cochrane, tIle first resident Governor, actively
encouraged farrning, for he ,vas progressive and far-
sighted, and helieved in husbandry as a material factor
for the well-being of the colony. He inaugurated road-
making, encouraged agricultllre, and chose a COllutry
seat for hinlself in tIle suburbs of St. John's.
Dllring the next fifteen years farming ,yas further
encouraged, and, ,vith the granting' of representative
Govcrnnlent in 1832, more funds were provided for roads
and bridges, the annual vote for these in 1833 being only
three hundred pounds sterling. rfhese roads hc]ped
1naterially to encourage people to ellg'age in husbal1drr,
and (
overnor Sir John IIarvey, in 18J:
, organized an
II

.

114

Agricultural Society- in St. 'IT olIn's, lleld ploughing
matches and horse races, and in 1848 prizes ,yerc pro-
vided for various forms of farnling progress.
In 1869, the first agricultural exhibition "ras held
in St. John's, and others have been held at intervals since;
but not until the Exhibition organized by the Morris
Governlllent last fall was there any general display of
products fronl all parts of the Island. The rich farm
lands of the ,vest coast were worked even before the
railway "ras enterprised, and SOUle thriving settlements
were thus founded. TIle public lTIen also encouraged
the tillage of the soil, but not until 1878, \vhen Sir
William White,vay moved resolutions "For a survey for
a line of road in the Humber Valley, Gambo and Grand
Lake districts, to o})en up and settle the agricultural
land in those districts," ,vas any Governlnent formally
identified "rith the development of agriculture. He
too}\: a further step in 1880 by the adoption of the
railway policy, this being the agency that, perhaps more
than any other, contributed to the permanent progress
of agriculture here; ,vhile in 1886, the administration
of Sir Robert Bond granted bonuses for the clearing of
land, which gave an impetlls to farming allover the
Island tbat it would never otherwise have received,
because lancl was cleared and cultivated around every
llamlet and has continued to be 'used till this day.

In 1893, rail\yay connecting roads were built,It' opening
up the country between the villages in the various bays
and the rail,vay line, thus aiding in the clearing of land
and the extension of farln-work in these localities. The
Winter Government, in 1898, revived the land bonus;
and the completion of the cross-country railway,
piercing the arable sections of the west coast and
ena.bling farnl produce to be conveyed to Inarl
et
prol1lptly, put these districts in direct toncll with St.
John's, and also shewed how self-supporting communi-
ties could be maintained otherwise than by the fisheries.
Much of the best farming land of the Island has been

II!)

opened up for settlement by the railway, 1vhile more
will be made available by the branch lines now being-
contracted. These sections can sustain thousands of
people, and lnere fractions of t.hem can supply the
colony with most of the farm stuffs necessary for hOlTIe
consumption.
Agriculturally, the western slope is easily the most
important, for it has, besides large tracts of fertile soil,
valuable forests, and coal, lime and mineral deposits,
yielding essential constituents for the manufacture of
pulp and paper. This is the carboniferous region, and
the rocks of this formation always underlie good soil.
Its climate, too, is superior to that of the eastern or
southern shores; as the easterly winds from the Atlant.ic
are tempered before reaching there. Since this slope
lIas been tapped by the railway, it has shewn clearly
that it is destined to become the seat of a large farming
industry, ultinlately broadening into cattle and sheep
raising, on which a successful start has already been
made.
The western area comprises the Codroy Valleys, St.
George's Bay, Port-a-Port, Bay of Islands, Bonne Bay,
and the Great Northern Peninsula to the Straits of Belle
Isle-four hundred lniles in extent. The Great and
Little CO(lroy rivers drain valleys which form one of
the finest farming districts in the Island, being about
forty miles long and ten to twelve miles wide,
where for the most part the soil is excellent, and
extensive husbandry is possihle. The Geological Reports
give the extent of land available for settlement in St.
George's .Bay district at 560 square miles, '\vith soil so
good, that the settlers have in some cases, worked the
same ground for t\venty years without the use of manure.
In the Bav of Islands district the chief arable area is the
Humber Valley, ,vith 800 square miles, containing soil
of superior character, capable of being profitably culti-
vated. The forest ,vealth is also extensive and the other
land is equal to most of that cultivated on the eastern

.

116

seaboard. The Report of the Geological Survey ob-
serves :-" 'rhousands of miles have been laid out into
to,vnships, and already settled in Canada, either for
lumbering or farming, far inferior in most respects to
this part of Ne,vfoundland which without doubt, is
capable of supporting a very large population." North
of this is another fine inlet named Bonne Bay, shortly to
be connected to the main rail way by a branch from
Deer Lake, and a carriage road already cut between
these points, shews that there is much good land in the
whole way, giving excellent crops \vhere cultivated, and
still larger areas suitable for grazing purposes, the whole
being described as a section possessing arable areas not
exceeded by any others in the Island.
From the west coast to Notre Dame Bay, a level
plain extends across the Island, with arable tracts so ex-
cellent and extensive, that in 1898 a survey was begun to
construct a highway through it. The surveyor's report
shewed that thousands of people could settle there and
make comfortable homes for themEelves, as farmers and
lumberlnen. The next farming region is Exploits Bay,
a deep inlet on the south coast of Notre Dame Bay, ,vith
several arms, the greatest leading to the Exploits river,
the valley of which drains aJl area of 4,000 square
miles, the stream reaching the sea after flowing 200
miles, the ,vidth of its fertile belt varying at intervals,
and the fertility of its soil being amply testified wherever
cultivation has been attempted, producing roots, potatoes,
grass and other crops of the finest description; while for
grazing or stock-raising country it can hardly be
surpassed. The conclusion of the Geological Survey is
that" 'Ihere are, on the Exploits alone, 512,000 acres,
more or less capable of supporting settlelllent, including
arable and pasture lands, and the pine, timber, spruce,
tamarack and birch, which cover extensive areas, are of
excellent quality and vigorous gro",
th."
The Gander valley is considered by some even better
than the Exploits for farming. Including the neighbour-

117

ing Gambo and Terranova valleys, there are, sa)'"s the
Geological Survey, 1,700 square miles, or 1,088,000
acres, available for settlement; of ,vhicll ]arge
proportions, notably eastward from the main river, are
of rich and fertile soil, as amply testified by th
indigenous
produce, which lTIainly consists of pine and spruce of
superior size and kind. With its facilities for grass
gorowing, the breeding and rearing of stock can hardly
fail to become one of its great future industries.
Ko,vhere else in the Island is there anything like the
quantity of pine timber to be met with here; and
although the soil on the western side of the ISh"tnd is
richer in some places, this section, with its other adyan-
tages, offers more immediate inducement to the settlers.
Slnaller farming tracts are too numerous to describe
in detail. They exist along the banks of the slnaller
st.reams and skirt the heads of all the great baJs; and
constitute, in tIle aggregate, large areas of excellent
land. The chief of these are in the inlets of Bonavista
Bay; the north-east section of Trinity Bay; St. l\fary's
Peninsula, the Salmonier inlet in that bay; and the
Cape St. ßfary's s]lore, or eastern seaboard of Placcntia
Bay.
Ioreover, though much of the Avalon peninsula
is of poor and rockJ soil, there are extensive areas yield-
ing excellent root crops, luxuriant grass crops and
generous fruit crops, as ,\-ell as oats, barler and other
grains. The gardens and farms ,vhich surround yirtu-
a1lr every
ettlement in the peninsula attest this; the
neat and comfortahle hOlnesteads proclaim the industry
of the people; and the proximity of St. John's gives a
constant market, ,vhile in the environs of the capital
itself are farIns ,vIlich ,,,"ould do no discredit to countries
more pretentious agriculturall
"'.
In some quarters the assistecl inl1nigration of
farmers from Scotland, S,veden and other countries,
whose climatic conditions are similar to those of N ew-
foundland, has been advocated; and as recentlr as t,,
o
years ago the Salyation .,A.rmy took up the q
lestioll of

118

establishing farm colonies in the Island; but pending the
fruition of these projects it looks as if the greatest
assurance of success in this ind'ustry "rould be through
encouraging the resident population to engage more
largely in the cultivation of the soil. The attractive
inducements held out by 'Vest ern Canada and the
United States to farming and othel
immigrants, are so
much greater than any this colony could offer, and the
reputation of those regions as fal
ming centres naturally
so enllances their attractiveness to the intending settler,
that N e,vfoundland would be very sel
iously handicapped
in any attempt to divert immigration from them to its
own interior. Nevertheless, it is recognised, and the
experience of those who have come from the Britisl1
Isles and undertaken farming in the Colony, has proved
that it is possibJe for farmers to make a very profitable
livelihood here, particularly as the colonial tariff
provides a generous measure of protection for the local
husoandnlan.
Dr. .A.ndrew 1IacPhail, who was invited here last
year t.o advise the Government as to potato-culture,
òbserved in a public address at the time, that:
" If I were embarking in farming- as a business, it is
not to Prince Edward Island I would go, though I own
a farm there; nor to Quebec, where I o\vn another farm;
nor to Saskatche\van, '\vhere I o'\vn a third; I would not
be attracted by the much-boasted opportunities of the
Canadian North-west, but I would COlne right here to
St. John's where, under the beneficent influence of a '10
per cent. tariff, I ,vonId make a comfortable living at the
.expense of the rest of the co lTIffiunity. The soil and
climate in your country are as good as that of lnany
parts of Canada, and some of the resl.llts I l1ave seen in
my visits to some suburban farms yesterday and to-day
are }'Ieally remarka1)le."

119

CHAPTER XVI.

NEW F,A.R!IING POLICY.

PREMIER MORRIS ADVOCATES FAR:llIKG-ÅGRICULTURAL
EXPERTS VISIT COLO
y-DIRECTIO:XS IN WHICH PRO-
GRESS IS POSSIBLE.
S IR EDWARD )IORRIS, the present Premier, has
always advocated the development of husbandry
here, maintaining that large sums might be retained at
home by the cultivation of farm prodllcts ,vlilch are
to-day imported, and instancing the advance made in this
industry alone, even within the past thirty years, as
sho,vn by the census returns of 1891 and 1901, and the
probable further development which the census of the
present year will disclose. The agricllltural SU111mary
in the census was :-

Acres Occupied Land
Acres Improved Land
Acres Pasturage Lann
Acres Garden Land
Acres Improved Unused Land
Wheat and Barley (bushels)
Oats (bushels)
Hay (tons)
Potatoes (barrels)
Turnips (barrels)
Other Root Crops (barrels)
Cabbage (barrels-50 heads)
Horses
Milch Co,Y

Other Horned Cattle

It:Ð1.
179,494
64,494
20,524
21,813
6,244
....91
12,HOO
:
6,032
481,024
GO,2:-J5
5,041
81,370
6,1 :,18
10,863
12,959

1901.
215,563
85,520
:-J5,210
.) r::. Q 67
.
v,o
14,443
824
10,778
53,867
541,590
(;5,527
3,560
258,680
8,R51
!l}.,160
18,599

,

120

Sheep
Swine
Goats
Fo,vl
Cattle (killed)
Sheep (killed)
Swine (killed)
Butter made (pounds)
Wool (pounds)

60,840
32,011
8,715
127,420
7,713
20,216
17,653
401,716
154,021

78,031
34,676
17,307
206,969
7,415
23,590
17,656
673,974
199,377

Tbe vallIe of the farm products in each year was-

1891. $
"\Vhen.tandBarley at $ 1.00 bushe1... 491
Oats ... at 50 cents " ... 6,450
Hay ... at $12.00 ton ... 432,384:
Potatoes .., ... at 1,00 barrel... 481,024
Turnips... ... at 1.00 ".., 60,235
Other Root Crops at 1.00 "... 5,041
Cabbage ... ... at 3,50 ",.. 284,79.3
Cattle (killed) ... at 30.00 head ,.. 231,390
Sheep (killed) .,. at :t60 " ... 72,777
Swine (killed) ... at 10.00 "... 176,530
Butter made ... at 20 cents lb. ... 80,343
Wool ... at 20 " ... 30,804

$1 ,86
,264

1901. $
at $ 1.00 busheL.. 824
at 50 cents "... 5:387
at
15.00 ton 809,465
at 1.44 barrel ... 779,889
at 1.20" 78,632
at 1.00" 3,560
at 4.00 " ... 1,024,720
at 35.00 head 259,525
at 4.00" 94,360
at 15.00" 264,804
at
2 cents lb. 161,754
at 25" 49,844
$:1,532,764

The figures she"
that the occupied land increased
by 20 per cent. during the decade; the improved land
by over 40 IJer cent.; and the pasture and garden land
by 50 per cent. each. Hay she,yed a similar increase;
potatoes and tlIrnips each increased 12 per cent.;
cabbages trebled in qllantity; horses, lnilc.ll cows and
cattle each increased nearly 50 per cent., sheep 33 per
cent., swine 16 per cent., goats over 100 per cent., fowls
70 per cent. The cattle, sheep and swine killed during
that year shewed 10 per cent. increase, butter 60 per
cent. and wool 25 per cent. Ten years previously the
animals imported-horses, cattle, swine and sheep-
were valued at $130,000, but in 1901 the value of these
imports declined to $97,000. The latest Customs
retlIrns shew, that while the tot:'11 of the animals

121

imported in 1910 was only the saIne as in 1901, the
value was $187,000, or nearly doubled, an enhancement
that has apl)lied to the local product as well, so that the
raising of cattle, sheep and swine for fnod purposes is
receiving unusual attention.
.L
S already shewn, the value of agricultural pro-
ducts in 1901, amounted to $3,532,000; but in addition
to this, there are imported each year animals and farIn
products of the following kinds, and about the value
(for the .fiscal year 1908-09) following, all of 'v hicll
might be raised at home :-

Beans
Cabbage
Peas
Potatoes
Vegetables .,.
Apples
Animals
Butter and Ol
o
Cheese
Eggs
Hay
Jams
Lard
Oatmeal
Oats
Oilcake, etc.
Fresh Ineats, sausages and poultry

17,(390
9,758
36,635
35,083
20,464
43,829
178,099
106,770
40,074
11,198
37,747
6,7ö4
5,084
24,182
97,607
92,267
55,5D1

S818,84

Accordingly, when Premier J.\tlorris "
as firmly estab-
lished in office, he took up the subject of agricultural
development on progressive lines and invited to the
colony Dr. ,James '\V. Robertson, C.l\I.G., the famous
Canadian agriculturist, \vho revitalized that industry in
Prince Edwarù Island, ,vho was Canadian COlnmi
sioner
of Agriculture for many years, subscq uently principal of
,

122

the liacDonald Agricultural College near }Iontreal, and
is now President of the Canadian Royal Commission
on Industrial Training and Technical Education. Dr.
Robel"tson carne to Ne\vfoundland in September, 1910,
to advise the Government as to the best policy to pursue,
and after studying the farnling features of the west
coast, the interior and the vicinity of St. John's, he out-
lined his views, declaring himself confident that there ,vas
a great future before the Island agricultllrally, that tIle
land at present cleareù ,vas ample to produce twice the
quantity of farm stuffs annually raised therefrom, and
indicating the lines along '\vhich farming progress might
be best directed.
In SClJtember also Dr. Andre\v fflacPhail, a '\\'011-
kno,vn physician of 1vlontreal and a bacteriologist of
repute in Canada, visited the colony at the Premier's
invitation, to study the question of ilnproving the
cu.ltivation of potatoes, to \vhich subject he has given
.great attention for some years, and on \vhich he is a
recognisecl authority. During his stay he inspected a
number of farms near St. John's, and stated tllat these
farms and the potatoes IJroduced therefrom, compared
favorably with Prince Edward Is]and, besides \yhich his
opinion was, that without any additional labour or cost,
but by the mere 'utilization oÏ more moclcrn mctllods, it
1voulcl be possible to greatly increase the yicld from
these areas.
The IJrevious year
Ir. Beach Tholnas, agricultural
expert of the London Tirnes, 'VI10 visited the Harms-
worth mills, in an address delivered at St. John's, on the
Ploemier's invitation, observed: "I haye visited every
centre of agriculture and gardening in England, many
in France, and several in Holland and Belgium; so my
experience in these countries may enable me to tell you
something of your interior. On the farlll at Grand
}'alls are meadO"\vs where grass and clover flourish as
luxuriantly as in England. In England we do not rear
Jersey co,vs, as they are too tender, but at Grand Falls

123

are Jerseys doing exceedingly well. The potato and
turnip crops are at least as good as could be found
on any ordinary farm ill England. I anI certain,
that if you could plant do,vn these Grand Falls farms
there, many market gardeners ,vould pay t,yO or three
pounds an acre for theIn, because of tIle quality of the
soil. At Grand Falls gro\v different flo,vers, all of which
may be seen in England, such as helianthus, bergamot,
sweet peas and mignonette. The cauliflowers in the
gardens could not be beaten. I cut heads of corn as fine
as could be; and saw turnips, potatoes and cabbage
equal to any raised in England."
PI"ofessor C. A. Zavitz, of the Ontario Agricultural
College, who came llere in 1908, to report upon the
farming possibilities, stated as follows: "N e,yfoundland
has greater agricultural possibilities than I expected to
find. Many crops can be gro,vn with excellent success

and would do better if replaced by other varieties more
suitable to the conditions of soil and climate. Other
crops ,,"hich would do well in this climate are practically
unknown here. Surprisingly large qllalltities of farm
products are imported from other countries, though
many of them could be raised in abundance on thp
Island. I ,vouid llot favor the extensive growing of
wheat, but I do believe tllat vegetables of n1any }{inds,
oats, barley, potatoes, lnangels, turnips, small fruits and
certain other crops could be grown in alJundancc to the
advantage of both the }Jl"oducer an(l the consumer,
providing proper methods of agriculture ,vere adopted."
Encouraged by these gratifying opinions and the
equally conclusive evidence afforùed b
T the statistics of
local farm products, the
Iorris Government decided upon
the promotion of agriculture by the forlnation of some
70 agricultural societies all round the Island, each being
allotted a certain amount in cas11 to be expended as in its
judgmcnt seemed best; the providing of animals, seeds
and implements, and their utilisation and distributi011
by the societies; the disselnination of agricultural

]24

kno1vledge by llleans of ne\vspa}Jcrs, bulletins and
pamphlets; the preparation of text books on agriculture
for the schools; the application of cold storage to
farming products; the conversion of the peat deposits
into fuel, and a delnonstration, by an agricultural
exhibition in St. John'
, of the present status of the
industry and what intelligent and earnest effort might
accomplish. V er
T gratifying success has attended the
Ulovement thllS far. Seed potatoes of approved quality
Ilave been obtained through the agency of the Canadian
Departmellt of Agriclllture, and distributed allover the
Island by the societies; cabbage and turnip seeds of
approvccl qualities have been similarly handled; Scotch
oats of suitable kinds have also been distributed; cO"'''S,
sheep, pigs and Sab]e Island ponies have been procured
(the latter a free gift froln the Government of Canada)
and placed ,vhere tIley ,vould be of the most benefit;
and vigorolls advocacy of agricultural effort has been
inaugurated by the Premier and energised by an
Agricultural Board appointed for the purpose of carrJring
this policy into full effect. The agricultural exhibition,
lleld at St. John's jll the first ,veek of Novembër, ] 910,
cOlnpletely surprised even the Inost enthusiastic advo-
cates of farlning in the colony. Over ,3,000 exhibits
were on view; everr district ,vas represented, and SOlne
of the renloter ones proved most successful, even in
competition "Titll the professional farlners of St. John's
and of the west coast. Two officials of the Canadian
Department of Agriculture-Messrs. Standisll alld
1\ioore-were obtained from tIle experiInental farm at
Truro, Nova Scotia, and their opinions, seeing that they
llad a unique opportunity to observe the quality of our
animal and vegetable products, should be of interest.
1vlr. Standish said: "I was more than surprised that
N ewfonndland cOllld prod'uce such excellent exhibits as
are on view. Not for some tÎIne have I seen such
cabbage, turnips and potatoes. There is no doubt that
N ewfoundIand is rich in soil suitable for the growth of

]25

these crops. The hay exhibit ,vas equal to any I have
seen in some of the Provinces of Canada; and the show
in general ,vas superior and better arranged than I luive
ever before witnessed in this class."

Ir.
{oore said: "I ,vas greatly surprised and
delighted with the results. I have been present at
eight county and provincial exhibitions, and the condi-
tions here compare very favorably; in fact, N ewfound-
land is not behind any of them. The root crops
especially were equal, if not superior, to those exhibited
in these places, and yet tl1ey can still be improved here,
this being notably true of potatoes. I think the poultry
exhibit superior to any I have seen in any country sho,v
in Canada. The dairy stock exhibit shows that a good
start has been made in the selection of pure bred
Holsteins, Ayrshires, J crseJ"s, etc., and also in the other
live stock exhibited."
Four experienced peat cutters were obtained from
Ireland and were employed during the summer of 1910,
going from place to place throllgh the island, instruct-
ing the people in the cutting, drying and handling of
peat to serve as fuel. Their advent ,yas warmly
,yelcomed, and the use of peat for this purpose is likely
to become very general. .i:\. pOllltry association Vias
organized in St. John's; a }Jroject ,\yas launched for
the despatch of 30 teachers annually for five years to
Canadian Agricultural Colleges to receive a year's
course each in agricultural
ubjects; and competent
farmin
instructors ",yiII organize farming institutes and
other\vise develop intelligent effort among the farming-
community. )feasures were enacted at the recent
session of the Legislature for an inspection of seeds and
the further extension of this agricultural policy. 8heCI)
raising is being specially encouraged, that the fleeces
may be used in a ,vool factory, proposed for thp nlaking
of all the woollens and similar products required in the
Island, and of ,vhicl} SOlllP
a50,OOO ,yorth arc import
d
.annually. The developing of the fruit industr
, the

126

making- of local berries into jams, preserves and jellies;
the exterminating of dogs in order that sheep and cattle
may be introduced into settlelnents where such is
impossible at present; and other kindred matters are
embraced within this 111ovelnent.
A lesson in comparative values is afforded by the
" figures of the Island's farming industry. The cabbage
crop is t\Tice the yalue of the seal fishery. The annual
product of hay is nearly equal to the mineral output.
The potato crop almost approacbes in money's \rorth
the' lobster, herring and salmon fisheries; and if the
food-stuffs now imported annually, but "Thiel] can be
raised at home, ,,-ere grown here, they would almost
equal the output of tIle pulp alld paper n1ills. 'l'hen,
the flour and salt meat imports can be much reduced.
Newfoundland's per capita consumption of flour is the
greatest in the ",-orld to-day, being twice that of Canada,
the people making flour the chief item in their some-
what limited dietary, though they should be raising
their own food stuffs and substituting local vegetables
and meats for flour and pork imported from abroad.
ThllS even if the colony cOllld not all at once raise all
of the local products fo; this purpose, it could gradually
reduce the imports; so it is clear that the possibilities
of agricultural development along new lines are very
great, and that active work in these directions can
accomplish much. Indeed, it has been estimated that
to raise within the colony all the farm -stuffs that it is
possible to consume, six a; agricllltural townships of one
thousand families each could be formed, the inhabitants
of which ,,-ould be assured of as constant and profitable
emploYlnent as those at an
T of the industrial centres
no,," existing.

127

CHAPTER XVII.

THE COD AND INSHORE FISHERIES

VALUE OF FISHERIES-NU!IBER ENGAGED THEREIN

ENORMOUS CATCH OF COD-LESSER
FISHERIES
DESCRIBED.
N EWFOUNDLAND'S fisheries form her great staple
industry, the chief occupation of her people for
centuries and the bulwark of her prosperity. Other
industries ]lave developed in recent years, but do not as
yet compare with the fisheries, for these contribute about
80 per cent. of the total exports, and the following table
from the Customs returns for the fiscal year 1909-10,
shews the value of the principal fishery products
expolted in that period :-
Codfish (dried) $7,307,778
Codfish (other\vise) ... 38,158
Herring 302,355
Salmon ()9,R50
Lobsters 337,835
Other Fish 60,599
Coù Oil 379,013
Seal Oil 459,814
Seal Skins 460,220
\Vhale Oil 147,340
In pas
ing, it might be noted that the value of the
:fisheries of the United States in 1909-10 was S6
i,000,OOO
and that of tIle fisheries of Canada about $30,000,000.
The principal fish taken in the Island's waters are
cod, herring, salmon and lobstprs, seals being hunted
among the ice off the north-east coast and in the

.

128

St. Lawrence Gulf, while whaling In its modern form,
was begun some thirteen years ago, and has been
pursued with varying success since. The census of
1901 shews that of the total population of 220,984, no
fewer than 62,674 were engaged in catching and curing
fish; 41,231 males and 21,443 females, against 54,775
in 1891, and 45,419 in 1894; that the fishery stock
comprised 24,342 boats or small skiffs, 1,350 smacks,
1,424 larger crafts, and 204 schooners; and these used
34,915 nets and seines and 4,055 cod traps. In the seal
fishery of 1911, occupying the latter half of March and
the whole of April, there were 19 steam vessels crewed
by 4,000 men. These of course, engage in other
fisheries later in the year.
The cod fisheries of Newfoundland are very much
larger than those of any other country. The average
annual export of cod is about 1,500,000 quintals, whereas
Canada exports not more than 700,000 quintals and
Nor\vay not more than 800,000. The total annual
catch of cod in North j\..merican waters (including those
taken 011 the Banks) by French, American, Canadian
and N e'\vfoundland fishermen, is estimated at nearly
4,000,000 quintals, and allowing 50 fish to a quintal, this
means 200,000,000 taken every year. Yet so prolific is
the fishery that it has withstood this enormous drain for
centuries. Indeed, the catch in Newfoundland in 1908
,vas by far the largest ever obtained, the export totalling
1,732,387 quintals, nearly twenty per cent. more than
any previous year's.
Until 1890, tbe fisheries were conducted without
any efficient administration, but a Fisheries Commission
,vas then organized, and the services of an able scientist
as Superintendent of Fisheries were secured. The
artificial propagation of cod and lobsters ,vas l)egun, and
modern methods were adopted. In 1898, a regular
Department of Marine and Fisheries ,vas created, with
all official head in the legislature, being also invested
,rith the control of marine wOI"ks, lighthouses, shipping,

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129

etc. An Advisory Fisheries Board was associated with
the }finister, and gradually the powers of the Depart-
ment were enlarged, the sphere of its usefulnps8
increased, and the scope of its ordinances made more
comprehensive.
The principal branch of the cod industry is what is
known as the" shore" fishery, that prosecuted directly
from the coast of the Island by the thousands of sea-
farers settled in its countless coves and creeks. Here
for 400 years fishermen have been reaping the harvest
of the ocean floor. The waters are well-stocked with
fishes; every river and estuary forms a haunt for the
lordly salmon; on the beaches of golden sand the silvery
caplin, sOluewhat larger than a sardine, appear in
myriads, and in the deep waters beyond are still gre
ter
draughts of fish to be made. Every harbour has its
fishing village, the lime-washed houses perched among
the cliffs like match boxes on a wall, and the fishin

places lining the strand.
The life of the fisherman in one of these coves,
daily buffeting tIle billows, exposed to the storms which
frequently s,veep the coast, is not an enviable one. Yet
among them one finds the noblest characteristics.
Kindness and hospitality are their cardinal virtues.
Simple in their habits, they are fearless and hardy,
facing appalling danger as unconcernedly as their daily
work, and enduring hardships that would seem almost
too great .for human strength. They are strapping,
stalwart fellu\vs, "\vho will make admirable material to
supplement the crews of British warships in time of
need, the Naval Reserve having been extended to the
Colony some years ago. They build their O"TI fishing
vessels, rig and sail them, and are unexcelled navigators.
The abrador fishery. 1 es he annualllii
ration
of 15,000 people-men, WOlnen and children,-from
their homes in Newfoundland to the seaboard of that
vast peninsula, ,vhich is the theatre of one of the
world's greatest fisheries. This migration employs
I

,

130

about 1,200 schooners, into ,vhich are crowded fisher-
folk, their live-stock and household belongings. They
make their temporary abode in the manJT harbours along
Labrador, where they have houses and fishing stations,
or "rooms" as they are termed. Here they remain
for the months of July, August and September;
the men trapping codfish in the offing and tIle ,vornen
Ralting and drying it ashore. A branch of the Deep
Sea Mission was established on Labrador some twenty
years ago by Dr. Grenfell, the medical missionary, who
has through his self-sacrificing labours there, beconle a
historic personage. N ow the l\Iission has t,yO hospitals
and a hospital ship on Labrador, with doctors, Dllrses and
launches attached to each, and treats about three thousand
patients each season. In the Autumn the Newfound-
landers rejoin their vessels and journey homeward again.
During 1910 there were 12,050 persons eng-aged in the
Labrador fishery, a decrease of 2,938 as compared witlì
1909, and .1,126 schooners employed, besides ,vhich some
750 permanent residents of Labrador ,,,ere also engaged
in the industry.
The "bank" fishery is sonlewhat like the North
Sea fishery of the Mother Country. It is IJUrSlled by
staunclì vessels which cruise on the Grand Banks
between May and October, running home at intervals
to land their catch and renew their stores. The Grand
Banks stretch past the East coast of Newfoundland,
from Labrador to the Gulf Stream, being 1,200 nliles
long by 300 wide. 'J
hey are favorite haunts of the cod,
haddock, halibut and mackerel, and formerly ,vere the
resort of fishermen from all Western Europe, though in
tllese modern days the fishing is confined to N ewfound-
landers, Canadians, Americans and Frenchmen. Tra1vls
are chiefly employed. 'l'hese are unlike the ones used in
the North Sea, which are really great bag-nets. rl'he
Grand Banks trawls are warps 2,000 feet long, with
hooks attached to smaller lines every yard, and the
whole then sunk to the bottom and moored by slnall

131

anchors at either end. The vessels, termed" bankers,"
carry twelve to twenty men, and flat-bottomed boats,
kno"\vn as "dories," each two men. In fishing', the
vessels anchor and the dories, going some distance off,
submerge the trawls, the hooks baited ,vith herring,
caplin or squid, smaller fishes on which the cod and its
kin greedily feed. The trawls are allo-\yed to lie over-
night, cleared of their catch next day by the men, and
the hooks rebaited. Skill and daring are required to
overhaul and bait these lines in all ,yeathers, and the
" bankmen " are all crewed by picked fishermen.
The export of dried cod the past ten ypars has been
as follo"\vs :-

Year ending Quintals
June 30th. (1121bs,)
1901 1,233,107 $5,171,910
1902 1,288,955 5,509,728
1903 1,429,274 5,633,072
1904 1,360,373 5,943,063
1905 1,196,814 6,108,618
1906 1,481,025 7,864,719
1907 1,422,445 7,873,172
1908 1,509,269 7,820,092
1909 1,732,387 7,398,536
1910 1,502,269 7,307,778
This fish is chiefly exported to 8o-uthern Europe,
'Brazil and West Indies. The livers of the cod yield
the oil so extensively llsed for medicinallJurposes, and
they are converted when fresh into this commodity,
which finds its market in Great Britain, Canada and
United States; ,,-hile enorn10usly large quantities of
]ivers which become rancid, yield an oil that is in large
,demand for tanning leather.

Value.

LOBSTER FISHERY.
The returns of the lobster fishery for 1910 shew a
total of 24,602 cases, and it is estimated that 5,900,ü<t9
lobsters were caught, 18,170 traps being en1ployed for
the purpose, while licenses to pack ,,"ere issued to 2,081

,

132

persons, a decrease of 269, and 4,487 men were
engaged, a decrease of 1,451, in this industry dUl"ing
the year. The large decrease in the number employed
is probably due to the fallin
off in the fishery during
the seasons which preceded 1910, whereby these men
engaged in more remunerative emplorment. The
pack shows an increase of 2,276 cases over the
prod"nct for 1909, and there ""vas improvement likewise
in the quality of tIle pack, the lobsters being lar"ger,
a fact ascribed to the strict enforcement of
the regulations against taking small lobsters. The
IJrices paid in the local market for the article varied
from $13 to $17 per case of 48 one-pound tins. The
value of the lobsters exported for the fiscal year 1908-9
was $343,619, while for 1909-10 the figures ,vere
$337,835. An attenlpt was l1lade last year to save and
manufacture the shells, cIa \ys and bodies of the lobsters;
and in vie"T of the enornlOllS number talien every
Tear,
and of t,vo-thirds of the bulk not being convertible into
food products, a promising industry ought to be possible
in this direction.
The lobster fisherr in
eF 0 d.JJtncl is compara-
tivelr of recent origin, the packing or tinning of these
crustaceans for export having begun in 1874. On the
neighbouring continent, of course, the industry has been
enormously developed; first, through the lnarketing of
boiled lobsters in the shell and when fresh; and lTIOre
recently, through the increase in th.e facilities for
marketing- by the shipment of live lobsters packed in
ice, from the place where they are caug-ht to the neigh-
bourinf!' cities, 1vhere there is a big clemand for thenl.
In N ewfnundland, however, all the lobsters are canned,
and, naturally, the returns from an equal product
are not as great as in these competing countries.
Still, the lobster fishery has become an important
subsidiary industry, valued at about
350,OOO ann"ually.
Conditions have entirely changed in regard to it
during the forty years that it had been prosecuted,

133

In the earlier years the catcll was very great and the
price comparatively small. But the lobsters reproduce
slowly, and the decline in the available supply has been
very marked allover the ,vor]d, so that to-day the
quantity taken is little more than one-third of ""hat
it was t"Tenty years ago, and the price has in-
creased in the same ratio as the Sllpply has declined.
In New England and Maritime Canada, "There t.he
lobster industry is of substantia] importance, there have
been agitations latterly for enactments to help ensure
the perpetuation of the industry, and lobster hatcheries
have been established by both the American and
Canadian Governments to assist in this object. New-
foundland ventured into lobster hatching some years
ago, but did not pllrsue it, the belief being that the
results did not ,,,,arrant the outlay; the experiment
has never been renewed, although the neighbouring
countries, with the best scientific kno\vledge that money
can produce and the experience of the ,vorld render
available, still persist in this policy.
The figures of the lobster exports for the past ten
years a.re as follows :-

Year ending
June 30th.
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910

Quantity in Case of
48 one pound tins.
36,271
38,369
31,881
31,575
43,522
31,32X
26,661
26,060
25,826
26,058

Value.
$448,501
412,256
387,466
410,405
512,062
376,490
379,237
418,605
343,619
337,835

THE HERRING FISHERY.
The herring fishery is no,,,, chiefly proRecuted
during the autllmn and early ,vinter at Bay of Islands
and Bonne Bay on the west coast, and, bec
use of

134

American participation therein, formed one of the main
issues of the Hague Arbitration. For many years past
the resident fisherfolk actually caught the fish and the
visiting Americans bought the daily fares thus secured,
Canadian and local traders competing with tllem in this
traffic"
The herrings are salted early in the season, before
the weather becomes cold enough to freeze them; after
"Tbich, this method is mainly adopted, the fish being
exposed over-night on scaJfolds and usually congealed
by morning. The salted herrings are chiefly used for
food, and some of the frozen ones also, the remainder
serving as bait for the catching of cod and other fishes
on the Grand Banks. The herring fishery \vas, until
some fe\v years ago, also extensively prosecuted in the
So-uthern bays between January and l\.pril, but latterly
the herring have resorted 1110re to the west coast and
virtually the 1\ T hole of the fishery is centred there.
The exports of herring for the past ten years have
been as fo 110,,"s : -

Year ended
June 30th.
1901
ID02
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910

Barrels.
112,274
156,970
192,759
151,865
176,633
146,032
153,809
152,504
100,891
139,228

Yalue.

