ast of Labrador (1501).[15] On the ground of these discoveries,
reinforced by the title conferred by the bull of Alexander VI., the
Portuguese asserted their claim to Newfoundland. Henceforward
Portuguese fishermen began to share the dangers and profits of the cod
fishery with the hardy folk of Normandy and Brittany, and with
Spaniards and Basques, who had followed fast in the footsteps of the
earliest discoverers. Hence we find that many names of places and the
east coast of the island are corruptions of Portuguese words, whilst
names on the south coast show a French or a Basque origin.[16]

In a sense it is true that Newfoundland has owed everything to its
fisheries, but it is unfortunately also true that a sharp dissidence
between the interests of alien fisheries and the policy of local
development did much to retard the days of permanent settlement. That
the more southern races of Europe took a large part in the development
of the fisheries was only natural, inasmuch as the principal markets
for the dried and salted codfish were in the Catholic countries of
Europe. Continuously from the beginning of the sixteenth century the
opening of each season brought vessels of many nationalities to a
harvest which sufficed for all. We cannot say that at this time any
primacy was claimed for English vessels, but there is no reason to
doubt that Englishmen soon played a conspicuous part in opening up the
trade. By the time of Henry VIII. the Newfoundland industry was
sufficiently well known to be included with the Scotch and Irish
Fisheries in an exception clause to a statute which forbade the
importation of foreign fish.

This statute is sufficiently noteworthy as an economic curiosity to be
set forth _in extenso_.

"ACT 33 HENRY VIII., c. xi.

"The Bill conceryning bying of fisshe upon the see.

"Whereas many and dyvers townes and portes by the see side
have in tymes past bene in great welthe and prosperitie well
buylded by using and exercysing the crafts and feate of
fisshing by the whiche practise it was not onelie great
strengthe to this Realme by reason of bringing up and
encreasing of Maryners whensoever the King's Grace had neede
of them but also a great welthe to the Realme and habundance
of suche wherebie oure sovereigne Lorde the King the Lords
Gentilmen and Comons were alwais well served of fisshe in
Market townes of a reasonable price and also by reason of the