This report, from the Lords of the committee of council for trade and plantations was approved by his majesty, and order was thereupon given for carrying into effectual execution, what was there recommended.
In viewing these transactions we plainly discover the two contending interests in the Newfoundland trade; the one that of the planters and inhabitants, the other that of the adventurers and merchants; and we shall see, in the course of this history, that according to the views of these different description of persons, representations were at various times made to the government at home, for promoting or opposing regulations and establishments in the island.
Sir John Berry’s Advice.
An occasion soon offered for shewing this spirit. Sir John Berry was appointed to command the convoy for the ships trading to Newfoundland; and in pursuance of a special order of council of the 15th of April 1675, this commander laid before the committee of council for trade the state of Newfoundland, as he found it, in relation as well to the planters and inhabitants, as to the western adventurers; and it is worth remarking how different is the account given by this commander, from that lately made by the adventurers, and which had induced the committee of council to report in the terms we have just heard.
He says, that several disorders, attributed to the planters, were chiefly occasioned by the adventurers’ ships—That the inhabitants never sold their fish to those of New England for wine and brandy.—That the adventurers’ men pulled down the stages, and store-houses:—And, that it was their fault, that the seamen were seduced to stay in the country, for it was to save thirty shillings for their passages.
This letter was read at the committee in the presence of several persons, who appeared there in behalf of the west country merchants, and who complained of the encouragement Sir John Berry had given the planters, contrary to his majesty’s orders, and to the certain ruin of the adventurers’ trade, for such would follow from the continuance of the inhabitants and bye boat-keepers. Upon which the Lords advised them to settle the additional rules, allowed by his majesty; and this, some time after, was accordingly put in execution.
Sir John Berry, at his return, attended the committee, where he repeated and confirmed what he had written, and assured their Lordships of the necessity of encouraging a colony in Newfoundland, if not, the French would take advantage by the intended removal, to make themselves masters of all the harbours and fishing places about the island, or would otherwise entice the English planters to come and settle among them, to the great prejudice of our fishery.
The struggle between the adventurers and planters now grew very violent. In 1676, John Downing, an inhabitant of Newfoundland, petitioned the king against the endeavours of the adventurers to pull down the houses, and burn the stages of the planters, in order to drive them out of the country. This complaint was referred to the committee of trade, where counsel were heard in behalf both of the adventurers and planters; and the committee having reported their opinion thereon, the king signified his pleasure, that the masters and seamen belonging to the fishing ships should not any ways molest the planters, upon pretence of a clause in the western charter, whereby, “No person was to inhabit within six miles of the shore,” until his majesty should proceed to a further resolution concerning the fishery and plantation of Newfoundland. Direction was accordingly given, by order from his majesty, to the captains of the convoy ships, to make publication of his majesty’s pleasure, that the planters should be permitted to continue in the possession of their houses and stages, according to the usage of the last years, until further order. Moreover, that the state of the colony and trade might be better known, they were ordered to return answers to several heads of inquiry prepared by the committee for trade and plantations; and the following are the answers thereto sent by Sir William Pool from St. John’s harbour, dated the 10th of September 1677.
He says, the fishermen confessed, that of late years the planters had done no prejudice to the fishery; so that, when they returned, they found their stages in as good order as could be after a winter; so that they were not obliged to come sooner to the island for the purpose of repairing them—the planters affirmed, they did not meddle with any of the adventurers’ fishing places, nor did they desire to do it, provided they might quietly enjoy the same room they had possessed for several years—the fishermen complained, that the planters took up the best places to cure their fish, did damage to their stages, and took possession of more than they had hands to manage—the planters affirmed, that it was impossible to live six miles from the sea-side, by reason of the barrenness of the country—the fishermen did not desire the removal of the planters, but only a better regulation—the planters could not keep a constant number of men or boats, unless they were supplied every year with servants from England—the planters did not take so much fish, proportionably to the number of men and boats they kept, as the fishers did, who were better artists; nor sell it so cheap, by reason of the greater wages they were obliged to give their servants—it was not possible for the planters to observe the charter punctually—the planters all sold drink contrary to their charter—the fishermen rinded the trees, and employed six and seven stages for seventy men, contrary to the rule of their charter—the French managed their fishery generally by fish-ships from Europe, and their trade for fur was very inconsiderable—the French planters were very much encouraged by the governor, and had the same accommodation in their harbours as the fishermen had—the fishermen confessed the planters were of great use to them—the planters prepared materials for the fishermen against their coming, which otherwise could not be made ready without a great loss of time; they preserved in their houses the salt that remained of the fishery until the next season; and when shipping was wanting, the fishermen were glad to lodge their fish in a planter’s house until the following year—in case the fishermen were visited with sickness, or were obliged to stay for their ships on their first arrival, they used the convenience of the planters’ houses—when the fishermen wanted provisions, the planters supplied them out of their stores; or when they had an overplus, the planters bought it of them for fish.
Such were the answers given by the commander of the king’s ships on this station to the first heads of enquiry concerning the trade and fishery. This method of enquiry was followed in after times; and the information it produced, in this first attempt, may be made useful matter of comparison.