Settled by French, 1639, and formed with Nova Scotia part of Arcadia. First British settlers came from Scotland, 1764. Province created 1784; became part of the Dominion, 1867.
Government vested in a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive, a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly. Area, 27,174 square miles. Population, 321,233. Capital, Fredericton; pop., 6,218.
Climate subject to extremes; temperature in winter, 30°; in summer, 95°. Soil exceedingly fertile. In 1881, acres in crops, 849,678; in pasture, 392,169. Products: grain, 5,490,896 bushels; potatoes, 6,961,016; hay, 414,046 tons. In 1881, wool product, 760,531 pounds. The number of horses in 1881 was 52,975; oxen, 8,812; horned cattle, 203,748; sheep, 221,163; swine, 53,087.
There is a good system of non-sectarian free schools in the Province. Telegraphic and railway communication throughout the Province. Number miles of railway, 1,148.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
A Province of the Dominion of Canada, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. First settled by the French, who ceded it to Great Britain in 1758. Province created 1768; admitted into the Dominion, 1873. Area, 27,174 square miles. Total land occupied, 1,126,653 acres; improved, 596,731 acres; under crops, 467,211 acres.
Climate milder than that of the adjoining continent. All ordinary cereals may be cultivated. Grain product, 1881: 4,301,110 bu.; potatoes, 6,042,191 bu.; turnips, 1,198,407 bu.; butter, 1,688,690 pounds; cheese, 196,273 pounds. Farm animals, 328,734.
Population, 108,891: male, 54,729; female, 54,162. Capital, Charlottetown; population, 11,485.
The government is vested in a Lieutenant Governor, an Executive and a Legislative Council and a House of Assembly.
The fisheries are very valuable. Products, 1881: cod, 18,736 quintals; herring, 21,501 bbls; mackerel, 91,792 bbls; canned lobsters, 3,275,316 lbs; oysters, 175,408 bbls; fish oil, 8,139 gals.