$231,501
361,324
457,384
328,630
379,938
344,205
406,409
413,817
237,026
302,355

THE SALl\ION FISHEltY.
The chief O"utput of the conlmercial salmon fishery
is in the form of picliled salnlon, the fish being so
treated to preserve then1, but since the trains have
traversed the west coast, and there is regular steanler
traffic ,vith Canada, opportunity has been afforded of

135

sending salmon forward preserved in ice and moss.
Formerly the salmon fishery in the estuaries, which ,vas
in those days altogether for pickling, ,vas much larger
than of late, because the continual netting of the fish
resulted in their depletion. In recent years, through
the enforcement of j"udicious regulations, whereby the
salmon are enabled to enter the inlets to spawn, the
fishery is reviving and salmon are reported much more
numerous latterly than for some time past.
Salmon fishing' as a pastime, is of course distinct
altogether from this, but the effect of these la"\vs is to
increase the chances of this sport, the largest salmon
ever taken in the Island, of ,vhich there is record, having
been secured last year by an American angler in the
Coùroy section, which tipped the scale at 41 pounds.
The export of salmon for the past ten years has
been as follo'\vs :-

Year Fresh Pickled
ended salmon. Value. salmon. Value.
June 30th. Ibs. Tes.
1901 91,103 S 6,710 6,647 $139,101
1902 134,766 10,267 5,838 87,446
1903 167,208 11,463 2,885 53,214
1904 129,475 8,768 3,118 65,400
1905 192,054 14 , 383 3,604 72,083
190G 251,156 17,931 4,924 88,005
1907 164,302 12,260 4,716 73,660
1908 154,670 11,721 2,384 41,354
1909 139,085 10,618 1,774 34,345
1910 161,931 13,005 3,074 56,845
The export of various other fishes-halibut, haddock,
ling', hakp, caplin, trout, smelts, etc., makes up a total of
S66,OOO annually, but the promotion of 3 much more
vigorous prosecution of these fisheries is no,v being
considered, and is expected to result in a very much
increased output of these within the next few years.
An estimate of the value of the bait fishes used in
Newfoundland for a year is $1,577,936, while the total
value of the export of fishery products of all branches

136

for 1910 was $9,578,984, as compared '\vith $9,346,246
for 1908-9, to which should be added $1,500,000 for
home consumption, making a total of 811,078,984. Of
these figures the cod represents in round numbers seven-
ninths of the total export value of the fisheries; but to
this there might in a very few years be added at least
$250,000 annually, if the lesser fisheries were more
extensively developed.

137

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE SEAL AND WHALE FISHERIES.

SEAL HERDS AND
rHEIR CHARACTERISTICS-
GnOW'l'H OF SEAL HUNT-
IoDERN 'VHALING
AND ITS CO:MMERCIAL FEATURES.
B ECAUSE the fur seal of Behring Sea has become a
diplomatic iss.ue the past t\venty years, few are
aware of the importance of his congener, the hair
seal or ice-riding pinniped of the North Atlantic, whose
habitat is the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Here, every Spring occurs a seal fisherr ,,"hich, in the
size and value of the catch, far exceeds that of Behring
Sea; for during the six weeks it lasts, some 300,000
spals are killed, worth nearly one million dollars, and
there is little diminution of the herds, despite centuries
of this slaughter.
The Pacific seal is noted for his fur, which is con-
verted into one of the n10st fashionable of ladies' garments.
He haunts rocky islets, and here the young are born.
The seals are stalked on the beaches by the hunters,
and also pursued "Then s,yimming, being speared or shot;
this being the "pelagic" sealing "7 hich has proyoked
such friction bet,,"ecn tIle nations interested in the
preservation of the herds.
'['he Atlantic seal is covered \yith hair, and valued
chiefly for his skin and fat, the former being converted
into leather and the latter into oil. The" pups " are
bred on the ice floes \vhich every ,,,,inter s
irt the

138

Labra,dor seaboard, and the seal ships seek the quarl
Y
there and kill them by thousands, until the floes break
up, ,vhen theJ hunt them in boats with rifles, as in the
Pacific.
The earliest settlers captured seals in nets fixed
along the coast, and converted the skins to various uses.
Later, men went froln the shore across the ice to hunt
them; and in time boats were used to chase them among
the floes. Gradually stouter crafts were employed for
this purpose; .until about one hundred years ago scores of
vessels "\yere fitted out each season for the seal hunt, tIlis
arlnada reaching its zenith in 1830, when it numbered
600 sail. In 1863, steam ,vas introduced into the
business; pOl,'"erful wooden ships were built and engined,
whose superior strength and propulsive force sounded
the knell of the old-time "wind jammers"; so that
to-day the indllstry is confined to steam alone, being
carried on by about t\yenty specially built steamers, the
older ones constructed of oak and sheathed with iron to
withstand the rasping of tIle jagged ice-masses through
which they cruise, and the newer ones of steel, specially
strengthened, like the modern ice breakers in use in
Russia, Canada and the Great Lakes.
While lnany details of the natural llistory of the
hair seal are at best merely conjectural, the story of his
birth, habits and migration is among the most fascinat-
ing in zoological records. The seal, like the whale and
the walrus, formerly abounded in the shoal waters near
the Grand Banks, but now has been forced further north,
though he has withstood extermination better than his
larger kindred. It is supposed that during the summer
he frequents the Greenland Ocean, feeding on the fish
life there, and that as it becomes ice-clad, he moves south.
Early in February he leaves the open water and mounts
the ice-floes of Labrador, where the progeny are
deposited, ,vhich at birth are covered with creamy fur,
pallid as the snow-clad waste on which they lie, and are
known to tIle sealmen as "whitecoats." These are the

]39

chief prize of the bunt, their fat yielding the finest oil,
and their skins the softest leather.
'fhese hair seals are of two species-" harps" and
" hoods." The latter, Trhich are larger, fierce and
solitary, obtain their nalne from a co\vl-like appendage
behind their necks. 'fhe "harps" are gregarious and
more peaceful, and are so termed from a l)"re-shaped
mark on the back. The mother seal "Then she goes off
at daylight to seeI( food in the waters belo,v the ice-
fields, ,,"'ill ineyitabl
T nurture her o\vn off-spring at sun-
down; and ,vhen sealman have changed about some
" ,vhitecoats" to puzzle the creatures, the maternal
instinct has sufficed to send each mother to her own
" pups."
'fhe young seals gro,v rapidly. .At birth they ,veigh
about five pounds, but ,vithin a month are about fifty,
at ,vhich ,veight they are fit to kill, their coat of fat
being three to four inches thick, though their only
sustenance is their IllotIler's milk during all that period.
They are in their prime by the middle of !larch, and
,vhen that month opens, the sealmen gather at St. John's
to join their ships. 'fhese sail on ]'iarch 13th,and the men
wil11valk fift)T or sixty miles, through sno,v-drifts and
biting frosts, ,vith kits on their backs. to secure" a herth
to the ice," as the local parlance puts it. 'Each ship is
filled ,vitil coal when leaving, which is thro'Yl1 over-
board if she gets among the herds and has a chance to
fill up (coal being ,yorth about $4 a ton, and seal 880),
but is consunled in cruising among tIle floes for scattered
batches of pinnipcds, if she is unlucky at the outset.
An ample stock of food is also put on board, for occa-
sionally a ship is "jamn1ed " in sonle remote bay by the
ice and held fnst for \vceks, so that this contillgenc
r
must be provided against.
The ice ,yitil the maÏ11 herd of seals is usually
found two or three days after leaving port, and the
hunters scatter over it in every direction, killing as they
go, often travelling eight or ten miles from t
e ships,

]40

and as the men are divided into squads or watches, eacl1
under a master, they heap the pelts on "pans" or flat
sections of ice, topping the pile ,yith the ship's flag, so
that she Inay picI( them up as she steams slowly along
in the ,vake of her men. SOlnetimes a 11erd ,viII show
a total of 200,000 seals '\vithin the range of a field-glass
from the cron?'s nest at a sealer's masthead, and several
steamers will load from it
in eight or ten days.
The south side of St. John's harbour is occupied
chiefly by large warehouses, fitted up expressly for
refining the oil and cleaning the skins. The sealers
land their cargoes there, and expert skinners then
separate the fat from the hides. The former is stean1ed
into oil, IJurified and refilled, and shipped to Europe and
America, being used as a s11bstitute for medicinal cod-
liver oil, as a constituent in high-class soaps, and as an
illuminant in light-houses. 'rhe skins are cleaned of the
adhering fat, grime and hair, pickled, and then shipped
to England, GerlTIany and America, ,y here they are
tanned and converted into" kid" and" patent" leather
for boots and like articles, while the past few years they
bave come into great demand for the making of bicycle
saddles and kit-bags. During the past year, a local
tannery has been built for the manllfacturing of them
into leather. The refuse is converted into guano, and the
profits of the business are such, that for ten months of
the year the "sealeries" are idle and the wooden ships
lying up, except when they are chartered for Arctic
voyages.
'l'he industry is safeguarded by restrictive legislation,
no ships being allo\ved to sail on the seal hunt before
March 10th, so that immatllre seals Inay not be killed,
or to continue at it after l\.pril 30th, as in shooting the
pinnipeds not more than one is secured out of every
three shot. Only one trip a year is permitted, and
sealing on Sundays is penalised hy a fine of $4,000 for
every breach of tl1is regulation. The hunt is ended
early in ]\!ay, and the men, ,yho at most make only about

141

$80 each, are released to engage in the cod, salmon, her-
ring and lobster fisheries, which occupy them during the
summer 1110ntbs. The sealing fleet is owned by the
great fishery firms of St. J ohu's, and the business is
conducted on the principle that they stand all risks,
taking t\vo-thirds of the catch in return, the remaining
portion being divided an10ng the men.
'l'he value of the exports of seal-skins and seal-oil
the IJast nine
rears has been as follows :-
Year ended
June 30th. Seal-skins. Seal-oil.
1901 8,.t20,869 $379,445
1902 325,137 453,684
1903 258,987 303,067
1004 :170,261 374,974
1905 31.t,048 297,430
190ß 144,300 447,967
1907 1-1-0,137 308,997
1908 433,620 252,262
1909 460,220 459,814
THE WHALE FISHERY.
In 1898, tIle modern method of \vhale fishing ,vas
introduced into Ke\vfoundland from Norway, "1here it
bas been practised for more t.han tlÚrty years. It proved
so successful in 'rerranovan "Tatel's, that IJarticipation in
it became a real "craze," and \vithin a fe\v years
no feV\Ter than 18 concerns \vere thus engaged, \vith the
inevitable result, that, as the whales froln their enOfl1l0US
size are necessarily lilnited in nU111bers, the killing of
these at the rate of 1,000 a year depleted the )lerds and
obliged several cOlnpanies to abandon the industry,
though these that survive are conducting it InOl'e
economically and judiciousl
r, and are paying reasonable
di vidends, \",ith every prospect that on the present
cale
of operations, it \yill prove a remuncrative entcrlJrise for
many years.

lodern "rhaling, as practised in N ewfounùland,
rppresents the chase or
he rOl'qual or racer whale, the

Total.
$800,314
778,821
562,054
745,235
ßll,478
592,267
449,134
685,882
920,034

,

142

fleetest of all the cetacean tribe, and one which could not
be pursued until modern times because of its alertness
and speed. This species of whale consists of three
classes: "blue bacl{s," "fin backs" and" hump backs."
These are to be seen in scores on the Grand Banks daily
g-ambolling amid the fishing schooners and indifferent to
their presence. In capturing tIlem, tIle crude old time
method of employing- sailing ships or row boats has been
abandoned, and snlall but speedy steamers of about 100
tons hurden are elnployed to chase them. These s11ips
mal{e about t,velve knots, and are armed for the business
witIl small mortar-lil{e guns fastened to the bo"\vs and
thro"ring explosive-headed harpoons, fired by time-fuses,
and bursting usually in the interior of the fish, killing it
almost at once. 'l'hese steamers operate fronl stations
or factories along the coast, l{ill their prey "Tithin a
day's run, and tow their catch back to the factory, "rhere
tIle wllole of the gigantic carcass is cut IIp and every
1110rsel put to commercial use.
Some idea of the nature of this business in its hev-
..,
day may be gained frOln the fact that one ship killed no
fewer than six whales in a single day; a week's kill for
anotIler was twenty-three; and a third
ecured a total
of t,vo hundred and fifty-eight for a year; ,vhereas, on
the other hand, one station operated for t1VO seasons
without the sllip killing a whale at all; and another
station's record for a season \vas four.
In old-time .,vhaling, ,vhen the lul1berly boats sailed
the remoter seas for months and days, the custom was
to strip the outer coat or blubber from the giant body,
" tr
y. out" or render the oil from this in an imperfect
manner through the agency of boilers or "try-works"
built OIl a brick foundation on deck, and allol\r the
" crallg" or remainder of the body to drift away and
become a prey to the sharks, so that 110 nlore tllan
one-third of the bulk of the ,yhale was put to use.
But in modern wbaling, ,\\Tith a factory available, the
blubber is first rid of all its oil; then the meat and the

143

refuse of the blubber, as well as the bony skeleton of
the creature, are made into fertilizer; the blood and
juices are converted into glue; and the "baleen," or
whalel10ne of commerce, the peculiar sul1stance which
fringes the mouth of the cetacean and does duty instead
of teeth, is saved and cleaned, and fetches a ready market
in Europe and America for employment in various
manufactures.
'fhe value of the whale products exported IS now
abollt $200,000 a year.

1
t4

CHAPTER XIX.

THE FRENCH SHORE QUES1'ION.

FISHERY TREATIES-FRENCH CLAI
{S- DISPUTES
BETWEEN N ATIO
S- WHY FRANCE 1VITHDREW.

A LTHOUGH the displlte known as "The French
Shore Question," was terminated in 1904 by the
Anglo-Gallic entente, which chiefly referred to Morocco,
a statement of the conditions under which France
retained a footing on the coast of N e,vfoundland for
two centuries is appended.
The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) allowed the Frencll
to catch and dry fish on the west and north-east coasts
of Newfoundland, to erect stages of boards and huts
necessary for drying fish; and to resort to the coast
only during the fishing season. They were not to
winter there, erect permanent buildings, or fortify any
places; and they admitted British sovereignty over the
island.
The Treaty of Paris (1763) ceded to France the
islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon as a shelter for
French fishermen, but not to be fortified, and to have
only a guard of fifty men for police purposes.
TIle Treaty of Versailles (1783) confirmed France
in the occupancy of St. Pierre, but changed the
boundaries of the French shore, previously Cape Bona-
vista and Cape Riche
to Cape JolIn and Cape Ray,
prescribing however, that the fishery should be carried
on as already provided by the Treaty of Utrecht.
Declarations were attached to the Treat.y by the

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145

t\VO
Iollarchs with respect to this treaty coast. The
King of England agreed, ill order to prevent quarrels,
to restrain his subjects from interfering by their COlll-
petition \vith the French, and from incolllIlloding them
in the cutting of ,vooel necess:try for their fishery
purposes; ,vhile the French King undertook that his
subjects should not deviate fronl the settled plan of the
fishery, building only their scaffolds, repairing only
their fishing vessels, and not ,vintering there.
The French, ho\vever, afterwards re3-d into these
Treaties provisions ,vhich could not be found in them and
,vhich their phraseology did not ,varrant. These may
be stated as follows :-
(1) 'fhat the French right to fish on the Treaty
Shore ,vas exclusive, not concurrent;
(2) That all pernlanent British structures there
(lil{e French) were illegal;
(3) 'fhat" fisll " included all marine animals, even
crust
ceans ;
(4) That
\'enchmen could take salmon even in the
rivers above salt water;
(5) 'fhat their" drying" privileges gave them the
strand for half a mile above tide-water;
(6) That they could force British subjects out of
fishing locations they desired for thClTISelves;
(7) That they ,yere entitled llnder the 'fre(1ties to
set up and ,york lobster factories there;
(8). That they had a prior right to take IJait fishes
there for their fleet on the Grand Ban1(s ;
(9) That they could prevent mining or other
I)ursuits there as contrary to the treaties.
To the enforcelnent of these claims they set all
thcir energies: utilizing the In
chinery of British law
und the agency of British warships until the colonists
were made alnlost helots on their o,vn shores. The
naval officers had orùers to avoid offending the French
fishers, although these grossly magnified thc' extent ana
value of tl1eir 'l\'eaty rights. 'l'heir conccsslon to c3,tch
K

146

and dr
T ,vas nlanifestly concurrent, not exclusive as the
context proves. Likewise" fish" meant cod, for that
was the only fishery there
Then the treaties were made.
Riparian fishing would not come llnder that head;
relnoval of permanent British structures and offensive
overtures against colonists would be impugning British
sovereignty; control of the strand was a usurpation
nlerely; canning of lobsters 1vas unknown till recent
years; lobster factories were permanent buildings; and
to hamper mining and other industries had no shado,v
of justification in the treaties.
Yet the Newfoundlanders were" phI-pricked" in
every way. On the Treaty Shore the Frencll would
not allow mines to be opened, though the region is rich
in minerals. Other forms of industrial endeavour wel"e
similarly" throttled." In 1899 two wharves were torn
down by British bluejacl(ets because }-'rench fisher-
men objected to them, though in one instance the nearest
French station was twenty miles distant. The fal1l0US
refusal of the French Government in 1874, to permit the
trans-insular l'lailroad to have a terminus on the shore is
recorded in the blue-books; this action postponed the pro-
ject for twenty years, and woefully retarded the develop-
ment of the western seaboard. The expulsion of colonists
from prolific fishing grounds at the instance of French-
men who wished to fish there, ",yas an annual occurrence,
British warships being required to undertake this
distasteful task at their bidding. The fishing gear of
the colonists was wantonly destroyed by Fl"encll rivals,
without redress. Legal enactments exempted British
officers from liability for losses callsed to the coastfolk
in preventing them froln fishing, ejecting- them from
theirtra,vl-berths, or otherwise harassing them. Indeed,
no grant of land issued by the Colonial Governmellt, was
deemed to be effective on that coast, unless it contained
the proviso that it was subject to the Treaty rights of
France.
It was the lobster industry, though, which provoked

147

the gareatest bitterness , . beinO' O'rafted on the main issue
LJ 0

some thirty years ago. Prior to that the crustaceans
were a nuisance to the cod-catchers, entering the nets
and gorging tl1emselves on the fish therein. Lobsters
1\ T ere valueless there until the process of canning thelll
was devised. In 1883 this ,vas begun hy settlers on the
Treaty Shore, "There shellfish abound.. 'fhe }-'rel1ch cod-
fishers, whose industry ,vas failing, sought to do the
same. But so little shadow of right llad they, that their
own Commodore ordered the removal of the first French
cannery set up, as contrary to the treaties, because it
11ad an iron roof. That was in 1885, but the next year
the opposite policy was adoptee 1 and Frenchmen '
erc
aided to establish lllore canneries, until by 1899 tlley had
15, as against 49 colonial ones. By this time the
Colonial Government was vigorously protesting against
these Frencll factories, as llaving no status, contending
that the treaties dealt with cod-fishing alone, as proved
by their wording, ,vhich described the" drying" of fish
on "stages of boards," and the erection only of teul-
porary buildings "usllal and necessary for the purpose
and to be occupied only during the fishing season."
That a lobster may be a fish is an open question, but
lobsters are not "dried" on stages, nor is a cannery a
temporary ,vooden erection; for it is iron-roofed, ,,
ith
boiler and furnace set in l)rick and mortar; while the
catching and curing of cod, and the trapping and
canning of lobsters, are as different as an)T t"ro in-
d ustries could ,veIl be.
Instead of supporting the colonial contention and
insisting on the relnoval of the }'rench canneries, tlH

Imperial Government weakly proposed to arùitratp this
lobster issue. Had the arbitration eUlbracecl the ,,"hole
" French Shore Question" there could ùe no cause for
complaint; but to select this isolated offshoot "ras a
humiliating backdo,vn. K or ,yas this the ,yorst. .A.
'n
OdllS vivendi ",vas arranged het,veen the t",.o Po"
ers,
""hereby the factories of each ,vhic11 ,vcre thcn in

"

148

existence were recognized as legal, and no others
\vere permitted to òe erected, save by mutual agreement
of the t\VO commodores, a French one to be offset lJY a
British, and vice versâ. This ,vas signed on March 13th,
1890, and the first intimation the colony-the party
most concerned and likely to be the greatest sufferer-
had of its provisions ,vas through the Press despatches.
Naturally, there was ,videspread indignation, and
meetings, to protest against what was termed "an
infamous contract," were held allover the Island, for
it violated the pledg-e of Secretary Labouchere in a
desIJatch to Governor Darling in 1857, termed the
"Magna Carta of N ewfuundland," ,,
llich read: "Y ou
are authorised to give such assurances as you may think
proper, that the consent of the Community of Ne,,"-
foundland is reg-arded by Her Majesty's Government
as the essential preliminary to a p..1odification of her
territorial or maritime rights."
When Sir Jalnes Ferguson, ,vho framed the rnoclU8
viveJ'tcli, ,vas assailed in Parliament for his violation of
this pledge, he pleaded in excuse that the "moclzts" ,vas
merely temporary and for one year only. Yet it was
continued for fourteen years 'llntil France gave up the
coast. At first naval officers were supposedly empowered
by some ancient law to enforce this mal(eshift, but suits
taken against Commodore Sir Bald,yin Walker for closing
one cannery revealed the contrary, and the British
Government ,vas cast in $5,000 damages. Imperial
legislation was then introduced to give naval officers
such power, and the colony, to prevent the passage of
this permanent" Coercion " Bill, had to enact temporary
local meaSllres to the same effect, rene,,-able from year
to year 'llp to 1904.
.A.. Royal Commission was sent out by l\fr. Chamber-
lain in 1899 to enquire into the whole matter; and its
report, which was pigeon-boled in the Colonial Office,
included affidavits of hundreds of settlers ,vho had
suffered in person or property from Frencll aggression

149

and this iniquitous arrangement. The report, indeed,
disclosed SUCII an an1azing state of affairs on British soil,
that its issue ,,-ould have provoked a crisis greater eyen
than follo'\ved the Fashoda affair, and hence it has never
heen published.
The sIJirit in 1vhich the French acted t01vards the
settlers is shown by the orders which l\I. de Freycinet,
1vhile Prelnier and
"'oreign Minister, in 1893, gaye to the
Comlnanders of the French warships on this station, viz. :
., To seize and confiscate all instruments of fishing belong-
ing to foreigners (British subjects) resident or otherwise,
who shall fish on that part of the coast ,vhicll is reserved
for our use." This ,vas equivalellt to asserting
territorial sovereignty, and represents accllrately the
average Frenchman's view of the lnatter then.
It might fairly be supposed that France 11acl
substantial interests ,yhere such far-reaching claims
'\vere advanced on her behalf, but really she sent only
402 fishermen to that '\vhole seaboard in 1903. In 1898,
on a coastline '\vhere nearly 20,000 N e\yfoundlallders
,vere settled in 215 harbours, there '\vere but 16 French
stations and 458 lnen on the 800-mile shore; in 1903
only 13 stations and 4.02 men. But \vithin those five
years the ]'rench grip on the territory had 1)econ1e far
less effective than those figures '\vould in1ply. In
1898, all were employed by fishing concerns, in regular
locations on t.he shore. In 1n03, hOYfeVer, 97 ,,,,ere boat
fishermen. The cod-fishery failed there n1cal1,Yhile, so
several French operators left the coast, and the

t. Pierre traders l)romoted a la1v "for the re-occup:.ttion
of the French shore," providing an annual bounty of
-1,000 francs for distrihution alllong such i>ierrois boat
fishers as ,yould locate on that coast every SUml11er.
The regular cre,ys can1C in their own vcsseis, operated
fronl ,vell-l(no'\vn harbours, and occupied regular stations
ashorc. The" boat fishers," though, ,ycre brought along-
each spring with their skiffs and gear, h)T s
ean1er,
occupied huts on the foreland, and fished in t,vos and

150

threes, being l)iclied up agaill with their catcll by the
steamer in the fall.
The codfishery, which ,vas the subject of the original
treaty, had by this time d \\Tindlecl almost to nothing, even
1vith a bounty equalling t,yo-thirds of the value of the
:fish itself. T\venty years previously, the annual cod
catch there ,vas tenfold that of 1903, and the retention
of any stations by the Frenc!l then, would be
impossible except for the lobster industry, which in value
more than doubled that of the codfishery. France had,
however, for some years been preparing to withdraw, as
was she,vn by the letters of Admiral Reveillere, Lieu-
tenant Loir (Marc Landry) and M. Riotteall, one of the
Deputies for Brittany, the province most largely interested
in the fisheries in these waters.
Admiral Reveillere, in the Paris" }\Iatin" in 1900,
declared: "We have there (on the Treaty Shore)
unquestionable rigl1ts, but our l)resence there produces
perpetual danger of conflicts which have been avoided
only by the extrelne goodwill of the two Governments.
It will certainly be a benefit to both nations if we
exchange our rights for some equivalent. I1Jositively
atfirl(n (tncl ant su/re that I shall not be cont1'"adicted by
any o.IJiceí"s cognizant if the R eU)f01tndland station, that
the Frelic/z, shore has no kind of i1
tere8t for the navy."
Lieut. Loir observed that: "If it is true, as Bismarck
said, that no portion of the soil of Africa is worth the
bones of a Pomeranian Grenadier, so I hasten to add
that the Frencll shore is not ,vortll the blood of a
French sailor. We should be ,veIl advised in accepting
compensation for this stretch of coast, and it might even
be prudent to take steps to arrange at once for this com-
pensation and exchange."
Deputy Riotteau proclaÍlnecl that: "'1'he Bait ques-
tion is the most important of all. We do not use the
French shore any more. But the supply of bait we now
find on the banks will be exhausted eventually, and if
we have not the l'"ight to take other bait in the, New-
fonnfllanrl hays, our industry ,vill clisnp-pear. ..,lhanclon-

151

ment of the Frencll shore may, if necessary, be admitted;
but "Te must have cOlnpensation in the right to take or
bllY bait in Fortune Bay or Placentia Bay."
Those three utterances she-,ved that France wished
to use the cession of the Treaty shore to exact from
N e\vfoundland the right to take "bait on her south coast
for French fislling vessels on the Grand Banks. This
the colony could not do, unless the French abandoned
their bounties, for it ,vas those which had enabled them
to undersell N e\vfoundland in the European markets,
until the colony enacted her falnous Bait Law, prohibiting
the supplying of bait from her ,vaters to French fisher-
men, which nleasure crippled them completely. France
"Tasted four miUion francs every year in bolstering up
tllese N ewfoullcUand fisheries. This sum, if properl)T
applied, would provide her "rith 4,000 excellent recruits
for her navy, yet it 'V3S wrung from the provincial
}Jeasantry, and transferred to the pockets of the Breton
fish - nlerchants, 'v ho were the chief beneficiaries l)y it.
France, in 1904, finding Newfoundland adamant in
the refusal to relax the Bait La,v, and realizing that if
she herself persisted in retaining her hold on the treaty
shore for another five years, its valuelessness would have
been so completely disclosed that not one of her fisher-
men ,vonld venture there at all, and that she ,vould
then IJe obligee! for very shalll-e's sake, to abandon it
without any compensation, made the best of a bad
situation ,vhen the }\Ioroccan accord "Tas being negotiated,
and agreed to ,vithdra,v entirely from the Ne\vfoundland
seaboard in return for concessions in Africa and
conlpensation for those of her fishermen ,vho ,,"cre dis-
possessed; ,vhicll compensation ,vas suhsequently fixed
by arbitration at æ55,OOO, a sunl the British Tre
1slu'y
paid, recouping itself, at any rate to a trifling extent,
by selling these properties later to N ewfoundlandcrs ,yho
"ere "Tilling to IJurchase them.
ThllS ended tIle" French Shore Question." That
of St. Pierre still ren1ains; and a descriptio of the
little }-'rellch Colony will be found in the next chapter.

152

CHAPTER XX.

ST. PIERRE.

A BIT OF OLD FR.A.NCE-HISTORY OF ST. PIERRE-
I)IPORTAXCE OF ITS COD FISHERy-THE EFFECT OF
THE BAIT ACT-ITS UNPRO
tIISING FUTURE.
O F the once vast empire ruled by France on this
continent, the 1\1:iq'llelon Isles alone remain. They
consist of Miquelon, Langlade, and St. Pierre, the latter
being the seat of government, al'ld l)ractically serving to
identify the entire group. The archipelago has a total
area of 81 square miles, alld a population oÎ 4,500,
nine- tenths of whom live on St. Pierre islet. This is only
seven miles long by about t,yO broad, its selection as the
capital being due to its llaving the only anchorage in
the group, forn1ed by the Isle-aux-Chiens, a smaller
mass of rocl{, where the fishing vessels. can ride in
shelter, larger craft having to anchor in the roadstead
outside. The isles lie t,velve lniles off the Burin Penin-
sula, on the south coast of Newfoundland, and constitute
a most tempting objective for the tourist. It is a bit of
old France which the yisitor is confronted with, set
dOWIl in the lTIidst of the sea, ,vith a horizon of Anglo-
Saxonism s'llrrounding it.
The coves in the rock-ribbed face of 1\Iiquelon
shelter a hundred or t,vo of hardy fishern1cn and as
II
many farmers till the sterile soil of Langlade. Thp
centre of interest is St. Pierre. The t01Yll fronts on
the roadstead, extending gradually back,vard to the
ridge of the hill ,vhich fornls the backbone of the islet.
rfhe 110uses are of the tYIJe we know as French, ,yith

153

hinged ,yilldows froln floor to ceiling, opening on to little
.flo,ver plots contrived by infinite labour and unce[tsing
attention. The houses are all or wood, those iTl the
lnain street being faced ,vith brick or stucco, while the
pooI.er ones are clapboarded. This wood has all to he
imported, as the isles are untimbered, even the fire,vood
being brought across in schooner lo:
ds froin the IJ_eigh-
bouring N ewfoul1.dland shore.
St. pjerre lives and thrives upon the great cod
fisheries of the N e,vfoundland banks, ,vhich yield a
generous annual harvest to l\.lTIericans, Canadians, K e,y-
foundlanders and Frenchmen alike. It is the head-
quarter,
of the Gallic fisherfolk, and for generations has
occupied. a position in Frencll history analogous to that
,vhich St. John's has held in Englisll eyes in regard to
this important industry. vVhen the 'Vest countrynlen
selected St. John's for their fishing base, the Bretons
chose St. Pierre. It ,vas finally an.nexed to France in
1660, and fortified in 1700. 'f,vo veal'S later the British
overran it., but later France sought and ohtained its
restoration as a shelter port for her fisllermen, the
existing English population being deported. In 1778,
during the American War of Independence, England
recap Lured it, aud retaliated by shipping to France all
those then living on it. Five years later the T'reaty of
Versaillps restorcd it to France, but in 1793 England
ngain asserted her lTIastery. She held it until 1815,
when it once lTIOre passed into French possession by the
Treaty of Paris, and has since remained under her un-
disputed control. .
Its history since that tÍ1ne has hecn uneventful.
It gradually gre\v in population and importance as the
fishery ,vas lnore extensively prosecuted, and despite the
setbacks occasioned by destructive fires in 18G5, 1867
and 1879, in 1vhich the ,yooden structures largely
cantributed to its demolition, it contÎ11ued to hold its
place as the Inost thriving of French colonies until
2[, years ago. 'l'hen the enactment of tI1C N e,vfouildland

154

Bait Act struck a severe blow at its trade sUIJremacy.
St. Pierre never recovered from the dislocation of trade
created by this statute and is not likely to recover ever
again. Its pros}Jerity has been waning, and the
smuggling traffic of '\vhich it had long been the centre,
and from which it reaped a rich profit, has been very
largely stamped out by tIle Canadian and Newfoundland
Governments.
Still, during the summer months. ,vhile the fisherr
is in progress, St. Pierre is a busy, bustling place, its
population swollen by thousands of fishermen \yho cross
from the mother-land to prosecllte this industry, and its
business augmented by the needs of this host of sun-
tanned voyageurs. Every Pierrais who is fit for work,
goes off the banks in a fishing schooner in quest of cod.
The Piel"rais armateurs (outfitting or supplying mer-
chants) maintain such large fleets for this purpose that
the able-bodied population of the isles is inadequate to
crew them, and men are brought across from Brittany
to undertake this duty. Besides these, there are also the
ships fitted Ollt from" Metropolitan" ports-St. Malo,
Dieppe, Grenville and other fishing centres-which sail
to the banks direct, and, as their catch of cod accumulates,
run into ,St. Pierre with it for disposal to the local dealers,
or to have it cured and exported. All these, except the
actual residents of the group, return to France each
autumll ,vhen the fishing is over, their vessels being
moored together in the inner harbo.ur, lleavily anchored
and bound in a mass ,vith chain and tackle" to defy the
midwinter gales '\vhich '\vreak their fury on the unpro-
tected archipelago, and frequently work havoc amongst
their forest of shipping, in spite of all the precautions
taken to guard against the cyclonic force of the snow-
laden gales.
This inner harbour ís protected by a breakwater of
stone, with substantial stone ,vharves. The Governnlent
pier fronts on the public square, the sides of "\vhich are
formed by the official buildings, court houses, barracks,

155

Ininistry of marine, cust0111 house and the Governor's
nlansion. The people are, to all appearances, comfortable
and contented. The streets are clean and the houses trim
and neat; the curing of fish is not permitted ,vithin
the lnunicipal limits, the operations incident thereto
being carried out on the beaches which encircle the
islet. The street scenes are extremely picturesque. The
tricolour floats every,vhere; the men ,veal" gaudy shirts
and loose blue trousers; the women are gay in spotless
linen caps, bright blouses and short dark skirts; the
children are clad in bright colours, and evidence their
nationality in every movement, while wooden sabots or
canvas shoes ,vith rope soles, are the foot,vear of all
ex
t tIle "aristocracy." Heavy waggons IUlnber

rough the streets in the 1yake of mild-eyed oxen, and
/ little" go-carts" drawn by dogs are the vehicles of the
poorer classes. Horses are not numerous, for the islet
being not three miles across there is but little need for
them, and they symLolize affluence rather than industrial
activity. The town is policed by fifty gendarmes armed
with swords, and some ancient cannon, placed at points
overlooking the barbour, enable salutes to be fired on
the fête day of the Republic or when a French or British
warship enters port. The town is sent to sleep nightly
by a drummer, who makes his rounds at ten o'clock, when
the t-\venty - three cafés ,vhich it boasts lTIUst close, and
all stragglers betake thenlselves to their homes. Every
morning a crier makes his ,vay IIp to the square with
flourishes upon }1Ís bugle, and announces such ne\\rs,
including auctions and shipping items, as may interest
his llearers.
The isle is encircled by beaches of round stones,
,vorn smooth by the action of t]JC 'VêtVCS for count1ess
ages. On these tIle fish are spread to he cured, and a
strange picture is made-acre on acre of stones ,vith
that remarkable covering. As the cod are brought in
from the banks they are landecl at roints acltacent to
these beaches, and taken in hand by the o,vners. The

156

flsh are thro\vn into crates submerged in the la]ld-"\vasll,
and are stirred around by 111en witll long poles until
they are thoroughly cleansed, whell they are spread on
the beaches, exposed to the full, strong sunlight, \vith a
current of dry air circulating beneath. When the rain
or fog threatens, the fish have to be taken up and stacked
under tarpaulins until the '\veather clears again, for the
l)est cured cod are absolutely devoid of moisture and are
as hard as leather. Much of the codfish in France
comes from St. Pierre, and the industry is maintained
hy an elaborate system of lJounties 00 coyerin g every
phase of the bllsines8, and every inlplement used in it.
The fishery is held by the French to l)e a llursery for
seamen for their navy, and even the "beach-boys"-
lads too young for the Eanks, but ab]e to handle the
fish on the lJeaches '\vith the "
omen, 1\y l\
hom most of
this branch of the ,york is done-are provided for in
this sclleme of governnlent paternalism.
St. Pierre was the" nerve-centre" of the " French
Shore Question." Through these 10unties alone} \vere thp

Pierrais enabled to mrllJintain a footing on the 'l'reaty Coast
of Ne\vfoundland. Through the French o\ynership of the
group alone, ,vas France crippling Newfoundland's fish
trade in Europe. I-Iovvever, even "rith the bOllnties
the Pierrais could not conduct the fishery profitably on
the" French Shore," and each SUlnnler sa'\Y the lessening
of their number and equipment, until, bJT the Anglo-
Gallic entente of 1904, France slu'Orendered her claims to
the western seaboard of
; evtrfoundland. To-da v the
activities of French fishermen in this region are co
fined
LJ
entirely to tr
,vling on the Grand Ballks, and even at
thi.:; they are gro\ving fe\ver eac}l year, because successful
anù profital)le travlling requires an aml)le supply of bait,
and this they cannot procure, since the N errfoulldland
SUl)ply is denied to thenl, so that the French authorities
are no,y faced with the problem of ho,v long it will
prove possible to retain St. Pierre at all.
St. Pierre enjoyed for many years an unenviable

157

reputation as a snluggling centre, ,vhence a large
cOlltrab:1nd trade "ras carried on with the neighbouring
centres.
.\.merican fishing vessels snluggled opium,
costly drugs and high-grade brandies to Boston, New
York and Philadelphia; the }\;laine coast ,vas flooded
,\
ith cheaper spirits in contravention of the prohibital
la,v in force there; the Province of Quebec ,vas reached
fron1 the St. La,vrence, and absorbed immense qu
ntities
of "corn-spirit" and" tangle-foot" whiskey; and the south
coast of Ne\vfoundlancl ,vas one vast dépôt of tobacco,
liquors and fishermen's requisites. St. Pierre being
practically a free IJort, ,vith revenue la\vs so elastic that
they,vere 'utterly disregarded, this becanle perhaps, an
even Inore profitable business than the fishery, and
the per capita total of the imports to the islets ahundantly
testified to the extent and organiz=:1tioll of this illicit
traffic. The snluggling has llO'V been largely stamped
out, through vigorolls concerted action on the part of
the Governments victimized; and the shrinkage of the
imports to St. Pierre the last few years ,vould be incom-
prehensible to the stlldent of political economy una"rare
of the underlying circlllllstances.
I t is believed that before many J1"cal"s, France ,viII be
prepared to sllrrencler the lVliquelon archipelago to
Britain in return for some compensating advantages
else\yhere, anù either abandon these fisheries entirely
or prosecute them undcr such altered conditions as ,rill
enahle more alnic:1hle relations to be m
intained ,rith
the Ne,vfolludlanclcrs.

