Fishermen of Newfoundland, these courageous men

Between the 19th and 20th centuries, up to more than 10,000 would leave every year from France to fish for cod. They are called the Newfoundlanders.

In today's article, a new story that takes us out to sea towards the great banks of Newfoundland not far from Canada. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, up to more than 10,000 would leave every year from France to fish for cod. They are called the Newfoundlanders. And what better way to tell a story than to find the testimonies of some of these fishermen...

Fishing near the coasts of Newfoundland began in the 13th century with the arrival of Basques in search of whales. Every year, they would return to fish for whales for their dried meat and oil. Then, in the 17th century, ships flocked in large numbers to these banks where cod lived in abundance. In the 18th century, although the surrounding territories belonged to the English, the latter granted the French the right to fish for cod in Newfoundland – this coast was called " the French Shore ".

Fishing in the great banks of Newfoundland was at its peak between 1820 and 1840. At that time, fishermen and crews were recruited from November to January to leave for sea in March, they left for 6 to 8 months. And after a long crossing of the Atlantic Ocean, the future working conditions of these fishermen heading for Newfoundland would be far from favorable...

"We arrived at the edge of the Grand Bank; lacking a sounding line, the sudden change in temperature warned us: the relatively mild days of the Gulf Stream crossing were followed by the damp and piercing cold of this land of heavy fogs, of mists 'to cut with a knife,' as they say."

"Fishermen of Newfoundland. Story of an old fisherman." by Anonyme

These "extreme fishermen" must plan equipment that allows them to stay warm and dry.

"These 'advances' are necessary to allow men to equip themselves properly for the job. - For equipment is needed! Large boots, similar to those of Paris sewer workers, costing between forty and sixty francs; - at least three 'oilskins' (oiled clothes), indispensable under the fogs and rains of Newfoundland, costing another sixty francs; - mittens, a sort of thick gloves for lifting longlines, and all the woolen or flannel clothing (never linen) that a six-month stay under a sky that almost constantly wets you, when the sea itself does not join in, requires."

"Fishermen of Newfoundland. Story of an old fisherman." by Anonyme

And they must learn to navigate on doris, American boats with flat bottoms more suited to navigating the coasts of Newfoundland. This type of boat was used until 1950, then replaced by steam boats and trawlers.

"Men jumped aboard, the doris captain settled at the bow to row in the direction assigned to him, his helper was at the stern, near the barrels. He would bait the hooks one by one in the sea. [...] Each doris had a spacing of about 30 degrees (2 and a half compass points). Lines were set according to the speed of the doris, so that they were well stretched."

"The Adventure in Newfoundland: Fécamp, Granville, Saint-Malo... The Heroes of the Great Fishery Testify" Dominique Le Brun and Loïc Josse

The story of these men, these fishing Newfoundlanders, cutters or salt workers, has greatly marked some coastal towns that waited only for their return. And the best way to realize the difficulty of this work would still be to see it in images...

The Great Cod Fishery of the Newfoundlanders, Part 2 - 1970

The Newfoundlanders- 1993

Newfoundland, the Cod Fishery - 2012

Saint-Malo: Fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland - 2018

To prolong the pleasure, some articles and books freely available:

"Fishermen of Newfoundland. Story of an old fisherman." Anonyme

"History of the Great Fishery of Newfoundland" Robert de Loture

"Voyage in the Northern Seas... aboard the corvette La Reine Hortense" Karol Edmund Choiecki

"The Last Voyage of the Victor Pleven: in the Waters of Newfoundland" Alain Guellaff

"The Adventure in Newfoundland: Fécamp, Granville, Saint-Malo... The Heroes of the Great Fishery Testify" Dominique Le Brun and Loïc Josse

Not to forget the poignant novel by Pierre Loti, Fishermen of Iceland