:

continent this bank extends to very near ten degrees of longitude, but its breadth is more circumfcribed, being little more than half that extent where broadell. Here the fishery for cod is carried on to the greateft effect. A thick fog fettles on this fpot throughout the year, which the force of the fun is never able to diffipate, or at molt bu for a very fhort interval.

This fifhery has been carried on by the English ever fince the year 1608; the fpot then chofen was from Cape Bonaojia to Cape Ros, taking in all the callern coaft. which laid the foundation for the town of St. John's, fituated in 74° 32' N. latitude, and in 22° 34′ E. longitude from Philadel. the harbour there being fafe and commodious. The French likewife, about the fame time, had fome veffels employed in the cod fishery to the fouth of Newfoundland. They erected some huts on fhore in the bay of Piacentia, where, in the year 1687 they built a fmall fort. A jealousy of each other foon arofe, but by the thirteenth article of the treaty of Utrecht, the abfolute right in the land was acknowledged to belong to Great Britain, whilit the French retained the right of fifling on the fouthern coall, and on fome parts of the great bank.

The cod is the fith which reforts to thefe banks in great fhoals; it is of a fmaller fize than fome which are caught in the European feas, and feldom exceeds eighteen or twenty inches in length. Throughout all nature there are no living creatures fo prolific as fish, and amongst the various fpecies of fith none are more exuberant in fecundity than the cod, feveral millions of eggs having been counted in a fingle fifh. During the latter end of July, and through the whole month of Auguit, these fish are not found here; but they are vaftly abundant through the reft of the year. The fishery, with this interruption, is continued from the beginning of the month of April to the latter end of September; for in the winter feafon the fun does not impart fullicient heat to dry the fif; they not being eaten fresh, but falted, and then they are called green cod. From the liver of the cod an oil is extracted. They are caught with lines, which are baited with a particular fpecies of fmall fish.

Great Britain, at the loweft computation, annually employs upward of three thoufand fail in this fishery; on board of which, and on thore, to cure and pack the fish, are not less than ten thousand hands; fo that it is at the fame time not only a very profitable branch of trade to the merchant, but a fource of livlihood to many thoufands of people, and a moll excellent nurfery to the royal navy, which is hence fupplied with a great number of bold and expert feamen.

On thefe coafts are alfo taken a great number of whales, feals, porpoifes, &c. which are annually exported from hence to different parts of the world ; all which fufficiently fhew the inportance of the illaud notwithflanding the feverity of the climate, and the roughness and barrennefs of the foil.

The number of Englifa inhabitants on the ifland is uncertain and fluctuating. They are indeed very inconfiderable, if compared with its extent; but there are not half the number in winter that there are in fummer. Placentia, now the capital of the inland, which is feated on the fouthern point, contains no more than between three and four fcore houses.

It appears from the fifteenth report of the commiflioners appointed to examine the public accounts and revenues of the kingdom, (in which report they flate the produce and expenditure of the cuffoms in the colonies and plantations) that the falaries and incidental charges for Newfoundland, amount

ed, in the year 1784. to 1531 dols. and that nothing was brought into the revenue from thence.

The thips employed in this fishery are from fifty to an hundred and fifty tons: they generally have from twelve to twenty five men on board. There veffels come to thore every day, where the filhermen throw the cod they have taken upon a flage prepared for that purpofe. One of them, who is called the cut-throat, opens the fill with a two-edged knife, and cuts off his head; a fecond hands the fifh to the carver, who ftands opofite to him at a table erected upon the flage, who with a fingle edged knife, fix or eight inches long, and very thick on the back, to increase its weight, fplits the fifh open; when it is conveyed to the falter, who places it with the fkin undermoft in a barrel, and then very flightly covers it with falt, laying the fith regularly one upou another.

After leaving the cod in falt three or four days, and fometimes twice as long, according to the feafon, they put it into a tub, wafh it well, make it opia piles, and, in fair weather, fpread it out with the ikin undermoli, on a kind of flage raised with wattles about two feet from the ground; before night they turn the skin uppermoft, which they alfo do whenever it rains. When the fish becomes a little dry, it is raifed into larger piles, where it rells a day or two; after which it is again expofed to the air, and turned according as there is occafion, before they again raife it into large piles; where, after this is done, it fometimes remains fifteen days without being moved; after which it is once more expofed to the air, and when almost dry, gathered together again in order to fweat, which takes up twenty-four hours or more, according to the feafon; it is then opened and expofed to the air for the last time, and when thoroughly dried, houfed.

Fish cured in this manner are not only more fair to the eye, but more grateful to the tafte, than those which are partly prepared at fea; and fuch fifh as are cured in the fpring before the great heats, are effeemed the

bell.

