What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?

it has been more than 400 years since the first Islanders crossed the Atlantic in search of pastures new. When the first Europeans reached Canada is unclear. By the beginning of the 16th-century Basque fishermen were travelling to the region to fish and, by 1580, around 10,000 European fishermen were making the transatlantic voyage to the area each year to fish for cod. Channel Island fishermen were among these and by the 1750s they had set up lucrative trade routes between Canada, Europe and America, establishing bases on the Gaspe Coast where they could salt and prepare the cod. The sea there is full of fish that can be taken not only with nets but with fishing-baskets. John Cabot after his voyage in 1497 It was easy to fish in the open sea for cod at any time of year, but fishing inshore was far more difficult. It was here that the Channel Island fishermen made their biggest catches during this period.

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

For neolithic farmers, travel over land was slow; on foot, as the wheel was unknown and the horse was not used as a beast of burden. As the land was heavily wooded, the easiest way to travel was on water; and because we know that the neolithic farmers settled Jersey when it had once more become an island, it is safe to assume that they had the skill to make some form of boat. In addition to this we know that they were also able to sail and navigate between the island and Armorica and over what is now the English Channel to the mainland.

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?

fish, finance and slavery

They traded and implicated slavery for exchange of humans/codfish.

To what extend, has the island of Jersey benefitted from its constitutional relationship with Britain and the legacies of colonialism based on a slave plantation economy during the first Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)?

• 1763 Canada became British property.
• 1764 Charles Robin aged 21, youngest son of Philippe and Anne, nee d’Auvergne, of Robin Pipon and Co, sailed as their agent from Jersey in Seaflower, a 41 ton brig to explore the possibility of establishing a fishery there.
• 1765 Mr Munn , a Newfoundland historian, writes “But they ceased to occupy the prominent positions held by their forefathers, merchants of Jersey origin, during the eighteenth century when Jersey firms dominated at Havre de Grace up to the year 1765 when the Canadian fisheries commenced.
• 1765 onwards. As the French and Quebec merchants moved away from the Gaspé coast, Jersey firms moved to the probably more profitable fisheries off the Gaspé coast.
• 1765 Robin, Pipon and Company of Cape Breton Island founded. This firm established fishing posts as far north as Baie des Chaleurs, under the auspices of their kinsman, Charles Robin, who formed his own company in 1783.
• 1766 Charles Robin returned to the coast with 41 ton brig. About this time Robin, Pipon and Co established at Bay des Chaleurs.
• 1767 Charles Robin describes himself as agent for John Robin at Arichat, Coast of Acadia and Paspebiac. Agent for Coast of Canada for Robin, Pipon and Co. [aged] 23 years, salary £150 per annum.
• 1767 Charles returned with Recovery, the Seaflower and shallop Neptune.
• 1768 Jersey Chamber of Commerce makes provision to “relieve distressed families of seamen”.
• 1768 The Janvrin firm in existence by this date.
• 1766-1809 “The building of a commercial monopoly by this family (Robin) during that period is such that they can be called the biggest exploiters of this coast”.
• 1769 Chamber of Commerce takes successful action to relieve Jersey vessels requiring British Customs Clearance (Navigation Act).
• 1770 Jerseymen began to settle –not merely trade–on the Gaspé Coast. Janvrin arrived at Grande Greve.
• 1778 Charles Robin (then aged 36), returned to Jersey in the Bee, 16 guns, with 40 crew and 40 passengers.
• 1780s Clement and Company established a fishery at Harbor Grace, Newfoundland. This firm did not survive the two wars between 1793 and 1815.
• 1783 Charles Robin forms his own firm Charles Robin and Co.
• 1785 59 vessels left Jersey for Newfoundland with 957 seamen and 743 passengers.
• 1786 Firm of David de Quetteville founded at the Avalon Peninsula, engaged in the cod trade and owning fisheries. During the wars of 1793-1815, this company moved to the east coast and finally to Labrador. It was ruined by the Jersey bank crashes of 1873.
• 1789 Ship Elisha Tupper, 280 tons, built at Bel Royal for Janvrins, She was named after a Guernsey merchant.