158

CHAPTER XXI.

THE NORTH ATLANTIC FISHERIES DISPUTE.

FISHERY RIGHTS OF A1tIERICANS-RECIPROCITY AND
FISHERY TREATIES-NEWFOUNDLAND'S UNCOMPLETED
CONVENTIOKS-THE HAGUE ARBITRATION AND AWARD.
T HE adjudication by the Hague Tribunal last
September of the Atlantic Fisheries Dispute,
removed the last permanent source of friction bet,veen
Great Britain and the United States. In thpse modern
days we little kno,v and less regard the seriousness of
fishery imbroglios in the troublous times that preceded
the .American revolution, when the colonists, from tllP
St. Lawrence to the Dela,vare, possessed little more than
the fringe of the continent and fishing was one of their
chief pursuits; nor can we easily credit that Lord North
seriously proposed, in the British Parliament, as one of
the methods of curbing these rebel colonists, that they
should be prevented from fishing on the Grand Banks.
In those times, as subjects of the British Crown, th

inhabitants of tllese colonies participated equally with
those of New Bruns"\yick, N ova Scotia, Prince Edward
Island, l\Iagdalen Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador,
in t.he fisheries of the north Atlantic waters; and so
important was this fishery, that in 1775 more than 1,200
A
erican fishing vessels annually operated in this
regïon.
In 1783, after tIle war, when the Treaty of
Versailles was negotiated, the Americans held out for'
the same rights as previously, but cOlnpron1ised on the
right to take fish jn the deep seas, and the libe1'ty to

159

take (but not to dry or cure) fisIl of every kind on some
part
of the coast of N e"rfoundland and the neighbouring
provInces.
On this basis the fisheries were prosecuted until
the war of 1812 abrogated that Treaty; and cla'3hes
occurred frequelltly thereafter, and a ne'\" 'Treaty was
concluded in 1818, intended to eliIninate all causes of
further friction by granting them fishing rights on part
of the seaboard.
All that period the Gulf of St. La,vrence was thp
great resort for cod, halibut and mackerel, and large
fishing fleets loaded there annually. But subsequently
the fish deserted these ,vaters, and now the chief
trawling areas are on the Grand Banks, whither, of
course, the several flotillas have hetaken themselves.
The Americans, therefore, lost all the advantages they
possessed on their treaty coast, in having a base at band
which would greatly facilitate them in carrying on their
operations.
From the Grand BalIks, ""here all now catch fish,
the nearest land is the eastern coast of this Island, to
which the Americans possess only the right of entry if
in distress; and, as an essential to successful fishing is
an accessible seaboard to procure cheap and abundant
supplies of provisions and outfits, hire men or transfer
cargoes, they find themselves greatly handicappecl there.
After endless disputes in the early half of the last
century, they obtained these facilities by the Reciprocity
Treaty of 1854-1866; regained them by the "\Vashington
Treaty of 1871-1886, and enjoyed them once more by
the modus vivendi in the abortive Fisheries Treatv of
..
1888, which, thougll originally intended for but two years,
was continued by Newfoundland until 1905, and is still
recognized by Canada. Under the Washing-ton Treaty
an Arbitration was agreed to, which was held at IIalifax
in 1877, to decide what certain fishery privileges were
worth to the United States, and the a,vard waS Canada
taking $4,500,000, and K e,yfoundland $1,000,000.

"

160

Canada jnvested ller share and uses the $160,000 of
annual interest thereon in paying bounties to her
fishermen, ,vhile N ewfoundlancl spent hers in lighthollses
and marine works.
With the abrogating of tIle Washington Treaty in
1886 begins tIle modern epoch in this dispute. McssrR.
Bayard (U.S.A.) and Chan1berlaill (Britain), negotiated
a new Fisheries Treaty in 1888, but the United States
Senate rejectecl it. To avert friction V\rhil
it ,yas before
that body, an arrangen1ent ,vas reaclled for two year
,
granting inshore fishing l)rivileges to American vessels,
hy their paying an annual license fee of a dollar and a
half :per ship ton. In 1890, "rhen this ,vas expiring,
Ne,vfoundland concluded the Bond-Blaine Convention,
and to expedite its acceptance continued the IJnoclns
vivendi nlean'\vhile. Canada, llot included in the com-
pact, contended, that as tbese fisheries ,vere the common
property of all Britisll subjects, l,{ e,vfoundlalld could not
barter them for concessions for herself alone. Tllis
colony replied that the arrangement did not injure
Canada, as her fishermen had the same right of entry as
al\yays, and the Americans ,vere granted no greater con-
cessions tllan Canadians. 'fhe British Governlllent,
ho,vever, Ilearkel1ed to Canada's protest, and held over
the accord until 'Canada could negotiate a sÍInilar one.
N ewfoundlanc1, ill return, made legislative ,val'" on
Canada's :fisllermen and taxed imports fronl Canada.
Three years passed before amicable relations ,vere re-
sumed. 1111898 the Fisheries Question ,vas submitted
to the Canada-Anlerican Joint IIigh Comn1ission, but
this attempt to dispose of the matter ,vas also fruitless,
and both Canada, and 1\'" e,vfoundland thought it ,vas
better to continlle the 'Jnoclus vivendi, and allow
..L
merican fishermen to enjoy for llominal sums privi-
leges of steadily increasing value.
Canada maintained her protest against N e1\ r found-
land's reciprocit
r until 1902, ,vhen she ,vithdrew it, and
Premier Bond ,vas enabled to negotiate allC"\V compact-

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161

the "Bond-Hay" convention. But this, after being- held
hy the Foreign R,elations Committee for tv."o seasons,
was "amended to death" l1Y the Senate at Washington
in February, 1905, which body was then asserting its
co-ordinate authority as a treaty-making power, by
rejecting various treaties negotiated by President
Roosevelt.
The reason why two 'v'" ashington Cabinets in 18ÐO
and 1902, favored a Fisheries Treaty with Ne\vfoundland
and not with Canada, ,vas that they regarded one as
favorable and the other as detrimental to American
interests. Canada is territorially attached to the Republic.
Her ].ilaritime Provinces are within easy train and
steamer connection with the most populous Eastern
States. Her fislleries are very large-$30,OOO,OOO against
only $60,000,000 in the United States. Her home market
is triß.ing-8,000,OOO people against 80,000,000.
The American Cabinets held that the granting
of Reciprocity to Canada would mean flooding the
Republic with cheap fish and destroying the American
fishing industry, since the Canadians are nearer th

fishing grolmds, conduct their operations less expensively,
and could undersell the Americans in the latter's markets,
but for the import duty now levied on foreign fish
entering there.
The burking of the Bond-Hay Treaty was performed
at the instance of the Alnerican fishing interests, who
counted on being able to playoff Canada and Ne\vfolIDd-
lanel against each other still longer; raising the cry
that the training-school of the American Navy ,vould he
destroyed if this compact were ratified. This plea is
fallacious. The American fishing vessels arc no longer
manned by Americans. Not five per cent. of their per-
sonnel are American-born, not 25 per cent. naturalized;
the great bulk of the men are Nova Scotians and Nev,'-
foundlanders, who join the vessels each spring, returning
to their homes in the autumn after the fishery is ended.
N e'\vfoundland therefore, feeling that she had
L

162

been llnjustly treated, resolved to retaliate, and in
the session of her Legislature in ].{arch, 1905, enacted
the "Foreign Fishing Vessels Act," to deny American
fi.shing crafts the 'lJ
odus vivendi and other privileges
they had previously enjoyed. She also enforced against
them the Bait Act., already applied with such
destructive effect against the French at St. Pierre.
The American vessels frequenting the Grand Banks
every summer had always previously obtained bait in
Newfoundland ports; now they could only do so on the
,vest or treaty-coast, and even there, must catch it them-
splves. In this they would suffer from three disad-
vantages. They do not carry the proper gear nor
enough men for such work, bait is not obtainable there
until late in the season, and tllis area is too remote from
the cod-fishing grounds. The Bait Act could also seri-
ously cripple their winter herring fishery at Bay of
Islands, for the practice had been to allow the Americans
to buy herrings and now they would have to catch them,
an equally difficult mattcr with their small crews.
Premier Bond further tried to prevent them fishing in
tIle inlets there, on the plea that their treaty rights did
not include access to the bays.
'rhc American Government protested to the British
against these enactments and eventually an Imperial
Rescript under the Georgian Statute of 1819, was pl"O-
mulgated, over-riding the colonial procedure and placing
supreme authority in the hands of the naval officers,
pending a settlement by arbitration, which ,vas finally
arranged for.
Accordingly the differences arising out of the con-
flicting interpretations of the Treaty of 1818, framed to
determine the liberties which were to be enjoyed under
it by Americans fishillg in these waters, were sublnitted
in June, 1910, to the Hague Arbitration 'rribunal, and
resulted after nn exhaustive hearing, in an award which
was notably favourable to the British contentions.
The 'l'reaty, or Convention, concluded in London

163

on October 20th, 1818, granted to "the inha"bitauts" of
the United States the liberty of fishing for ever in
common ,vith British sllbjects, on
(a) The south-"Test coast of Newfoundland, from
Ramea Islands to Cape Ray, with the further conce
sion
of landing and drying their catch on the unsettled
portions of the coast.
(b) The west coast of Newfoundland, from Cape
Ray to Cape Norman, but without the concession of
landing and drying their catch on this coast. (The
French had already been conceded this liberty there).
( c) The shores of the )Iagdalen Islands, but "Tithout
the right to land and dry their catch.
(d) The bays, coasts, harbours and creeks of Labrador
from l\iount Joli, opposite Anticosti, eastwards through
Belle Isle Strait, and northward indefinitely, ,yith the
landing and drying privileges as on the south-"rest coast
of Newfoundland.
The ...t\.mericall
, on their part, renounced any
liberties as to fishing, previously exercised by tllem
else,vhere in British North .f\.merican waters, and agreed
not to visit these areas in future "for any purpose
whatever" except wood, water, shelter or repairs.
This Treaty was designed to end the embroilments
constantly occurring bet\Veell the rival fishermel1 in
those days, though it is needless to say no\v that it not
only failed utterly in this, but also 111"Ovoked more
friction as the years went by. Nearly cvery clause
contained a debateable issue, and this" fishery question"
was a cause of difficulty down to the present tÌ1ne.
At the Arbitration, Great Britain ,yt1s represented
l)y the Hon. A. B. ....t\yles".orth, l\Iinister of .T usticc for
C:1:nada, as the a
ent or solicitor charged \vith the conduct
of her case; "rhile the counsel ,yere: Sir "'. S. Robson,

\.ttorney-General; Sir R. B. Finlay, cx-....\.ttorncy-Gen-
eral;
tnd Sir Erle Richards, all of England; ...\lcssrs.
.I. S. E,vart, G. 'V. Shepley and .1\.. S. 'l'illey, of Canada;
Sir E. P.
forris, Prime )Iinist.cr; Sir J. S. "\Vinter,

164

ex-Premier; and the Hon. D. Morison,' Minister of
Justice of Ne-\vfoundland. The agent for the United
States was Mr. Chandler P. Anderson, and the counsel
were, Senator Elihu Root; ex-Senator Turner; and
Messrs. Elder, "Tarren, Scott and Lansing.
A Court llnder the Hague scheme is created by
choosing five "impartial jurists of repute," from the
roster of international nominees to be the Permanent
Court of Arbitration. Each party to the dispute names
one" national" men1ber, or one of its own subjects, and
tJlen
chooses a second nOlninee from SOlne foreign country
not interested in the dispute; ",hile the t,vo nations
mutually agree on the fifth member of the Tribunal, who
is also its President. Thus Great Britain chose Sir Charles
FitzPatrick, Chief Justice of Canada; and America
chose the Hon. George Grey, of the Federal Circuit
Court, as their national members of the 'rribunal. 'fhe
former chose J ohnkeer Lohman of the Dutcll Senate, and
tIle latter Dr. Drago, of the Argentine Parliament, as
tlleir " extra-national" nominees, and bot!l agreed upon
Professor Heinricll Lammasch, of Austria, as the Presi-
dent of the Tl..jbunal. The selections apIJear to have
been admirable ones, and the choice of Professor
Lammasch as President, "ras admittedly unapproachable.
The instrument or "submission" on ,vhich the
arbitration "Tas founded, comprised seven questions,
vrhic]l n1ay be briefly sUIDlnarized thus :-
(1) REGULATloNs.-Were Americans fishing In
Treaty ,vaters, bound by such fishery ordinances as
Canada or Newfoundland might enact from time to
time?
(2) INHAnI,]
A'K'TS.-Could AmeriCt.
n vessels so
fishing, employ" non-inhabitants" of the United States
among their crews ?
(3) CUST01tlS OBLIGATIOKS.- ,,,,.. ere such Alnerican
vessels obliged to enter and clear at Custom-Houses in
Canada or N e\yfoundland ?
(4) COASTWISE ,l\.SSESSl\IENTS.- K eed such American

165

vessels pay light or harbour dues to the Canadian or
Newfoundland authorities?
(5) TERRITORIAL WA.TER.-Did the Territorial
,vaters follow the sinuosities of the coast, or stretch
sea,vard beyond a line dra,vn from headland to
headland?
(6) COASTS OR INLETs.-Werc _1mericans fishing
on the western shore of N ewfoundlalld, restricted to the
outer coast, or ,vere they free to the inlets also, as on
Labradol' ?
(7) COM
IERCIAL PRIVILEGES.-Co1.ùd American
:fishing vessels, enjoying specific treaty liherties, also
enjoy the ordinary commercial privileges of trading
crafts?
The proceedings at thc Ha
1.1e in this trial ,yore the
most protracted in nlodern arbitrations. The printed
" cases," " counter-cases" and" arglunents" cOlllprised
ei O'ht volumes aO"("reo
atin 0' nearl y b 000 P aO'es The

, ..,
ö 0 , ö.
oral addresses of the eight counscl ,vho spol{e, totalled
some 2,500,000 words, and over 1,100 exhibits ,vere pllt
in. The sessions lJogan on June 1st, and lastcd till
August 12th, and all records ,vere hroken by tIle ol1clling
speeches of Messrs. }'inlay and Turner, who occupicd a
fortnight each.
The decision of the arbitrators ,vas filed on
September 7th, and its most notable feature ,vas, that it
was virtually unanimous on all I)oints. Dr. Drago
dissented fronI his colleagues in their finding' as to
question 5; but his objection "\\9as rather 3J1 argument
that the 'rrihunal should go further and specifically
delimit cel
tain inlets to ,vhic]l thc "h
adland " theory
as to territorial or geographical bays, should app 1 r.
The award, in brief, ,vas as follo"\\-s: ((l) ...\.mcrican
fis}1Ïng vessels arc bound to cOnfOl'l11 to nIl reasonable
fishery regulations enforced by Canada 01' K c,vfoundland
and a subsidiary Tribunal \vas created t.o ùctCl'lllinc
what were "rcasonable;" (b) th<.'sc vcssels Inay cluploy
"non-inhabitants" of the United States among thcir
..

166

crews, but such persons enjoy no immunity thereby;
(0) these vessels must enter and clear at Custom-houses
when humanly possible so to do; (d) they need not,
however, pay light or harbour dues, unless such are
collected from Canadian or K e,yfoundland vessels;
(e) the bays are all sea-areas "\vithin headlands;
(f) American vessels can, however, fish in the inlets on
the west coast of NevTfoundland; (g) but such vessels
cannot exercise fishing liberties and commercial privileges
in the same voyage.
All the honors of the encounter lay with Great Britain.
She secured for Canada and Newfoundland practically
every point of inlportance involved in the award. Only
two regulations of any importance are questioned as
" unreasonable "-the prohibition of fishing on Sundays,
and the prevention of pllrse-seining, an exceedingly
destructive method of fishing. As colonists are subject
to these restrictions already, it is improbable that the
Americans ,viII secure their reversal, especially as purse-
seines were forbidden on the N e,v England coast for
some years. Then llnder the clause as to " non-
inhabitants," N e,yfoundland can prevent her o"\vn people
from hiring aboard Anlerican vessels to fish in treaty-coast
water. The requirement that suell vessels shall report
at Custom Houses ,,,,hen llumanly possible is imperative,
in order to prevent smuggling and illegalities, while, on
the other hand, they are exempted from payment of
lig-ht dues ,,-hen colonial vessels are exempt. The
affirming of the "headland" doctrine respecting bays,
gives Newfoundland absolute control of the inshore
fisheries; the permission to Americans to fish in the
west coast inlets is due to their having done so for
ninety years; but American vessels cannot pose as traders
and fis}lers in the same voyage, but must qualify as
one or the other and remain so during the cruise.
The effect of the award then, so far as Canada is
concerned, is to exclude American fishermen entirely
from the bays and coastwise waters save in the Magdalen

167

Islands and Canadian Labrador, and this will seriously
hamper them in fishing off her Atlantic seaboard, besides
being restricted in her treaty waters to carrying on their
indllstry under her" reasonable" regulations.
As regards N e,vfoundland, they are excluded from
virtually all of ller seaboard except the west coast, though
entry is essential to them to seCllre bait for cod fishing
on the Grand Banks. On the west coast they can,
however, fish subject to "reasonable" regulations. But
the only fishes they seek there are herrings, and tllese
during the last three months of the year, which business
requires larger crews and outfits than their sInal1
schooners could carry froln American ports. Therefore,
their practice has been to buy cargoes from the coastfolk
under permits granted 1)y the Colonial Governnlcnt;
and latterly ther have hired local fishermen beyond
territorial waters. '
rhe a1,al'd disallows this, denics them
trading privileges, and grants Newfoundland virtually
absolute master v in her Ol\-n ,vaters.
The harmo
iollS outcome of this arbitration is thE'
most decided advance to,vards an Í\.nglo-American accord
in the history of the two nations. Every previous
arbitration bet"w'een theln resulted in bitter pl'otests
from one side or the other. The Maine boundary and
the Oregon boundary provoked much discontent. In
the "Alaban1a" arbitration, the British Comlnissioner
refllsed to sign the a"rard; in the Halifax arbitration,
the American nominee did the same; "Then the Paris
'l'ribunal in 1894 dpcided the Behring Sea sealing dispute,
it was against the protest of the American mcml>crs; and
the story of the refusal of Canada's delegates to sign th('
Alaskan boundary award in 1903 is too familiar to need
Inore than tIle briefest refercnce.
It therefore augurs ,veIl for the future that there
,vas unanimous a\\rard by the International
rribunal on
this fishery dispute; that such sturdy ('xponent
of
national spirit as J udgcs
Fitzl)atrick and Grey,y('rc ablp
to find common ground for their decision; that the prc
s

168

and people of both nations fully recognised the honesty
and good faith of the arbitrators; and that the award
was received without captious criticism from the news-
papers of the whole English-speaking world.
When one recalls the tone of Canadian comment
upon the Alaskan award, or the condemnation by
colonial newspapers of the "supineness" of Britis}}
diplomacy as late]y as two years ago, in regard to this
YCrJT fis}lery dispute, the conclusion must be that a great
advance has been lnade, and a ne\v era in Anglo-
American relations opened IIp by the submission of this
matter to the judicial impartiality of the International
Supreme Court.

169

CHAPTER XXII.

TIlE LABR.L\.DOR PENINSULA.

GREAT FISHING CENTRE-MINERAL A!\D "TOODLAND
POSSIBILITIES-SPORTING AND SCENIC ATTn,ACTIONS-
GRENFELL DEEP SEA. )IISSION.

N EWFOUNDL...
ND'S chief dependency, where one
of her greatest cod fisheries is }Jrosecuted, is
Labrador, a territory }lalf as large as Europe, and yet
containing a resident population of only :3,500 ,yhites
or
"livyers," though every sumlncr 15,000 fisherfo1k-
men, "rom en, and children-emigrate there for cod-
catching and locate along the coast-line ,,'hicIl fornlS the
base of the enterprise.
Labrador is that portion of the Canadian mainland
bet,veen Belle Isle Strait and Hudson Eay. It is saiù
to take its name from a Basque fisherman nan1ed
13radore, \vho settlecl in the bay of that ll:1Jne about l[j
O.
Cartier charted it in 1534, and it soon became the centre
of a large íishcr)
, }'rance maintaining à garrison of 500
men in a strong fort at Bradore, relics of ,vhosc occupa-
tion are still found there. About 17üO, theyahandoupd
T

brador because of the incursions of sea-raiders during'
the wars preceding the surrender of Q,uebec. It ,va'3
then placc(l under the jurisdiction of Canada, 11cxt
of Newfoundland, thcn of Ca.nada, again, and in
IS0D of Nc\\rfoundland once Ulore, ,y!lOSf' 31)panag

it has since been. I t has no settled forIn of
Government, justice being dispensed l)y the medical
missio11aI
ics who la1)our there and who hold cOlnmissions
.

170

of the peace. Such trivial disputes l"egarding fishery
matters as arise in the tiny hamlets along the coast,
where a peace-loving people have their abode, are their
only c.:
es.
The shallo\\Ts off the Labrador coast are the l"esort
of countless "schools" of cod, and the fishermen net
them from suitable points. 'l'he whole coast is fringed
l\''Íth barren islands of naked rock, en girt 1\ith wide,
deep channels. Great fiords eat for 11liles into the
granite steeps, and countless harbours are formed 'v herein
the fishing crafts can lie in safety. The scenery along
the coast is wild and impressive, the rugged plateaus
being scarred by prehistoric glaciers in their resistless
sweep across this flinty track. The southern section has
many wooded areas and forest tr3cts lying in the ravines
sheltered fronl the ocean, and here herd the galne birds
and animals of the region in such abundance, that only
its comparative isolation prevents its becoming one of the
great resorts of the ,vorid.
Althougll Labrador is at present clliefly noted for
its fisheries, there is no question that it is destined for a
great future as a mineral, forest and sporting country.
Its mineral 1realth is varied ancl extensive; the valle)Ts
of the interior are loichly covered with forest gro\\,tL, and
its attractions as a hunting ground, a game-fishing resort,
and a region rich in scenic beauties, are no whit inferior
to Norway's, so that in Jears to COIne, and perhaps not
distant ones, it Ina
T develop into a countr
T ,vith a future
as promising as that of Alasl(a.
Indeed, it is much akin to .....
laska in all its charac-
.
teristics. Geographically, it occupies the same relation
to the North American Continent on the east that
Alaska does on the ,,"est; and its geologica] formation
is much the sanle. There are Inany confident observers
'\vho pi"edict that some day gold ,,-ill be found in
Labrador as abundantly as in Alaska.
lhe peltries of
Labrador a.re the finest in the world and fetch the
llighest prices to-day in the great fur markets. Its

171

forest areas are already being worked and shipments of
lumber made froln Hamilton Inlet every summer; and
lnany travellers have told of its abundance of ganle in
fin, fur and feather.
Eastern Labrador is roughly divided into t,yO
sections by Halnilton Inlet, a mighty fiord "rhich stril
es
back into the territory for some 200 nlilcs. South of it
is a region richly dowered ,vith forest areas and the
two-thirds of the region which lies north of it, are those
in which it is believed tIle mineral \,ealth thereof will
yet be found, further into the country. British warships,
K ewfolludland lnail boats and ocean freighters to load
lumber, safely navigate its waters. About fifty miles
back from the coast, the wooded country begins on both
banl{s of the Inlet ,yhich is here abollt t,velve Illiles "ide.
All this region is thickly covered with pxcellent tilnber
which stretches bacl( fronl the "rater in scores and per-
Ila ps hundreds of nliles.
Sir 'Villiam
racGregor, late Governor of Nc"r.
fOllndland, who, ""hi Ie filling sÏ1nilal" posts in Fiji, K ew
Glúnea and West Africa, nlade extensive explorations of
these countries, visited Labrador officially in IgOR and
navigated I-Iamilton Inlet in the colonial cruiser
Fiona. In his official report to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, Governor
IacGregor says that
"We had time to examine the North.\vest llivcr only a

far as the southern end of the Grand Lake, frOln ,vhich
it debollches. But this enabled us to see that there is
in the vicinity a large area of forest suitable for pul p
lnanufacture. At a lumber camp ,vhcrc ,ye stopped, ,ve
saw trees ,,'ith a dialneter of three feet, aud sho,ving'
170 rings, eacll representing a year's gro\\th, and I
personally ext1lnined t\YO, one of ,vhich "
as (j ft. ü in.
in circumference at the butt and it ft. ..t in. at the top,
and the otller 7 ft. 1 in. at the butt and ,i ft. 8 in. at the
top, aJld the rings on the first ,\rcre about
12 and on thp
second, about 240. These t,vo logs ,vere perfectly sound
at the core and ".cre the largest I 8a'\
, but I 'vas
.

