Lifelines: Canada's East Coast Fisheries

The Search for Cod, a Delicacy for Meatless Days
A Fishing Expedition on the Saint-André (1754)
The Search for Cod, a Delicacy for Meatless Days: 
A Fishing Expedition on the Saint-André (1754)

By Jean-Pierre Chrestien to TABLE OF CONTENTS


In the Roads near Ré Island

The Ship Runs Aground and is Repaired
 

Saturday, March 2, 1754

Around 6 a.m., we cast off and left the Seudre. We got as far as the island of Oléron, where we ran aground. 52 We were afloat around 6:30 p.m. We cast off and made our way to the north beacon, where we weighed anchor.

Sunday, March 3, and Monday, March 4, 1754 53

Tuesday, March 5, 1754

Around noon, we left the north beacon. The winds were E1/4NE. We dropped anchor in the roadstead of La Flotte around 10 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6, 1754

At noon, we left the roadstead of La Flotte to run aground in the roadstead of Loix, in order to apply tallow and stop a leak. We ran aground at about 2:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 7, 1754 54

Friday, March 8, 1754

We discovered that the brace at the bottom of our rudder was broken. We removed it and had a new one made in Saint-Martin-de-Ré.

Saturday, March 9, 1754

When the tide rose, we stopped the leak and went to get our new rudder brace, which was brought aboard in the evening.

Sunday, March 10, 1754

Between 10 and 11 a.m., we replaced our rudder brace. We took advantage of the rising tide to leave Fosse de Loix. 55 Around 8 p.m., we weighed anchor in the roadstead of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. We had to tack 8 times to get there, since we sailed against the wind the whole way.

Monday, March 11, 1754

Around 7 a.m., since our captain was ashore, I sent a shallop with five men to get him. At the same time, I had two barriques filled with water. 56 Since the wind became northeast, a strong wind, everyone remained ashore.

Tuesday, March 12, 1754

Still a strong northeast wind.

Wednesday, March 13, 1754

The wind calmed down between 4 and 5 a.m. The captain and the crew returned in the ship's shallop between 9 and 10 o'clock.

Thursday, March 14, 1754

All day we had strong northwest winds.



THE VAGARIES OF LIFE AT SEA | PROBLEMS AT THE ADMIRALTY
THE SHIP'S CARPENTER | SUNDAY MASS | THE SALT IS LOADED
THE FISHERMEN'S PROVISIONS | AN APPRENTICE DESERTS
THE SHIP RUNS AGROUND AND IS REPAIRED


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