Jersey`s maritime historian, the late John Jean lists, from local newspapers and almancs, the following firms engaged in the Newfoundland trade: Jersey Sailing Ships, (Chichester: Phillimore and Company, 1982)

• 1790 Pierre Mallet, with the vessels Liberté, (69 tons), Magdaleine, (38 tons), Mary, (60 tons) and, in partnership with Fiott, Angelicque.
• 1790 J and C Hemery, with the vessels Jenny, (54 tons), Resolution, (70 tons) and Queen, (144 tons).
• 1790 [James] Poingdestre and [Aaron] de Ste Croix, with the vessels Success, (110 tons) and Vine, (129 tons); the latter owned also in partnership with Robinson, with whom Poingdestre also owned Corbet, (68 tons), in the same trade. De Ste Croix also owned with Ingouville Kenton, (113 tons). Of these vessels, Poigdestre and de Ste Croix had owned the Success from 1783. De Ste Croix was the son of Jean de Ste Croix, one of the founder members in 1768 of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce, who was the owner in that year of a 30 ton ship. This firm is known to have started in business trading with Newfoundland. They tansferred their interest, however, from Newfoundland cod to Honduras mahogany and were soon Jersey`s leading traders in Honduras mahogany. Note: This firm has often been needlessly confused with that of Messrs. F and G de Ste Croix, originally trading from 1838 as Gautier de Ste Croix, see below.
• 1790 Pierre Le Brun [St Aubin?], with the vessels Prudent, (57 tons) and Nancy, (64 tons).
• 1790 Brun Benest [St Aubin], master and owner, with the vessel Preference, (59 tons).
• 1790 Francis Janvrin, with the vessels Peirson, (90 tons), Neptune, (131 tons), Cornhill, (192 tons) and Elisha Tupper, (280 tons). His brother, Philip Janvrin, owned in 1790 Industrie, (68 tons) and in 1792 Anne, in the same trade.
• 1790 Mathew Gosset, with the vessels Angelicque, (42 tons), Kingfisher, (57 tons) and Hercules, (161 tons).
• 1790 Geo. Rowcliffe, with the vessel La Concorde, (126 tons).
• 1790 Jacques Remon, from a long-standing family of St Aubin merchants, with the vessel Beaver, (38 tons).
• 1790 Philip Ahier, with the vessel Anne, (45 tons).
• 1790 Edouard du Heaume, with the vessel Jupiter, (58 tons).
• 1790 Jean Kirby, or Kerby, with the vessel Gaspé.
• 1790 Jean Roissier, master and owner, with the vessel Providence, (72 tons).
• 1790 Jean Le Vesconte, with the vessel Lynx, (183 tons).
• 1790 Francis Amy, with the vessel Good Friends, (58 tons).
• 1790 Jean Le Feuvre, with the vessel Friendship, (51 tons).
• 1790 Edward Coombes, with the vessel Betsy, (77 tons.
• 1790-1792 Charles Robin, with the vessels Expedient, (49 tons), Peace, (72 tons), Bacchus, (80 tons), Paspébiac, (133 tons), St Lawrence, (145 tons), Major Pierson, (172 tons), Hilton, (178 tons), St Peter, (210 tons), which fleet of eight vessels was Jersey`s foremost, with the Janvrins in second place. By 1800, however, David Lee in The Robins in Gaspé, 1766 to 1825, (Ontario: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1984), 63, states that Robin had only four ships, which demonstrates the fluctuations in fortune experienced, in times of war, by those engaged in this trade.
• 1790 Missed by John Jean in the above list, David de Quetteville had, in that year, the 126 ton vessel Swift engaged in the Newfoundland trade: Almanach Historique (1790). In 1792, he had two vessels so engaged.
• 1790 Also missed by Jean, Thomas Anquetil, a master/owner and Merchant, had the 71 ton vessel Two Friends in the Newfoundland trade, sailing there from Jersey in the spring of 1790: Ibid. He was in partnership with his brother, Francois Anquetil.
• 1792 Former Wool merchant, Philip Nicolle, enters the Newfoundland trade in cod. In 1821 he owned fishing posts and 5 ships; in 1828 he owned 18 ships and added banking to his interests. The effect on trade of the American Civil War was said to have caused this firm to withdraw in 1863 from banking and from most of their fisheries. The firm was largely replaced by de Gruchy, Renouf and Clement.