172

assured that there are larger thaI1 those on the Kenninlau
River. It Ina.y safely be said that there are trees in
that di
trict 240 years olel. At the lllill in this vicinity
the slnallest logs for sawing had a diameter of about 15
inches, anù counted about 60 l
ings.
'he COlnpallY
exported some 800,000 feet of lllmber the previous
summer, and I had then on hand S01ne .:1 1 ;)0,000 feet,"
It is quite evident that a country of this size and
area must possess imJTIcnse ,vater po\,ers, and Sir 1Villiam
)IacGregor also testifie
to this fact in his report ,,-herein
he observes as follows :-" 'fo at least superficial and
hllrried examinatioll it would sreln that the 1tIuskl"at
Falls would provide very valuable ,vater })o'\ve1". 'l'he
voillme of ,vater that descends there is probably tv{cnty
or thirty tÍ1nes as great as that of the Exploits River,
supposed to be the largest streanl in Newfoundland. TIle
form of the river at the 1Illskl'at Fans "Toulcl seeln to fit
it most fayourably for supplying power, probahly best
by tunnels throngll the little hills. It ,yould be
difficult for one to see tl1ese falIs ,vitIl this i1l11nense
potential {Jo,ver, '\vithout thin1iing of the extensive forests
of that COlmtry 1vhicll could be converted into rapel

pulp; and ,vithout putting to oneself the qllestion
whether a line of electric rail,vay ,yill llot, one clay,
travel'se the Hamilton ,Y"atershcd to the Atlantic."
'fravellers ,,
ho have visited Laln
ador speak in tIle
llighest terms of its scenic and sporting attractions.
Dr. Grenfell, \vho has becn constantly voyaging there
for nearly tn"enty years, says :
" After 11lany YCc
rs' CI"llising the coast as Inaster of
my O\l T n vcssel, after 11aving visited the coasts of
Norway and Iceland, as "
ell as having' coasted all round
the British Isles, I consider that none of these European
shores offers it more fascinating and safer field for
pleaslITe cruising than the coast of J,.jahraclor. If the
visitor to ]
al)rador desires scenery of it ,vild and rocky
nature, he should certainly ainl for the northern half of
the north-east coast. So far as kl1o,vn, no ,vhite Inan

173

has ever clÍ1nbed anyone of these hornlike, rocky piles;
their heights have been variouslr estimated at from six
to ten thousand feet. 'rho probable h<<:ights seem to
l1e from si
thousand to seven thousantl feet. !fany of
the beautiful inlets ill the southern half of this coast
ll1ay be explored ,vith small, open boats or even ,vith
canoes. Some of the inlets can be easily reached by leaving
the mail stealner. But the universal attraction of the
coast-the ever changing glory of the atmosphere-
ca.nnot be localized or described. Color is every ,,'here,
'\vith a gamut that few IJarts of the ,,?orld can equal.
From the hilltops the land is a giant opal, changing in a
lnillion moods, from the tenderest gray or blue, through
vivid emerald or most royal purples, to the unsurpassed
gold and reds of the long twilights and dawns."
But the fisherman cares little for its mines or
its forests, its scenery or its sport. He is concerned only
in reaping' froIll its ocean floor sustenance for his family,
an(l he allows nothing to interfere '\vith this. The ,vorld
has probably nothing so unique as the annual migration
of these N c'\vfoundland íisherfolk to this region, nor a.n
industry so strange as they pursue. About l\{ay in each
year they embark in their vessels with their goods and
èllattels, shut up their hOlnes and sail for Labrador, ,vhere
they disperse along its extensive seaboard. 'fhe fishermen
are of t,vo classes-" stationers" and "floaters." The
foriner have hon1cs in certain harbours and fish near hy,
shipping much of their cllrcd product direct to market
from the coast. The latter carrr on their venture froni
their schooners and cruise farther north a
the season
advances. About 1,000 to 1,200 vessels classed u

"floaters," are annually engaged in the' Labrador fishery.
In Octol)er t11C season is over, and thesp hardy
voyagers return to their honles, the 3,5
)O "Jivycr.s"
residing there permanently.
f.lhesc" liY
Ters" (live
heres) are so called to distinguish them from the summer
fishermen, and there are one or two falnilics in every
harbour. During the sumnlcr, they reside along
he coast

174

for the fishing, but in winter most of them retire
to the wooded tracts at the heads of the bays, where
there is shelter, warmth and a means of increasing their
food supply by the killing of game which abounds there.
The trappin?; of fur-bearing animals is also undertaken,
the peltries being exchanged for food and clothing ,vhen
the traders are on the coast in summer.
During the snmn1er, clergymen of the different
denominations are to be found on the coasts, and now
and again one volunteers for a winter sojourn there, but
the seaboard is so sparsely settled, that it is almost
impossible for tllem to reach their scattered flocks.
Only a few years ago, however, a young Anglican cleric
decided upon a six years' stay among the heathen
Eskimos in Ungava Bay, on the borders of Hudson
Bay.
Further south than this, in the region extending to
Hamilton Inlet and known locally as " Northern Labra-
dor," dwells a tribe of Christianized Eskimos, abollt
1,500 in all, ,vhose uplifting is due to the 1\{oravian
missionaries from Germany \Tho have been labouring
among them for a century past. These missionaries
maintain six stations-Hopedale, Zoar, Nain, Okak,
Hebron and Ramah-and have done most commendable
",york among these Innuits.
]loaming the "Tooded interior, are }Iontagnais and
K ascopee Indians, a branch of the great Cree tribe.
These -number about 3,000, and are hunters and trappers
alillost entirely. 'l'hey live in the Ïorests and visit the
fur posts which are located in tIle inlets, ",vhere communi-
cation by sea can be easily kept up and supplies secured
,vithout losing touch ,vith the interior to ,vhich the
T are
almost the only avenues. Steamers belonging to the

Ioravian and the Hudson Bay Company visit the coast
each sumnler \vith stores for the stations, and to take
away the stocks of peltries accumulated during the
winter.
The Olltlook for agricultllre in the sheltered inlets

] 73

of Labrador is decidedly favorable. '.rhe climate in that
section is by no means
s harsh as it has been represented.
The soil is loamy and free from l
ocks. In the vicinity
of the llunber mills there, the Companies operating tIle
same have cleared ground and planted it with vegetables
and grains; and splendid crops of potatoes, cabbage,
turnips, radishes, beets, spring beans, as ,veIl as grasses,
hay and oats, are grown there annually; \yhile alders,
WillO"TS and other growths are very abundant and
advanced.
The Labrador peninsula is the home of countless
herds of caribou, and these have been slaughtered by
the Eskimos and "liv
Ters " on such a scale in the past,
that thousands of skins have been exported from thel'e
every season. Latterly, however, this practice has
been discouraged, and the }{ill has been much more
limited.
The fur-bearing animals have been taken chiefly
by the settlers '\vith traps, but the feathered game has
atforded a never-ceasing abundance to all who would
try for such. The river fishing is equally excellent.
Dr. Grenfell says: "'rhe river fishing of Labrador
should be a great attraction to friends frolll the Old.
Country to visit us. In Canada all the salmon rivers
are leased for large sums, largely to \vealthy
\mericans.
'fhis colony bas preserved all its river fishing for its 0\\"11
people, and, thougsh all netting is forbidden, anJone may
fish with a rod and line for salmon and trout. With my
skipper and a young friend, I landed an evening or t\\.o
ago and fished a\vhile. In t\VO hours and a half ,ve had
all \ve could carrY5 thougIl \,e "\vere still all three fishing
in the same pool ,ye Legan in, and the trout \yere taking
the fly just as freely as \"hCll we bcgoan. Our bag
\veighcd 125 lb. The largest fish weighed 11 lb., and
the average fish \veighcd lIb. This is no nc,\" expcri-
encc. I bave had to take off t\yO flies froln a C<1\\t of
three, o,ving to the fish taking them all three at once.
Naturally, the salmon are not so grcedJT, but. good

176

salmon fishing can be enjoyed free by visitors in any
part of the Colony."
No article respecting Labrador ,,,"ould be complete
without a reference to the work of the branch of the
ROJI11 National Mission to Deep Sea fishermen which
was inaugurated on that coast nearly 20 years ago by
Dr. W. T. Grenfell and which has enormously increased
its activities since then. The lack of medical aid for the
fishermen attracted the attention of prominent members
of that Mission in England, and Dr. Grenfell, then its
Superintendent in the N'orth Sea, was empo"rered to
visit Labrador and inaugurate a branch there. This
lIe did in 1892, in the hospital ship Albe1"t, a sealing
craft, and establislled an hospital at Battle Harbour.
Experience taught 11im that a steam vessel1\?as necessary,
and he procured a large launch, named the Princess
Met'!!. His next venture was the establishing of a
second hospital at Indian Harbour at the mouth of
Hamilton Inlet, and then he secured a second launch,
the Julia Sheridan. Next came a larger
hip, the Sir
Donald, and finally the splendid steam hospital yacht,
St'i 4 athcona, largelJ' the gift of that eminent philan-
thropist. The steamer is known to every fisherman
from Ul1gava Bay to the southern end of the mission,
1,000 miles a"ray. She follo,vs the fleets, travelling up
and down the coast; and is eagerly 1\ T atched for by the
fishermen and their families. She has an hospital on
board, and conveys patients from their homes to the
Inission's land hospitals. The people flock to her ,vhen
she comes to port, seeking treatment if they are sick,
and news of the fishery's progress if they are well.
By this means, the mission has been able to give a
practical demonstration of the Gospel of Love, which wins
the hearts of the people as nothing else coulà. Dr.
Grenfell and his staff have become "fishers of men,"
and they bave been rewarded with continued and large
catches. Dr. Grenfell has built three hospitals in
N eWIoundland territory and one in Canada. These

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177

hospital'3 have done a splendid \\'"ork. 'l"he filen and
,vornen ,vllo have been taken in, have bcen carefully
nurscd, have been cured of their diseascs, and ha'\-e
l'cturned to their homes, eleepl y grateful. '1'he mission
has l)een all immense benefit physically, morally and
spiritually. Dr. Grenfell and his assistants go al}out
among the thousand fisherlllcn in tIle summer, Ininister-
ing to their physical 1\ T ants, holding services either on
shore or on the sea as the need arises-simple services
with nothing at all savourillg of creed or denominatioll
-the broad fact of God's love, ,vhicll is lUlderstood b
T
these simple people, wholn the sca and its solelnn
mysteries have Dlade reverent.
Dr. Grenfell's latest llnc1ertakin
has been to
intl'oeluce Lapland reindeer into Labrador, 300 of these
having been procured by hinl sonle three years ago,
which have since increased to 800, and \vhich he has at
present herded in Northern Labrador until he is able
to transfer them to Labrador, ,vhere he proposes to
distribute them among tIle "livyers" in substitution
.for the savage dogs of the region which are now llscd as
beasts of burden, and ,,"hich he hopes to havc the
owners then decide to externlinate, because tl1ey are
destructive to every living anilllal on the coast; hUlllan
beings not excepted at times. The reindeer is more
satisfactory as a draft animal an(l can be fed on the
lTIOSSeS \vith which the. country is covered to such an
extent, as to form a virtuallr inexhaustible supply, and
lIe llopes to repeat ill Labrador the success 0 f thp
experiInent undertaken in Alaska t,ycnty years ago by
Dr. Sheldon Jackson on bchalf of the United States,
there being no,v some 1,500 reindcpr ill that cOllntry;
and they have proved the s
lvation of thc llativp
races there.
In the "Business }Ian's Magazine" of :Nc,v York, of
)Iarch, 1906, Dr. .T. S. Johnson, the editor, \\'"ho visited
Hamilton Inlet, Labrador, in the SUlnlncr of 1905, as
the accredited prcss represcntatiye to the Ca:r1adian
It

178

Government solar Eclipse expedition sent to Nortll-west
River, which eclipse was also observed by Governor
}\tlacGregor, in an article on "Bllsiness Possibilities in
Labrador," says as follows:
"When the truth about Labrador is known, the
silence of centuries "Till be broken by the pick and
hammer and spade of the prospector, the throb of the
lumber mill, the pulp mill and the factory. Like all tIle-
areas underlying glaciated archaen rocks, it contaÎ1ls
innumerable drainage basins, discharging thro-ugh a
network of streanlS flo,ving to every point of the
compass, and contributing to a rich forest growth
in the interior valleys.. CIÎ1llatic conditions in Labra-
dOl?, except among tIle coastal highlands, 'v here the
eternal darnpness of the sea is felt, are luuch tIle salIle.
as in Canada. In the wooded tracts of the soutllerlv
inlets and valleys fronl early June to the end
f
August, one lTIight imagine hinlself among the Adiron-
acks or the verdure-clad llills and lakes and islands of
the Makoka region of Ontario. Forest areas-chiefly
of spruce and larch-are widely scattered, these trees
being found in most of the glens up to the extreme
north. Along the sides of the river valleys the soil is
richer, and supports trees in greater size and variety.
On the southern watershed, the ,vooded areas expand.
Here the forest growth becomes even more lllxuriant..
Large tracts, especially along the waterways, are richl
T
covered witIl trees of comnlercially marketable size-
yirgin forests that a,vaits the woodn1an's axe. The
forest areas of its southern ,vatershed, easily accessible,
contain sufficient pulp - ,yood, 'under san1e forestry
practice, to supply the paper mills of the ,yorld for e\.er.'"

179

CHAPTER XXIII.

CLI);IATE AND SCENERY.

DELIGHTFUL CLIl\IATE OF NEWFOUNDLAND - UXRI-
V ALLED SCENIC .J..L\.TTRACTIONS-TESTIMONY OF E1\IINENT
VISITORS-A CO
IING HEALTH RESORT.

T HERE is an idea abroad that Newfoundland is
sOlnewhcre near the North Pole, and that ice,
snow and fog abound. No inlpression conIc! be more
erroneOllS. As a matter of fact, N e,vfoundland is much
less cold than the neighbouring provinces of Canada, and
in no parts of the country does the thermometer but rarely
4rop below zero. In the interior and on the "'\vestern
slopes fog is llnkno,\yn, and 011 the east coast much rarer
than supposed; while a nlore delig-htful climate it would
he impossible to imagine. The natural gro,vth of the
Island includes ,vild berries, fruits and flo,yers, ,rbich
only ripen ,,,ith a great ,vealth of sunshine; and the fact
that the ,,,1101e of the ,yilderness interior is covered ,vith
these lJerries attests more conclusively than anything
else to the saluhrity and mildness of its cliInate.
Iore-
over, nearly every fisherman now has his garden, in
,vhich home-oro,vn vC(J'ctables and fruits arc raised for

;:,
the family table, and throughout the interior are founel
extensive areas suitablp for cattle grazing, sheep raising
and pasture purposes.
'rhe temperature of K c,vfoundland does not tmdcrgo
nearly so many alterations as the te1TII>crature of
Quebec, ]'Iontrcal and Otta"\\ a, aB lnay 1>c sccn from

180

these figures, compiled ùy Sir William
IacGregor, the
late Governor of Newfoundland, and now of Queensland:
Mean Tempera.- Mean Tempera- ::V[ean Tempera-
ture of year_ ture of Ja.nuary_ ture of July_
St_ John's.__ 39-37 21-09 56-51
Quebec 38-12 9-14 66-02
Montreal __. 41-34 12-38 68.90
Ottawa iO-64 10.58 69.26
As much as -33 C., ,vhich is eq"ual to 59.40 degrees
}'ahrenheit, of frost has been rpgistered at Montreal, and
as much as -47 C. at 1'Tinnipeg, which represents 85.5
degrees Fahrenheit of frost. The Newfoundland winter
temperature is thus less trying to vegetation than is the
case in the nearest provinces of "Britain's Granary."
The spring is a somewhat backward season, but the
sno\v and frost help to breal( up the soil and moisten the
earth, so that once vegetation sets in, the growth is rapid,
crops ripening much quicker than in the Eastern hemis-
pllere_ Sir William MacGregor remarks on this point :-
"The growth that sets in with the early autumn
,vas comparable only to '\vhat one sees in a well-conducted
forcing bed_ The whole country seems to be transformed
in a few days into an enormous greenhouse_ The contrast
between the beginning and end of July was such, that I
doubted if I had ever seen greater vegetable growth in
the same time in the tropics. There can be no doubt
\vhatever that the vegetables gro\vn in this country for
human food are of very superior quality. This they
probably o"Te to some extent to the extraordinary
rapidity of their growth, \vhicll favours the development
of the cellular element and gives little time to the
fibrous tissue to toughen and harden. From the point
of vÌe\v of health on the other hand, the climate gives an
atmosphere of someV\That ltrctic purity, to which is
added the aroma of extensive pine forests."
The winter season is remarkable for t,vo phenomena;
one, an ice condition known as "silver thaw," and the
other, a meteorological condition known as the " aurora

181

lJorealis." The silver thaw, so called, is causeù by rain
falling witll êl, low temperature, being congealed as it
descends, and depositing itself on every object which
obstructs its passage in a condition of translucent ice,
,vhich goes on increasing as the storIn continues, until
every tree and leaf seems to be coated ,vith crystal, the
effect of which ,,-hen the sun shines, is splendid beyond
description. The aurora borealis is a mighty display of
,vhat is knu\vn as " the Northern Lights."
rhe hrilliant
illumination coyers the whole heavpns and the many
llues of the amazing corusc
1tions flood the entil:e
celestial dome.
'l'he summers are remarkably equable and pleasant,
thp temperature ranges from 70 to 80 degrees, and the
extremes of heat and cold ,vhich are common in
Canada and the U nitecl States are not experienced here.
EYen. when the days are ,varm, the nights are cool,
and the breezes al,vays invigorating. Froln June until
Dccember the ,veather is ideal, and as a 11ealth resort the
colony is increasing in popularity every year. The fogs
to \vhich the country chiefly o\ves an unenviable
notoriety, are confined to the "Banks" out in the
i\.tlantic, h'llndl'leds of miles from her coasts. 'fhe causes
of the fogs farther south are the commingling of the
Arctic current and the Gulf Stream on the Grand
Banks; the frig-id and torrid waters sending up a n1ass
of vapollr which, during the summer months, enshrouds
this region in brulllous mist. The fog rarely penetrates
inland, and there the sun usually shines brightly, the air
is ùry and balmy, and the ozone is salubrious to a degree.
1'he mean annual temperature the past ten years was
-i1.5: the average hcight of the barometer was 29.39
inches. rrhc existence of ice- floes in ,vint0r and the
presence of bergs that are ferried down frOln the Greenland
coast, have done much to perpetuate the inlpression that
N c,vfoundland is constantly fog' and icp hound, but for
the greater portion of the year such conditions do not
('xi
t at all, an d some seasons pa
s ".i thou t the great
,

182

mass of the people ever looking upon a fragment of
sea-borne ice at all.
The testimony of representative IJersons who have
resided in Newfoundland will be valuable as evidence of
the trllth with l'legard to the clin1ate. Sir Richard
Bonnycastle, who spent some years in the Islall.d, says in
a history of Newfoundland, which he }Jublislled in 1842 :
" We find that the extremities of temlJerature in
Newfoundland are trifling compared ,vith those of
Canada. There the thermometer falls as 10"- as twenty-
seven degrees below zero, and even lower at times
in winter, and rises to ninety in SU111111er. Here (in
N ewfounàland) the lowest temperature in winter
scarcely exceeds zero, or eight or ten degrees below it,
excepting upon rare occasions; and in the height of
summer does not attain more in COIDInon years, than
seventy-nine degrees. Winter may really be said to
commence here towards the latter end of N overnber
only, though fires are comfortable adjuncts during most
of that month; and its severity begins after Christmas,
runs through January and February, and becomes less
and less stern until the middle of April, when it ceases
altogether. In the winter of 1840, ploughing was going
after Christmas. It is generally supposed in England
that Newfoundland is constantly enveloped in fog and ,vet
nlist; nothing, however, could be further from the truth.
The summers are frequently so hot and dry that for
"'ant of rain the grass perishes-the SUInmer of 1840
,vas one of these-and the nights are unusually splendid;
whilst in ,vinter fog is very rarely seen."
He kept a register in regard to foggy days, from
which it appeared that in 1841, there were only seventeen
and a half days of thick fog in St. John's, "which is more
exposed to the Bank weather, as it is called, than any
other part of the Island; " and light fogs were prevalent
only nineteen and a half days; giving thirty-seven days
of foggy weather on the shore throughout the year. Hp
remarl{s further on the light clothing with which the

183

labouring classes went about in ,vinter, and on their
robust appea.rance, and pronounces tIle clÏInate salubrious
in the highest degree.
The late Dr.l\iullock, Romall Catholic Bishop of the
Island, in one of his lectllres, says: ""1'" e llever have the
thermolneter down to zero, unless once or twice in the
year, and then only for a fe\v hours and for a fe,v degrees,
three, fOllr or perhaps ten; while we Ilear of a tempera-
ture of ten and twenty below zero in Canada a.nd :K ew
Bruns,vick; and this life-destroying cold continuing for
days, perhaps ,yeeks. Then see another effect of this-
the Canadians and other North Americans of the samp
latitllde are obliged to keep up hot stoves almost
continually in their houses, "\vhile we have open fire
places, or at most Franklins; our children) I may say, are
ligIltly clad as in summer and spend a larger portion of
their time in the open air; and thus ,vhile our neighhours
have the colour of confinement tingeing their cheeks, and
their children look comparatively IJale, our youngsters
are blooming ,vitIl the rosy hue of health, developing
th eir energies by air and exercise, and prelxtring
themselves for the battle of life hereafter, either as
hardly mariners or healthy matrons-the blooming
mothers of a po,verful race. The mean temperature of
1859 was 44 degrees."
Sir Stephen Hill, who 1yaS Governor of the Island
for six years, says: "The climate of K e\\Tfoundland is
exceedingly healthy. 1'he robust and health
T appearance
of the people, and the advanced ages to ,vhich many of
them attain, testify to the }Jurity and excellence of the
air which they inhale and the invigorating qllulities of
the breezes of British NortIl America. "
Alexander
Iurray, C.l\I.G., Geological Surveyor,
,vho spent sixteen years in the Island, traversing it in all
directions, says: "The climate of N c"\rfoundland is, as
cOlnparecl ,,"ith the neighbom'ling contincnt, it D10deratcly
temperate onc. 1'11c heat is far less intense on an
average, during the sunl1ncr than in an)" part of Canada,

III

184

and the extreme cold of ,vinter is much less severe.
The thermometer l'Oarely indicates higher thall seventy
degrees Fah., in the former, or lTIuch belo\\r zero in the
latter, although the cold is occasionally aggravated by
storms and the Ilu111idity consequent on an insular
position. The climate is undoubtedl
T a very healthy one,
and the general physique of the natives, ,vho are a
powerfully-built, robust and hardy race, is a good
example of its influence."
The Rev. Philip '
l"ocque, in a llistory of N ewfound-
land, published by him in 1877, says of the climate:
"'rhe winters of Newfoundland are not by many degrpes
so cold as in the neighbouring provinces or the northern
states, nor is the climate so chf-1ngeful. It is admitted
that the climate of Newfoundland has gradually under-
gone an alteration the last forty years, and is now much
warlner than formerly. St. ,John's, the capital, is nearer
the Equator than London, Dublin or Edinburgh, and
actuallv lies in the same latitude as Paris. In N e,y-
foundl
nd, the sea fog prevails only on the eastern alld
southern shores, and then but at intervals during the
summer lnonths. I saw more dense fog during a fortnight
I spent in St. John's, New Bruns,,-ick, than I sa\v in St.
John's, N e,vfoundland, for years, and I bave seen mucll
more fog in Halifax and Boston than I ever saw on the
eastern coast of Newfoundland. According to a register
kept at St. John's, Ne,vfoundland, the average of thicl(
fo
and partial light fo
extending a short distance
inland was 17i days of thick fog and 19t days of light
fog and nlists, making a total of only 37 days of cloudy
'Jreather throughout the year. A register kept at the
Citadel Fort, Halifax, Nova Scotia, alld l{indly furnished
me by 1\rr. G. Moulds, Royal Artillery, she-\ys that therp
,vere in Nova Scotia 42 days of thick fog and 60 days of
Jight fog, making a total of 112 days foggy weather,
besides 110 clays of cloudy weather, in a year."
]'fr. J. P. IIo,vley, F.G.S., and present Director of
the Geological SUl'Ye
"', in one of his reports, says :-

185

" I myself spent four months during the past spa
on
in the interior ,vithout experiencing a genuine fogg-y
day. During tIle entire months of July an(l _t\ugust the
,\\Teather in the interior ,vas delightful."
SCENERY.
Newfoundland contains sonle of the grandest and
11lOst beautiful scenery in the world, as a glance at
l)hotographs depicting its natural attl
actions, ,,,ill
convince the most sceptical. It resembles Nor\yay
in many respects and in none more than the
picturesque features of its coast line and the mighty
hays in which yachtsmen and travel1ers can delight.
'fhe deep inlets ,vhich cut up the coast every fe"

miles, the lofty cliffs which evoke the
Hlmir-ation of
the beholder, and the tree-clad valleys through ,yhicll
its beautiful rivers run, are strikingly sÎInilar to thp
Norwegian panoramas, and are as attractive in their
scenery. The delightfully exhilarating SUlnnlers, the
hright skies and sunlit days, the genial and invigorating
atmosphere, and the favouring climate whicll is so
d
lightful a change from the torrid heats of other
countries, make it a region tilat ever
T year attracts
an increasing number of visitors."
....1\.s time goes on, these numbers will still further
increase, and the best evidence of the gro""rth of traffic
is furnished by the Reid Company deciding to establish
a daily stcan1ship service bet\yeen Cape Breton and Port-
aux-Basques, with a daily exprcss service acr08S thp
Island. Hunters and fishers to tl
ail the lordly cariùou
and the gamey sallnon; artists and photogra'phers to
carrya,vay vie,vs of its natural beauties; and vacationists
to regain their shattered health-all are crowding into
the island in recent years. Nor are its attractions
confined to the inani
ate beauties of the cOlultrr and
the game ,vith which it abollnds ; but an equally pleasant
pxpericnce is it, to move al)out among' the people in the
fishing vil1ag-cs, seck for cod ,vitIl thcln in thcir lJoats

,

186

and skj fIs in the coastwise waters, and to see thenl p1 y
their arduous avocations along this rugged seaboard.
Admiral Sir William Kellnedy, R.N., who, as
commander of H.M.S. JJ/}'I1tid, spent several years in
Newfoundland in the Fisheries Protect
on Service, and
,vho knows the Island thoroughly, published some years
ago "Sporting Notes on Newfoundland," this extract
from whicll will show his opinion of the climate and
scenery :-" To one who, like tIle writer, lIas had the
opportunity of seeing the country, of mingling with
its ,yarm-hearted inhabitants, of penetrating into the
vast and almost unknowll interior in quest of sport,
N ewfounclland presents a deeply interesting aspect,
whether it he from a sporting, an artistic or a social
point of view. I have no hesitation in saying, that during
the five summer months the climate is far superior to that
of Great Britain, while the winters are undoubtedly
milder than those of Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.
During July, August, September, and part of October,
tIle weather is lnagnificent, the thermometer ranging
occasionally as high as 95 degrees. At this time tIle
country presents a most beautiful appearance, resembling
in parts the Highlands of Scotland. The mountains are
clothed to their tops V\ 7 ith many kinds of woods,
conspicuO'us among which are the fir, the pine, maple,
birch and hazel. The" barrens" are covered with a
ricll carpet of moss of every shade and colour, and
al)ound in all sorts of wild berries, pleasing both to the
eye and taste. The banks of the rivers are also at this
time fringed \vith ,vild strawberries, raspberries, currants
and blueberries, alld adorned '\vith many }(inds of lovely
ferns and wild flo,vers; while foa.ming torrents and
tumbling cascades complete a picture delightful to the
eye of the artist and the salmon fisher. The scenery of
the south coast is of the grandest description; deep
gorges in the coastline lead througll narrow entrances,
with precipitous cliffs on either hand, to magnificent
harbours where the navies of Europe may float secure from

187

every gale. In the interior are thousands, a
"c millions of
acres of good land, suitable for growing crops or raising
cattle or sheep, as is shewn by the nlagnificent wild
grass whicil grO\VS in all the s\vamps and upon Trhicb
the deer feed unmolested, save when the solitary hunter
intnldes upon their sanctuary. As regards salubrity of
climate, Newfoundland has no equal. On our vhdts rounù
the coast the doctor's duties were absolutely nil. I believe
that few countries have such advantages as are possessed
by Newfoundland, with ller magnificent llarbours and
her boundless stores of \vealtll; b1.1t no countrv has eyer
e/
yet progressed without railroads, or even roads. \\Tith
tIle completion of the rail\vay, "ith copper mines in full
blast along her shores, and other industries in like
activity, the proud boast of every K ewfoundlander :
"This Ne\vfoundland of ours," will be no idle one.

188

CHAPTER XXIV.

.Lt\ SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE.

HUNTING AND FISHING-AT
rRACTIONS FOR TOURIST AND
HEALTH-SEEKER-GAME PARADISE OF SPORTSMEN-
GA1IE LAWS.
K e"\vfoundland is each year becoming more and more
the objective of sportsmen and tourists, attracted by the
certainty of elllployn1ent for rod, gun and camera among
the wild game and fish, and the natural'beauties of the
sea-board and interior. As the Island is virtuallv
unpeopled save around the sea-board, and as, apart fro

the railway which runs through tIle interior with stations
at intervals, affording access to tIle coast towns, the
country is in its primeval state with countless lakes and
streams abounding in trout, broad stretches of upland
moor tenanted by vast herds of caribou, the sea-board
broken up by numerous estuaries that are the home of
the lordly salmon, and the diversified natural beauties of
the region increased by the presence, all through the
summer, of brilliant weather, Inaking a sojourn there an
unending delight; the rusll of visitors is constantly
increasing.
Of large game the caribou stand foremost, but there
are also bears, ,volves and lynxes, fur-bearing animals
SUCll as foxes, otters, marten, minks, nlusk-rats and rabbits,
while of birds, there are willo,,' -grouse, spruce, partridge,
Canada goose, Brant goose, and many varieties of duck,
snipe, woodcock and plover. For the rod, there is trout
and sa]mon fishing as fine as the world can afford, to be

189

had in such abundance as to satisfy the most exacting)
and for the camera an unceasing variety of strikingl
-
beautiful natural pictures.
Caribou shooting in the Island is now a .favouritf'
pastime. The best season is the early autumn before thp
snow comes, but some sportsmen ,vait until Novenlber.

rhe caribou migrate during the summer from the south
of the Island into the ,vildest northern area, and at the
end of winter retreat hacl
to the forest's shelter, ,vhere
they remain durÏ11g the period of
now-fall. In this
migration they cross the rail\yay track, and SOlne years
ago local fisllermen would camp there and shoot down
the passing deer; then packed the meat into barrels
with salt to preserve it for tbeir winter's food. It was no
unCOlnmon sight fronl the railroad to observe the In at
tl1is work, with glistening lleaps of salt and piles of
barrels dotting the landscape.
Realizing that caribou would meet the fate of the
buffalo if this practice was continued, the Colonial
Legislature set aside a reserve for the deer, in which no
shooting is permitted, and this has curtailed the butchery.
The south coast fishermen also went inland during thp
winter and J{illed ll'undrcds of caribou, sending the
carcasses to St. John's, where they often sold for one
cent per pound; this practice is also abolished, so that
no,v the chase is confined chiefly to genuine hunters,
,vho are perlnitted to kill three stags dlu"ing the season.
Some of thp best sportsmen journey many miles
from the railroad into regions rarely penetratcd.
F. C. Selous, the llote(l
'\..frican hunter, spent t,yO
seasons in Newfoundland, and explored new' l'cgions on
his own account, coming upon IJreviously unsuspected
haunts of the deer ,vhcl'c the l)cst of sport ,vas founel.
Re says: "I know of but one really wild country ,,,,here
hig game is still plentiful, ,vhich can be quickly and
easily reaclled, ,vherc shooting trips can be undertaken
at small cost, and that is N e,vfoundland. 'l'he ùeer al'l

the finest race of the woodland caribou, and. carry

190

splendid antlers, worthy of foremost places in any
sportman's collection of hunting trophies. To my mind
the way to enjoy a trip there, is to leave the railway and
make for tIle interior, ,vith a good canoe and two hardy
Newfoundlanders-and better men you won't find any-
where in the world-and follo,v up one of the many
rivers. Soon you will reacIl as wide a country as any
on earth, with caribou in abundance, and perhaps a
black bear, or a ,volf Ol
lynx; and should you tire of
deer meat, there are trout in plenty ill the streams and
ponds, while willow grouse of the most delicate flavor
fattened on cran-berries and blue-berries, swarm on all
the barrens. Personally I never enjoyed any hunting
trip in my life as much as I did my last visit to
N e,vfoundlalld. I fOllncl caribou plentiful and secured
t,vo really fine heads. I got into a ,vild country where
the game had long been undisturbed."
TIle caribou of Newfoundland are the rangifer or
woodland (ceJ
VleS tct}yutdus), distinct froll1 tIle Arctic, or
rnoorland caribou, better known as reindeer. BotIl are
of the same specjes, being sturdy, strongly-built animals,
the woodland caribou larger, Ileavier and stronger,_ and
carrying filler antlers. Ulùike most deer, botIllTIale and
female are thus equipped, the stags carrying splendid
trophies, but the horns of the doe are inferior. The
caribou are supposed to be indigenolls to Newfoundland,
for the oldest Beothic relics indicate their existence.
They are like Alderney co'vs, ,vith short legs and broad
feet, enabling them to rapidly and easily traverse the
S110\V and wet lnarshes. They weigh from five hundred
to seven h"unclred pounds, stand about 4 ft. 6 in. high,
and afford excellent sport. The hunting season extends
from July 15th to February 1st, excepting the first
t\venty days of October, 'Vllich are barred for the mating
period. Eut, except for the meat, the caribou are not
wort}l shooting until about September; lOtIl to 30th is
perhaps the finest time, and the \veather is fairly pleasant.
'fhe suspense time ill October draws a clear line, and

191

from that until the middle of K oveulber, most of the
local hunters (1 use the ,vord in its true sense) go out,
though the weather at the last gets too cold for the
alien.
Every visiting' hunter must take out a license,
whicll costs fifty dollars and all01Ys 11im to kill three
stags. These licenses are
o be had from any magistrate
or game warden, and l"eqUIre the licensee to make oath
that he will not violate or pernlit the violation of, the
game laws; to convey SUCll meat as he may not use into
some settlement or else bury it; to prevent his hired
helpers killing caribou 11nless they are licensed; and
to retllrn his license ,vhen it expires ,vith a true endorse-
ment thereon of tIle number of caribou killed by him
and his party. It is forbidden to hunt caribou ,vith dogs
or any weapons save firearms, or to set traps or snares
for them. A licensee may take away froln the colony
the antlers, heads and sl(ins of tIle deer shot under his
license, on making oatIl that they are not being exported
for sale. The Act is framed to afford every facility to
visiting sportsmen, while at the saIne time providing
suell safeguards as will prevent abuses in the pursuit of
this noble pastime by pot-hunters and others.
The visiting sportsnlan can secure guides beforp-
hand, through the good offices of the
finistry of l\farinp
and Fisheries at St. .J ohn's, or of the Reid Newfoundland
Company. The rate of pay for ordinary guides is $1.:>0
to $2.50, for helpers
l a day. If one is venturing into
lake regions, a canoe is needed. I t can be got for about

15, or hired for fifty cents a day, all damages to he
lllade good. A tent is necessary ill any case, ëlnd it is
hest brought along by the visitor, the lighter the better.
'l'he same applies to a portable cook-stove equiplllcnt.
As to the hunter's outfit, it is difficult to advise, as tastes
differ so greatly. Some hunters nse the rubber boots
common among thp Grand Bank iisherlncll. Others
prefer the sealskin boots ,vhich the local sc
lers USe at
the ice fields. Others pin thC'ir faith to high
)loshe

192

because of their ,varn1th. 'Vaterproof footwear of SOlne
kind is essential, and plenty of heavy "Toollen socks
should not be overlooked. These can be obtained in
the Island, if a guide is engaged beforehand, for the'
village ,vomen l{nit theln ,veIl. Sleeping bags ar0
convenient, as they can he 'utilized for pac1{ing the
impedimenta. Rubber mattresses or cushions are
desirable, and spreads of the saIne serve many useful
purposes. The gllicles, ,vllere the country permits, ,viII
soon erect a shack or ,vigwam of boughs for t.helnselves,
which not infrequently is more comfortable than tL tent,
as it retains the ,yarn1 th better.
" The game laws of N e,vfoundland are sounder than
those of any country I have visited," writes 1Ir. H.
Hesketh .Pritchard in the CornIlill
Iagazine for
November, 1909. "They do not permit the guides to
shoot when accompanying a sportsman, though of coursp
at other times each guide has his right, as a citizen, to
kill three deer. This is an excellent regulation, for
,vhen the sportsman has shot his three lleads he can kill
no more, and may as ",veIl leave tIle country. In other
circ-un1stances he n1ight b"llY from his men their right
to shoot tIle three each to yrhicll they are entitled, and a
certain number of sportsmen would undoubtedly
do so-an evasion of the law ,vhich could only lead to
bad results. If N e"Tfoundland ",vould but add an
absolute prohibition, under a heavy penalty, of the sale
or exposure for sale of tIle trophy of any indigenous wild
animal, her game la,vs ,vould be nearly as perfect as one
can expect such lavvs to be. Perhaps, however, they
might be altered in one otller point. A
lO licensp
permits the foreigner or visiting sportsman to shoot three
stags. This places the person ,vho goes up to the Howley
station and in two days shoots that number of }Jrickets
as the deer cross the line on their migration, on the samp
footing with the man who s]Jends six week'3 in the
interior looking for three fine heads. If the rule
were a sta.g for every "cek spent hunting, the law would

· ' l <<
' { '

II'

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193

be more just and fewer stags be unworthily slain.
Incidentally the country ,vould benefit, as the hunter
who goes into the interior spends, say, :ßIOO as against
the ten pound note of the rail\vay sportsman."
Mr. J. G.
Iillais, author of "The
rammals of
Great Britain and Ireland," who hunted in the colony
several seasons, says: "For its size, N e,vfoundland to-day
contains more caribou than any other part of tIle ,vorld,
and, 01Ying to the nutritive qualities of its excellent
mosses and lichens, they grow to great excellence. It is
ahllost a platitude to say that a fine caribou head of, say,
thirty-five points, is a tropllY worth winning, for it is of
sue!l size and form that no really good collection is COln-
plete ,vithout a couple of good specimens. Big heads are
just as rare or as frequent as ever they "rere, and after
seeing; large nUlnbers of stags, I should say that any
hunter -',vho goes far enough afield and ,yorks hard is
sure to see at least ope forty-pointer for a season. In
1902, I killecl stags of thirty-five, forty-five and forty-
nine points, the t,yO last being splendid specimens. It
Inllst not, ho,vever, be thought that such heads arc
COlll1TIOn or easy to get. Though the deer are just as
plentiful as ever they were, they have gro,vn more
suspicious and retreated farther into the interior; and
to see a large number of stags, the hunter ll1ust be
prepared to journey inland by canoe and portage, and
then have large areas of country entirely to hiInsclf."
It is possible for anybody ,vith the slightest kno,y-
ledge of "rood-craft to kill caribou in Newfoundland by
his own 'llnaided exertions, but it is preferable to engage
guides. The stalking of the caribou Ct-'1lls for vpry little
,vood-Iore, and by tal{ing ordinary pre
"1,utions in the
matter of clothing, avoiding unnecessary noise, and
avaiJing of every patch of cover, the antlercd nlonarchs
may be approached closely enough to be picked off ,,-ith-
out risk of losing the quarry. Caribou are still Ycr
T
abundant in N e,vfoundlal1d, and likely to remain so,
as the ,vhole interior between the rail,yay and the :south
.N

194

coast, as well as the great northern peninsula, except the
coast line, are uninhabited, and form safe breeding
grounds for the great herds of deer which ,vander at will
ovpr these vast areas.
In addition to the shooting of caribou, ,,
hich can he
enjoyed in almost any section of the island, the pursuit
of bears, ,,"olves and l)"nxes forIns a diversion at l)resent
practised chiefly by the local hunters, though therp is
no reason "Thy visiting sportsmen should not also indulge
in it. The local h'llnters add to their inconle bv this
means, disposing of the pelts to the furriers. ÀIUI0St
every fisherman lIas a trapper's outfit, and lays snares
and traps in the ,yO ods inland froln the coast. 1\Iore
venturesome tra.ppers ,vinter in the interior, and lllake
the fur business a paying one. !1:oose haye recently
been introduced into the island from N e,v Bruns,vick,
and it is believed ,viII thrive ,veIl here, but, of course,
the }(illing of them is forbidden till they have had an
opportunity to propagate.
The country is equally rich in galne birds. Around
the coast are countless sea-pigeons and guillemots, or
" murs " and " turs" as the residents kno'\y them. On
the fresh ,,-ater, wild ducks and wild geese are equally
numerOllS. The latter is of the Canadian variety and a
notably fine bird. The black ducl
is hard to ap
proach,
but there is no better table bird. But the finest sport
of all is the ptarmigan shooting in the autunln. These
birds are locally called" partridge," but they are really
willow grouse. There is little difference bet,veen them
and the Scotch red grouse. In summer they are bro,vn
in colour, but with the snow-fall their pluIllage becomes
pure ,,"hite.
Fo,vling in one form or other affords satisfJTing
sport for the whole year. Geese and ducks arrive
in thousands early in }tIay and are shot in great
numbers on their ,yay north to Labrador for the
summer, by the local fisherlnen ,yho are adepts ,yith
fo",-ling-piece or rifle, their proficiency being acquired

195

from shooting seals on the ice. Sea-fo,vl, too, can
be had every morning and evening in their flights
about the headlands, and every cottage around the coast
is supplied with the finest feather beds. Throug-hout
the summer, the black duck, sheldrake, ".idgeon, teal,
canvasback and other fowl are procurable, and in the
autumn snipe, as ,veIl as partridge, enable sportsmen to
indulge in this favourite past.ime to their full satisfaction.
'l'he partridge and willow grouse may be shot in
large quantities at forty different "barrpns " ".ithin as
many miles of St. John's, and when the shooting season
.opens in September, every lnan about the city ,vho can
procure dog and gun starts for tIle grounds and usually
does well. The birds seJI in the city for fift
T cents a,
brace. Hares or rabbits are shot or snared in the fall and
winter, and are constantly purchasable for twenty cents a
couple. The poor of St. John's are thus able to enjoy
gamH at lo,v rates, for since the opening of the railway
the snaring of rabbits has become quite an industry, they
being shipped in carloads to that city for disposal.
)lore than 300 distinct species of birds are found in
N e,vfollndland, mostly migratory. Alnong them are
t he eagle, ha ",. k, o,v 1, ,vood pecker, swallo,,", kingfisher,
six species of flycatchers, a like number of thrushes,
,varblers, finches, ravens and geese. There are no
snakes, lizards, toads, or any reptiles, poisonous or other-
wise; and frogs ,vere unkno,v-n until recent ).ears, being
brought in from Nova Scotia.
Newfoundland offers equal attractions to the angler.
Salmon, sea-trout and lake-trout abound, and the people
are keen rod-fishers. 'fhe sahnon and sea-trout are to
be found in all the large rivers, thoug-h the streams on
the west coast are considered the best, because they
have not been sO lnuch fished, being- less accessihle. In
the spring and early summer, fishing is at its best.
Salmon, grilse, sea-trout and brook-trout are (1)undant,
and there are hundreds of strcalllS inland that have
never wet a line.

