"A “Peculiar Race” of Fishermen Residing at Port-Daniel in the Baie-des-Chaleurs." Thomas Knight 1867

277. A “Peculiar Race” of Fishermen Residing at Port-Daniel in the Baie-des-Chaleurs who were “descended from some French settlers, who attached themselves to Indian women”: This folder contains a copy of Thomas F. Knight’s 1867 publication entitled, “Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries of Nova Scotia.” This publication was “Published by direction of the provincial government” of Nova Scotia and was “No. II” in a series of “Pamphlets on the Fishes and Fisheries of Nova Scotia.”

I was unable to find any biographical; information concerning the author of this publication, Thomas F. Knight however, the title page to the publication states that Mr. Knight was the Author of the “prize essay” entitled, “Nova Scotia and Her Resources.”

That being said, it’s now time to begin our discussion concerning “Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries of Nova Scotia.” Although this publication contains a great deal of interesting historical information concerning the fishery in Nova Scotia, as well as in Eastern Canada, I’ve chosen to simply discuss one excerpt from it. This excerpt can be found on pages 24 and 25 and concerns the fishermen of Port Daniel in the Baie-des-Chaleurs. This excerpt is as follows:

“THE COD FISHERY. 

The cod fishery in the Gulf commences from the 1st to the 10th June, and continues until the end of November. The Nova Scotia fishermen, who pursue the Gulf fishery, are generally those who frequent the banks in the Atlantic, designated “bankers,” who follow the cod to their various haunts in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The deep sea fishery for cod is not prosecuted to any great extent in the Gulf by the people of New Brunswick. They carry on the shore fishery in boats from one to fifteen miles from the land. The Canadian fishermen, as well, carry on this fishery in boats, near the coast and on the banks in the neighbourhood of the coves and bays where they reside. Many of the Canadian fishermen, however, make a voyage to the Labrador, returning in four or five weeks. The principal localities for cod fishing within the Gulf are the north shore of Prince Edward Island, the coast of Gaspé and Bay Chaleur, the Magdalen Islands, the eastern end of the Island of Anticosti, and along the north shore of the Gulf.

Capt. Campbell, who visited all parts of the Gulf in H. M. S. “Devastation,” in his report to Admiral Seymour (1852), writes respecting the Bay Chaleur : —

“Proceeding north from Prince Edward's Island, the Bay Chaleur is the next important fishing ground. At its mouth, on the south side, is the island of Miscan, where there are two considerable fishing establishments connected with the Jersey houses. On Shippagan Island up the Bay, on the same side, are also several establishments. Again, higher on the main land, is Barquette, from which there are 150 boats; the people are all of French extraction, and speak the language ; they sell their fish to the Jersey merchants, of whom they loudly complain in summer for grinding them down as to prices, but in winter are often kept from starvation by advance from these houses ; they appear to be a most improvident and thoughtless people Leaving Chaleur Bay there is a considerable fishery carried on at Port Daniel, by a race peculiar to that place. They are descended from some French settlers, who attached themselves to Indian women; they are very indolent and improvident, and could not succeed if the fisheries were ever so productive; they also sell their fish to the Jersey houses. . . . Higher up, at Paspebiac, are the large fishing establishments of Messrs. Robin & Co., and Messrs. LeBoutillier, of Jersey, where vessels, amounting to about 2,500 or 3,000 tons, assemble in early spring, moor, and dismantle. The crews are then dispersed among the fishing boats and among establishments till the autumn, when they return to their vessels, load, fit them out and proceed to the Mediterranean and South American fishing ports.”

There are other Jersey houses referred to at Percé, Point St. Peter, and Gaspé Bay…”

The importance of this excerpt lies in the fact that according to Thomas F. Knight, “Capt. Campbell” (Captain Campbell) wrote in his 1852 report to “Admiral Seymour” concerning the Baie-des-Chaleurs that “there is a considerable fishery carried on at Port Daniel, by a race peculiar to that place. They are descended from some French settlers, who attached themselves to Indian women; they are very indolent and improvident, and could not succeed if the fisheries were ever so productive; they also sell their fish to the Jersey houses.” Although Captain Campbell does not appear to think too highly of this “race peculiar to” Port Daniel in the Baie-des-Chaleurs, this excerpt is very important because it provides evidence to this collection for the existence of a mixed-race collective at Port Daniel who “are descended from some French settlers, who attached themselves to Indian women.” Basically, this suggests that Port Daniel was historically a “Métis” community.

Before I end the current summary concerning “Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries of Nova Scotia” I’ll provide you with the “Preface” section of this publication. This section provides the reason why Thomas F. Knight created this document and is as follows:

“PREFACE. 

In the endeavor to prepare a useful work on The Fisheries of Nova Scotia, the writer is sensible of the disadvantage under which he labors, from not being favored with the opportunity of a personal inspection of the several fishing localities. He might by this means obtain much valuable information from the people residing in those settlements. To supply this defect he has been provided with Official Circulars which were sent to the Collectors of Customs throughout the Province, containing numerous questions relating to each description of fishery. These Circulars are, in many cases, carefully filled up; and together, combine a fund of valuable data. No amount of information from other sources can, however, well supply the lack of personal contact with the places and persons concerned in this branch of industry. 

The published matter concerning Colonial Fisheries is proverbially scanty, so that the facts which are collected together have not been obtained without research. The writer trusts that this sequel to his Prize Essay on the Resources of Nova Scotia will meet with as favorable a reception as was extended to that production of his pen. The inception of the present undertaking was occasioned by an advertisement which appeared two or three years ago in the city newspapers, in which a prize was offered to encourage literary assistance to the developement of our fisheries. In this attempt to supply the requirement, the writer met with ready concurrence from The Honorable The Provincial Secretary; and he would also refer to the countenance he has received from other members of the Executive, and to assistance rendered in conference with other gentlemen who are interested in the subject. Of the latter he would especially mention his indebtedness to W. T. Townsend, Esq., and to Rev. John Ambrose, A. M. 

Halifax, N. S.. January, 1867.”

The “Preface” section of “Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries of Nova Scotia” is important because it suggests that the “published matter concerning Colonial Fisheries is proverbially scanty.” This is something that is very important to take into consideration because as we’ve seen throughout this collection, fishing was, and still is a common way of life for many mixed-blooded communities/collectives in Eastern Canada and in Acadia. Therefore, in effect, there is a lack of written documentation to support the oral traditions of the descendants of these “Colonial” mixed-blooded fishing communities.

In conclusion, Thomas F. Knight’s 1867 publication entitled, “Shore and Deep Sea Fisheries of Nova Scotia” is a very important addition to this collection because it adds the region of Port Daniel in the Baie-des-Chaleurs to our ever-growing list of places in Eastern Canada that collectives of mixed-blooded people who shared a unique way of life historically resided.