• 1798 Janvrin worked first for Robin and then started his own business at Grande Greve, North Coast. Admiral Ph. d’Auvergne proposed that naval vessels convoy Jersey ships for Newfoundland trade to Longitude 300 West.
• It should be noted from John Jean`s list, above, as augmented, the part played by families of Huguenot origin, in Jersey`s 18th century commercial expansion. These included the Gossets, Hemerys, Fiotts, Anquetils and Pierre Mallet who, from his surname, might be mistaken as being of Jersey stock, and afterwards the Le Croniers and Amirauxs, among others. Furthermore, John Jean`s list of forty-two Jersey ships engaged in the Newfoundland trade in the years 1790-1792, represents a mere `drop in the ocean` in comparison to Jersey`s 19th century involvement in the trade.
• 1766-1842 Jersey profited by the British conquests in Canada. It almost transformed the Gaspé coast between these years into a Jersey colony.
• 1806 4,000 tods of wool were imported into Jersey.
• 1819 Firm of Philip Godfray and Peter Duval founded at Bonaventure Island and elsewhere, with fisheries. Forced to close by creditors in 1838.
• 1820 William Fruing in Gaspé employed by C Robin and Company. He married Jane Alexandre at Miscou. Fishermen signed against the Americans.
• 1821 First permanent shipyard of Geo. Deslandes, set up in Jersey.
• 1822 Firm of William Le Brocq junr. and Company formed, in the New Brunswick carrying trade.
• 1822 Firm of Le Vesconte and de Carteret, otherwise de Carteret and Le Vesconte, founded at Arichat and elsewhere, in Cape Breton Island, owning both fisheries and trading vessels. Isaac Le Vesconte was also a shipbuilder; Peter de Carteret became, furthermore, a Jersey banker.
• 1826 Firm of F and J Perrée founded at Point Saint-Pierre, Gaspé, where his fishery adjoined in the 1830s that of Abraham de Gruchy. The Perrées sold to their agents, Collas, in 1851.
• 1827 Abraham de Gruchy starts trading with Gaspé.
• 1829 Philippe Robin wrote of W. Fruing that “his valuable presence” was replaced by “my nephew John Gosset”.
• 1830 Recorded that “a Jersey company Les Fandouines was formed which would dominate the fishing industry at Shippagan for a long time”. W. Fruing signed a petition.
• 1830 Firm of John Le Boutillier founded at Gaspé Town, with fisheries along the north coast of Gaspé. This firm and that of his cousins, David and Amy Le Boutillier, became prior to 1873, Jersey`s third largest combined shipping concern, behind only that of the Robins and Nicolles. John Le Boutillier became insolvent in 1873, following Jersey`s bank crashes in that year. His firm was taken over by cousins, Le Boutillier Brothers.
• 1830 William Fruing (Robin’s orphan protege) chief agent for Robin at Paspebiac.
• 1831 Firm of Philip Le Vesconte founded. Closed in 1863 [John Jean].
• 1832 Firm of William Fruing and Co formed, in the fisheries, at Miscou. A brother-in-law Capt. Joshua Alexandre was manager at Caraquet.
• 1834 Firm of R. and E. Falle founded at Burin, Newfoundland, in the fisheries, based upon Jersey Shipping lists. However, J. Jean has 1826 and G.R. Balleine 1832.
• 1835 William Fruing, son of William, bought 36, La Colomberie, St. Helier.
• 1836 Janvrins owned three branches, plus Grande Greve.
• 1836 Abraham de Gruchy at Point Saint-Pierre, Gaspé, with “large fishing establishment”, sold in 1854 to John Fauvel, a former Robin mamager; and fishing posts in Malbaie and Newfoundland.
• 1837 1,200 vessels used the port of St Helier to carry the trade of the Island.
• 1838 David Le Boutillier founded, with his brother Capt. Amy Le Boutillier, Le Boutillier Brothers. Jersey almanacs` description of this firm as “Le Boutillier and Company” between the years 1847 and 1860, has resulted in its being confused frequently, even by the maritime historian, John Jean, with “J. Le Boutillier”, above. This firm, which had numerous fishing `posts,` took over, in 1873, the John Le Boutillier firm but became bankrupt, following Jersey`s 1886 bank crashes.
• 1840 The heirs of John, Francis and Brelade Janvrin withdraw from the cod trade.