196

Fly-fishing is less expensiye than hunting. It can
be got within easy reacll of St. John's, and no Cal1lp is
needed, as there are inns near lnany of the best spots.
A guide, ho,yever, though not absollltely necessary, is
very desirable. The best salmon fishing is to be had
directly the sallnon start going up the rivers, generally
about the second ,yeek in JulJT. ..AJter ther are Ollce
well up the streal11S, the
T are far harder to catch, and
indeed, rarely tal{e the fly fairly and squarely after they
llave reached the upper pools. A good catch ho,yeyer,
can be dependeclllpon, given favourable ,,,eather alld no
east winds, in the n1iddle of July. Grilse, ,veighing
from five to six pounds, are evell more plentiful and
afford good sport. Kext come the sea-trout. Like the,
salu10n,

ou 111Ust follo,y them IIp stream, ,vhere the,
pools are filled ,vith tllenl, ,rhile they are very good
fighters. .L
11 ordinary catch is five to ten dozen, scaling'
from 1 Ih. to [5 lb. The brook, or fresh -,vater trout,
though sn1aller, often suppl
T a ver
T good day's diversion.
They call be got in nearl
T eyery pond, and even those.
closp. to St. John's, although 1110St assiduollsly fished,
yield excellent results. In tIle evenings or early lllorn..
ings, scores of enthusiasts are to be seen ""hipping the
waters and lllal(ing good catches. As one goes farther'
afield the sport gets better, and within a radius of twenty
miles of the to"rn the visitor can, by driving to or fro In
the pool or lake, secure SUcll enjoyment as no-nThel'e
else in Alnerica, east of the Rock
'" Mountains.
The possibilities of lal(e-trout fishing have been
increased by a local s])orting club for some years past
stocking the inland ,,-aters ,,,ith California rainbo-n r
trout, hatched in a llatcherv of their o,vn-a work that
is easily doubling the attra
tiveness of the Island in this
respect. Loch Leven trout ,vere introduced some years
ago and extensively distributed, and the native trout, so
called, but really a species of char, is alllazingly
abundant. One of the unique features of the holiday
season in St. John's is that" trouters' trains" are run

197

fifty miles along the rail,yay line, and several hundred
nlen and boys pngage in this pastinle and return in
t,venty-four hours ,vith thousands of dozens of fish.
If the visitor, hO'\vevcr, desires to see the country as
well as to secure amplc sport, he cannot do bcttpr than
take the trip across the Island by rail to the "'estern
shore, where he "Till find the Codroy and George's rivers
afford him excellent sport and splendid scenery. The
four large rivers on the East Coast-the rrerranova, the
Gambo, the Gander and the Exploits-are also frequently
visited by anglers.
Last year a "Game and Inland Fisheries Board"
was appointed, composed of t\venty representative local
sportsrnen ,vho give their services voluntarily, and to
"Thorn the administration of the la,vs respecting these
subjects is entrusted. A rod tax of $10 ,vas at the sallIe
tinle imposed on local anglers, and all the funds there-
from, as well as from caribou licenses were handed over
to this Board, to be expended in in1proving the sporting
attractions of the Island. This Board has pro v ided for
efficiently patrolling t,he moors and ri vcrs, appointed
gan1e ,,"ardens and secured deer reserves, and promises
to t11nply justify the expectations "\vhich this policy
inspired.

Ir. ....\.. RadcI)yffe DugJll0re, in "Country Life in
AmeriCê1," tells of Ilis experience in N e,vfoundland.
His feelings at the critical lIlonlent of strikin
his first
sahnon, are best conveycd in his o"Tn \\Tords. lIe says:-
" )Iy fish was not a lllonster, probably not Inore
that fiftecn pounds, but he took the fiy on a ,.cry long'
cast, and as he Inade the first frantic j lunp
, the rushing
,vater against thc bellying-liuc l)roved too luuch of a
strain, and the leader parted. Not lllorc than five
seconds of intense excitcnlcllt had I expcrienced, but
the thrill "Tas beyond all thincps I have c,"er kllo,vn, and
the sense of loss ,,,hen the st
'ain sO suddenly left the
rod cannot be COllvc)Ted br ,vords. rIhe. follo,,"ing
morning, I cast a ,Jock Scott on the running ".aj;er at

198

the head of the pool. No sooner had the fly sunk an
inch or so than a fish rose, rather lazily and ,vithout
touching the fly.
Iy heart ,vas throbhing vigorously
as I cast again and again. I 1\"as just abollt to change
the Jock Scott for a Silver Doctor ",-hen the water broke
about the fly, 1\ T hich "
as 1\ r ell belo,y the s
lrface. A
glimpse of a dorsal fin, and I felt the line tighten,
and instantly the reel began to hum as the fisll
run do,,,n streanl before l11akillg its first jump. Over
the pool ,ve went, the fish tugging and jumping and
in every ,yay opposing mr efforts to bring llÏ1n to
still ,vater. There ,,,,as no sulking; ,vhen not rUll-
ning, he jugged ,vith such force that I dOllbted
,vhether we could ever see each other at close qllarters.'
But lhough a fierce fight, it ,vas not a long one. TIle
end canIe after less than t"w'entv lllinutes of the keenest
eI
excitement I have ever felt, and though the fish 1\ T eighed
but eight pounds, I lllUst own to a sense of hal)pilless
that no other sporting experience has ever given me.
Trout and hass fishing are ""ell enough, but-,yeII, ,ve
don't tall( about going' trout and bass fishing next )'ear.
The N e,yfoundland salnlon ,viII suit us IJerfectly."

199

CHAPTER XXV.

.A.S A SUB)lA.RIKE CABLE CENTRE.

LAYING OF FIRST Al.'LA
TIC CAllLE-FIFTY-YEAR
EXCLUSIVE PUIVILEGE -INCOMING OF OTHER C.\.llIJES-
DISPUTE 'VITti C03!)IERCIAL CABLE CO){PA
Y.

N EWFOUNDLAND has been for over fifty years
the half-\y<ty house of the pioneer Atlantic cable,
and has latterly been utilized by all the other Euglish-
speaking cable cOlnpanies for the same purpose. '1'he
story of the Island's part in the launching of the sub-
marine cable project, is ll10St interesting. About 18
O,
the late Cyrus Field and }'reùerick Gisborne ,,"ere
planning the extension of the telegraph across the
ocean, it having been shewn that the electric current
could be transmitted under water through an effectively
insulated conductor. In 1854, the Ne,vfoundland Legis-
lature granted exclusive rights for fifty
Years to the

e\Y York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Com-
pany (subsequently the ,vell-kno,vn Anglo-l\.merican
'relegraph Company), \vhich undertook the construction
of telegraph" land-lines" through Nova Scotia to Cape
Breton, whence a submarine cable of one hundred miles
was laid to Cape l'tay in Kewfoundlanù, and another
telc'J'raph line constructed along the
outhern coast or
this Ü Island fronl Cape Itay east to St. J uhn's, and
thence south to Cape Race. lIere ,vas obtained from
passing west-bound liners the latest nc,vs of the European
continent, enclosed in air-tight packages and thro\\.n
overboard ,vith flags thereon, these receptacles being
secured by the news-boat, and taken to the telegraph

200

station ashore, whence the messages were transrnitted
to the United States; "r hile east- bound steamers ,vere
supplied ,yith despatches in the same way, containing
the ne\vs froIll the tinle they left Ne"r York until they
reached Cape Race, carrying these to the Irish coast,
where they were landed and sent to tlleir destination in
like manner. In 1858, the first trans-Atla.ntic cable was
laid bet,veen Ireland and N e,vfoundland, but as is ,yell
known, the electric nerve failed after a few days, and
eight years elapsed before the successful pernlanent
connecting of the two helTIispheres 1ras accomplished in
1866, since 1vhen, either half of the world has never
been ,,"ithout daily infornlation of the events of the
other, nor is ever likely to be again.
'1'he success of the suhmarine cable having thus
been proved, other electric cableR were submerged, and
in due course competing conlpanies entered the field;
and finding the fifty-year monopoly as to N e,,"foundland
a serious handicap, attempted to overcome it. 'l'he Direct
United States Cable Company laid a cable across the
ocean right into Conception Bay in 1875, ,yhen it ,vas
enjoined from landing there by the Ne,vfoundland
Supreme Court, ,yhich injunction "
as sustain,ed upon
appeal, by the Imperial PrivJ Council. Irhis decision
compelled the other conlpanies to land their cables at
St. Pierre, }liquelon; Nortb S
'dney, Cape Breton;
Canso, 1\ ova Scotia; and points on the N e,,- England
coast. The" .J..
nglo" monopoly was cffectiye against
everybody except the N eu' found land Government,
provision being l11ade, as to this, that the GoVel'nnlent
might establish land-lines itself in }Jarts of the Island
where the Anglo Company was indisposed to do 80; and
in 1905, after the Anglo monopoly expired, the Ne"r-
foundland Government arranged vfitll the COlll111ercÍal
Cable Company for the Company to lay a cable for the
Governnlent between Port-aux..Basques, Ne,vfoundland
and Canso, N ova Scotia, there to connect with the
" Commercial's" system of cables and land.. lines, and

201

transfer traffic to and froll1 N e\\Tfounùland. 'rhis
contract ,vas for ten years, and it is important to note
that in the san1C snn11ner, just before this cable ,vas laid,
the " Commercial" subn1ergcd an
\.tlantic cable fronl
"\Vaterville, Ireland, to Ca.nso, passing the southern
coast of K cwfoundlancl, for the translnission of its O,\Tn
gro\ving VOltllUe of business. 'fhe" .l\.nglo " had, lnean-
,vhile, four effective ,vorking cables across the Atlantic,
lJet,ycen Valencia, in Ireh-tud, and IIeart's Content, in
N e,vfoundl
nd, and the requisite connections for these,
ciâ Placentja and North Sydney, Cape Breton, giving
through connections ,vith the "T estern U nioH 'l'elegl'1a.ph
Company all oyer the United States and Canada.
In February, 1909, in the height of the political
deadlock in the colony, ,vi thin t\\?O weeks of the Bond
lvlinistry vacating office, and ,yhen its resignation ,vas
in the hands of the Governor, it frained an alleg-ed
agreement with the" Commercial" Cable Cornpany-to
continue for twenty-five
"ears-by which that Company
,yas to cut one of its cables on the Grand Banks, land it
in this colony, and thence extend it to Ke,y York; and
to transfer over this cable any Europcan cable business
to or from the colony, and to do the same ,,
ith the
colony's "restcrn (Canada and .A,.ll1erica) cable traffic
,vhen its o"Tn caùles or landlines 111ight be interruptcd,
the Company to pay the colony $:t,OOO a year as a.
license for the landing of th
caùle, and to receiye ùacl{
a sÜllilar SUln for affording these facilities to the colol1

's
cable traffic; the Conl"pany, further, to pay
..t,OUO each
for an V future cables it lnio>ht land, a cable entering and
. ü
a cahle leavin ol beiuO' considered as onl y Olle cahle, and

0
to he taxed at hut $Li,OOO, ,yith a 111tlxiulUl11 tax of
$20,000 a year, no nlattcr ho". man
" cahles it lnight
land.
It should be said that in lU04, the Legislature under
Pre1nier Bond, cnacted a let,,," requiring eypr
" trans-
.i\.tlantic Cable Company landing a, cable on the' shores
of this Island, to pay a tax of

,OOO for eaell
ucJ1. cable,

202

,v'ith a maxinlum of $20,000 annually; and llnder the
terms of this Act, the Anglo-American rrelegraph
Company "
as obliged to pay the sunl of 820,000 a year.
The first effect therefore of the alleged agreement ,vith
the "Commercial" Company, wOlllcl be the Company
securing entry for its initial cable for nothing, as the
payment by the colon
T of
4,OOO a
Tear for the so-called
privilege of obtaining transit for its business over that
cable, would ocr -set the landing tax of S4,000, ,,
hile for
futllre cables it '\vould gaÏ11 entry at $4,000 for each
incoming and outgoing line, ,vhile the "l\..nglo"
Company ,vas paying twice that amount; the sanle
liability attaching to any other cable companies subse-
quently entering the colony, for such ,yould be unable
to make similar ternlS ,vitb the Governnlent of the day,
because this alleged agreenlent "rith the " C0l11merciaf"
bound the Governnlent to transact all its business ,vith
the world abroad through the" Con1mercial " systenl on
both sides of the Atlantic.
This alleged ag-reenlent ,vas considered too extreme
in its scope and unfair to the colony and to other cable
co 111 panies. The 1VlinistrJ, therefore, on tal(ing office,
declined to recognize it; as it contained no provision for
its ratification by the Leg-islature, as prescribed by the
ltules of the Assembly and the '\vell-kno,vn usage of the
colony, they contending that a moribund
Iinistry, ,vith
its resignation in the Govprnor's hands, had no po""rer to
bind the colonyfort,venty-five years to any suchag-reement
,vithout reference to the Legislature. The" Commercial"
Company protested verr strongly against this, but ,vas
met by the argument that its contract of 1905, for a ten-
year concession, was ratified by the Legislature; and in
due course the Government demanded of the Company
$16,000 for the year's landing tax, "rhich was refused,
and suit was thereupon taken in the Supreme Court to
secure the amount. When this ,vas written a decision
had not been rendered, and so it is not possible to say
what the outcome ,viIi be; but it may serve here to

203

summarize the argtunents on both sides, in view of its
importance from a constittltionaJ, as ,yell as a legal,
standpoint.
rr'he C0l11mercial Cable Compan
'" contends that it
made the alleged Agreement in good Îaith; that, relying
thereoll, it ""ent to the expense of nearly two million
dollars to cut its cable on the Grand Banks, extend it to
N'ewfoundland, and then suhmerge a lle\V section to
N e,v York; that it would not haye Inade this change and
incurred this outlay hut for the concessions in this
alleged agreement; and that the incolning )Iinistry
departed from British usage in not implementing- it.
The Governl11ent replies that the outgoing 1Iil1istry,
in makin b O' this alleO'ed aO'reelnent ,ras arroO'atin CP to itself
ö;::' , ;::, t) .
po,vers which belonged to the Legislature alone; that
the pr3 ctice of ratifying
Iinistry contracts ,vas ,yell
recognised; that the" Commercial" Company canlC to
N e,vfotlndland, not to facilitate the colony, and not for
the sake of the local traffic. but because of the advan-
tage to accrue to it fronl securing a landing place in this
Island, as the experience of fifty years had detern1Ïnc(l
that, in the ,vorking of trans-..ltlantic cables, the
shorter the distance from point to }Joint t the greater the
the speed anù efficiency; and ne,vspaper statell1Cnts
by the President of the "Colnmercial" COlnpany,
were quoted, ,vherein he ,vas represented as declaring-
that this terrúiaaJ facility in Newfoundland ,,'ould
increase the efficiency of the caùle 33 ller cent., it
being }Jointed out, moreover, that fronl the reports of
the Government's postal telegraph department, inter-
ruptions in its cahle and land-line
yste}n during four
years nleant a, loss only of
300, or $75 a ypar,
and yet this alleged agreernellt proposed to pay
.1.,OOO a
year for facilities ,vhich, in actual operating', cost the
colony only
7 5 a year;. and finally, that negotiations
were actually in progress hy 'v hich the Western Union
Teleo'raph Company and the Direct United States Ca.blo
Com:pany \vere prepared to entcr the Island ,vitb their

204.

cables, and pay the landing tax on the basis of $8,000
each for a through cable, which negotiations have since
culminated in the J\;forris Governlnent effecting contracts
with these companies on these terms, that were ratified
in the last Session of the Legislature.
The trans-Atlantic cables in actual operation to-day
are as follo"\,\r :-
Four "Anglo-American" cables het,veen the
British Isles and America, viâ Heart's Content, K e,v-
foundland.
Three" v,.... estern lTnion" cables; one between the
British Isles and America, viâ Bay Roberts, N H\vfound-
land, and two, viâ Canso, Nova Scotia.
One" Direct U.S." cable between the British Isles
and America, viâ Harbour Grace, N e,vfoundland.
Five "Commercial" cables; t".o between the
J3ritish Isles and America, viâ St. John's, Ne"\,\rfound-
land; two, viâ Canso; and one, viâ Horta, Azores.
T",.o
French cables bet"\'\:-een Brest and New York,
viâ St. Pierre, Miquelon, and one, viâ Cape Cod.
The German cables between Borkum and New
York, viâ the Azores.

205

CHAPTER XXVI.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PEOPLE.

S.AXO
.A.ND CELTIC STOCK-No .L\.BORIGINES-CRI
IE-
LESS RECORD OF THE COLONy-ADVANCED TE::\I-
PERANCE LEGISLATION-SOCIAL COKDITIONS.
T HE populatioll is derived entirely from the Saxon
and Celtic races. N e\vfoundland, alone, of all
the overseas possessions of the Empire, has no aboriginal
peoples and no subject races.. Except for a handful of
not more thall two hundred l\Iicmac Indians, en1izrants
from Novia Scotia, it is occupied entirely by a white,
English-speaking element, 214,738 of its 2
O,ü8j.
residents, or 97.5 per cent. of the \vhole, o"rning the
Island as their birthplace; \vhile those of English birth
are 1,082, of Scotch, 324, of Irish, 545, and of British-
Colonial, 2,102, leaving only 2,193 persons in the
whole colony who cannot claim to have first seen the
light \vithin the British Empire. In forty years the
numher of natives increased from 90 to D7.5 per cent.
while in the same IJeriod the number of old-time
settlers from Ireland and the ,,-cst of England has
bcen d,vindling, the tide of iInnligration being sta
.cd,
for in 1857 these numbered 9.1 per cent. and no\v
rcpresent only .7 per cent.
The people being thus entirely of lJritish stock
and the Saxon and Celtic races being n1ingled here
as perhaps nO'Y}lere else, the product has been '1
people ,,"ith all the energy, courage and self-reliance
of the Saxon, coupled with the brilliancy and daring

-4

206

of the Celt, so that they are equally at home in facing
the hazards of the ocean's surges, the risks and perils
of the ore-mine, and in lllore recent times the log-drive.
They have developed an adaptability, growing out of
necessi ty; a readiness in all handicrafts "7 hich is the
wonder of those ,,-ho corne in contact with tllem,
and which bas arisen through tlleir having to practise
everJT trade and occupation in the small settlenlents
that are their homes. Their intellectual developnlent
has received special attention; and they are proving
themselves, in outside universities, in husiness centres
in the ,vorld abroad, and ill the comulercial progress
of their country at home, to be able to use their en-
do,vments in these respects in a nlanller to bring no
discredit on tllemselves or the land of their birth.
The country is absolutely crimeless, h"t,,--abiding,
moral and tenlperate. Serious crin18 is practically
unkno",vn. During the IJast decade, among tllese quarter
million people there has not been a murder or a serious
affray. The Colonial Penitentiary is often scarcely
Occuilied, so fe,,,, are the offenders. For the pa;t
eigllteen months the Supreme Court at St. J ohu's has
had but one important case on its criminal docket, and
the magistrates around the coasts are rarely required to
deal with other than civil suits. 'l'he Island is, perhaps,
the 1TIOst temperate portion of the ",'TorId, as, except in
St. John's, "local option" applies everyv\There; a
measure which allo,vs the people of each township to
decide, by a majority vote, in a plebiscite, to prohibit
the sale of liquors herein; a.nd ev
n in St. John's, the
sale of intoxicants is no",v restricted to the hours between
9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on "Teek days and absolutely prohibited
on Sundays. The moral character of the people is very
high, and their kindness and hospitality are proverbial.
.A.s church-goers they are probably llnexcelled, but \vhile.
devotedly attached to their different religious persuasions,
their toleration is ren1arkalJle, and is perhaps best
evidenced by the fact that, follo\ving Canada's example,

207

the colony at the last general election, thou
ll the
electorate is two. thirds Protestant, returned a Itoman
Catholic as Prime l\linister. Charity and consideration
for those in distress are 110t:'ll>le
haracteristics of aU
classes. Collections for every deserving ohject are
liberally recognized. The care of the poor is made a
special luatter, and clergymen and physicians, like
Dr. Grenfell, testify to the lllanner in \\'llich
in seasons
of adversity, the fishernlen in a settlement ,viII help

ach other even to sharing their last morsel with those
l110re destitute than themselves. .1tmol1ga none is morp
generous liberality s11o,vn to sufferers b)T calamity or
111isfortune, and nowhere js the life of the people in its
every respect more commendable.
"V\"'"ith the extension of the facilities for inter-com-
munication in recent years, the connecting of relnote
regions by the railwar, ancl the advantages for travel
provided by the steamship seryice, the spread of
education, and the increase in the nUlnber of clergymen,
the social life of the people has sho,vn a marked improve-
ment. To their material welfare the more assured
financial status of all classes, as a result of continued
good fisheries, high prices and lle,v and diversified
industries, have contributed materially; and the result
has been, that the disadvantages of isolation are being
counteracted; the ne,,"spaper, the telegrapll and more
recently the telephone, have been pla
ring their parts in
assisting in thi
result, and the lllaterial and social status
of the people in cyen the smallest h
tlnlets is being
garea tly improved. Taken all in all, the fishermen of
N e\vfoundland-for they constitute the great mass of
the population-compare fayorably as to their condition
\vith the ,vorking classes of other countries. To COln-
-pensate thenl for the privations and hardships they
endure, they enjoy an oI)en-air life, robust health,
capacity for simple pleasures, and genuine happincss in
materia] respects. They live practically untaxed, and in
this probably stand distinct from any other English-

"

208

speaking people. They o,vn their own 1101l1esteac1s, and
pay fee to no landlord; if they desire more land for
cultivation, they can acquire it IJractically free of cost;
they can obtain ,vater from every stream, fire,yood
froln every thicket, and the nlaterial to build their
hOillCS, their vessels and their fishing stations, froin the
forests of the "haek-lands." The indispensable neces-
saries of life to thenl-foodstuffs, fishing gear, farming
implements and mining requisites-are adnlittec1 to
the colony free of duty; there are no municipal,
district or other rates to be paid; the Colonial Govern-
ment, through the taxes it collects on the imports of
luxuries, and of necessaries not regarded as indis-
pensable, obtains the revenue to meet the cost of
carrying on eyery branch of the public service; and
much of the monies appropriated for the various depart-
lllents, returns directly to the IJeople through the
disbursements for roads, wharves and similar public
works in the several districts; and, as already stated,
the schools are lTIaintained by the sums voted by the
general Government.
Picturesque and comfortable are the llomes of the
N e,yfoundland fisherfolk; and every village has its
churches, schools and lodges of the benevolent organi-
zations which are fnunded among' them. There a.re
to he seen in some plaees the old-tinle houses
-ith
large open fire-places, dog-irons and the other ac-
cpssories of a vanished period, while curiosities, in the
shape of old furniture, old silver and other articles
of this kind, are often to l)e secured. No matter ho\v
small the village, the traveller can al,vays rest assured
of a hospitable reception, and of the best accommoda-
tion that the place can afford; and the settlers think
no trouble too great to undertake for a visitor.
In no respect are the N e,vfoundlanders more re-
markable than in their strict Sabbatarianism. They
,,;oill not, under any circumstances, engage in fishing
or other work on Sundays; and even iJ?- the seal hunt,

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209

\vhen a change of ,vincI nlay disperse the herds and lnake
it iml)Ossible for them to nlakc a successful catch, the v
adhere to their principles so firmly, that some years ag

the Colonial Legislature was deluged with petitions, and
had to enact a la\v to prohilJit the killing of seals on
Sundays; l)ecallse one or two captains, of a "viking"
spirit, persisted in enforcing this practice against the
conscientious convictions of tl1eir crews, ancl the latter
and their fellows ill the other ships, resented this strongly.
Now the killing of seals is prohibited absolutely Oil
Sundays, and
,OOO nlen cease fronl this ""ork on a
Saturday llight, and, regardless of the "
eather condi-
tions, refrain froln it until l\fonday morning. One of
the principal issues before the Hague Tribunal in thp
International arbitration last year arose out of this very
lllatter, the pnforcemcnt agai
st ...tmcricans by the loc
l
autIlorities of the N e,vfoundlancl la,,,', forbidding all
forIns of fishing on Sundays. Indeed, thirty years ago,
the settlers in one harbour forcibly resistcci _t\..Inericans
undertaking to fish on the Sahbath, and provok(\d an
International cOJl1plication whicll cost the British
Government $75,000 to adj ust, as the Americans claimed
damages for the unauthoriscù interference \vith their
work.
The fisherfolk arc a physically splendid race of n1en,
,vhose daily occupations bring out the finest qualities.
Children learn to sail boats at six or seven years old.
rrhese fishermen ]i:now tl1cir hoats as ,veIl as a jocker
]\:no\vs his horse; and all skiffs are teste(l for thcir "rork
l)efore they arc put into actual daily service; and if therc
is reason to fear that they ,,,ill fail in an extrcmity, they
are rUll ashore and left to rot, because there are times
in the life of every fisherman 'VhPll only the proved
stability of his craft \vill save hi m from destruction.
The men are keen ,vith the' rino and shot-gun.
They hunt their O\'''ll game in the forests as the" shoot
seals in the ocean; and there is rarely a farmhousp rounù
the geaboard lacking trophies of caribou hcads or
kins
o

210

of fur-bearing animals, in which besides, there is a large
trade done in the Island. Formerly there "
ere thousands
living along the remoter sections of the coast who rarely
had any intercourse "\vith the outside world, and to WIIODI
the ordinarJr everyday conveniences of more advanced
civilization, such as the street car and the electric light,
were little short of marvellous; but they are becoming
more familiar ,vitIl these conditions, and consequently
more ready to Tecognize the advantages which will flow
to the Island itself from the exteusion of the railroad.
system
steam boats and other utilities.

211

CHAPTER XXVII.

GüVERNl\iENTAL.

FORM OF GOVERNl\IENT-LEGISLATURE-POWERS OF
rrs COXSTITUENT F ACTORS-AD){INISTRATIVE
DEPARTMENTS.

U NTIL 1832, the Island was ruled solely by the
Governor, instructed froDl time to tim
by the
Imperial authorities. In that year Representative
Government ,vas gl'anted, a limited form of autonOTI1Y
with a Legislature to which, however, the Governor and
his Executive Council ,vere not responsible. In 1855,
the more extensive autonomous authority, }{nown as
Responsible Government, was conceded. Newfound-
land now possesses this as amply as does Canada,
A ustra.lia, N e\v Zealand and South Africa, which are
no\v officiallv styled the over-seas "Dominions." N ew-
foundland is the only colony besides these larger
appanages which is in that category, for she dec1ines to
unite with Canada, preferring to remain independent.
The over-sea possessions, peopled largely by colored races,
governed \",ithout autonomy and formerly kno\yn as
"Cro\vn Colonips," are now termed "Colonies," \yhile
the autonomous possc
sions are distinguished as
" Dominions."
In Newfoundland the Government consists of tl1ree
cstates-tllc Govcrnor, the representative of the
Sovereign, appointed l)y the Crown and usually one "ho
has fillcd various posts in Crown Colonies; the
egis-

2]2

Jati ve Council, consisting of 21 men1 bel's, holding om ce
for life, vacancies being filled by the l\iinistry of the
day; and the House of Assembly of 36 Inen1bers, elected
four years by the votes of the people. Manhood suffrage
and secret ballot prevail. The administration is
modelled on that of the l\1:other Country. From the
dominant party in the House of Assembly a l\Ijnistry or
Executive Council is formed, consisting of nine mem-
bers, and this body controls affairs, subject of course,
to its continuing to retain the support of a nlajority in
the elective clJamber. In the Legislature is vested,
collectively, the power of making laws; jurisdiction
over public debt and property; taxation of civil po,vers;
the raising- of loans upon the colony's credit; and the
conducting of all the public services. The right of the
Assembly or elective House to originate money bills is
fully recognized, alld the Upper Chamber never inter-
feres with such enactments.
The administrative power is vested in the Governor
and his advisers, the IVlinistry or Executive Council now
consisting of:-
Hon. Sir Edward P. Morris, Kt., P.C., K.C., LL.D.,
Prime }iinister.
Hon. D. Morison, K.C., l\'linister of Justice.
Hon. Robert Watson, Colonial Secretary.
Hon. Michael P. Cashin,
Iinister of Finance and
Customs.
Hon. Sydney D. Blandford, Minister of Agriculture
and Mines.
Hon. Charles H. Emerson, K.C., )
Hon. Robert K. Bishop,
'Vithout
Hon. John C. Crosbie, { Portfolio.
Hon. :\Iichael P. Gibbs, )
Departmental Officers not in Council :-
"\ìVilliam vVoodford, Minister of Public "\Vorks.
Archibald W. Piccott, Minister of lVlarine and
Fisheries.

213

The Legislative Council is at present composed of:-
Hon. Sir E. D. Shea, Kt., Hon. James S. Pitts,C.)I.G.
President. " R. K. Bishop
" James McLoughlan "J. D. Ryan
" James Angel " ,T. Anderson
" John Harris " J. IIarvcv
" Dr. George Skelton "S.
lilleÿ
" George Knowling ,,1\1. P. Gibbs
" Daniel J. Greene, ",,-r m . Carson Job
K.C. " John Alex. Robinson
" James Baird " Marmaduke Geo.
" Edgar R. Bowring \Vinter
" John B. Ayre One vacancy
The lIouse of AssemblJ, alphabetically arranged,
and giving the name of the District for which each
Member is returned, is as follo,,-s :-
Bennett, J. R., St. John's, West.
Blandford, Hon. S. D., Bonavista.
Bond, Rt. Hon. Sir R., P.C., Twillingate.
Cashin, Hon. 1\I.P., Ferryland.
Clapp, W. M., St. Barbe.
Clift, J. A., K.C., Twillingate.
Crosbie, Hon., J.C., Bay-de- Verde.
-Davey, E. H., Burin.
Devereux, R. J., Placentia and St. }Iary'M.
Do\vney, J. F., St. George's.
Dwyer, J., St. John's, East.
Earle, H. J., Fogo.
Emerson, TIon. C. H., K.C., Fortune.
Gear, H.) Burin.
Goodison, J. R., Carboncar.
Grant, E. G., Trinity.
Howley, W. l
., Placentia and St.
Iary's.
Kennedy, :M. J., St. ,John's, 1Vest.
Kent, J. M., B.A., K.C., St. J ahn's, _East.
Moore, P. F., Ferryland.
Morison, Hon. D., K.C., Bonavista.

