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 Isle , at the entrance, separates Newfoundland from Labrador and the con¬ tinent of . This strait is about fifty miles long, and twelve broad ; is deep, and safe as a pass¬ age to and from the Gulf of Lawrence, but, from not being much frequented, is disliked by most masters of large merchant ship^. 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 . 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.