To create this zine, I first created a page with specific things. For example, a width of 148 mm, height of 210mm, 16 pages, 2 columns with a gutter of 5mm. Then for margins, I selected 10mm for each subcategory. Finally, I made a bleed of 3mm. Once I had this blank page created, I then created a box using the rectangle frame tool. I then chose an image to put in the box which would go on my first page. I decided to use a Jersey Archive photograph as the idea of my zine is the harbour through time so I wanted to start with the oldest image I had. I decided to make this image fill up almost the whole page as it is the title page. To do this, I made the box I created initially larger then right clicked the middle of the photograph and selected fit frame proportionally. I then added a boarder to this image and made the background a grey colour to make the colour scheme of the image. Finally, I added a title to the top of the page. I decided to call it ‘St Helier Harbour through time’. Finally, I experimented with different fonts. I ultimately decided on ‘Modern No. 20’.

For my first double page, I decided to create 4 boxes where I would input 4 of my landscape images from my harbour photoshoot. At first, I made the images a bit smaller and left a lot of room for text but as I added the text I realised that I wanted to show more of the images rather than text as it looked cluttered. In the end, I made the images of the right side longer and cut down on the amount of text I had. Next, I added boarders around my images and created a background using a rectangle shape then changing the colour of the shapes to make them grey like the images. Finally, I added a drop shadow to the shapes in order to give my page some more depth.

The next page I decided to make more simpler as the last page was very full of text. So, I made one big box covering both sides of the page then added one of my landscape photographs. I then finished up this page by adding a boarder to the image and using the rectangle shape tool to create more shapes in the background (adding a drop shadow to these too).

On this page, I made two boxes, one filling up each page. I then added portrait images I had taken. This time, I decided to use the circle shape tool instead to create some contrast in my backgrounds. I layered these on top of each other, making the smaller circles darker. Finally, I made a boarder around the two images.

On this next page, I decided to add some text as I hadn’t in a while and wanted to experiment more with my layout. However, this time I decided to make one page just filled with one big image to ensure it wouldn’t look messy. On the right page. I created two rectangular boxes in the corner of each side. Then, I added text into the empty space which talked about the history of St Helier Harbour. Once I had added boarders to the images, I then used the rectangle shape tool once again to make rectangles going horizontally across the page, making each rectangle smaller and darker. Finally I added drop shadows to each of the rectangles.

This next page changed drastically to what I originally had planned. Initially, I intended to add a whole page of writing on the right page but ultimately decided against it as it was becoming overwhelming with text. So, I instead decided to use some more images from the Jersey archives such as maps and old pictures of Jersey Harbour. Also, I had first added a background of the sea but then decided to change it for just plain shapes as the vast amount of pictures and texture in the sea made it look clutter and not nice to look at.

Similarly to earlier, for this page I just added two big images to either side of the page. However, this time I made the images go right to the end of the page with no boarders on the pictures. I felt this helped to create a contrast between the writing pages previously.