By the 4th article of the treaty of Verfailles in 1783, the poffession of Newfoundland was confirmed to Great Britain, but the fmall rocks or islands of St. Pierre (Peter) and Miqueloon, were ceded to the king of France; and by the 5th article of the fame treaty, the right of that nation to fish on the coafts of Newfoundland was much more extended than by the treaty in 1753 and it is now enjoyed not only along a confiderable part of the eallern coalt, but through the whole of the wefiern fide of the iliand. Notwithflanding thefe extended limits, the fisheries carried on by the French in thefe parts are now fo much reduced, that their home confumption of fish is fcarcely fupplied from it, whilft Great Britain, befide furnishing its own inhabitants, is fuppofed to derive an annual profit of 1,332,000 dollars, from the fale of fifh obtained from hence and carried to foreign markets. Thus do the faftings enjoined by the church of Rome tend to enrich a kingdom of Proteftants.

By the 3d article of the treaty with America, figned at Paris in the year 1783, the people of the United States have," the right of taking fith of every kind fecured to them, as well on the great bank as on all other banks of Newfoundland, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and at all other places in the fea, where the inhabitants of both countries ufed at any time heretofore to fith, but not to dry or eure them on the ifland, but on any of the unfettled bays, harbours, and creeks, of Nova Scotia and Labrador, fo long

as the fame shall remain unfettled, and no longer, without a previous agreement with the inhabitants, or poffeffors."

Of Cape Breton, called by the French L'Isle Royal.

THE ifland of Cape Breton, fixteen leagues to the S. W. of

Newfoundland, is feparated from the continent by a narrow paffage on the W. This land is about one hundred and ten miles from the N. E. to the S. W. Round it are feverai harbours and bays, which, from its fituation in the Gulf of St. Laurence, have made it confidered as the key of Canada, it being a fafe retreat for fhips bound either to or from thence. It forms the fouth western coaft of the entrance into the Gulf of St. Laurence, as the ifland of Newfoundland does the north eaflern.

It is of a very irregular figure, and fo cut through by lakes and rivers, that its two principal parts are held together only by an ifthmus of about eight hundred paces in breadth; this neck of land feparates the bottom of Port Touloufe from feveral lakes which are called Labrador. Thefe lakes difchrrge themfelves into the fea to the E. by two channels, formed by the islands of Verderronue and la Boularderie. It is feparated from Nova Scotia by a narrow flrait called Canfo.

All its ports open toward the E. turning a little to the S. The harbour of Louifburgh, formerly called the English Harbour, is perhaps one of the finelt harbours in America, being near four leagues in circumference, and having every where fix or feven fathoms water. Poffelling all these advantages, it is rendered nfelefs one half of the year, being frozen up from the month of November to May. The town of Louijburgh is fituated on the S. W. fide, in latitude 45° 54' N. and in 15° 6. E. longitude from Philadel. When it was laft taken by the English, it was pretty ftrongly fortified, with as much regularity as the fituation would adınit. It had a good rampart, with irregular bailions, a dry ditch, a covert-way, with an excellent glacis, and before two of the curtains a ravelin, with a bridge to the fallee-pons; but the chief ftrength of the place by land confified in the thickness of the wails, and the impallable moraffes that extend from the foot of the glacis to a confiderable diflance. In the centre of one of the chief baflions was a ftrong building, with a moat on the fide toward the town; and this was called the citadel, though it had neither artillery, nor was a fructure proper for receiving any indeed the entrance to it was over a draw-bridge, on one fide of which was a corps de garde. and advanced centinels on the other. Within the building were the apartments for the governor, the barracks for the garrifon, the arfenal, and under the platform of the redoubt a magazine always well furnished with military flores. The parish-church, or rather chapel, was alfo within the citadel, and without it was another belonging to the hofpital of St. Jean de Dieu, an elegant and spacious ftructure, built with fione. On an ifland at the entrance of the harbour was a frong fort, and on the oppofite fide a very high tower, ferving as a lighthoufe. According to the Abbe Raynal, France expended on thefe works five milliors feven hundred and fever ty two thousand dols. the flone and moft of the other materials being brought from Furope. Hill. Politique liv- xvi. The forications were all blown up and demo'ifhed in the year 1760. When the town of Louifburgh was lalt taken from the French, it confilled of only feveral narrow lanes, and had few tolerable holes in it, they being of wood, with a foundation of ftone carried about fix feet above the ground.

There are feveral other excellent ports; which are the more neceffary, as the fea round the island is fubject to violent forms of wind, with fhow and fleet, and fuch fogs that it is frequently impollible to fee the length of a fhip: but what is fill more extraordinary, thefe fogs will, in the space of one frofty night, cafe over the rigging of fhips with fuch thick ice, as to render them impoffible to be worked till it is beaten off: the quantity beaten off from only one of the fhips employed in the conquell of the island in 1758, was computed to amount to fix or eight tons weight; yet this amazing quantity was all congealed on the night of the 5th of May !

The foil and climate nearly refemble thofe of Newfoundland, and confequently its produce is not very different. A confiderable part of the land is barren; it, however, produces oaks of a prodigious fize, pines for mafts, and all forts of timber fit for building. The most common forts are cedar, oak. afh, beech, maple, afpin, wild-cherry, and plane-trees. It likewife produces fome forts of fruits, particularly apples, with herbs and roots, fome kinds of grain, with hemp and flax.

