New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-14
ExPLoRING NEWFOUNDLAND.

FACTS FIRST BROUGHT TO LIGHT BY THE GEO
LOGICAL SURVEYORS A RESEARCH INTO TIE
FISHERIES OF THE IsLAND--AN EXCEPTIONALLY
PROSPEROUS SEASON IN LABRADOR.
lFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ST. JOHN's, n. f., Aug. 4.-The recent survey Of
this island under the superintendent of the newly
established Geological Commission proves that
many of the statistics given in books Of geography,
so far as Newfoundland is concerned. are quite de-
fective All, nearly all, of the school books on
geography place the area Of the colony at $4,000
square miles. They are also faulty with regard to
the length and breadth of the island. According to
the recent careful survey the area of this island is
10000 square miles of land. 1t is 317 miles in
length, and $40 miles in breadth. II is therefore,
the tenth largest island in the world. 1t is one
third larger than New-Brunswick; more than twice
the size of Nova Scotia; contains 10000 square
miles more than Ireland; 1900 square miles
more than Scotland; is three times as large as
Holland, and twice as large as Denmark. Grand
Lake. hitherto almost unknown, proves to have an
area Of 1872 square miles, while Como in Italy, has
only 90 square miles, and the equally celebrated
Killarney only square miles. Gauder Lake, of
which we knew nothing until the Royal Geograph-
ical Surveyor. Captain Murray, X. f., explored
it, has an area of Al square miles, and
Red Indian Lake, 90 square miles. In the
world there is not an equal area with such an
extent of cOast-ine as Newfoundland which, ac-
cordDe the surveyors report cannot be less than
1000 miles IN length. This is owing to the fact
that the shores are indented with so many bays,
arms and nles of the sea- thus furnishing the most
splendid facilities for commercial intercourse, and,
at the time, carrying the fnny tribes far in
land, within reach of the fisbermens hook and net.
Captain Murray has calculated that there are
nearly 3,OOOO 600 acres of land suitable for settle
ment on the eastern and western shores, all az
present uuOccupied. When with the slight efforts
now put forth in the cultivation of the soil they
here raise produce valued at S765 900 per annum,
the whole population being only 1G1, 900, what
may not be anticipated when the present Anticipated
laws which impede settlement are repealed when
the country is thrown open TO enterprise in lumber
ing and farming; when the districts are surveyed
and made accessible; when information regarding
their soil, climate and capabilities IS widely circu-
lated and means taken to attract emigration to
the slaHdf Fears entertained that the fisheries
are failing and may become exhausted. According
to the most expert authorities who have taken an
interest in that question: those fears utterly
founded. OF course they are subject to great
fluctuations; but 50 long as the great Arctic
current continues to wash these shores, laden
with the germs of iish life, no one need dread an
exhaustion OF the fisheries ~ TINS country. Nlthln
twelve years the value OF goldfish the great staple
Of the island has douVol and with the and OF
science the fisheries OF Newfoundland are capable
of indefinite expansion. The total number of yes
sells employed IN catching and procuring fish III tins
colony Is 100, with tonnage Of 81, Sol tons,
manned by $1,000 fsherman-saIlOrs. About forty
years ago the bank fishing far as regards New
foundiand entirely ceased, and the fishing has
since been carried on altogether within shore and
j. extending, year by year. further aud further up
Labrador. The way IN which the Arctic current,
which weeps along these shores, sustains the hsh-
eries Is explained Professor llnds Official report.
lie maintains that u Is popular error that the cold
Of the Arctic seas Is uniayOrable 90 fish life. In
truth the Arctic and the great currents iioW-
Iug from them are IA many places a LIVING mass,
vast ocean of living slime, and the all-peryading
life which exists there affords the true solution Of
the problem which has 50 often presented Itself
where the food comes from which gives sustenance
10 the millions of hsh which swarm wherever the
Arctic current eXerts au active influence. THIS
slime of the ocean appears 10 1--we most abundanty
in the coolest water and the nelghbOrhoOd OF ice.
In a previous letter forwarded the reports cur
rent here az that time OF the success OF the shore
aud Labrador fisheries. These reports seem now
strongly confirmed, as the news received at -.
Johns IRON all secOUs Of tue Island, and from many
oil the haTbOrs OF Labrador Indicate an exception
ally abundant supply Of cod, mackerel, herring aud
sal