Читать книгу Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada 1759-1791, Part I - Adam Shortt - Страница 138

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The French bent their whole attention in this part of the World to the Fur Trade, they never enter'd heartily or with any spirit into the fisheries; most of what was done in this way was by adventurers from the ports of France; some Fish indeed Lumber and provisions were exported to the French islands. Had this trade been opened and agriculture promoted here with any degree of warmth, this branch of Commerce must have become both valuable and extensive but it was monopolized into the hands of a few, by the connivance and management of the Chiefs, the sole view of these being to enrich themselves by every means. The interest of the State could not fail to be sacrificed upon all occasions.

By the best accounts we can procure, the value of Furs exported in the Year 1754 and 1755 taken from the Duties paid thereon stood thus

				lb.	s	d
£64,495	4	7½	[u]in 1754	1,547,885	11	0
52,735	8	4	[v]in 1755	1,265,650	0	0

[u]	No. 7, shewing the species of Fur and Quebec price;

[v]	No 7: Do p. 81.

But the most intelligent Traders here estimate the exportation of this one article to have amounted one Year with another to near £140,000 Sterling p^r annum.

The exportation of these two Years apparently falls very short of this estimation, but it is probable a considerable quantity was run, for the value of imports amounted

£216,769	4	9½	[w]in 1754 to	5,202,461	15	0
75,560	8	9½	The Exports of the same Year to	1,813,450	11	0
£141,208	16	0	Ballance against the Colony would consequently appear	3,389,011	4	0

[w]	No 8. Imports and Exports of 1754, p. 81.

which carries with it no degree of probability but a strong presumption, that in this as indeed in every other branch the publick was ill served; such of their custom house books as have come into my hands, are so confused and irregular, that even the late M^r Farrant sent by the Lords of the Treasury to enquire into the commercial state of this Country tho' sensible and skill'd in transactions of the like nature, could collect little information from them.

The French East India Company had the sole privilege of exporting Beaver, for this purpose the Company had an agent at each Government as Director and a Comptroller, a stated price was paid for it^[x] four Livres a pound for the green or winter Beaver and one livre ten sols for the Parchement or summer one. The Companies officers gave their receipt for the quantities brought into their Storehouses these became current in the Colony as cash, and in October the Agents drew Bills of Exchange on the Company for the amount of receipts brought into their Office which were ever held in more esteem than those drawn on the Royal Treasury.

The provinces of New York and Philadelphia now share with Canada a great part of the Fur Trade formerly in the hands of the French, but that proportion of it, which the Quebec government enjoy'd must remain here unalterably.

The foregoing is an attempt to sketch the trade of Canada, while subject to French Government, but under the full enjoyment of His Majesty's mild and gentle administration, its commerce must flourish to a far greater extent.

1^st A Most immense and extensive Cod Fishery can be established in the River and Gulph of S^t Laurence, and may in time prove an inexhaustible source of wealth and power to Great Britain; Settlements may be formed in the neighbourhood of the best fishing places to which the industrious and intelligent in that branch may be invited and encouraged to repair; a rich tract of country on the South side of the Gulph will in consequence be settled and improved, a Port or Ports established and furnished with every material requisite to repair Ships, that have suffer'd by stress of weather or the difficulties attending navigation in such narrow seas, a point much wanted which will lessen the risks, and considerably increase the profits of the Commerce of this Colony.

It is further to be observed that the Fish caught upon these coasts and in the bays, far exceed the bank Cod and fetch an advanced price in foreign markets; The fishermen being on the spot will commence fishing the very instant the season permits and will continue to the very last of it whereby at least two Months will be gained to the trade, which are just now a heavy expence to it, without producing the least profit to it.

2^d Next to the Cod in importance is the Whale fishery which can be carried on to the greatest advantage in the River S^t Laurence with less risk and expence than in any other seas, where the animals resort; Under this head may be placed the seal and sea-Cow fisheries of which there is a prodigious abundance, and an immense (sic) of oil and Whale-bone may be annually exported to Great Britain.

3^d..There are several small rivers on the Coast of Labrador abounding with vast quantities of salmon; this if followed with spirit and industry, might very soon become a considerable object to the British Trader.

4^th..His Majesty's Yards may by the best accounts be supplied with masts from Chamblie, at a much cheaper and easier rate than from New England. By the latter a tedious Land carriage of several miles and the immense falls of a most rapid river over which they must be rafted and where many are lost must greatly enhance the value of this useful and necessary branch of Naval Stores; whereas by the former with little or no risk at a proper season there is an easy water carriage for them all the way to Quebec, the port for shipping them to Europe.

5^th..Tho' as has been before observed, this province must now share the Fur Trade, which she formerly possessed under the French Government, with the neighbouring Colonies, Yet that which was carried on with the different nations inhabiting the northern Coast of Canada, must still remain with her; she may likewise hereafter regain a great part of that with the upper Country, on account of the more easy conveyance.

It is likewise probable that this very branch may be much farther extended, than ever it was under the French, by reason of the superior diligence and application of the British Traders.

It must be allowed the French were laudable in restraining the vent of Spiritous Liquors to the Savages beyond a certain quantity: by this means many broils were avoided, for they are fond to excess of everything strong and are all mad in their intoxication.

6^th...Raising hemp and flax for which the lands are in many places extremely proper must be an object of the most serious consideration, And I must repeat here, how useful this must prove to the end of promoting agriculture, of employing the Women and Children during the tedious winter months, and of procuring in a short time a vast exportation of that useful commodity for which the returns will be made in British Manufactures.

7^th...As the Country abounds every where with oak, Ash, Hickory, Walnut, Birch, Beech, Maple and other hard woods, which by experience are known to Yield the most Salts, the article of Pot-ash so much demanded in our Manufactures, may be easily produced and soon become an object of consequence; The essais for this purpose which have been made in our other Colonies and have miscarried, ought not to discourage an attempt in this. The high price of Labor; the Woods being in many parts remote from Water carriage, and the greater encouragement for growing and exporting provisions to the West Indies, have been so many obstacles to the making of Pot-ash in our Colonies, whereas provisions here must be very cheap in a few Years, for the navigation being closed six months out of the twelve this Country can never vie with our Southern Provinces in the West India trade; besides the country being settled close to the River side, the conveyance of the Commodity to the Port where it is to be shipped, will be both cheap and easy it will likewise be a means to employ the men all Winter in the business of Felling and drawing of Wood which time they chiefly dedicate to idleness and smoking.