LABRADOR. 205

CHAPTER V.

Strait of Belle Isle—Continent of Labrador——Anticosti~Magdalene Islands.

THE strait of Belle Isle, so named from the island called North Belle Isle, at the Atlantic entrance, separates Newfoundland from Labrador and the con- tinent of America. This strait is about fifty miles long, and twelve broad ; is deep, and safe as a pass- age to and from the Gulf of St Lawrence, but, from not being much frequented, is disliked by most masters of large merchant ships. There are no har- bours on the coast of Newfoundland facing it ; and those on the Labrador coast are not considered safe, except the havens near the north and south extre- mities. For schooners and fishing craft, there is, in every direction along the Labrador coast, safe and convenient shelter.

The coast of Labrador, in consequence of the extensive fisheries carried on in its harbours by the merchants of Newfoundland, and being under the same government, is more intimately connected with that colony than with any other part of America.

Gaspar de Corte Real* named the northern part,

* This navigator either perished afterwards on the coast, or he and his crew were murdered by the Esquimaux.