In 1650, or about a century and a half after its discovery, Newfoundland contained only 35o families, or less than 2,000 individuals, distributed in fifteen small settlements, chiefly along the eastern shore. These constituted the resident population; but in addition there was a floating population of several thousands who frequented the shores during the summer for the sake of the fisheries, which had now attained very large dimensions. So early as 1626, 150 vessels were annually despatched from Devon alone. The fish caught were salted and dried on the shore; and on the approach of winter the fishermen re-embarked for England, carrying with them the products of their labour. Hence it became the interest of these traders and shipowners to discourage the set tlement of the country, in order to retain the exclusive use of the harbours and fishing coves for their servants, and also a monopoly of the fisheries. They were able to procure the support of the English government of the day for this system, and strin gent laws were passed prohibiting settlement within 6m. of the shore, forbidding fishermen to remain behind at the close of the fishing season, and rendering it illegal to build or repair a house without a special licence. The object of this short-sighted policy, which was persisted in for more than a century, was to preserve the island as a fishing station and the fisheries as a nursery for the English fleet.
There was, however, another element which retarded the prosperity of the country. The French had early realized the immense value of the fisheries, and strove long and desperately to obtain possession of the island. Their constant attacks and encroachments harassed the few settlers, and rendered life and property insecure during the long wars between England and France. When at length, in 1713, the treaty of Utrecht ended hostilities, it did not deliver Newfoundland wholly from the grasp of France, as it gave the latter the right of catching and drying fish on the western and northern sides of the island. Though no territorial rights were conferred on the French, and the sov ereignty was secured to England, the practical effect was to exclude the inhabitants from the fairest half of the island.
In spite of the restrictive regulations, the number of the resident population continued to increase. The sturdy settlers clung to the soil, and combatted the "adventurers" as the mer chants were called. The latter strenuously opposed the appoint ment of a governor ; but at length, in 1728, the British govern ment appointed Captain Henry Osborne first governor of New foundland, with a commission to establish a form of civil govern ment. This constituted a new era in the history of the colony. In 1763 the fixed inhabitants had increased to 8,000, while 5,000 more were summer residents who returned home each winter. In 1763 the coast of Labrador, from Hudson's Strait to the river St. John opposite the west end of the island of Anticosti, was attached to the governorship of Newfoundland. The population in 1785 had increased to 10,000. During the wars between England and France which followed the French Revolution, Newfoundland attained great prosperity, as all competitors in the fisheries were swept from the seas, and the markets of Europe were exclusively in the hands of the merchants of the island. The value of fish trebled,
wages rose to a high figure, and in 1814 no less than 7,00o emi grants arrived. The population now numbered 8o,000. In 1832 representative government was granted to the colony, and provi sion was made for education. In 1846 a terrible fire destroyed three-fourths of St. John's and with it an enormous amount of property ; but the city rose from its ashes improved and beauti fied. In 1855 the system of responsible government was inaugu rated. In 1858 the first Atlantic cable was landed at Bull Arm, Trinity Bay.
Unproductive fisheries, causing a widespread destitution among the working classes, marked the first eight years of the decade between 186o and 1870. A system of able-bodied pauper relief was initiated to meet the necessities of the case but was attended with the usual demoralizing results. The necessity of extending the cultivation of the soil in order to meet the wants of the grow ing population was felt more and more as the pressure arising from the failure of the fisheries evinced more clearly their precari ous nature. In 1864 copper ore was discovered in the north, and mining operations were successfully initiated. In 1869 a series of successful fisheries began which enabled the government to termi nate the injurious system of able-bodied pauper relief. In 1871 the revenue rose to $831,160. In 1873 direct steam communica tion with England and America was established.
French Claims.—By the treaty of Utrecht of '713 a right was reserved to French subjects to catch fish and to dry them on that part of Newfoundland which stretches from Cape Bonavista to the northern part of the island and from thence coming down by the western side reaches as far as Pt. Riche. By the treaty of Versailles of 1783 France renounced the fishery from Bonavista to Cape St. John on the east coast, receiving in return extended rights upon the west coast as far as Cape Ray. Neither treaty purported to grant exclusive right, but there was annexed to the treaty of Versailles a declaration to the effect that "His Britannic Majesty will take the most positive measures for preventing his subjects from interrupting in any manner by their competition the fishery of the French during the temporary exercise of it which is granted to them upon the coasts of the island of Newfoundland, and he will for this purpose cause the fixed settlements which shall be formed there to be removed." Upon this declaration the French founded a claim to exclusive fishing rights within the limits named. A convention was entered into with a view to defining these rights in 1854, but it remained inoperative, the con sent of the Newfoundland legislature, to which it was made sub ject, having been ref used. Meanwhile the French government granted a bounty to the French fishermen which enabled them to undersell the colonists.