.

St. John's, West.
Placentia and St. Mary's.
Burgeo and La Poile.
Harbour
fain.
Harbour Grace.
Harbour Grace.
Twillingate.
Ha.rbO'ur Grace.
St. John's, East.
Trinity.
Port-de-Grave.
Trinity.
Bonavista.
Bay-de- Verde.
Harbour Main.
· Died Ma.rch 10th, 1911.
The 18 electoral districts which send these 36
Members to the House of Assembly, are as follows:-
ßay-de-Verde ... 2 Members.
B
av

3
Eurgeo and La Poile . . . 1
Burin ... 2
Carbonear 1

ny

2
Fogo ... 1
Fortune Bay 1
Ilarbour Grace 3
Harbour Main 2
Placentia and St. Mary's 3
Port-de-Grave... 1
St. Barbe 1
St. George's ... 1
St. John's, East 3
St. J ohn's, West 3
Trin
3
Twillingate 3

Morris, Ron. Sir E. P., Kt.,
}Iorris, F. J., K.G.,
}Ioulton, R.,
Murphy, J. J.,
Parsons, E.,
Piccott, A. W.,
Roberts, Geo.,
Seymour, A. H.,
Shea, G.,
Squires, R. A.,
Warren, 'V. R. (Spealcer),
Watson, Hon. R.,
Winsor, W. C.,
White way, J.,
Woodford, W.,

Total

214

...

36

"

"

"

,

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

215

Party lines are not strictly drawn in the Legislative
Council, and its
Iembers, speaking generally, do not
admit any political affiliations. In the House of Assem-
bly the Government-or "People's Party" as it is
politically known-holds 26 seats, and the Opposition,
or "Liberal" party, 9 seats. One is vacant by the
death of the sitting member, in 1Iarch of this year, who
,vas also a Liberal.
POWERS OF THE GOVER
OR.
The Governor, who is a]:-,o Commander-in-Chief in
and over the colony and its dependencies, has the po,ver,
in the King's name, to commute the sentences of courts
of justice; to summon, open, prorogue; anù, on occasions,
dissolve tIle local Parliament; to give or withllold assent
to, or reserve for the Itoyal consideration, all bills which
have passed both Chambers. His salary is $10,000 and
travelling alluw"ance of $1,000 per year, ,vith perlnanent
l"esidence and other }Jerquisites, are provided by the
colony.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The Legislature must meet once a
Teal", and is
usually summoned "for the despatch of business" in
the month of February. l
ither TIouse may originate
measures, except money bills, and these must originate
in the popular chamber on the initiation of the
1\finisters, and the recommendation of the Governor,
}1roposals contemplating increases not being allo,vahle
even there, llnless acccptecl lJy the Government.
rhe
sessions llsually occupy tTfO or three lTIonths.
'fhe President of the Legislative CounciJ is paid
$2.t0 IJer year as such, and each mClnber of that branch
l
eceives $120 a year as a sessional inden1nitv. The
Speaker of the House of
\..ssemhly is paid
7jO a

ear,
ancl each member receives B200, ,vhilc those ,\"ho reside
outside of St. John's are allo\vcd an additional S100
towards meeting tlleir expenses while attending the
seSSIons.

216

The Leader of the Governnlel1t, fornlerly known as
the Prenlier, but since the more formal recognition
of the" Dominions," fiS the Prime lVlinister, receives no
pay for this l)ost, thougll he nlay tali:e one of the six
portfolios" ith it. These Departnlental offices-Ministry
of Justice, Colonial Secretaryship,
Iinistry of Finance
and Customs, 1\1inistry of Agriculture and Mines,
Ministrr of Public VV orks, and Ministry of J\Iarine and
Fisheries-carry salaries of $2,000 each, and the holders
must occupy seats in one or other branch of the Legisla-
ture, usually ill the popular branch.
The Department of the Prime
linister is entrusted
with the direction of lrhat nlay be called the foreign
affairs of the colony, including the international fishery
disputes '\vith ,vhich it is concerned; the effecting of
trade connections ,yith foreign countries; and the
development of new industries at home; besides which
the Prime }tlinister exercises a general supervision over
the affairs of the other Departme]]ts of the !Jub1ic
service.
'he present Prin1e Minister, Sir Ed'\vard Morris,
is the first who has occupied this post without any
salaried office attached to it, and gi ,-en his whole tin1e to
its steadily increasing volume of work. Indeed he has
virttlally created the post and she"rn the possibilities it
comprehended for pronloting the material interests of
the colony and its people. His predecessor, Sir Robert
Bond, held the Colonial Secretaryshi}) ,vith the Premier.
ship; and Sir James Winter and Sir vVilliam White,,"ay,
who preceded then1, each held the Attorney-Generalship.
The Departlnent of Justice administers all matters
relating to the Supren1e and subordinate courts; the
magistracy and peace commission; the constabldary a.nd
Prison Bureau; civil and crinlinal prosec'utions; and the
legal work of the public service. The Supreme Court
consists of three Judges, a Chief Justice at $5,000 a year,
and two assistant Justices at $4,000, "\vith a I-ligh
Sheriff for the Island, and a Duputy in St. John's,
and sub-sheriffs in the principal post-to,vns. There

217

is a District Court in St. John's, 1yith a judge at
$2,LiOO, and one at Harbour Grace at $1,200. rrhirty
magistrates have jurisdiction in lesser matters in as
Inany districts allover the Island. The constabulary is
êt colonial force, modelled on the Royal Irish, and is
officered l)y an Inspector - General at $2,000, and a.
Superintendent at 81,200 in St. John's; a District
Inspector at Harbour Grace and another at Bay' of
Islands, and non-commissioned officers and men, making
up a total of 103 in all, half being stationed at St. John's.
and available for emergency duty, and the rest being in
ones and t,vos in the principal towns. Besides these,
there are 20 local constables in as many places, avail-
able for telnporary dutJ.
\he policenlen perform a
Inultiplicity of duties, like the famous Canadian
}Iountecl Police. Associated ,vith the constabulary is
the Fire Departnlent of St. John's, to,yards the upkeep
of which tIle city contributes $12,000 annually; the
eontrol and \vorking of the force ho\vever, being entirelr
in the hands of the constabulary, the combination being
found to ,yorl{ most effectively. This force consists of
a chief, three assistants and 24 fire constables; the
]nembcrs of the Police Departu1ent being also available
as assistants "Then required. 'ehe Prison Department
consists of a Penitentiary at St. John's, to which arc
tt'ansferred long--sentcnce offenders fro111 all parts of the
Island, as well as the casual offenders in the city of
St. John's, ,yhile jails for mi
demcanants arc
established in the various district to,vns.
The Department of the Colonial Secretary has
jurisdiction over the Registration of Vital Statistics;
the Itegistration of COffi}Janies; the Inspection of
'Veights and 31easures; and the Copyrig-ht, l}atent an!l
Tradè-:
larks La,vs. This Department like\visc directs
the sub-Department of Puhlic Charities, which elubraces
the relief of the poor allover the Island; the adminis-
tration of the Lunatic Asylulll, Poor .l\.sylum, General
Hospital and Fcycr Hospital at St. John's; general

.

218

11ealth protection matters and supervision of tIle lIedical,
Dental and Pharnlacelltical Boards, ,vhich regulate the
IJractice of these professions throughout the colony.
The Postmaster-General, beÏ11g a permanent
official, and not having a seat in either branch of
the Legislature, the Colonial Secretary is the Parlia-
mentary head of the Postal and Telegraph Departments
as well. These enlhrace the working of the Post-Office
.system, the operatioll of the inland telegraphs, and the
direction of the bay, coast and ocean-steam services,
railways, couriers, etc. There are 620 post-offices in
as many hamlets, besides tIlose on the trains and
lnail boats; and 420 courier routes, as well as 66 post-
offices in Labrador; and tIle Telegraph Department
comprehends the ll1aintenance of 2,500 miles of telegraph
line and nearly 200 offices. The postal rate for local
Jetters, for those within t]le British Enlpire, and for
those to and fron1 the United States is two cents an ounce;
elsewhere the rate is 5 cents; ,vllile there are also
parcel posts lnaintained ,vitIl Canada, United States
and Great Britain, and, through the latter, with countrie

l1aving a parcel post with the United Kingdom. The
parcel post rate to Canada is 12 cents per pound, with
a maximum weight of 11 pounds. The same rate
applies to the United States. To Great Britain the
rate is 24 cents for parcels not exceeding 3 pounds, this
being the lllinimum ; for parcels 3 to 7 pounds, 48 cents;
IJarcels 7 to 11 pounds, 72 cents. For otb.er foreign
countries, the foregoing rate plus the rate between
J3ritain and SllCh countries. The administration of
Educational affairs is also under the department of the
Colonial Secretary. The subject of Education is treated
in another chapter.
The Department of
Hinance and Customs has control
()ver all matters relating to the public debt; and the
administration of, redemlJtion of and payment of
interest thereon. It has also charge of the collection
()f customs and excise duties; the enforcement of the

219

revenue and preventive laws; the compilation of
statistics of the annual trade and commerce of the colony;
administration of bank fishermen's insurance; collection
of light dues; survey of coast-wise passenger ships and
Labrador fishing vessels; and to the duties of the
Depaltment has been added, by legislation of the last
Session, the administration of the Old Age Pension Fund,
newly created.
r!'he Department of Agriculture and
Iines has
control of the Crown Lands of the colony; the adminis-
tration of the laws relating to Inining, quarrJing,
lumbering, pulp and paper making, and, by recent
enactments, the development of the agricultural resources
of the colony by nleans of an .Llgricultural Board is also
placed within the purview of this Department.
The Department of Public Works has to do with the
maintenance and llpkeep of public buildings and other
institutions. The adlninistration of the roads, hridges
and ferries throughout the Island also comes "Tithin its
province, as well as, through tIle Government Engineer,
the supervision of railway construction and similar
undertakin2's.
u
rrhe Department of
Iarine and Fisheries is devoted
to the maintenance and operation of the lighthouses, fog
alarms and other coast aids, break\vaters and wharves;
preservation and encouragement of the fisheries;
enforcement of the bait, lobster and other fishery Jaws;
carrying out of the meteorological service; examination
of masters and mates and marine engineers; inspection
of boilers and machinery, and the exanlination of
persons employed in connection there,,'ith; as ,veIl as
dredging, cold storage, and vessel inspection for l) ount r
on ships built; \vhile it also, through the Game and
Inland Fisheries Eoard, enforces the hunting and game
fishing laws.
SUPRE
IE COUR'L\
The Supreme Court was instituted in 1826 ùy the
promulgation of a Royal Charter.
ro it and to the

220

magistrates is entrusted the correct interpretation and
proper enforcement of the la,vs. It is in session all the
year at St. John's, except during the "Long Vacation"
- July, August and September-'\vhen each jlldge
remains in the Capital for a month to deal '\vith matters
which may be disposablp "in Chalnbers"; another
conducts a circuit around the Island at such times anfl
places as may be fixed by the Governor, and the thir(l
enjoJTs the resulting triennial holiday.

COURT OF LABRADOR.
The Court of Labrador lias civil and criminal
jurisdiction over such parts of Labrador as lie ,yithin
the jurisdiction of N ewfolllldland. It is presided over
by a Judge ,vho is nominated bJ the Governor-in-
Council.
CEKTRAL DISTRICT COURT.
The Central District Court is a Court of Record held
in St. John's for the said District, for the adjudication
of civil causes, and sits whenever business requires.
The Judge of this Court is also the police magistrate for
the to\vn. There is also a District Court in Harbour
Grace with jurisdiction over the electoral district of
Conception Bay, presided over hy a jlldge '\vith similar
powers.
QuARTER SESSIONS.
Courts of general and qllartpr sessions n1ay be hpld
in the Island, in such places as deterlnined by the pro-
clamation of the Goyernor. They are presided over by
the stipendiary magistrates or justices of the peace.

LA ,,- SOCIETY.
" The Law Society of K ewfoundland " is constituted
by Statute and is und
r the inspection of the .T udges of
the Supreme Court for the time being. No person is
admitted to practice as an attorney by the Supreme
Court llnless upon actual service of five J"ears with some

221

practising att.orney of the Island; or if a regular
graduate of any college of His )[ajesty's Dominions of
four years; or who, having been entered on the books
of " 'rIle Law Society" as a Student-

t-La'Y, shall have
been subsequently called to the Bar in England, Scotland
or Ireland, or any of the Colonies, upon producing
evidence thereof, ànd undergoing a satisfactory examina-
tion, may be called by "The Ll,'V Society" to the
Degree or Barrister. Recently the Act \vas anlended to
allow ',,"Olnen to study for, and be admitted to the Bar on
the S
lme terms as men.

222

CHAPTER XXVIII.

POPULATION AND TRADE.

POPULATION - RELIGIONS- OCCUPATIONS-TRADE AND
INDUSTRIES.
The first estimate of the resident population of N ew-
foundland was made in ] 654, shewing that about 350
families were scattered around its sea-board in various
harbours, which, allowing five to a family, would mean a
total of 1,750 persons. In 1680, the naval commanders
policing the fisheries, collected statistics she,ying the
residents to be 2,280, while the ,vest of England
merchants carrying on the fisheries, had that year 4,000
men temporarily there, all of whom returned to England
in the autumn. The following table she\\Ts the resident
population in the years named :-
Year. Population.
1654 1,750
16RO
280
1698 2,640
1763 7,000
] 7g0 8,000
1785 10,000
1804 20,380
1825 55,719
1827 59,571
1
32 60,000
] 836 75,094
1845 98,703
1857 124,288 (Labrador included).
1869 146 5:36
,
1874 161,374
1884 197,589

"

"

"

"

"

"

223

Year. Population.
1891 202,040 (Labrador included).
1901 220,98-t" "
1911 (Estimated)
40,OOO" "
From 1874 to 1884. the increase in population wa

36,209, or at the rate of 22.4 per cent in ten years;
while from 1884 to 1891, the increase was only 1,705, or
at the rate of 3.40 per cent. in ten years. This falling
oft ,vas caused by emigration to Canada and tIle United
States, owing to failing fisheries, but in the 'nineties this
Olltfiow ,vas arrested somewhat, ancl the increase for the
decade 1891-1901, was 18,944, or at the rate of 9.37 per
cent. In 1891, a record of vital statistics was inaugurated,
and shewed that for the decade there were 66,954 births
35,505 deaths, and the excess of 31,1.19 births would be
the natural gro,vth of the }1opulation, which, by these
figllres wOllld have totalled 233,489 in the ten years,
being an increase of 15"5 per cent for that period; but
the population numbered only 220,984, and as
immigration was practically nil, the shortage of 1
,505
must be regarded as the number emigrating during the
period. The decade respecting ,vhich an enumeration
"'ill be made this autumn, is expected to shew a some-
what better result than the last, because the enhanced
prosperity of the people, and the greater nUluber of
industries existing in the colony have hellJed to retain
them at home.
It was not until 1845, that tIle different religious
denominations ,yere distinO'uishecl in the Census returns.
o
The following table shews the respective numbers of
the Protestants and Roman Catholics in the ycars
named, according to the Census returns :-
YEAR. PnoTESTANTS. RO
IA
CATIIOL1C
.
1845 49,50;'; 46.U83
1857 67,743 57,214
1868 R5,496 61,040
1874 97,0.')7 6':;,817
1884 1;l
.259 75,330
1891 (Labrador inc,) 127 947 72,696
1901 144' ,9 9.) 75,m;
.
" t,
1911 Estimated 160 000 80,000
, .

224

Subdivided, the denominational exhibit is :-
Year. R,C. C.E. l\ieth. Pres. Congo S. Army.
1845 46,983 34,298 14,239 478 539
1857 57,214 44,285 20,229 838 347
1868 61,040 55,184 28,990 974 338
1874 65,317 59561 35,702 1,168 461
18
4 75,330 69,626 48,943 1,478 768
1891 72,696 69,824 53,276 1,449 782 2,092
IUOI 7.j 989 73,908 61,368 1,497 954 6,594
In 1845, the number professing other creeds ,vas un-
known; in 1857 there were 44 13aptists and others; in
1869 there '\\.ere 10 Baptists; in 1874 there ,vere 165
Baptists and others; in 1884 there were 65 Baptists and
others; in 1891 there ,vere 487 of the Reforlned Churcll
of England, 37 Baptists and others; and 1,397 !ioravians
on Labrador; and in 1901 there were 174 Baptists and
others, and 1,377 lVloravians on Labrador.
The number of churches in 1901 was as follo,vs :-
Churcll of England 174
Church of ROIne... ] 51
lVlethodists 155
Other Denominations 49
The ecclesiastical exhibit ,vas :-
Church of England-l Bishop and 70 clergymen.
Church of Rome-1 Archbishop, 2 Bishops, 65
Priests, 4 communities of Christian Brothers;
12 convents.
)lethodist-80 clergynlen.
Salvation Army-124 officers, besides 64 out-
posts attached to corps and worked 1)y officers.
The follu\ving are a few more figures of interest
which appear in the Census of 1901. In the twelve
months preceding the Census year, there were 7,914
births; 3,291 deaths; 1,244 marriages. The number
of males who cou]d read ,vas 57,079; of females who
could read, 58,857; of males who could ,vrite, 59,260;
of females who could "\vrite, 48,823. 'fhere were 36,936
nlarried males; and ð7,007 married females; 3,376

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The Cabot Tower, St. John's.

225

,vido\vers; and 6,84U \v ido\\"s. '.rhere were 39,:i19
inhabited houses.
'fhe Census returns as to occupations sho\v:-

Clergy nlen
Teachers
La\vycrs and Doctors

Ierchants and 'rraders
Office or Shop Hands
Government Service
CatchinO' and Curino

"'ish-
:::> ..,
3Iales
FClnalcs. . .

"'armers

-'ishers and others ,vho culti-
vate land 36,303 ..10,438

Icchanics
,G82 3,111
Lumberers 625 1,408
:l\Iiners 1,258 1,576
J
actory Hands 1,058 1,G2G
Other,,,,ise employed... R,ü8G 11,639
'''Thile only 2,47;:) persons are put do\vn as farlners
(an increase of about 50 per. cent. over any previous
Census) it will be seen that therc arc over to,OOO :fisher-
men and others \vho cultivate land, more or ]C
S, in
addition to their usual occu]?ation.
The trade figures she\v that during' the past t\\-enty
years, there has heen
teady and substantial ÏInprovenlent
in the colony's imports and exports; conditions partly
clue to better prices for the fishery products, the
development of the mines, forests and farmsteads, and
the enlarged opportunities for labour created for the
people througl) the railroad affording thenl (t Hlcans of
reaching the neighbouring provinces daily, \vhcrc they
can secure work in the Slllelters and other industries.
,..It note\vorthy condition ho\vevcr, uf this incrcased
prosperity is that the benefit has accrueù entirely to the
p

]89l.
18G
60(j
105
771
1,952
ü1..t

1901.

J:3
78D
138
1,040
2,353
739

36,6Ð:L
18,081
1,5.t7

41,231
j1,.t43
2,.t75

226

United States and Canada. Britain has enjoyed none of
it; on the contl"arr, she lIas suffered an actual loss in trade,
and the rest of the ,varid lIas gained very little. 'fhe
colony's inl}1orts fron1 BritaÍ1l ill 1890 \yerc abollt
$2,500,000, and in 1910 ,vere only about the same
figure. In other ,yords, ,vllile British exports ,vere 34 ller
cent. of the total t,venty years ago, they formed but

2 !)er ceut. of the total last year, an actual decline of
12 per cent., so that not alone has Eritain not been a1)le
to rctaillller share of increased purchasing po,ver of
the people of K e,yfoundland, hllt she is actllally selling
therrl 110 more to-da
T than she did twenty years ago.
Nor lIas Canada's position in this trade struggle
inlprOyed to tIle extent that might be supposed, seeing
tIle proximity of the Dominion to N ewfoulldland, the
fact that they are under the same flag and are fellow-
Britisll colonies, and tllat 1110st of t.he railroad and
steanlboat agencies olJerating ,vith tIle outside 1vorld,
have their connections in Canadian territory. Kew-
foundlalld's trade '\vith Canada has undoubtedly growll
very substantiallJ in the past twenty years,lJut the trade
of the United ,States ,rith N e\yfoundlancl lIas grown to
a still larger extent. The imports from the United States
have SIle'Yll the greatest increase, tIle percentage lost to
Britain having been gallled almost entirely by Aillerica,
for whereas these represented only 22 per cent. in 1890,
tlley reached 32 per cent. in 1910, Canada's inlports
alnounting to 22 l)er cent. in the forn1er year and
30 per cent. in the latter.
'Vith regard to this colony's inlports, it Inight be
stated that N e
7foundland lJrocures fronl abroad ahnost
everything lIeI' people l"lequire for every purpose-
except lumber and a certain anlount of agricultural
produce-and of these imlJorts about DO per cent.
altogether come fronl Britain, Canada and An1erica,
Britain's share in round figures being about $2,500,000 ;
Canada's share $4,000,000, and America's share about
the same. FroIl1 the rest of the ,vorld the colony now

"",..
...-,

imports SOllIe $700,000 worth as against $500,000 worth
twent
T rears ago, of which total nearly $300,000 is
}-epresented b
T molasses and sugar froln the \, est Indies
$100,000 br ,vines and spirits from various countries,

120,000 by salt (for curing fish), from Italy and Portu-
gal; and the ren1ainder by -various minor products from
different parts of the "
orld.
During the past t\\
enty years Canada and "tlnerica
httve been striving strcnuouslr for the suprenlacy in
their sales of comuloùities to N e,vfoundland, and it i

unlikely that. the existing conditions ,viII be Inateriall
T
altered in the near future. K ewfoundland, curiousl.,.
enough, is Canada's liftll best customer, huying fronl
ller (after disregarding' Canada's enormous trade ,,-ith
Great Britain and the United States) almost n
Inuch as
the '\vhole West Indies, or as the \vhole of South
Alneri
""t, and more than Australia, Belgiun1, "France,
Germanr, Holland, China, Japan or Italy l)urchascs
froln the D0111inion. Ne1Yfoundland's $4,000,000 '\vorth
of purchases annually are not, of course, of anythill b
like as mucll concern to the Unitccl State
, but llpver-
theless American dealers trading "rith 1\ ew foundlan<l
are in no "
ay desirous of seeing this trade lessened.
In analyzing N e,vfoundlalld's inlports it ,viII. be
seen, that of natural products and articles ,vlllch
represent little labour in their production, including
animals and their products (butter, cheese and eggs),
vegetables and fruits; flour and lneals; frpsh and
salted meats, hay, oats and cattle feed; lUll1hcr and
woods; tobacco and coal; the in1ports frOll} Canada anrl
the United States in these C01111110dities total each sonlC-
what over S2,000,000 a year, thus reducing the total .of
"manufactured products" imported frOln thesp countrlcs
to about $2,000,000 each per annum. Therefore, as thp
imports from Britain are ahl10st entirely of luanufacturctl
O'oods it is evident that excluclin n' "natural products"

, , '=' 1 .
13ritish imports total over 40 per cent. of the ,
ho C 01
the former class, "
}lilc Canadian and .i\.mcric3n Imports

..

228

do not exceed 32 per cent. each; and, consequently, so
far as the British 111anufacturer is concerned, the
situation is not so unfavourable as would appear at first
sight.
'llhe latest TalJle of returns of local manufactures
,vas compiled by Sir 1ViJliam Mac(iregor for the year
1906, and shews as follows :-
Aerated Waters, 55,428 dozens valued at
Bed Furnishings
Furniture
IJeatller-36,052 sides; 3,814 ,skins
Nails-281 tons...
Clotlling-113,945 pieces
Rope, Twine, Nets and Lines ...
Soap and Candles-21,OOO boxes
Boots and Shoes-pairs, 167,320
"\tVaterproofs-47 ,790 pieces . . .

robacco-324, 766 lbs.; Cigarettes-807 ,000...
Biscuits and Ship's Bread-8,025,000 lbs.
Confectionery-535,000 lbs.
..Jams-25,OOO lbs.
Fruit Syrups-3,OOO dozen ...

$24,740
18,000
12
775
131,710
19,200
206,500
308,000
50,240
299,315
41,000
86,029
346,352
64,200
2,000
5,500

The above iteuls amoullt to a total production
from Local1\Ianufactures of $1,615,56 L

Dm
ing tIle past five years there has been con-
siderable enlargeulcnt in the output in these directions,
l)esicles which ot]ler local industries llave been est.ablished,
and there are still further possibilities in the way of
both. The output of all these factories is most excellent
in quality, and ,vhereas formerly a prejudice existed
for some reason against local articles, this has now been
dissipated, and they are becoming- more popular. In
connection ,vitll the Agricultural Exhibition in St.
.J ohn's last autullln, the local Manufacturers' Association
held another display; and it proved a most agreeable

229

revelation to all who 1vere present, to see the number
and variety of articles that "rere produced at home, and
the admirable manner in which these 1yere turned out.
'llhe representative of the ...L\.ssociation in his speech on
the occasion, declared that the "reekly ,,"age-list in St.
John's on this account ,vas $35,000, that there ,yere
5,000 operatives permanentl
T employed in these works
locally, and that the output at present ,vas valued at
nearly 53,000,000.

280

CrrAPTER XXIX.

EDUCi
rfION.

FIltST SCIiOOLS- DENO
IINATIONAL SYSTE}I .L\J)OPTED-
Ho'\v 1'1' lIAS "TORKED-COUNCIL OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
N EWFOUNDL1
ND ha
succeeded in keeping her
educational systeu1 free froin friction by early
adopting the principles of lllutual toleration and tIle
reco
nition of denoluinational rights. 'fhe system in
operation in N e,vfoundland is denominational in its
1videst and conlpletest sensc. 'fllC beginning of conlmon
school education in the Colony dates back to 1823. In
that year "The N e,yfoundland School Society" 1yaS
fo.unded in London lJY S
tllluel Codner, a In '"challt
tradiÐg' witll the Island, which established schools in
St. .J ohn's and elsewhere, sorne of 1vhich its successor
"The Colonial and Continental Church Society," still
maintains. This organization created the nucleus of
education for the Protestants, ,vllile the Catllolic
Bishop, Dr. Fleming, in tinle forined Convents ,vith
Nuns from Ireland to hell) meet the scllolastic needs of
his flock. Not until 1834 did the Legislature appropriate
any money for education, 1vhcn $5,000 ,vas set al)al'"t for
common schools and a lesser sum for a non-sectarian
academy in St. John's. It was not a success however,
and was discontinllcd in 1850, after '\vhich three sectarian
academies-for Catholics, Anglicans, and Methodists-
were established, a fourtll being added subsequently for
Presbyterians. Since then the principle of denomina-
tional schools has always been recog-nised, though until

:!
11

187;) tllcre ,vcre only Catholic and Protestant common
schools. For a period prior to that year the t,vo leadinO'
Protestant bodies, the ,.A_nglican an(l the
Iethodist, had
been desirolls of a furtllcr division, ana to-day, for all
pl'acticnl purposes, there are three bodies to be considered
throughout the Colony-Catholic, _\.nglican and l\Ictho..
dist-which rate ill population in the order named. 'rhe
Presbyterians and the Congrcg-ationalists lllailltain
schoo]s in St. John's, and SOlllP few other placp
, and
the Salvation i\.rlllY during the past t,ycnty years has
made such strides in the colony, tlutt it is becollling a
fourtll factor in ed ucatioual affairs.
'fIle State provides an annual appropriation for
educational purposes, ,vhich is divided among the de-
nominations on a capitation basis. .L\.t present it is
$323,000, or, roughly, $1.33 per head of the estÜnated
existing population to-day of 240,000. This grant in-
cludes an incJ:ease of 872,000 by the l\Iorris Govern-
ment since t.aking office t\VO years ago-
30,OOO in tllt

extraordinary session held in ,June, lÐ09, 823,000 nt, the
I"egular session of 1910, and S7,000 at the regular session
of 1911, Inaking the largest increase ever givcn in so
brief a period.
The dishursing of the funds lies in the hands of
the superintcndcnts of schools and the Bo
'trds of
Eùucation for the various districts into which the T slttud
is divided; the grants bcing alloCc.1te(1 among the dCl1onli-
nations proportionately and t.he pro rata princil)le carried
out in the allocation for caeIl boartl.
'rI1C latest figurcs SUIJpliccl by the Slll)crilltclldcnts
of Education she-n r that there are in the colony (;36
settlcl11cnts ,vhere schools are couducteù for the school
year (200 days); 200 l)laccs whpl"e schools arc conducted
for more than half the school year; GO settlements
where schools arc conducted for les
than half the
year; and ü..t settlcluents ,,'ith 25 or nlore
hill
rell
of teachable age, 'v here no school:-; al"P nl
lnhuncd
at all. 'l'he Legislature at its last scs
lon pro-
.

232

vided a special grant of $7,000 to"rards making' good
the deficiencies in the latter classes, to be sllpple-
mented by $13,000 lnore next year for the same
purpose, which SUlll ,villlJrovide schools for eyery settle-
ment where one can be practicallr Inaintainecl. The
whole problenl could not be solv'ecl in ùne year, as
teachers '\vere not procurable, 1Jut with a year's notice
this dra"rlJack can he OYerCOlne. AlthougIl it 11ligIlt be
thought, from the denOlDinational sJTstem being in vogne,
that there \vere schools of each creed in every inlet, the
fact is, that Ollt of the 636 sett.lelnents, there are but
J 02 in which sc110018 of lnore than one denonlinatiol1
exist.
Tbree colleges are situated in St. John's and
managed by the Church heads.
rhus the Catholic
College is governed by a Board C0111posed of the Bishops,
leading clerg)T, ana representative la
Tmen; tIle Anglican
Bishop and his associaies occupy similar positions ,vitIl
respect to its college ; while the preside11t of the
Methodist Conference is the official head of the institn-
tion providecl for tllat body. The educational district
school boards arc eacll 11resided over by the clergJTlnan
officiating there.
Each dCllomination has a superintendent for its
schools, WIlD inspects and examines them and supervises
the educational affairs of that body. He receives a salary
of $1,600, and has an assistant at $800. ffhe stipend
for the colleges is fixed b
'" law, Ulld grants in aiel of the
support and training' of teachers are proyided at tllese
colleges and at tIle Catholic Convents, an allo,vance of

100 yearly for n1ales and S80 for feluales being made
to those who ,youlc1 purslle the teaching profession.
The salary of tIle teachers is fixed by the 11leans of the
hoard emploJ-ing llinl or ller, as the case may be, bIlt
within ihe past few years, they having represented the
lleed of further help in this direction, $20,000 is voted
annually to be d.Ïsbnrspd among them as supplementaJ
to t.heir salaries. It is impossible to quote the average

233

stipends, hecause they vary so much ,vith the different
districts, but male teachers get from
250 to $700
according to grade, and fell1ales from
200 to S500
'
TIle boards of education are alwa)Ts chosen from
the most representative mon in each di5trict, and their
services are given gratuitously. rl'hese hoarùs ha.Yc
extensive po"rers; the schools, property and effect

bei.ng'. vested in them, with po'\"cr to leas
or purchase
bUIldIngs or lands for school purpo
es, the latter contin-
gent upon the locality IJayillg llalf the sunl needed,
when the board makes good thc balance. A pension
scheme is provided for teachers and bonuses granted to
induce these to qualify for higher
rades l)y passing
more stringent examinations frolll time to time. Careful
regulations are also in vogue for the ,yorking and
governing of schools and colleges, and for the grantiIlg'
of scholarships.
The average results of th(' systeln havc alwa
.s
been regarded as creditable, considering how the popu-
lation is dispersed over a far-stretching seaboard. The
census figures bear eloquent testimony to the difficulties
attending the adyanCenlent of education in this colony.
In no other country do like difficulties l)revail. rfhe
to"\vns and settlenlcnts are lllostly separatcd from one
another by water. rl'he avocations of the IJeo pIe Ilolcl
them on the fringe of coast. The difficlllt
. of lllaking
roads to conncct so IllaD\"" and such remote scttlclnents
m11st be at once appare
t. There arc 1,372 conllnunit ic

in the Island. Of these, 893 hayc fronI 1 to 100
persons onlr; 37G from 15 to 25 persons; 2:>5 fronl
25 to 50 11ersons; 157 froln 50 to 7:> pCl'SOl1
; and
105 frolll 75 to 100 }Jcrsons only. 'rherc are S,.LG:!
children liying Inore than one and a-half miles from
school; and 72,9::>G persons over fiye rcar
of a
c, ,,-ho
cannot read. Out of that number prohablr
ome attend
school but al"e not so far advanced as to be ratcd ahle to
,
read. Allowing for thesc, there is still at least 25 l>cr
cent. of the population l,"ithout all
r of the advantage"-
.

234

of sellool t.raining.
rhere are 51,783 childreIl l1etw
en
5 and 15 years of age. Of these, 32,20
.t attend school,
leaving 16,584. ,yho do not; doubtless because there is
no school ill the settlement 1Y here the
T reside, or tho
nearest scllool is teo rcmote for then1 to attend.
Under tllese circllll1stances, au appreciable dcvelol)-
J11cnt of education ,vas not secured lllltil the estahlish-
lncnt of a central llon-sectarian board sonlC eig'hteen
years ago, terulecl the COllllCil or Higher Education.
Its object \\?ns to prolllotc sound learning and to advance
the interests of higher cclllcation, bJ Iloldil1g examina.
tions and by a\varding diplomas, IJrizes and scholarships
to successful c3-l1didatcs at SUCll exaulinations, and to
encourage teachers in the lJreparation of candidates by
a\"{arding them preuliunls. }-'or these pnrpodes it llas a
special grant of 't;7,500 per year. The Council consists
of 23 lllCmbel's, 17 llonlinatecl l)y tIle Government (the
denon1Ïnatiollal proportion being al,yays maintained),
with the tllrce sUIJerintenùellts and the lleaclmaster of
the three colleges, ex-officio. 'fhis Council o,ves its
creatioll to tIle present Prinle i\linister, Sir Ed,vard
1Iorris, who lIas alwa
Ts ,varmlJT advocated educational
endeavour.
The hencfits of the Higher Education ll10VelTIent
,viII not be fully apparent llntil the generation of
teachers produced by its lneans have enjoyed an oppor-
tunityof SllO\ving its effects upon the nlinds of the chil-
dren they are set over. 'fIle Inost 111arked effect to-day
is, in the levelling up of educational '\vork, the \videning
of the aiuls and scope of the different schools, the
tolerance allcl Illlltual respect engendered, and the
healthy rivalry caused by the efforts of each de110mina-
tion to nlal
e the best possible sho,\-ing. The educational
future of tIle colony is regarclecl by tIlose interested as
1110st hopeful, and certajnly every atom of influence that
churchmen and statesmcn can exert Î1l behalf of the
betterment of the 11coplc in tIlis respect is being applied
to that end; and the authorities hold, that while there is

235

lnuch to be done to reach an ideal stand:1r<1, thcy may
not unreasonably claim for the systeul that its results
warrant the annual expcnditure.
In l8D7, the colony provided a scholarship, in COlll-
memoratioll of Queen v""ictoria's Diamond .J ubilce,
tenable for three years at :--;200 a year, to help the
student "rho secured the llighest lnarks in the London

Iatriculation Examination each year to pursue his or
hpr studies at a Uniyersity outside the colon
r; and in
1909, this aU10unt was doubled by the present Govern-
ment.
N e,yfounc11and \\
as also accordcll an annual scholar-
ship hy tIle l'thodes' 'rrust under the terms of the
bequest of that famous llnperialist, aHd has sent a
student to Oxford everv veal" since the Rhodes Scholar
nlovement ,vas institut
d."

lit

236

CHAPTER XXX.