It is obferveable, that the mountains may be cultivated up to the top, and that the good foil always inclines toward the S. There are here great numbers of fowl, particularly very large patridges, which in their feathers refemble pheasants. There are here likewife animais brought from Europe, as horned cattle, hogs, fheep, goats and poultry. The lakes, rivers, and bays, abound with beavers, otters, and excellent fish in the greatest plenty. On this ifland are inexhauflable mines of coal.

This induced the French, on their being excluded from Nova-Scotia and Newfoundland, to begin a fettlement here in 1714, which they continued to increase, and fortified it in 1720. They were, however, difpoffeffed in 1745 by the bravery of the inhabitants of New England, with little affiance from Great Britain; but, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, it was reftored to them, when they spared no expence to fortify and strengthen it. However, it was again reduced in 1758 by the Britifn roops under the nerals Amhurft and Wolfe, and admiral Bofcawen, together with a large body of New England men, who found in that place two hundred and twenty-one pieces of caunon, and eighteen mortars, together with a very large quantity of ftores and ammunition. It was yielded for ever to the crown of Great Britain by the peace of 1763. fince which the fortifications have been Lown up, and the town of Louifburgh difmantled.

THOUGH

The Iland of St. John.

ge

HOUGH the Island of St. John is feated in the neighbourhooả of Cape Breton, and lyi g partly between it and the continent, has confequently nearly the fame climate, yet it greatly exceeds the iflands jull inentioned, with refpect to its pleafantnefs and the fertility of its foil. It is computed to be about fixty miles in length, and has not only a commedio s barbour for carrying on the fifhery, but abounds with a variety of uteful timber, and moit kinds of game common to the neighbouring country. This land is fo fertile, and was fo well improved while poffeffd by the French, that it was juftly ftyled the granary of Canada, which it furnished with great plenty of moft forts of corn, as well as great quantines of beef and pork: when last taken it had upward of ten thufand head of black cattle and fome of the farmers raifed twelve hundred bafh-is of corn annually. It has feveral rivers, which abound with falmon, trot, eels, &c. and the fur

rounding fea affords plenty of fturgeon, plaice, and moft kinds of fhell-fish. An ifland of this advantage was at once carefully cultivated, and its importance concealed from the English left it fhould induce them to make themfelves malers of it, and by that means cut off the principal fupplies of Quebec. There are yet confiderable quantities of land uncultivated, which, by a proper improvement, would greatly increafe its value. When this ifland was furrendered to lieutenant-colonel lord Rollo, in 1751, it had four thoufand inhabitants.

By the fifteenth report of the commiffioners of public accounts it appears that the island of St. John, in the year 1784, caufed an expence to the public in falaries to officers and incidents refpecting the customs, amounting o about three hundred dollars, and that no receipts were brought to

account.

Both this ifland and that of Cape Breton are at prefent under the government of Nova Scotia, as are alfo several small adjacent islands.

Of ACADIE, or NOVA SCOTIA, and the fettlement of New Brunswick.

ACADIE,

par t

CADIE, or NOVA SCOTIA (New Scotland.) is the most caflern of the continent of America It is bounded by the Gulf of St. Laurence and the Straights of Canfo, which feparate it from Cape Breton, on the N. E. on the S. and E. by the Atlantic Ocean; on the W. by the Bay of Fundy and the diftrict of Main, belonging to Maffacaufett's and on the N. by the river St. Laurence and part of Canada. It extends from cape Sable, its moft fouthern point, which is in 43° 24′ to 49° 30′ N. Jatitude, and from 14° 55′ E. longitude. It is fo indented by what is called the Bay of Fundy, that the S. E. part toward the ocean, forms a triangular peninfula, which is joined by a fmall ifthmus, to the other part.

The French for fome time infifted that Nova Scotia comprehended only the peninfula: and when by the treaty of Utrecht, the king of France yielded to Great Britain the full poffeffion of this country, its limits were left undefined, the words of the twelfth article being, "ail Nova Scotia, or Acadie, with its ancient boundaries;" but France having now loft all her other poffeffions on the continent, the geographers of the two countries no longer differ concerning the extent of this country.

The climate is very fevere in winter, at which time the cold is fharp, and the fnow lies deep on the ground; but the air is then generally clear, with a bright sunshine and azure fky; but the fummer is hotter than in England.

The foil of this province is various, in fome places barren, and in others exceedingly pleafant and fertile; particularly round the Bay of Fundy, and on the rivers which fall into it: there are large tracts of ground on both fides of these rivers, for fifty or fixty miles into the country, and several miles from the bay, which were once marthy, but by being dyked, are improved to great advantage. The eminences in this province are alfo very pleasant and fruitful, producicg wheat, rye, Indian-corn, peas, beans, hemp. flax, and fome kinds of fruit in great perfection, as goofeberries, and frawberries, which grow in the woods. Several parts yield fine timber, and particularly excellent oak fit for building of flips: with fir, fpruce, birch, &c. It abounds with all the neceffaries of life, particularly a great number of deer and other game, with plenty of wild-fowl. The rivers abound with falon and other kinds of river-fifh. There are alfo feveral fisheries erected in the different harbours, and carried on with fome fuccets.

No. 22.