Trinity remained the economic heart of the region, and, as a result, would not come to rely on St. John's, as Trepassey had done, for quite some time. Before the 18th century St. John's was really no different from other communities on the island in terms of its number of inhabitants. St. John's harbour had been a meeting place for ships of various nationalities since the 16th century. Those seeking information on the fishery therefore considered it the ideal place. Sack ships appreciated its location and easy landfall.
Picture is toward the southwest.
In the foreground are fishers spreading cod on a fish flake. Yet, some criticized the harbour for being too sheltered. An unfavourable wind could prevent a ship from getting through the harbour's narrow entrance for days. Furthermore, the surrounding land was poorly suited for hunting or farming. Like Trepassey and Trinity, St. John's' future was determined by the events of the end of the 18th century.