ST. JOHN'S AND RETROSPECT.

PROGRESS DURING PAST CENTURy-GROWTH OF ST.
JOHN'S-THE ISLAND'S METROPOLIS AND COM
IERCIA.L
EMPORIU
I.
I T is curious alld instructive to llote the contrast
between the condition of Ne,yfoundland at the
opening of tIle nineteenth century and the opening of
the twentieth century. Whcn the last sands of the
eighteenth were running' out, the colony ,,"as still under
the repressive systern ,yhich had obstructed its gro,vtll
from the olltset. It ,vas regarded by tIle Imperial
Government as a fishing station and a training post for
naval seamen, not as a home for a civilised community.
It ,vas governed by warship commanders, who spent
only tIle summers here and enforced witll qllarter-deck
discipline, laws prohibiting settlement, refusing- grants
of land for cultivation or building, and reserving the
shores for migratory fishernlen who came from England
each spring and l
eturnecl eaell autumn.
At the da,,"n of the last century the total popula-
tion of the Island was under 20,000, scattered in small
l1amlets arouncl the shores. St. Jolln's, the capital,
contained about 3,000 peolJle, sheltered in ,vooden huts,
huddled together and in cOJltinual danger of fire. The
principal street was in one place only six feet \vide; and
all ,vere narrow, unpaved and unlighted. Conditions
in the smaller fishing settlelnents ,,-ere deplorable,
Generations lived and died without education and
almost without religious teaching. The lives of the
people llnder these cruel and senseless laws were

237

rendered hard and nliserable for the express purpose of
d.riving t
em away and l)reventing any settled popula-
tIon
rowlng up.
These bad old tiules have passed a,vay; and at the
opening of the t,,"entieth century what a marvellous
change for the bctter is seen! St. John's has grown
into a city of 30,000 inhabitants. Its streets are lighted
by electricity and electric street-cars girdle it. All the
appliances of modern civilization exist-rail\\Ta)Ts, tele-

raphs, tplephones, fire-brigades, water and sc\Y'erage.
Its cathedrals, churches, and public buildings, its bank
,
sh01)S, stores and wharves compare favourably ,vith
those of any other city of the saIne size. ....
mplnorial
to,ver of John Cabot crowns Signal Rill, at the entrance
of the harbour. The hum of industry is heard on all
sides. Busy crowds throng its streets. Its harbour
shews forests of IllêtSts, and steamships are constantly
arriving and departing.
In 1696, St. John's ,vas over-run and captured l)y
the famous D'Iberville. _\.nother French expedition
attacked it in 170:>, burning the to\Yll, but failing to
cu pture the forts. 'fhree ).ear
aftcrl\ëlrds, these
succumbed to an CXIJcdition under St. Ovidc: but the
}-'rcnch were driven out :finall
T, and the to,,-n rebuilt
the following year.
These struggles at.tracted English official eyes to the
colony; and as the little town had survivcd the indif..
ference of the Stuarts and the horrors of ,,-aI', a, lUurc
enlightened policy was adopted, and the rule of the
fishino> adn1irals ""as abolishcà, Captain Osbornc being
aI>poi
ted the first Governol o in 1727, fifty
"ears before
.L\.ustralia was discovered an(l thirty )TearS before '\T olfe's
victory at Quebec" gave England a contincnt."
For the last time the fleur-dc-Irs 110a.ted over
St. John's in 1762, when D'Auùu,;son captured it ,vitI1
1,500 Frenchmen; bllt Sir "illialn - \.ulhcrst s!)ccùily
dislod eyed him, and the French fleet fled frOlll the l>Ol't,
leaving ihe land forces prisoners in his handc;.

238

The to\Vl1 was destroyccl by fire in 181G, 1818, 1846,
and 1892, the last of these conflagrations involving thp
loss of property to the value of æ4,000,000, rendering
13,000 people h0J11eless, and reducing to ashes nearly
all the principal pllhlic buildings and religious edi:fice
.
Commercial disaster like,Yise contributed its share to
retard the gro,vtll of the town ill 1814, 1860, and 1894,
the last being ren1arl\:able for the collalJse of its t1\:-O
banl{s and 111any of its leading business 110uses. ReligiouR
intolerance also llla
Ted its IJart, tIle Catholic religion
being IJroscribed llntil 1784; education ,vas also dis-
cO'uraged; and the colony ,vas not granted "hOlne
rule" 'llntil 1855. St. John's 110'''" has a population
of 30,000, all of Britisll stock, the sons of English,
ScOtcl1 and Irish emigrants ,vho flocked llere in the past,
when it was the half-way house to the western helni-
sphere; ancl tIle rest of the population is of the saIne
old-country races-a hardr, genero-us peolJle, ,vho, in
their isolation, have preserved the no blest virtues of
tIle race fronl whicll they sprang, ul1sullied by contact
with the great ,vorld outside.
l:'his isolation-almost
11niql1e in Englisll-spe:1king peoples-forms one of the
great charms of the Island for the visitor.
The harbour of St. John's is entered througll a gap
in the beetling hills, seen1ing as if son1e fabled giant
llad cleft it witll a blow of l1Ïs battle-axe. In these
placid waters a fleet cOllld ride undisturbed by storms
outside, and yet the entrance channel is deep enough to
admit the largest ironclad afloat. The" Narrows " is
about 500 feet ,vide, and the cliffs rise 700 feet high on
either side, crowned ,vith disn1antled forts, which it is
boped to see soon restored. In the "good old days,"
"'Then French and English contended for its master.}-,
night attacks by sea ,vere avoided by stretching a heavy
chain across the " Narrows" each evening at sundown;
the ring-bolts and fastenings on " Chain Rock" are still
pointed out.
'J:'he town is built on the northern hillside. It

239

rises in regular tiers from the lanclwash to the plateau
above, and overflows out to thp charn1in cr vallev of
]?resl1,vater, lying bellind the hilL l'hc s
uth side of
t.he harbour is devoted clliefly to seal oil refineries and
.. ,
here are moored the steamers in ,vhich the
('al-fishinO'
is prosecuted. 1'he town is chiefly renlarkable for it

splendid churches and kindrc(l institutions. The Itom:1n
Catholic Cathedral surmounts thc crest of the hill, aud is
yisibìe for many 111iles out at sea. It is, .,,
ith t\\ro exceptions,
the largest church in North AJnerica; it holds '7,000
people, and cost 42120,000. 'l'he sister Cathedral of the
ll.nglican body, destroyed in the fire of 18f.)
, has since
been restored. It is the finest
1)ecin1en of Gothic archi-
tccture in this henlisphere, the design of Sir Gilbert
Scott, and it cost æ150,OOO. 'fhe)T ,\rere generous in en-
dowing their churches, those old colonists; and colleges,
schools, halls and orphanages also uplift themselves to
bear testimollv to their liberalitv. St. .John's i
the seat
Gf the Colonial Government, Ñe,yfOUlldlalld being the
Oilly British possession in K ol'th .i\.u1erica 1rhich clung to
its legislative independence and declined to join the
Canadian federation.
Government lIousc, the residence of the Goyernor,
is a sq.uare rambling stone structure, set amid thick woods
alld surrounded by spacious grounds. 'fhe Colonial
Building, ,vhere the Legislature J11eets, SllO'VS n hand-
some Ionic portico, alld its grounds arc llO'Y being con-
verted into an attracti vo park. '1'he Court House is an
inlPosing structure of natiye granite. 1'hc to\\
n is also
the great business centre, tllO nlart or dépôt for the com-
merce of the Island. Through tho ,. Nal'rO\\rs" COlnes
fully 90 per cent. of the imports-food, clothing,
necessaries and luxuries for the quarter-million people
settled around its coastline; and throug;h the
a.me
channel is borne as large a prol1ortion of tho exports-
codfish, sealskins, oils, lobsters, salnlon, herring, &c.
]
very spring, hundreds of fisl
in
craft
f
'Ol
the CO?st
settlements o'athcr at St. John s for thclr f1slnng outfit;
o

.

240

and every fall, return agaIn to barter tlleir catch for
food and èlothing.
St. John's o"\ves its prosperity to codfish. As one
enters the harbour one sees the fishing stations with the
platforms on ,yhich t.he cod are spread to dry. The
water- frollt is lilled ,vith 'v harves, at which are schooners
landing their catch and lllerchantlnell loading for
market. TIle substantial warehouses behind are packed
,vith codfish, and on a fine day wharves, roof tops, coves
and all available spots are covered with the salt-
encrusted staple export, drying in the sun. 'Vater
Street is the business thoroughfare, ,vhere the Island's
commerce is controlled. It is lined \vith splendid shops,
"There one nlay buy the finest fabrics or the smallest
fisIl-hook.
But it is to the tourist, the sportSTIlan and the
artist that St. J ohu's offers the chief attraction. If
Nature has been churlish in other respects, she has
Inade up for it by lavisllly dowering the Island with
natural beauties. From the hills above the Narrows
one vie,vs a seascape rarely equalled. The mighty ocean
stretches away below one's feet, sheer to the Irish coast.
On the horizon float the fishing flotillas. Within a few
miles are typical fishing villages, perched in coves and
crooks, ,vhich delight the artist's heart. Well-tilled
valleys and ,yooded hills strike the eye on every hand,
beautiful smiling pastoral country is disclosed by drives
in the suburbs, and the salubrious climate enhances the
visitor's enjoyments.
From St. John's, stcalners take the traveller to any
IJart of tIle Island and to Labrador peninsula; and the
variety of beautiful scenery to be enjoyed in such trips
cannot but satisfy the most exacting. The fiords
surpass those of Norway, the beauty of the Humber and
Exploits Rivers eqllals any on the Rhine, and the
scenery of Bay of Islands is the admiration of all
yachtsmen and tourists who have visited there.
The social life of St. John's is a noteworthy feature.

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Each summer sees British and r'rench warships resort
to the harhour. 'fhese, and the city people cntert1.in
lê1rg
ly; i

deed, the hospitality of the to,vnsfolk is pro-
verbIal. Ihe ,vealthy classes, mostly, are educated in
England, only a' week's voyage distant, and combine
the culture of the Mother Country ,',
itll colonial
cordiality and open - heal
tedness.
Some anticipate that before long, St. JOhll'S "ill be
again fortified by the Imperial authorities. Its strategic
importance cannot be exaggerated, dominating [I
it does
the commerce of the N ortll Atlantic, since most of the
ocean steamers pass within a Ïe\v miles of the harbour.
It also commands the water-borne trade of Canada, and
if seized by an enelny and hastily fortified in war tinIe,
it wOlùd become a veritable thorn in England's side.
It is naturally so sllitahle, that to arm it \vould not be a
serious undertaking, ëtnd British ,varships could lie
securely within, ready to dash Ollt and sweep the ocean
of an enemy's shipping. The discovery of coal in thf3
Island forms another reason why it shoul(l he made a
nlilitary and naval base; already the .A..dmiralty has
established a training-ship here, where lJoys-the sons
of fisherman-can be trained for the Itoyal Kavy.
St. John's, if fortified, ,vouIcl become what it was in the
early days of its history, a nursery for seamen to carry
Britain's banner over the 'Seas and to uphold the
Empire.

· I

242

CHAPTER XXXI.

PROSPERITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.

GROWTH IN ALL DIRECTIONS-AMAZING PROGRESS OF
PAST DECADE-VALUE FOR PUBLIC DEBT-SPLENDID
OUTLOOK FOR FUTURE.
, It is doubtful if any possession of the British Empire
has made more real progress, comparatively, the past
decade than has N ewfounclland, and in view of what has
been related in the preceding chapters respecting the
drawbacks which she has had to overcome, it is safe to
say that her record of late, and especially since this
century opened, has been amazingly encouraging. For
instance, whereas Newfoundland's population in 1869 or
say 40 years ago was but 146,536, it had in 1901 increased
to 220,984, or 52 per cent. in one generation, while thp
population of Canada's three maritime provinces-Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island,
which for 1871 was 769,415, had only increased to
893,943 in 1901, an advance of but 14 per cent. in thp
same period. It is quite trlle, of course, that within the
past ten years Canada has gained enormousl
r through
the inrush of immigrants, especially to her western
provinces; in the decade between 1890 and 1900,
Newfoundland's population, with no immigration what-
ever, increased 9.37 per cent., whereas Canada's was only
10.14 per cent., inclusive of considerable immigration.
Canada's commerce increased 115 per cent. in the
past ten years; Newfoundland's commerce sho,,
s an
advance of almost 110 per cent. in the same period; that
of the United States has only grown by 83 per cent. ;
and Great Britain's betterment has been but 77 per cent.

243

Newfoundland's surplus revenue of $420,000 in tht:
fiscal year 1909-10, was better in proportion to her
population, than Canada's sur p lus of :;;14 , 000 000 durinC1'
, t)
the sa111e l]eriod; and the colony's revenue has doublccl
within the past decade, in spite of reductions of taxation
equivalent to one-tenth of the total income, and in-
creased appropriations for the administrative services,
averaging a similar SlIm, ,vhile she accmnulated surpluses
during the decade amounting in the whole to alnlost a
1l1illion dollars also. Her mineral output JUtS gro"Tn
from
500,999 to
1,250,000 since the centurJ'" opened.
The luml)er product has swollen in the same ratio;
and the pulp and paper industry, although onlJ
in its infancy Jet, will prodllcc an output this
year equal to one-fifth of the value of the
fisheries, and ,,,,ill enlarge in its scope in cach succeeding
year. Its agricultural industry is steadily developing;
the product of its farms becomes greater and more
valuable eacll year, and its manufacturing interests ëlrp
also enhancing in value and importance. The gradual
development of this factor has made it a }Jotent force in
improving the condition of tl1e people generally, creat-
ing a decided dellland for raw materials of either internal
or foreign origin; providing constant employment for
goodly numbers of people, and daily e-vidcncing- otllet
l>ossibilities tending to diversify the colony's indu
triaI
interests; to transfOrlTI the econon1ic condition of the
I)cople, and to pave the ,vay for still greater proslJcrity
than has hcrctofore been thcir lot. 1\'1] of thcse con-
tributaries have assisted in IJl'omoting the colon
?'s
su hstantial ,yell- bcing.
'rhe exports, during t"
enty years, have cÅcccdcd
the imports by alnlost a million dollars a )
ear, giving'
tIle colony a fa yorable baJa-nee of tradp to that extent,
and enriching its people thercby. 'rhe douhlill
of the
revenue within tcn
rears, though the populatIon has
only increased by 10 per cent. ,vith
n the

me period,
conclusively attests bo,v the' 1naterlal 'Yellar
of t IH'

244

TJeople lIas been improved, since this increase in revenue
llas not been effected by increased taxation, but has
resulted concurrently with the redllction of taxes and the
realizing of surpluses every year. The conditions under
,vhich all forms of bllsiness have been transacted ill the
colony have been greatly modernized and ilnproved of
late years, with highly beneficial results to every interest
concerned. Increased efficiency in the carrying out of
the customs and revenllC la"rs ; suppression of
smuggling from the French Islands of St. Pierre and
Miquelon; the regaining of markets in Europe which
the French were invading until the colony's Bait Act
crippled thelll; the gradual abolition at home of the
uneconomic and llndesirable "supply systenl"; the
stimulating influences of edllcation and intercourse witll
the outside world in inducing people to rely on their OWll
efforts and to develop self-resource and lJrogress-all
these factors have contributed to work an industrial and
commercial revolution that has justified itself through
the improved circumstances of the fishermen; the
increased vallIe of tIle fishery and other exports; and
tIle enormous advance tha.t has 1Jeen made in every other
direction among the population.
The nett public debt of the colony is in round figures
about $22,000,000 or, say, about $90 per head. This is
somewhat lo,ver than the burdens borne by the people
of the neighbouring Dominion, because in addition to the,
federal debt of Canada, each province has its own
obligations, and the municipalities and to\vnships have
local debts as well; but in Newfoundland there is no
municipal debt except in St. John's, the colonial debt
covering every public accessory, the advantage of ,vhich
is enjoyed by the people.
rfhis indebtedness is represented by SOlne 700 miles.
of railway, by 100 lighthouses, marine ,rorks, roads,
public buildings, 2,500 miles of telegraphs, and all the
other utilities, on the providing of whicIl the colon
T's.
funds have lJeen expended. Probabl)T in no country :is

24:>

the burden of debt borne lllore lightly than in
Ne"rfolmdland, becallse there is no du'ect taxation ,vhat-
ever, and the people therefore do not feel so luuch what
is imposed indirectly through the agencies of dutips on
imports. l\Ioreover, counting the reductions in duties
during the past ten years and the increases in the
appropriations for the pulJlic services which comc
directly,yitlún the toucllOf the people, it can be said
with truth that the financial condition of the colon
T is
highly gratifying, and that the outlook for the future is
most encouraging.
The best evidence of how the colony has progressed
is afforded by the fiscal and trade statistics which are
published in the appendix, ,vhile a further proof of this
is seen in the figures contained in the follo"ring letter
sent to the colony's London bankers in relation to the
proposed railway loan of 1910.

London, 2:tth June, 1910.

Iessrs. Glyn,
Iills, Currie & Co.,
67, Lon1bard Street, E.C.

Gentlen1en,
In connection .with the proposed issue of cB800,OOO
Government of N c\vfoundland 3i per cent. Inscribed
Stock, for which you are authorised to receive subscrip-
tions, I beg to state on behalf of the Government
that :-
The average Annual Revenue for the ten
years ended June 30th, 1909 was ... $2,478,72G
The average .l\.nnual Expenditure for the
san1e period was . . . . .. · . . . . .
The total Surpills of Revenue over Expcn-
diture for the saIne period ,vas ...
The average Annual Surplus of ltevenue
for the same period was...
The Revenue for the fiscal year ended
30th J unc, lÐOO, was

..) 388 9_H)
_, ,_:..t..,

DO-.t 840
,

90,. t80

2,110,23 t

246

The Revenue for tIle current fiscal year is
estimated to reach 3,380,000
The Surplus for the Cllrrent year is esti-
mated at 450,000
Out of the surplus revenue of $904,840 mentioned
above, $500,000 has been set aside and is on deposit as a
liquid reserve. The balance of the surplus revenue ha$
IJeen expended on public works.
The proceeds of the present Loan will be applied
to the building of five branch lines of railway, abollt
300 miles in length, to connect with the main trunk
line of railway between St. John's and Port-allX-
Basques; the building of such brancll lines has' been
authorized by Parliament (10 Edward VII., chap. 12.)
The financial position of the colony is eminently
satisfactory, and its material interests are steadily
improving. Large investments of capital have recentl

been made in developing pulp and paper industry in
connection wit.h the immense timber resources of N ew-
foundland. The same remark applies to the extensive
oil deposits ,vhich are being opened up; and the mineral
and other resources of the colony are also attracting
considerable attention.

I an1, Gentlemen,

Your obedient Servant,

(Signed) EDWARD PATRICK l\iORRIS,
Prime Minister.

2 J t7

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE
IORRIS GOVERNl\IEN'f'S WORK.

COMFREHENSIVE PROG RAl\I3IE-SUCCESSFUL ADlliNI"-
TRATION-COLONY PROSFERING-OUr.J'LOOK JIOST
FA VOURA:BLE.
THE administration headed hy Sir E(lward :Morris
took office on
farch Brd, 1909, follo,ving upon
the resignation of Sir Robert Bond's Cabinet, and had to
a,,,?ait the general election in the follo,ving l\Iay for an
endorsement by the electorate, ,,?hich was given unmis-
takably; the legislature, then elected, comprised twenty-
six }ilorrisites and ten Bondites. The leader of the
Morris Party, in his election address, pledged himself
that he would not be a party to union '\vith Canada, but
would maintain its separate identity and independent
existence, and wotùd do Ilis lltmost to carry out the
follol\Ting programme :-
Construct branch railways to cel-tain sections of the
Island hitherto without these facilities; introduce cold
storage for the export of fishery products, and open up
new markets for the sale of tIns staple product; provide
steam subsidies to countries where such markets could
be developed; establish bait freezers at points around
the coast to assist the fishern1cn in securing large catches
of exportable fishes; encourage the prosecution of th('
n1inor fisheries; develop 1)ctter trade relations with
Canada and America; ]1rOlnotc industries for tho luarket-
ing of the various locHl fishery }1l"oducts; cxtpuù telegrapl

and telephone facilitips in thp Island, and the }.Iarcolll

It

248

S
Tstem along the Labrador; establish a weather bureau;
provide a daily telegraphic fisllery service, and
inaugurate more Inodern methods of compiling informa-
tion regarding the progress of the fisheries. Further,
he undertooI{ to construct lighthouses, fog alarlTIS, break-
,vaters, ,vharves and other marine works; imlJl"ove the
coastal steam service by adding more ships; and providp
a, dredge to deepen sllallow harbours. Lilic,\yise, he
promised to promote the developUlcnt of agriculture, to
secure lower rates by ship alld rail for ferm products;
and to encourage farming colonies in slutable localities;
as well as the utilization of peat for fuel. l\ioreover, he
agreed to stÎ1nulate research for minerals by a money
grant to the original discoverer of any mine; promote
the housing of workmen at mines and other industrial
centres; protect miners by stricter la,,,"s regulating thp
use of explosives; ensure the payment of 'YOrklncn at
industrial enterprises weekl
"'; and bring about the
examination of the coal fields. He advocated, too,
increased educational grants; the adoption of an Old
Age Pension scheme; the establishment of hoslJitals on
the remoter sections of the coast; and the upholding of
the colony's treaty rights; declaring his confidence,
moreover, that this lengthy and comprehensive pro-
gramme could be carried out "rithout increased taxation.
This latter he has fully made good. All of these
measures, though they have involved substantial outlays
from time to time" have been effected '\vithollt adding to
tIle burden of taxation; on tIle contrary, his first steI}
,vas to stipulate in the contract for the construction of
the branch railways enterprised last year, that tIle men
should be paid $1.50 per day; this bad the effect of
increasing wages allover the COUlltry, which \vas
equivalent to indirectly reducing taxation somewllat, as
it gave the people greater earning powers. His next
step was to effect a frièndly compact with the companies
operating iron ore deposits in the Island, whereby they
contribute a royalty of 71 cents per ton on tlleir output

Lla

annually for the next ten years, an amount vieldiuO"
the colony S100,000 a year; "\vhich sum yields larO'

additions to var!o':ls publi? grants. . He then complet
ìy
altered the eXIstIng POlICY regardIng the disposal of
Crown Lands for mining, lumbering, and pulp nlakinO',
the revenue therefroln bejng increased four-fold thu pa
t
ye
r, a
a result-fron1 $60,000 annuall
T, to $250,000.
HIS vIgorous and progressive nleasures in different
directions likewise contrihuted much to encouraO'e the
ö
employment of local and foreign capital in various
industries in the Island; and there has been a steady a.nd
marked increase in the value of the Customs imports,
and in the revenue derived therefrom-the duties on
imports making up the lJulk of the Island's income, so
that the revenlle has increascd from
3,000,OOO to
$3,500,000 within t\VO years. This, of course, has made
it possible, not only to successful1y finance the construc-
tion .of tIle branch railways, but to improve other l)ublic
serVIces.
The vigorous manner in which Premier
Iorris anù
his associates llave upheld the colony's contentions before
the Hague Arbitration 'rribunal, and undertaken the
development of local industries, and their progrcssiv

action in stimulating. the development of the colony'

economic and commercial relations, dispclled any fear
that may have existed as to an intention on their part to
force the colony into union with Canada; besides \yhich,
the financial success of the l\iinistry's operation
SlllCf\
taking office, has made it clear that doubt as to the abilit

of the Government to fully carrJT out its programlne i

no longer justifiable. So excellently have the financial
affairs been handled, that the last fiscal
Tcar
a \V a surplu

of $420,000 realized, \Vhcl"eas the best prcvious S
I1)lus
the colony had ever seen ,ras only $2jU,OOO, and for thp
current fiscal year ending June 30th, 1911, a burplus of
$142,000 is e;timated, despite a similar
.um b
ing set
aside for increased appropriations for public S('l
ICl'
.
Among the first undertakings abroad ,vhich thr.
"

250

}Jrelnier essayed, was the raising of a loan of $4,000,000 in
London last year, for the construction of the branch
railways, and so favorable a showing was he able to make
as to thB colony's financial condition, that this 3l per cent.
loan was floated at 97
, a 11igher rate than had ever been
realized by the colony for its secllrities before. This
was conclusive proof of the n1anner in whicll outside
investors regarded the plans of the administration, and
the confidence they had in the efficiency and honesty of
purpose of the Government's intentions, the colony's
position as an applicant in the money market 'being, of
course, materially strengtl1ened by the arrangement "\vhich
had l)een effected with the iron-ore cOlnpanies, and which,
as stated, increased the revenue by nearly $100,000 a year.
The building of these branch railways is proceeding apace.
I.Jast year, some seventy miles of road were completed,
from the trunk line to"\vards Bonavista; and this year,
besides finishing that branch, others will be started, and
1vork continued until all have been completed. This
,vas the largest item in the Goyernment's programme,
and the most costly; but it was so successful that a
scheme of Old Age Pensions was inaugurated. Out of
the surplus of $420,000 last year, $200,000 was set apart
to form the nucleus of an Old Age Pension fund, bein

permallently invested in colonial debentures, which yield
four per cent. interest; and to the $8,000 th'us secured,
$12,000 was added frOIIl the Cllrrent revenue, and this
sum of $20,000 will be distributed amongst 400 aged
poor, at the rate of $50 per annum. It is hoped next
year to be able to appropriate a similar sum, and again
the year after, this policy being continued annually as
the financial circumstances of the colony will permit,
until a slrfficient sum is available to meet every deserv-
.,
lng case.
Generous provision ,vas also made for Education,
$30,000 being voted in the session of 1909; $25,000 in
1910; and $7,000 in 1911, the Jatter sum to assist in
establishing- schools in l)laces in the colony where there

251

are none at present; and the Government has promised
t
add $13,000 more, nex
yea
, with the same object in
VIe, v, so .that every localIty will now be assul'ed of at
least rudImentary education.
An amount of $100,000 ,vas likewise provided bv
the Government t
compl
te
he lighthouse system
f
the colony, and thIS work IS beIng pushed forward with.
out delay, some $43,000 having already been expended
thereon, whilst provision is also beinO' made for the
extension of telegraphs and additional
Iarconi stations;
$30,000 has been expended already on telegraph
extension, and $10,000 on wil"eless equipment; and a
special feature in the latter direction will be the erection
of two stations on the north-east coast for the con-
venience of the sealing fleet during the spring months,
as eight of the t"\venty ships no\v engaged in this industry
are fitted with this agency.
Out of the surplus of last year, anotller 8200,000
,vas set aside for the repair of marine works, roads ancl
hridges throughout the colony, a sun1 equivalent to one
year's grant for these "rorks, and this will have the
effect of immensely iU1proving these public utilities.
In the recent session a me:1sure ,vas introduced .for
the confirming of a contract concluded by the Govern-
ment with an America11 cold storage company for the
construction and operation within the colony of five
stations or plants, eacIl ,vitIl <-t capacity of 500 tOll'" of
cold-stored fish; ,vith a fish-packing house, a glue
factory and a guano factory as an auxiliary to each,
to enable the lltilization of every portion of the products
secured. Ono of the largest N e,y Enghtnd fishing'
concerns, ,vith great experience in tbe operation of cold
storage ,varehouses, has been induced to undertake this
venture, the Government guaranteeing up to 5 p
r cent.
annually on the capital stock to the 3:mount of. half. a
rnillion dollars. It is believed that thIS entcrprIsc 1\'111
lutve an hnmensely beneficial effect on the wholp fishing
trade of the colony, by stimulating a large export of
.

252

cod, herring, salmon and lobsters chilled and frozen,
hesides increasing the price of all these COnl1110dities.
'ro the fishernlan an increase of 10 cents per quintal on
1,500,000 quintals of fish ,vould mean $150,000 put into
tlleir pockets, of wllich one-third would go back to the
reven11e in the shape of duties on articles of import
wllich ,vould l)e purchased, the colony thus obtaining
twice the amount of the sum it 1vould llave to pay this
company if the venture made no profit at all; and the
fishermen themselves would have a clear $100,000 of
personal profit in addition.
Trade Commissioners have been aplJointed in Spain
and Erazil; new methods of picli1ing and curing fish
have been encouraged at home; tIle Admiralty and War
Office have been moved to introduce canned codíish as
rations for sailors and soldiers in the Imperial service;
and plans are now maturing for the extensive develop-
ment of the lesser fishing industries of the colony.
In the providing of coastal steam services, the
present Government has been un11sually generous. T\vo
excellent steamers have been provided for the districts
of Fogo and Fortune Eay, '\vhile others are being
arranged for the north and west coasts. The Reid
Newfoundland Conlpany is now planning a daily express
train service across the Island, and a second steamer on
Cabot Strait, ,vhich \vill give a daily connection with the
whole of the North-American continent; and provision
is likewise being made for an improved ocean service
between Britain, Canada and the United States.
To advance local fishing interests, an ,A.ct has been
passed prohibiting the employment of steam vessels in
the fishery on Labrador coast, fealing that such condi-
tions may in time ensue there as in the North Sea, whel"e
the independent fisherman, with his o,vn smack, is being'
displaced by tIle steam vessel owned by a corporation,
in the profits of which he shares but little; a dailr
\veather burcall service has been inaugurated; the
Labl"ador coast is to be surveyed; new lighthouses a.rp

253

1)eing established there; and, in aùdition to the existin 0'
steam
hip now opcrated on the southern part of that
coast In the Sllmiller season, a second steamer is beinO'
provided for the northern section.

In nothing llas the Governn1cnt s11o",'11 more enerO',-
than in the development of agriculture. Last Ye
;'
seventy agricultural societies \vere established all ròunlÌ
the Island; seeds, stock and imlJlements \yere dis-
tributed to these; eminent experts were brougllt to the
colony from Canada to advise in regard to a
í.icultul'al
}Jrogress; men were brougllt from Ireland to instruct
the people in cutting, drying and using peat for fuel;
and an Agricultural Exhibition \vas held in St. John's
in the alltumn, which anlazecl everylJody l1Y its revela-
tion of what cOlùd be g-rown ill the Island-vcgetable
,
grains and fruit; ,vhile the examples of stock raised
locally were equally creditable.
The Government has also stÍInulated mineral
developn1ent by providing a money grant for original
discoverers of mineral deposits; by providing aid and
l)ounties to mining investors; by undertaking to assist
in developing the oilfields of the west coast, the coal
areas of the interior, and others of thp mineral resources;
and efforts are being made, in conjunction with capitalist"
ab!"oad, to stimulate the investn1ent of further sums
herein, and to actively interest prominent 11coplc in thp
Mother Country in the various directions in ,\ hich
financial effort has been chiefly conspicuous of late in
Newfoundland.
..L\. bounty has been offered for tlH
}l1anu
acture of
,voollens, witll the idea of inaugurating a sheep Industry;
a British Juanufacturing- conccrn has undertaken the
establishment of factoric's for the 111aking of cxplosiYe
,
both for local use and for export to Canad1-; another
concern has undertaken the manufacture of PC'tt for
fuel by D1echanica] processes; and further })lans of thu
same character are in comtemplation.
These advances, ho,,"cver, arc but a forctnstc of \rhat

25,t

tIle Governlllent hopes to accomplish as the years go by.
The opening IIp of the new branch l
ilways will give
access to excellent fal
ming, nlining and pulp-making
tracts. It will encourage development in various
directions, and sIlould be follo\vecl by the settlement of
numbers of people on the land, and their engaging in
various small industries, which ,yhile, perhaps, uninl-
portant as compared ,vith others, will nevertheless tend
to the greater enl}Jloyment of capital in the colony. The
Sllccess of the pulp and IJaper-making establishments at
Grand Falls and Bishop Falls has excited universal
interest in the paper trade, and much attention has been
given to the possibilit.y of similar work elsewhere in the
Island, so that within. a few years it is hoped to see
many other sinlilar establishnlents in active operation.
Newfoundland has suffered greatly in the past from
ignorance and misunderstanding as to ller position and
possibilities, but the work of the present Government
lIas been largely educational, and lIas been unsparing in
the endeavour to enlighten the outside ,vorld as to the
country's possibilities.

C).....
.. .J oJ

Appendix.

Fiscal Statistics for the past Fifteen Years.

Year ended Revenue. Expenditure
J lIDe 30th Surplus.
1896 $1,564,467 $1,360,455 $204,014
1897 1,610,788 1,866,811 -256,023
1898 1,789,874 1,784,826 4,99

1899 1,753,736 1,719,834 33,912
1900 2,110,234 1,850,630
.)R,G04
1901 1,991,154 1,
55,525 33,62n
1902 2,193,526 2,129,466 6
,OGO
1903 2,328,044 2,270,028 53,016
1904 2,513,633 2,393,286 120,347
1905 2,574,069 2,443,814 130,253
1906 2,660,805 2,591,2:35 69,570
1907 2,759,690 2,625,336 123,854
1908 2,829,078 2,785,835 t3,183
1909 2,947,868 2,!)47,868
1910 3,447,988 3,137,774 310,214

Deficit.

Trade Statistics for the past Fifteen Years.

