par Reports from the Consuls of the United States on the Commerce, Manufactures, Etc., of Their Consular Districts. Volume 27
COMMERCE AND FISHERIES OF ST PIERRE
Miquelon Islands three in number are situated in the Atlantic Ocean about 25 miles from the southern coast of Newfoundland They are owned by France and are used by that country as a penal colony for soldiers convicted of minor offenses The principal industry of the place is the fisheries which are conducted very extensively The islands are designated as Great Miquelon Petite Miquelon or Langlade and St Pierre Great and Petite Miquelon are connected by a sand bar about 7 miles in length very narrow in the center and widening as it approaches the islands St Pierre is separated from the other islands by a strait about 2 miles wide very difficult to navigate on account of the strong tides Great Miquelon has an area of about 26,000 acres of irregular rock surface high and bold towards the sea and almost destitute of soil or vegetation Petite Miquelon has an area of about 20,000 acres of the same characteristics as Great Miquelon a small portion of it however is suitable with great labor for agriculture which is carried on to a very limited extent St Pierre has an area of about 6,500 acres only about 200 of which are suitable for town purposes It has a good harbor where the town of St Pierre is located The island is wholly unproductive except so far as the inhabitants have overcome nature by utilizing earth brought by ships as ballast as an artificial soil enabling them to grow shrubbery and a few vegetables and which softens the appearance of the town in contrast with its rugged and sterile surroundings
POPULATION
The population of Miquelon according to the census of 1887 is as follows
- Great Miquelon 611
- Petite Miquelon 574
- St Pierre 4,744
- Total 5,929
- Males 3,013
- Females 2,916
- Total 5,929
NATIONALITY
- Natives of Miquelon 3,779
- Natives of France 1,373
- Natives of French colonies 11
- Natives of United States 19
- Natives of British Isles 672
- Natives of Spain 73
- Natives of Greece 1
- Natives of Italy 1
- Total 5,929
COMMERCE
The commerce of St Pierre reached in 1887 in round figures the marvelous sum of 32,000,000 francs the exports for that year being 18,230,270 francs as shown below.
- To France merchandise French origin 102,676
- To France merchandise foreign origin 520,840
- To France product of Miquelon dry fish 11,253,937
- To Martinique French colony dry fish 341,728
- To Guadeloupe French colony dry fish 1,493,500
- To La Reunion French colony dry fish 271,749
- To Algeria and Tunis French colony dry fish 45 820
- To foreign countries dry fish 890,504
- To foreign countries various products 3,255,733
- Total 18,230,272
IMPORTS
The imports of St Pierre for the same year amounted to 13,746,587 francs made up as follows
- From France clothing and confections 890,504
- From France wool cotton and silk goods 591,246
- From France butter and lard 99,611
- From France wine beer and cider 504,652
- From France alcoholic liquors 399,920
- From France salt 696,655
- From France nets and fishing supplies 185,772
- From foreign countries 10,378,227
- Total Francs 13,746,587
On account of its geographical position and its proximity to the southern coast of Newfoundland St Pierre is an important commercial center The fishermen of the Newfoundland coast up to the present year brought bait to St Pierre where they exchanged it for provisions dry goods etc This system of exchange caused great activity in trade but the passage of the bait act by the Newfoundland legislature deprived its own people of this very profitable market for their bait and injured themselves more than it did the French fishermen against whom it was aimed The commerce of St Pierre is mostly in the hands of French citizens Foreigners can not trade in fish unless through a French partner Of the importations of St Pierre amounting to 13,746,587 francs in value only about one fourth comes from France The other three fourths come from foreign countries Canada finds a market at this place for products valued at 887,950 francs I was unable to procure the exact figures of the value of imports from the United States but they are valued at nearly 1,000,000 francs There is no reason unless it be a want of regular steam transportation between United States ports and St Pierre why the United States can not have almost a monopoly of this trade The merchants of St Pierre prefer trading with Americans but they are so occupied with the fisheries that trade must come to them If some enterprising ship owner would run fortnightly between Boston St Johns Newfoundland St Pierre Sydney and Halifax a steam ship of about 800 tons with passenger accommodations I feel assured that it would be a most profitable venture and it would open up a large commercial field for our merchants The duty on merchandize entered at St Pierre being nominal would not affect the trade During the year 1887 3,543 vessels entered at the custom house at St Pierre and 3,529 cleared rep resenting a total of 422,334 tons.
THE FISHERIES
St Pierre on account of its contiguity to the fishing banks and the bounties paid by the Government of France has become one of the greatest fishing stations in the world The local fishing fleet consists of 220 vessels of from 40 to 90 tons the fleet from France of 120 square rigged vessels from 100 to 300 tons The former land and dry their fish at St Pierre the latter bring their fish undried to France The fisheries of the island are confined to cod which have been very successful this year notwithstanding the temporary inconvenience experienced in early spring by the passage of the Newfoundland bait act The French Government pays a per capita bounty of 50 francs and 10 francs per quintal for fish dried and exported from the islands The fishing season commences about the middle of April and terminates about the middle of September It is not considered profitable to fish after the last named date on account of the storms St Pierre de pended heretofore entirely on Newfoundland for its supply of bait The difficulty in procuring the bait mentioned above was overcome by obtaining in some way frozen herring but was found that the cod would not take it and the vessels using it returned empty Salt squid of which they had an abundance was substituted and found to be successful and the catch was more than an average one The French claim that the Newfoundland bait act forced them to resort to methods within their own control to secure bait and that they are now independent of Newfoundland They have on hand sufficient bait for next spring’s operation and the money heretofore paid Newfoundland fishermen for bait is retained by the French fishermen.
GOVERNMENT
The government of the colony consists of a governor a secretary of the interior a chief justice and a commissioner of marine appointed by the French Government and which constitute the privy council a legislature elected by the people of the three islands and a city council for St Pierre elected by its citizens The buildings are frame with an occasional one of cement or brick quite small and quaint The streets of St Pierre are very narrow and without sidewalks There are no cattle sheep or hogs on the island except a few oxen which are used for carting purposes and only about six ponies There being no means of conveyance all must walk HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA October 30 1888.
MH PHELAN Consul General
