to give him two thousand pounds of cod-line and two thousand pounds of one and two inch rope. His request was granted, on which he asked for five hundred livres. The money was given him, and the next year he asked to have the gift renewed. *
The king was very anxious to develop the fisheries of the colony. “His Majesty,” writes the minister, “wishes you to induce the inhabitants to unite with the merchants for this object, and to incite them by all sorts of means to overcome their natural laziness, since there is no other way of saving them from the misery in which they now are.” ** “I wish,” says the zealous Denonville, “that fisheries could be well established to give employment to our young men, and prevent them from running wild in the woods;” and he adds mournfully, “they (the fisheries) are enriching Boston at our expense.” “They are our true mines,” urges the intendant Meules; “but the English of Boston have got possession of those of Acadia, which belong to us; and we ought to prevent it.” It was not prevented; and the Canadian
* All the above examples are drawn from the correspondence
of the governor and intendant with the minister, between
1680 and 1699, together with a memorial of Hazeur and
another of Riverin, addressed to the minister.
Vitry’s porpoise-fishing appears to have ended in failure.
In 1707 the intendant Raudot granted the porpoise fishery of
the seigniory of Riviere Ouelle to six of the habitans.
This fishery is carried on here successfully at the present
day. A very interesting account of it was published in the
Opinion Publique, 1873, by my friend Abbé Casgrain, whose
family residence is the seigniorial mansion of Riviere
Ouelle.
** Mémoire pour Denonville et Champigny, 8 Mars, 1688.
fisheries, like other branches of Canadian industry, remained in a state of almost hopeless languor. *
The government applied various stimulants. One of these, proposed by the intendant Duchesneau, is characteristic. He advises the formation of a company which should have the exclusive right of exporting fish; but which on its part should be required to take, at a fixed price, all that the inhabitants should bring them. This notable plan did not find favor with the king. ** It was practised, however, in the case of beaver skins, and also in that of wood-ashes. The farmers of the revenue were required to take this last commodity at a fixed price, on their own risk, and in any quantity offered. They remonstrated, saying that it was unsalable; adding that, if the inhabitants would but take the trouble to turn it into potash, it might be possible to find a market for it. The king released them entirely, coupling his order to that effect with a eulogy of free trade. ***
In all departments of industry, the appeals for help are endless. Governors and intendants are so many sturdy beggars for the languishing colony.
* The Canadian fisheries must not be confounded with the
French fisheries of Newfoundland, which were prosperous, but
were carried on wholly from French ports.
In a memorial addressed by the partners Chalons and Riverin
to the minister Seignelay, they say: “Baston (Boston) et
toute sa colonie nous donne un exemple qui fait honte à
nostre nation, puisqu’elle s’augmente tous les jours par
cette pesche (de la morue) qu’elle fait la plus grande
partie sur nos costes pendant que les François ne s’occupent
à rien.” Meules urges that the king should undertake the
fishing business himself since his subjects cannot or will
not.
** Ministre a Duchesneau, 15 Mai, 1678
*** Le Roy a Duchesneau, 11 Juin, 1680.
“Send us money to build storehouses, to which the habitants can bring their produce and receive goods from the government in exchange.” “Send us a teacher to make sailors of our young men: it is a pity the colony should remain in such a state for want of instruction for youth.” * “We want a surgeon: there is none in Canada who can set a bone.” ** “Send us some tilers, brick-makers, and potters.” *** “Send us iron-workers to work our mines.” **** “It is to be wished that his Majesty would send us all sorts of artisans, especially potters and glass-workers.” (v) “Our Canadians need aid and instruction in their fisheries; they need pilots.” (v*)
In 1688, the intendant reported that Canada was entirely without either pilots or sailors; and, as late as 1712, the engineer Catalogne informed the government that, though the St. Lawrence was dangerous, a pilot was rarely to be had. “There ought to be trade with the West Indies and other places,” urges another writer. “Everybody says it is best, but nobody will undertake it. Our merchants are too poor, or else are engrossed by the fur trade.” (v**)
The languor of commerce made agriculture languish. “It is of no use now,” writes Meules,