Saint-Pierre Miquelon | Page 9

the Valley of the Mississipi or, in
other words, one-half of the North American Continent. The
fleurs-de-lys had to withdraw successively from New-Foundland in
1713, from Cap Breton and Prince Edward's Island in 1745, from
Canada and Nova Scotia in 1763, as well as from the territory to the
west of the Mississipi and the British Lion left to the old French
monarchy only the right to fish on the coast of New Foundland, with
the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.
These islands are situated at the entrance of Fortune Bay which extends
to a great depth into the southern coast of New Foundland, near the
bank of St. Pierre which is frequented by cod-fish and not far from the
Grand Banks of New-Foundland. They are distant 135 miles from Cape
Ray and Cape Race, which respectively form the south-western and
south-eastern extremities of what the Spaniards call the land of the
Bacalaos.
They are 6,470 kilometres from Brest the nearest point in the mother
country. According to the French geographer, Onezime Reclus, the
Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon have a superficial area of 21,000

hectares and a resident population of 3,000 inhabitants. That, was 10 or
15 years ago. But, at present, according to the report of my able
subordinate in those islands, the population amounts to 5,000 souls.
The little archipelago is composed, on the north, of Grande-Miquelon,
situate about 47° 4' north latitude and 56° 20' west longitude, on the
south, of Petite-Miquelon or Langlade and, to the south-east of the
latter, of St. Pierre which is much smaller but has a population three
times greater than the two former.
It is hardly necessary to mention a few insignificant islets, which are
nothing but bare granite rocks with no vegetation and uninhabited.
Since 1783 the Grande and Petite Miquelon have been united by a
sand-bank.
Saint Pierre contains the chef-lieu or capital of the same name where
resides the governor of the whole group. This modest town is
surrounded by low hills covered with dwarf resinous trees, which
barely reach to the height of a child's shoulder. In the busy season, the
floating population of fishermen and seamen from France and other
countries greatly exceeds the number of the residents. The movements
of the ships, the fishing and curing, then give a great animation to these
poor islands, whose soil is sterile and whose climate is severe but very
healthy.
A very small portion of St. Pierre and Miquelon is under cultivation; a
few potatoes and cabbages and a little hay are all that a farmer can find.
Vegetation is generally stunted. The hills in certain places are 500 feet
high; in the lower portions are many swamps and morasses. Fishing is
the chief if not the exclusive occupation of the inhabitants. Owing to
the scarcity of wood the fuel is coal which comes principally from
Nova Scotia and Cap Breton. The climate greatly resembles that of the
ports of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The shores are frequently covered
with dense fogs, which arise suddenly and hang over them for several
days. St. Pierre on the north-east side of the island of the same name
has an excellent harbor capable of containing a large number of vessels,
with a very good anchorage. Sometimes as many as 60 fishing vessels
are there at a time. The other harbours of the group offer neither the

same advantages nor the same security. When certain winds blow,
vessels which are anchored in them have to go out to sea to avoid being
dashed by the gales upon the rocks.
To conclude these data upon the Islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon I
may say that Nature seems to have specially intended them for
excellent fishing stations.
* * * * *
The waters around St. Pierre and Miquelon teem with numbers of
various kinds of fish. Herring is often found in great shoals, but as the
French fishermen who go there fish almost exclusively for cod, I will
only speak of the latter.
Naturalists call it gadus morrhua; its chief characteristics are three
dorsal fins, two anal fins and a wattle or bunch of filaments attached to
the lower jaw. It is a malacopterygian or soft-finned fish. There are
several species of this. The best known is the common cod. Its length
varies from 70 centimetres to a metre. Its head is large and pointed, its
mouth enormous, its eyes large and veiled with a transparent membrane,
its scales are gray on the back and white on the belly with golden spots,
and its fins are yellow and gray.
Such are the chief external characteristics of this denizen of the deep. If
to this be added teeth simply imbedded in the flesh and which can be
moved at will by