Year ended Imports. Exports. Total Trade-.
June 30th
1896 $5,986,861 $6,638,187 $ 12,G23,048
1897 5,838,334 4,925,789 10,RGt,123
1898 5,188,863 :5,22G,!)33 10,415,7Ut>
1899 6,311,245 6,936,315 13,2 107,56' \
1900 7,407,147 8,(;27,576 lti,O
t.i2;

1901 7,746,503 8,859,978 16,60H"t!)1
1902 7,836,68:5 9,552,521, 17,3S!),20f)
1903 8,479,944 n,976,50 L t, lX,4,:>6.H 1:

1904 9,448,664 10,381,89ï 19,5
O,561
1903 10,279,293 1 O,C69,34
:W, '31-
.6a.)
1906 10,411,27'f, 12,06S,27tJ :?
J500J530
1907 10,62G,040 1
,101,Hn 22,7'.!.7,201
1908 11,016,11] 1
,315,7,;g
3,3:n,S"'O
1909 11,402,737 11 ,S4S.!'H 3 23,2;) 1. I i30
1910 12,799,696 11,S
4.
IH7 21-,G:! 1.,693

256

Movement of Imports for the past Fifteen Years.

Year ended
June 30th.

1896
1897
J89t;
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
I!)Og
1909
1910

rrotal
Imports.

$5,986,861
5,938,334
5,188,863
6,311,245
J;,497,147
7,476,503
7,836,685
8,479,944
9.448,664
10,279,293
10,414,274
10,426,040
11,51fj,111
11,402,3:17
12,799,696

United Dominion United
Kingdom. of Canada. States.
$1,875,754 $2,231,6 L ,tl $1..473,721
1,960,999 1,593,931 2,135,008
1,519,253 1,823,238 1,671,134
1,935,025 2,088,093 1..928,834
2,224,353 2,805,490 1,993,505
2,328,622 2,489,499 2,088,465
2,244,178 2,612..042 2,501,806
2,143,464 2,869,898 2,920,914
2,479,138 3..423,223 2,991,002
2,654,908 4,105,569 2,750,114
2,651,196 3..52l,939 3,609,192
2,669,93'1 3,669,098 3,417,359
2,668..802 4,257,6"'7 3,859,892
2,493,670 3,937,009 4,232,680
2,940,401 4,559,789 4,571,l92

Other
Countries.

$405,745
248,396
175,238
359,293
473,799
569,917
478,659
545,668
555,279
768,702
631,947
639,649
729,730
738,978
728,314

Movement of Exports for the past Fifteen Years.

Year ended Total United Dominion United Other
.J une 30th. Exports. Kingdom, of Canada. States. Countries.
]896 $6,638,187 $1,727,852 $638,741 $489,027 $3,782,567
1897 4,925,789 1.347,273 478,110 533,518 2,564,888
]898 5,226,933 1,355,920 482,513 427,478 2,961,023
1899 6,936,315 1,443,266 541,727 620,056 4,331,266
1900 8,627,576 1,942,093 520,137 1,005,525 5,159,821
1901 8,359,978 1,831.,941 '111,746 884..068 4,932,223
1902 9,552,524 2,104,932 1,046,109 1,207,461 5,194,022
HJ03 9,976,504 2,173,090 1,102,65Ú 1,357,031 5,343,72.:1
190-1 10,381,897 1,993,195 1,102,708 1,470,497 5,814,697
1905 10,669,342 1,940,945 1,135,848 1,418,625 6,173,925
19013 12 080,276 1,662,612 1,7"77,169 1,278,997 '1,367,498
1907 12,101.161 1,394,269 1.611,480 1,492,795 8,028,657
1908 11,815.7G9 1,177,709 1,863,784 1,209,428 7,558,858
1909 10,848,913 1,426,229 1,542,OUO 8.!8,17f} 7,032,4]8
1910 11,824,997 1,82-i,235 1,454,314 1,163,313 7,383,135

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257

Some of the Principal Imports for the Past Five Years, in
which Britain, Canada and the United States can
compete on fairly equal terms.

Articles. 1905-06. U;06-07. 1907-08 1908-09 1909-10
.
Dollars. Dollars. Dollars Dollars Dollars
otal Imports of all Arti-
cles (including Specie) 10,414,274 10,4,26,040 1 11.576,11] 11,402.337 12,799,696
oal .. . .. . . . . 526,927 565,208 64S,3
n Ö05,997 691,734
eather and Leatherware 332,637 352 2351 346,562 347,338 421,641
ry Goods ... ..' 331,177 376,4tS2 368,989 388,71G 432,036
otton ]'abrics . .. .. ' 319,440 262,250 252,688 342,622 323,93:>>
ardware .. . .o. 305,686 300,
07 293,585 256,2-12 34 ï ,380
mallwares .. . ... 226,397 232,101 211,155 216,76ö 249,742
emp Yarn .. . .. . 225,029 1
11,835 251,; 15 158,öb5 91,411
eadymades .. . .o. 209,360 206,831 18H,518 181,155 215,293
weeds .. . ... ... 179,786 1 Hj2,763 133,968 138/;74 160,355
omen's Dl'ess Goods ... 146.082 129,767 123,744 108,305 127,853
alt .. . .. . ... 136,6
3 101,737 142,8fj5 111,388 105,835
achinery & Locomotives 363,Oi31 368.849 400,3
6 336,624 516,404
roceries ." .. . .. . 127,530 136,385 14
.437 138,985 144,035
ruit ., . .. . .. , 127, 585 1 130,208 151,714 133,154 1]6,115
tationery .. . .. . 107,81 ] 128,000 100,325 10:1.372 142,546

T

C
L
D
C
H
S
H
R
T
W
S
M
G
F
S

Imports fron1 Great Britain of above articles during the
Past Five Years.
Articles 1905-0011906-07!1907-OSI190b-09 19OP
ìo

Total Imports fronl Great Dollars Dollars Dollars. Dollars Dollars
Britain of all Articles
(including specie) 2,657,196 2,669,934 2,668,802 2,493,670 2,940,401

Coal
Leather and Leatherware
Dry Goods
Cotton Fabrics
Hard ware...
SmaUwares
Hemp Yarn
Rcadymade Clothing
Tweeds
,V omen's Dl'ess Goods ..,
Salt
Machinery & Locomotives
Groceries ..,
Fruit
Stationery

43,952
16,032
236,978
236,207
134,] 56
196, 552 1
164,024.
159,R09 1
167,.t.84
1:37,8CO
1,02R
37,524
61,658
37,82,)\
25,589 1

32,457
17,147
278,-\ 10
190,245
141,730
193,691
IGß,f,69
159,762
154,794-
122,276
] ,189
79,399
6(),007
44 2ö

2
:
761

24,513
16,267
254,925
179,398
129,640
179,337
173,572
144,524
127,9S6
117,4!'18
1,114
102,371
73,7ü8
44,H6ú
28,208

44,
89
16,396
273,4]3
178,986
107,85

1
2,8tjü
89,067
138,
9

] 34,373
103,008

lll
47,64f1 1
66 .).}.)
,g: 74S I
31,196
I

4R J 67
23,138
305,343
221,947
151,498
209,587
6H,16-t.
16S,fi04
157,274,
122,550
ti7G
114,330
62,597
36,b:l2
36,190

.

8

258

Imports from Canada of above articles during the past
Five Years.

ARTICLES.

11905-06 1906-07
Dollars Dollars
3,669,098 3,669, 098 1
405,781 449,235
141,253 120,796
34,071 34,998
14,406 10,398
63,007 48,981
17,315 20,272
- 2,051
10,523 8,206
10,947 7,295
6,069 6,557
25,084. 22,319
31,280 128,987

7,494 22,737
11,337 14,976
38,691 53,512

Total Imports from Canada
of all Articles (including
Specie)

Coal
Leather and Leatherware
Dry Goods
Cotton Fabrics
Hardware
Small wares
Hemp Yarn ...
Readymade Clothing
Tweeds
Women's Dress Goods
Salt
Machinery and Locomotives
Groceries
Fruit ...
Stationery

1907-08 1908-09 1909-10
Dollars Dollar3 Dollars
4,257,647 3,937,009 4,559,759
540,462 513,292 539,946
122,114 120,883 120,355
34,519 42,410 46,918
10,479 8,096 12,302
59,891 50,577 68,954
16,152 20,529 22,668
398 5,876 21,913
10,280 11,643 13,954
5,958 4,259 2,976
5,737 3,189 4,202
19,115 13,860 17,849
147,966 154,140 198,655
26,893 30,037 35,648
11,581 15,324 18,787
45,818 46,179 61,967

Imports from United States of above articles during the
past Five Years,

ARTICLES. 1905-06 1906-07 1907-08 1908-0911909-10
DollarR Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars
Total Imports from United
States of all Articles
(including Specie) . .. 3,417,359 3,447,359 3,859,892 4,232,680 4,571.192
Coal .. . ... ... .. . 77,522 80,815 83,272 48,150 99,851
Leather and Leatherware . .. 175,243 214,267 208,161 209,982 188,106
Dry Goods . . . .. . .. . 57,863 61,301 75,222 70,102 78,223
Cotton Fabrics . .. .. . 62,989 58,485 59,093 53,822 88,117
Hardware .. . .. , . .. 99,2ù3 98,468 92,998 86,6ö7 117,876
Small wares .. . , .. .. . 13,178 18.032 12,716 12,197 16,894
Hemp Yat'n .. . .. . .. . 57,760 50,560 75,286 6:{,742 -
Readymade Clothing .. . 37,276 35,431 27,565 28,615 31,587
Twee<1s ... .. . . .. 1,348 390 44 42 105
Women's Dress Goods .. . 2,082 934 509 62 848
Salt .. . .. . .. . .. . 2,128 427 6,914 4,270 7,282
Machinery and Locomotives 127,672 158,643 148,477 123 255 193,363
Groceries .. , .. . .. , 30,502 869 39,455 36,047 39,30

Fruit .. . ... .. . .. . 25,978 39,492 31,019 38,864 31,108
Stationery .. . .. . .. . 37,273 35,237 24,205 24,460 43,474

259

The Game Laws of Newfoundland.
Caribou or Deer.
SEC. 3.-:No person shall hunt, kill or pursue with intent to kill, any
moose or elk within this Colony, at any time before the 1st day of
January, 1912. Maximum penalty $200 or three months' imprisonment.
6.-No person shall hunt, kill or pursue with intent to kill, any caribou
from the 1st day of February to the 31st day of July in any year, both
days inclusive, or from the 1st day of October to the 20th day of October
in any year, both days inclusive.
7 .-N 0 person other than a licensee under this Act shall, during the
time by this .Act allowed for killing caribou, kill or take more than two
stag and one doe caribou in anyone year.
10.-No person not actually domiciled in this Colony shall hunt, kill or
pursue with intent to kill, in any season any caribou without having first
procured a license for the season, nor shall more than one license be
granted in anyone year to anyone persoll.
11.- Such licenses to hunt caribou shall only be issued by a Stipendiary
Magistrate, a Justice of the Peace. or the Department of Marine and
Fisheries. A fee of $1 for each license shall be paid to the person issuing
same.
13.-Any person not domiciled in this Colony shall be entitled to hunt,
kill and pursue with intent to kill, caribou on taking out a license, for
which a fee of $50 shall be paid, and such license shall entitle the holder
thereof to kill not more than three stag caribou. Licenses may be
issued to Officers of His Majesty's Ships of "
ar employed on this station
for the Fisheries Protection without payment of any fee upon application
to the Minister of Marine and Fisheries.
14.-Licenses shall be issued to all guides by any of the persons nameù
in Section 11, but the fee of $1 in the said section mentioned shall not be
charged. Every non-domiciled guide shall pay for such license a. fee of
$50. Every applicant for such license shall make oath or affirmation
that he will use his best endeavours to have the provisions of this Act
-carried out, and that whenever any breach thereof may occur he shall
forthwith report the same to the nearest Magistrate, Justice of the Peace
or Warden, with a view of prosecuting the offender to conviction.
15.-No person bolding a license to hunt, kill or pursue caribou
shall employ as a guide, valet, or personal servant, laborer or bearer
in a hunting expedition any person who has not obtained &. license
under the next preceding section.
. 16.-Any person obtaining a license to hunt, kill or pursue ca.ribou
ßhall make oath or affirmation before the person granting the sa.id license
that he will not violate or permit the violation of any portion of this
Act.

.

260

17.-No person holding a license to hunt caribou shall kill or take
more stag caribou than the number indicated by his license, and no
member of a hunting expedition, whether a guide, bearer or laborer,
or otherwise in the employ of the holder of such license, shall kill any
caribou other than under the said license, and as a part of the number-
indicated therein.

1S.-It shall be the duty of the holder of a license to hunt, kill or-
pursue caribou to return his license at the expiration thereof to the
Magistrate or other person authorised t'J issue the same with a state-
ment thereon in writing under oath or affirm.ation specifying the number
of caribou killed by him and his party under the said license.
19.-8a\'e as provided in this Act, no person shall export the antlers,
heads or skins of any caribou, nor shall the owner, master, officers or
crew of any vessel pernlit the exportation therein of any such antlers,
head or skin, or any pa.rt thereof, save as provided and under a permit
of a Customs officer. Penalty $500 or six months' imprisonment.
20.-If any master, owner, or officer, or anyone of the crew of any vessel
shall be convicted of a violation of the last preceding section, he shall,
upon sllch conviction, be liable for every such offence to a penalty of
$500 or six months' imprisonment, and such penalty shall constitute a
claim against the said vessel, and become a lien thereon, and may be.
collected and enforced by the seizure, confiscation and sale of the said
vessel, despite any change of registry or ownership between the date of
the offence and the seizure of the vessel.
21.-Any person holding a license to hunt, kill or pursue caribou
under this Act may export the carcasses, antJers, head or any part of
any caribou killed under the said license, upon entering the same at
the Custom House for exportation and receiving a permit therefor.
Such person shall make oath or affirmation, specifying the articles.
which he intends to export, and that the same are portions of caribou
killed under license held by him, and stating the name of the person
from whom he obtained the said license, and the date thereof, and that
the articles about to be exported are not being exported as articles of
commerce, and he shall thereupon pay a fee of 50 cents to the officer of
Customs before whom such export entry is made, which fee the said
officer is hereby authorised to rl3tain. Such affidavit or affirmation shall
be forwarded to the Department of 1\1arine and Fisheries.
22,-No person holding a lice
se to hunt, kill or pursue caribou under
this Act shall export fronl this Colony the carcasses, heads, or antlers of
IDore than three stag caribou.
23.-Any person not holding a license to hunt, kill or pursue caribou,
but who is domiciled in this Colony, may export the antlers, heads or
skins of caribou upon entering the same for exportation at a Customs
House in the Colony, and receiving a specia.l permit therefor. Such
permit shall not be granted except upon an affidavit made before the
Customs officer to whom application for a permit is made, stating the.

261

name of the owner of the articles to be exported, their destination, and
the person from whom and place where obtained, and that the same are
not being exported as an article of COlnmerce. Such affidavit shall be
transmitted by the officer of Customs to the Department of }larine and
Fisheries.
24..-Any person who shall put up the flesh of caribou in cans or tins
or other packages shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two hundred
dollars, or, in default thereof, to imprisonment for any period not
exceeding three months.
2c3.-Any flesh of caribou found put up in cans, tins or other packages
may be seized, and may be destroyed by the order of a Justice of the
Peace.
26.-It 8hg,11 not be lawful for any person to purchase, or to receive in
exchange, from any other person, any venison or any portion of the
flesh of caribou, at any time between the first day of January and the
thirty-first day of July in any year, ß.nd any person offending against the
provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding two
hundred dollars, or, in default, to imprisonment for any pedod not
exceeding three months.
27.-If any Customs officer is informed or becOlne.:; aware that any
antlers, heads or skins of caribou are being exported except by Do person
who has complied with the provisions of this Act in all respects, it shall
be the duty of such officer to seize the said antlers, heads or skins, or any
portion thereof, and to make complaint before a Stipendiary Magistrate
or Justice of the Peace that a violation of this Act has been committed.
28-29.-All persons are prohibited from setting any snare, trap or pit
for the destruction or capture of, or killing or pursuing with intent to kill
any caribou.
(a) 'Vith dogs; or
(b) With hatchet, tomahawk, spear, 1nacbine, contrivance or
weapon, other than firearms loaded with ball or bullet; or
(c) While swimming or crossing any pond, lake, stream, river or
watercourse.
No person is allowed to hunt or kill caribou within the area as hereafter
described, that is to say :-
Commencing one and a-half miles south of Grand Lake Station, on
the shores of the lake, to a point at the same distance from the railway
at Howley; thence to Goose Brook, one and a, balf mileR from the
railway line; thence east to the railway line near Kitty's Brook Falls;
thence northwardly six and a-half miles; thence to a point at Junction
Brook, three miles north of Grand La.ke
tation; and thence south-
wardly along the course of the brook and shore of the I:tke to the place
of commencement.
AU fines and penalties under this .Act shall be sued for and recovered
in a summary manner on information or complaint before n. Justice of

262

the Peace by any peròon who shall inform and sue for the same; a.nd
one-half of all fines and forfeitures imposed shall be awarded to such
complainant who shall prosecute the offender to conviction.
Any person who shall violate any section of this Act for which no
penalty is herein provided shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $200,
and in default of payment to imprisonment for any period not exceeding
six months.

Birds and Wild Rabbit or Hare.

No person shall hunt, kill, purchase or have in his possession any
ptarmigan or willow-grouse, commonly called partridge, or the eggs of
any such birùs within this Colony between the 15th day of December
and the 20th day of September in any year under a penalty of not exceed-
ing one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not exceeding three months.
Provided it shall not be held unlawful to sell, etc., or have possession of
such birds where the party shall prove that the said birds were killed
be-tween the 20th day of September and the 15th day of December in
any year.
It shall be unlawful for any person to export from this Colony for sale
as an article of commerce, any willow or other grouse or partridge, under
a penalty of five dollars for each bird so exported.
No person shall hunt, etc.. sell, purchase or have in his possession any
curlew, plover, snipe or other wild or migratory birds (ex
ept wild geese)
or eggs of any such birds within the Colony between the 15th day of
December and the 20th day of September in each year, under a penalty
of not less than $25.00 nor exceeding S100.00, or in default of payment,
of imprisonment not exceeding three months.
No person shall trap or snare any wild Rabbit or Hare between the
1st day of March and the 20th day of September in any year under a
pena.ltyof not less than 525 and not exceeding $100, or imprisonmen

not exceeding three months.
Any person except a traveller on a journey found on Sunda.y carrying
firearms, shall be subject to a fine not exceeding forty dollars, and in
default of payment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one
month.
Any person, except a traveller on a journey, found on the shooting
grounds carrying firearms with or without dogs between the fifteenth
day of December and the first day of October, where such game is
known to frequent shall be subject to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars,
and in default of payment, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding
one month.
No person shall hunt, kill, wound, take, sell. barter, purchase, receive
or give away, or have in his possession, any Capercailzie or Black Game,
or the eggs of any such birds within this Colony, at any time from the

263

12th day of October, 1907, to the 12th day of October, 1917, under a.
penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars and costs, and in defa.ult of
payment, to imprisonment not exceeding two months.
The following description of the birds is published for general
information: The Capercailzie Cock is a large bird weighing from seven
to twelve pounds, of dark blue plumage, but white from the croWD
downwards and with white spots on the npper wing coverts. The Black
Cock which is larger than the Partridge, is also of dark blue plumage,
with white feathers under the tail and wings. The hens of both species
are colour of the local Partridge in early snmmer-a light brown.
Nothing contained in these Rules and Regulations shall extend to any
poor settler who shall kill any birds (except those prohibited for a term
of years from being killed) for his immediate consumption or that of his
family.

Otters, Beavers and Foxes.

No person shall hunt beavers or export beaver skins till October 1st,
1913.
No person shall, in any year, take, kill, wound or destroy any otter or
beaver between the first day of April and the first day of October, under
a penalty of twenty-five dollars or imprisonment not exceeding one
month.
Any person who shall purchase, receive or have in his possession any
skin or carcass of a beaver killed or taken in violation of the law, shan be
liable to a penalty for a first offence, not exceeding two hundred dollars
or in default, imprisonment not exceeding two months; and for a second
offence shall be imprisoned for six months with hard labor.
Possession of a carcass or skin of a beaver shall be prima. facie
evidence of a violation of this Act.
No person shall bunt foxes from March 15th to October 15th in any
year.

Trout and Salmon.

No person shall catch, kill, capture or take any salmon, trout or inland
water fishes in any river, stream, brook, pond, lake or estnar)' in
Newfoundland by any other means except rod, hook and line.
No perHon shall by spearing, sweeping or hauling with any net or
seine, to.l{e or attempt to take any salmon, trout or inland water fish, and
the nse of lime, explosives or other deleterious compounds for killing or
eatching fish of any description is prohibited.
III every mill-dam, rack or framework erected or built across any ponù.
lake, river. brook or stream where salmon and trout have been known to
enter, there shall be put a proper pass-way or fish-laùder not less than four
feet in width, capable of allowing salmon or trout of any size to enter the
waters above. Any log
or timber of any description which may be 80
.

264

placed as to impede the passage of salmon or trout in a river or stream
shall be instantly removed, and no sawdust or mill rubbish of any kin
shall be cast into any pond, lake, river, brook, stream or watercourse,
No person shall catch, kill or take any salmon or trout in any river,
brook, stream, pond or lake in this Colony between the 15th September
and the 15th January next following in any y
ar.
No person shall buy or sell or have in possession any salmon or
trout which have been taken contrary to these rules, and every salmon
or trout so taken may be forfeited to the complainant by any J nstice.
No person not being a resident of this Colony or its dependencies or
not having a fixed place of domicile therein shall take or fish for any
salmon, sea-trout, ouananiche, trout or charr, or any fish inhabiting or
resorting to the inland waters or estuaries of this Island or its
Dependencies, unless such person shall first have taken out and obtained
an Inland Fishery License. Provided, nevertheless, that this section
shall not apply to officers of His Majesty's ships upon
ervice on or
visiting this station.
The conditions on which the said license is granted shall be :-
(a) That the licensee shall in all respects conform to the laws of this
Colony, and especially to the Statutes and the Rules and Regulations of
the Board having reference to the taking of fish in inland waters, and
shall do all in his power to prevent the infraction of such laws, rules and
regulations, and to promote the protection of the Inland Fisheries;
(b) That he shall pay to the Board or its authorised Agent the sum of
ten dollars as a fee for said license; (c) Upon proof to the satisfaction
of the Board that such licensee has been guilty of any violation of the
law the Board may declare the said license to be cancelled, and the said
licensee is thenceforth deprived of all rights and privileges under the
same.

Fire Patrol Regulations.
The Government has appointed a Chief Woods Ranger and Fire
Wardens for the better protection of the game forests. His duties are,
in part:-
(1) To periodically travel over all woodlands, whether belonging to the
Crown or private owners under leasa from the Crown.
(2) To trace the origin of every woods fire and fully report same to the
Government.
(3) To act in the capacity of an officer for the enforcement of the game
laws of the Colony.
(4) To see that the following notice is conspicuously displayed:-
" Camp-fires must be totally extinguished before breaking camp, under
penalty of not to exceed twelve months' imprisonment or $400 fine, as
provided by la.w."
The Government of Newfoundland ha.ving leased to the Anglo-
Newfoundland Development Company certa.in and la.nd wa.ter areas

265

situate in the districts adjoining Red Indian and Victoria Lakes,
tourists and sportsmen will please note that, before entering upon
the lands of the AngJo-Newfoundland Development Company-
whose lands extend along the line of railway from Grand Falls to
Gaff Topsails (Summit), inclusive-it will be necessary to first take
out a. permit, which can be obtained by applying to the Company's
headquarters at Grand F!llls. It is also required by the terms of the
contract arranged with the Government, that" Every tourist or party of
tourists shall be required to employ one at least of guides or fire wa.rdens
employed by the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, &s guide
a.t the usual fees when entering on the lands of the said Company."

Customs Regulations.
"\Vhen Tourists, Anglers and Sportsmen arriving in this Colony bring
with them Cameras, Bicycles, Angler's Outfits, Trouting Gear, Fire-
arms and Ammunition, Tents, Canoes. and Implements, they shall be
admitted under the following conditions :-
A deposit equal to the duty shall be taken on such articlE's as Cameras,
Bicycles, Trouting Poles, Fire-arms, Tents, Canoes, and Tent equipage,
A receipt (No.1) according to the form attached shall be given for the
deposit and the particulars of the articles shall be noted in the receipt as
well as in the ma.rginal cheques. Receipt No. 2 if taken at an outport
office shall bemailedatoncedirectedtotheAssistantCollector.St.
John's, if taken in St. John's the Receipt No.2 shall be sent to the
Landing Surveyor.
Upon the departure from the Colony of the Tourist, Angler or Sports-
man, he may obtain a refund of the deposit by presenting the articles at
ihe Port of Exit and having them compared with the receipt. The
Exa.mining Officer shall initial on the receipt the result of his e:xam-
ination and upon its correctness being ascertained the refund may be
ma.de.
No groceries, canned goods, wines, spirits or provisions of any kind
will be admitted free and no deposit for a refund may be ta.ken upon such
articles.

NAMES.
Walter B. Shears
Chas. Gilliam
Charles 1\1. Benoit
Reuben King
Francis King
Joseph Young
\Villiam H. Gilliam
Thos. \Vebb
\Villiam Young ...
J ames Young
Robert Shears ...
Thos. A. Shears...
J as. A. -Shears
Geo. Shears
John P. John
John Bourgeois ...
\Valter Perrior ...
Chas. Hines
Thonlas Legge ...
James \V. Legge
Richard Gill
1\1axim Young ...
Allan 1\Iclsaac ...
John Ed. Parsons
Peter Benoit
Wm. \Vebb
Frederick \Vebb
\Vm. Allen
John A. Pennell
\Villiam Messervey
A. Wells...
\Vm. J. LeMoine
Dennis Callahan
John Gillett
John Arnold
Edward P. Brake
\Vm. P. Brake ...
George Snooks...
\Villiam Pennell
William Joy
Henry Whitehorn
George Gillard ...

266

Licensed Guides, 1911.

DISTRICT.
St. George's
Robinson's Head
Stephenville
Bank Head ...

" "

" "
Robinson's Head
Flat Bay

" "

" "
Robinson's Head

" "

"

" "

Flat Bay

" "

" "
Port au Port...
Robinson's Head

" "

" "

Bank Head
Highlands
Sandy Point ...
Barachoix Brook
Main River
Flat Bay
Curling

"

"

"

"
Corner Brook...

" "...

" "
Humbermouth

"

"

"
Halls Bay
Springdale, Halls Bay
Halls Bay

ADDRESS.
Bay St. George.

"

,.

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

.,

,.

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"
Bay of Islands.

,.

;,

"

"

"

,.

"

"
Grand Lake.
Notre Dame Bay.

"

"

,.

,. ,.

NUlES.
James Ludnow
Alfred Beaton...
George Beaton
William 0 ke . . .
Jenkins Price ...
John Wells
Ronald Ralph ...
Robert Saunders
R. B. Stroud ...
Alexander Butt
John Dowy
Robert Brooking
Ezekiah Ralph
Daniel Burton
'Valter LeDrew
Frank Strickland
Joseph J eddore
Nicholas J eddore

oel Jeddore ...
l\'fatthew Burke
Bernard John
Stephen Bernard
John D. J eddore
Stephen Joe ...
George Kelly...
Michael Walsh
Patrick Hurley

267

DISTRICT.
Norris' Arm

" "

" "

" "

Gambo ...
Alexander Bay...
Troy town
Glovertown

"

"

"

,.

"

,.

"
La Pone...
Bay D'Espoir

" "

" "

" "

" "
Lrmg Harbour

" "

" "
South East Arm
Salmonier

"

ADDRES3.

Bonavista. Bay.
" "
., "
" "
" "
" "
" "
" "
"
" "

Fortune Bay.

" "

" "
Placentia.
St. r.lary's Bay.

"

"

"

263

OCEAN AND LOCAL STEAMSHIP SERVICES.

THE ALLAN LINE.
The ....t\.llan Steamship Company lllaintains a fort-
nightìy service bet\veen Liverpool and St. JOhll'S, tllence
to Halifax and Philadelphia, returning from the latter
port to St. J ahn's direct, and on to GlasgO"w", from which
:place the ships move to LiverlJool in order to begin
a.notl1er rOllud voyage. All important improvenlent in
this service is being effected the present Jear tllrougll
the employment of the steamer "Pretorian," a rouell
larger, faster and finer ship than those previously used,
and it is expected that eitller this season or next, t,yO
other steamers of the same class ,viII be s'ubstituted for
those that are performing the contract ,,,ith her during
the present year. The .t\.1lan steamers enjoy a ",yell-
deserved reputation for cOlTIfort and securit

, and this
has been amply ll1aintained in the }
ewfoundland
service, in connection '\yith '\yllicll there has not been a
serio'us mishap to an Allan liner for almost a q'uarter of
a century. The passage ratps are very reasonable,
:1pproxiInating $60 for first-class, and the yoyage
bet,veen Liverpool and St. John's is made '\vithin a
"reek. The sJlips are fitted ",-ith ,,"ireless telegraphy,
and the service is deservedly popular and draws a
constantly increasing clientèle. Messrs. Shea & Co., of
St. John's, are the Newfoundland agellts.

.

FURNESS LINE.
The Furness-"Tithy Stealllship Company maintains
a line of steamers bet"reen Liyerpool, St. John's and
Halifax, plying alternately with the Allan ships, so as
to afford the colony, realJ
T, the advantages of a weekl
r
service. These Furness stean1ers are excellent sea-

269
boats, speci
lly adapte
. for the traffic, and give
accomm?datlon. for ?' lUlllted number of passengers,
they beIng clllefly mtended for the carriaO'e of the
enorlllOUS quantities .of freight, ,,
hich are tran
ported by
these mea?-s, and WhlCll are growmg very much in recent
years O\Vlng to the development of ne,y industrieli
within the colony. The rates on these steamers are
som
wh.at similar to those on the Allan ships, and the

erVlce IS excellent. The time occupied in the passage
IS abuut seven days.
lessrs. J. & W. Pitts, of St.
John's, are the Ne,vfoundland agents,

RED CROSS LINE.

The Red Cross Steamship COlTIpallY operates t"..o
excellent passenger ships bctw'cen Ne,v York, Halifax
and St. John's, giving a weekly service for most of the
year, and a ten-day service for the remainder. Tw'o
years ago the powerful new steamship "Florizel"
was constructed for this service, one of the strongest
and stuutest passenger ships afloat. She fOrl1lecl [1,
remarkable innovation, inasmuch as she was designed to
engage in the seal fishery in MarcIl and April, and
perform this "liner" service during the rest of the
year. She proved so successful in the seal hunt, though
of 3,000 tons gross bulk, that the Company built a still
larger ship, the "Stephano," on the Clyde the pa
t
winter, '\vith the same object
in view, and she l>cgins
the passenger servíce in June of this year. 'rhese shipg
do a large tourist traffic in summer of Alllprirans
desirous of a change frOlTI the torrid s unlll1er heats of
their own country to the cool, salubrious shores of
Ne-\vfoundland, and trans-Atlantic pa
sengcrs also avail
themselves of these means of reaching the Island. 'fhe
first-class rates approximate $-tO for the yoyage each ,rare
The ships carry wireless equipment. Harvey & Co., of
St. John's, are tl1e Newfoundland agents.

270

BLACK DIAMOND LINE.
rrhe Black Diamond Steamship Company carries on
a service between May and Decen1ber bet,yeen Montreal,
Charlottetown, P.E.I., Sydney, N.S., and St. John's,
making '\veekly trips with the steamers" Rosa.lind " and
"Eonavista." The former ship was emp10yed on the
N ew York service until replaced by the "Stephano,"
and has more than ordinary passenger capacity, '\vhile
the" Bonavista" is a ship that ,\yas specially built for
the route, and is also excellently provided in this
respect. The service is a popular one, and the scenic
beauties of the St. La,yrence attract Inany passengers to
it. Harvey & 00.. of St. John's, are the Newfoundland
agents.

GULF LINE.

Steamers carrying passengers and freight are
run during the summer l)etween Mont.real and
St. John's, giving excellent accolnmodation and afford-
ing opportunities for enjoyable voyages. Shea & Co.,
of St. John's, are the Ne,yfoundland agents.

TRANS-ATLANTIC LINE CONNECTIONS.

Passengers by all trans-_.t\tlantic steamships plying
viâ Oanadian and United States ports, can make con-
nections ,,-itll Newfoundland by any of the foregoing
steamer lines, or by utilizing the Railroads to North
S
-dney, N.S., where they call connect with the Reid-
N e,yfoundland Oompany's steamships that ply across
Cabot Strait daily, and really form part of the rail
ray
systelIl of the Island. These ships leave :Korth Sydney
or Port-aux-Basques about Inidnight, and traverse the
90 miles in six to seven hours, enabling travellers to
enjoy a comfortable night's rest and awake in harbour on
the other side.

271

REID COASTAL STEAMERS.
At Port-aux-Basques or St. John's, from ,vhichcver
side the traveller enters the Island, he can effect con-
nections with all the eight ships of tIle Reid
ystem and
make numerous tours along the coast or in the bavs,
extending his voyage to farthest Lal)rador if he
o
desires. This Company's system is very complete and
perfect. 'fhrough tickets are sold, comprehensive tours
are arranged, every choice of route can be effected, and as
the COlnpany has its agents at every rail\vay station
and in the val'ious ports of call, every facility is afforded
passengers for availing of all its resources.

THE BOWRING STEAMSHIPS.
The firm of Bowring Bros., Ltd., of St. John's,
despatches two coastal steamers-the " Portia" and the
"Prospero "-one plying' between St. John's and Belle
Isle Strait, touching at the IJrincipal harbours in the
northern bays, and the others performing sjluilar
services on the south and west coasts. A round
voyage in either ship occupies 10 to 12 days, and during
the summer months special rates arc given, \\rhile the
opportunities which such trips afford of enjo
Ting varied
scenic attractions bring then1 generous patronage.

THE " CROSBIE" SHIPS.
The Newfoundland Produce Company, of which
Crosbie & Co. are the St
John's agents, likewise run
two fine steamers, the "Fogota" giving a ,vcekly
service to Fogo district and the principal intervenin

ports, and the "Susu" carrying out a weekly service
on Fortune Bay. These ships afford splendid
opportunities for travellers to familiarize themselves
with the sections of the seaboard ,vhich they servc, and
as the rates charged are the lo\vest comptttible with
good service, it is easy to see that they are favourites on
their routes.

THE END.

.

1Lcnbon:
PRINTED BY WHITEHEAD, l\IoRRIS & CO., LTD.
9 & 10 FENCHURCH STREET, E.C.

1911.

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