File:Newfoundland at the beginning of the 20th century - a treatise of history and development (1902) (14587244270).jpg

Identifier: newfoundlandatbe00harv (find matches)
Title: Newfoundland at the beginning of the 20th century : a treatise of history and development
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Harvey, M. (Moses), 1820-1901
Subjects: George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936
Publisher: New York : The South Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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ring it in these regions wereslowly learned. At first seals were taken in nets, which wereplaced between the shore and some island, or rock at no greatdistance. In their migratory movements in the early part ofwinter the seals move south along the shore, and by the netsset in these narrow passages a certain number were captured.The next step was shooting the old seals from large boats amidthe ice-floes. These boats left port about the middle of April,after the ice had broken up, and as at that date the youngseals had left their icy cradles and taken to the water, onlya few of the old seals could be reached by the guns of thehunters. The next step was taken by fitting out small schooners offrom thirty to fifty tons carrying from twelve to eighteen men.The vessels were strongly built and fitted to encounter ice.At first they did not leave port till March 21st, but afterwardsMarch 1st became the day for starting on the hunt. The newindustry was found to be so remunerative that it rapidly
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The Sentinel, Notre Dame Bay. 52 NEWFOUNDLAND. expanded, till some 400 vessels carrying 13,000 men wereengaged in it, and the annual catch sometimes exceeded halfa million seals. Then came a decline, and in 1863 all-conqueringsteam entered the field and the first steamer took part in thefishery. The advantages of steamers were speedily felt, andgradually sailing vessels were superseded, being unable tocompete with steamers. In 18S2 there were twenty-fivelarge steamers employed in the fishery, having a tonnage of 300to 500 tons each. Their number has declined, however, andnow about twenty steamers are employed, the sailingschooners being reduced to about sixty. The largest load ofseals ever brought in was by the * Neptune,» Captain Blandford,whose cargo numbered 42,000 seals/value $103,750. The seal fishery is very precarious, being dependent on thewinds and waves and the condition and movements of thegreat ice fields. Of late years the catch has declined and nowranges from 250,000 to

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