Acadiensis/Volume 3/Number 2/The Sea-Cow Fishery
The Sea-Cow Fishery.
HE TERM "Sea-Cow Fishery" has anything but a familiar sound to men of the present day. It may be doubted if, in the Maritime Provinces, there are any now living who can remember a time when this industry was prosecuted. Yet, at one time, the sea-cow abounded in our waters and the fishery, if such it can be called, was of much importance, of so much as to claim the attention of the home government and to call for special local legislation for its regulation and preservation. Unfortunately that legislation failed in its object. The sea-cow has long ceased to frequent these waters. In its time the fishery was actively followed. The unwieldy animals were of considerable value to the early settlers of this island, as also to those on the coasts of the mainland.
After the formation of this island into a separate government, legislation affecting the sea-cow fishery was enacted, almost at once. Walter Patterson, our first governor, when leaving London to take up his residence here, received particular instructions, to enquire into the method of conducting this industry. In fact it appears to have engrossed more attention, in official circles, than any of what we are accustomed to consider our principal fisheries. Oysters, lobsters, not to mention codfish, mackerel, and other deep sea-fish, seem not to have been "in it" with the sea-cow.
Patterson only arrived in Charlottetown on August 30th, 1770, but he lost no time in investigating the manner in which the business was carried on, and was equally prompt in taking measures for its protection. In a despatch dated 25th October of that year, now on fyle in the Record Office in London, Patterson wrote to Lord Hillsborough as follows:
"Agreeable to Your Lordship's directions, given me at your office, the last time I had the honor of seeing you before I left London, I made as soon as possible after my arrival, all the enquiry I could into the manner of carrying on the Sea Cow Fishery at this island, and finding there were likely to be disputes between a Mr. Gridley, who lives on one of the Magdalen Islands, for the purpose of carrying on the same sort of fishery there; as he generally sends people to this island either to take the Sea Cows, or to prevent their landing and by that means force them to resort to the Magdalens; and some New England fishermen, who frequently land for a few days, to kill sea cows, and the inhabitants of this island, who have endeavoured to carry it on for some time past and fearing by that means the fishery might be rendered useless to all parties, if not entirely ruined, I have, by the advice of His Majesty's Council, passed an Act for the better regulation of it, which will be herewith transmitted to Your Lordship, that I may know His Majesty's pleasure concerning it."
So far as I can learn this was the very first legislation of the new government. I suspect that his Excellency, the Governor, himself was "His Majesty's Council," and that it was his own advice upon which he acted.
Lord Hillsborough, in his reply, dated Whitehall, 2nd January, 1771, says:
"The putting a stop to these practices which must have the effect to destroy the Sea Cow Fishery, appears to have been a very proper object of your immediate attention and if the licenses required to be taken out by persons carrying on that fishery are not made to operate as a burden upon this useful branch of commerce, I do not see, at present, any objection to the regulations prescribed by your ordinance, but as this is a matter upon which the heads of trade must be consulted, I have received the King's commands to transmit the ordinance to them for their consideration."
I have no copy of the Ordinance itself.
These efforts proved unavailing. The fishermen and others quickly exterminated the herds, so thoroughly that not one has been seen or heard of in these waters within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant." It is an illustration of the old story of "killing the goose," just as fishermen and some traders whose real interest it is now-a-days to preserve the lobster and oyster fisheries, seem to be the ones most determined, despite all law and common sense, to destroy them.
Though the sea-cow is no longer found on our shores, it has left its name on the nomenclature of the country. In the western part of this province we have "Sea-Cow Pond." On the right hand, as we make Summerside Harbor, "Sea-Cow Head" tells of the animals that once haunted the waters there or made their clumsy way on to and over the dry land.
The sea-cow was of much value to the old settlers. Its oil would not only be of use to them, but would also be an article for barter or trade. Whether or not use was made of the flesh, I cannot say, but the hide was of great consequence. At a time when ordinary articles required about the new settlement were most difficult to procure, when goods could only be obtained with much trouble, and most frequently not at all, the sea-cow's hide afforded an exceedingly strong and excellent material for traces and other parts of harness used in the new lands, and to a great extent would take the place of leather for other purposes.
The herds frequenting these coasts must have been large, as I have seen it stated that the number of sea-cows caught in a season sometimes ran up into the thousands. The correctness of this statement I am unable to verify, but that the animals were numerous is evidenced by the interest taken by government in their preservation, as well as by the facts, regarding the parties hunting them, set out in Patterson's despatch.
The sea-cow would seem to have been very easily captured. It frequently came on to the land and made its way for short distances inland. Its unwieldiness would render it practically helpless on shore, where it would fall an easy prey to its captors. In the water it was more at home, and its pursuit, at least in the smaller boats, was probably not without an element of danger. The late Judge Alley, who was an authority on matters relating to the earlier days of settlement in this island, informed me that one method adopted by the fishermen in hunting the animals was, when possible, to catch a young calf and take it on board their craft, when the noise made by the youngster attracted the old ones to the vessel's side where they were readily despatched.
Whatever the methods employed to catch them, there can be no doubt but that they were only too successful, the results being that the herds have long since become extinct. That they ever existed is almost forgotten, and with the exception of a few references to them in official papers and a few place-names, there is little now to tell of what was once an important industry.
Charlottetown, 31st December, 1902.