Canada High Sea

The open waters east of southern Labrador lie in the path of icebergs carried south by the Labrador Current. Along the coast to the west, cod drew European fishing vessels into these northern seas. By 1775 about a hundred British ships were fishing off Labrador, while merchants from Quebec also took part in the seal and salmon fisheries. Battle Harbour became a base for crews working along the coast, supplying a trade that sent dried fish across the Atlantic.