In this next page, I wanted to experiment further with my layout and so I decided to create a polaroid like shape around one of my images then added a text box below it. Finally, I added rectangles going down the pages and added a boarder to the left image.

When I first added images to my zine, I put this one in but as I went through again, I decided to delete this page as I felt the image didn’t fit in with the colour scheme of the other images as the others were very blue and vibrant but this one was more dull and brown and looked out of place. This also meant I had 20 pages instead of 22 which was required for printing.

Again, this page consisted of two big images on either side. I then elevated the page by adding shapes in the background.

For my final double page, I decided to fill it up completely with one image that covered it entirely.

Finally, to finish off my zine, I added a grey background to the final page which matched the colour of the background in the first page of the zine to give it a seamless effect. I did this by adding to rectangle shapes to my blank page then using the pipette tool to get the exact colour as seen on the first page.

What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?

It has been more than 400 years since the first Islanders crossed the Atlantic in search of grassland. They went to plunder the cod-rich seas of the American and Canadian coast.

By the beginning of the 16th-century Basque fishermen were travelling to the region to fish and, by 1580, around 10,000 European fishermen were making the transatlantic voyage to the area each year to fish for cod. Channel Island fishermen were among these and by the 1750s they had set up lucrative trade routes between Canada, Europe and America, establishing bases on the Gaspé Coast where they could salt and prepare the cod to sell. 

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

During the Roman period there was an established trade route between Alet (St Servan) and Hengistbury Head in Dorset. Guernsey was the favoured stop off point, because of the natural deep water harbour at St Peter Port, although these boats undoubtedly called in to Jersey as well.

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?

Jersey cod-merchants exported cod-fish to British colonies in the West Indies and later Brazil too in exchange for plantation goods, such as sugar, molasses, rum, cotton, coffee and tobacco which it brought to markets in America, Europe and the UK (Inc. Jersey).

To what extent has the island of Jersey benefited from its constitutional relationship with Britain and the legacies of colonialism based on a slave plantation economy during the first Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)?

 By the 1770s there may have been up to 70 Jersey ships and 2,000 Jerseymen engaged in the cod trade. By the 1840s it is estimated that the industry directly employed 4,000 people. Also, many others were engaged in manufacturing goods to be exported to the Canadian settlements.

However, Jersey was not without internal troubles notwithstanding increased prosperity. Both war and poor harvests led to increases in corn prices of such magnitudes that the poor were unable to feed themselves. Matters reached a head in 1769 when wealthy mill owners tried selling the little corn there was at very high prices to France, causing some local people to riot. The rioters went on to demand changes to the Island government which resulted in the Code of 1771, giving more power to the States Assembly.

1x fun fact of the maritime history-

Jersey has the third largest tidal movement in the world, with tides of over 40 feet (13 metres).  The tide rises at a speed of 10 kph but on the south coast of the island, the sea rushes through the gullies at some points faster than a running horse.

1700 –

Illustrated in 1790 This showed the first example of development of a Harbour in St Helier. Built in 1700, the French and English Harbour (the 2 buildings highlighted in red) are older than any harbour on the Island. These served as the only port for Jersey’s larger ships until construction began of the North pier in 1790 to 1821.

Here shows a map of the harbour in 1834, The North pier is now present opposite the French Harbour. Later expanded upon in 1887 to 97 this became the New North Quay as seen today.

To improve the Harbours capacity, development of a new pier from 1847 to 1853 began. Named after the Prince Consort, Albert, this was announced on his second royal visit in 1859. Later on, Victoria pier, named after the current monarch at the time, was constructed from around 1841 to 1846.

Photos of the Piers reconstruction in the 1930’s:

As Jersey’s population increases, many inhabitants, cramped on this small island hold the desire for travel. As a result, in recent years, plans have been put forward to redevelop the aging Elizabeth Terminal.

As shown in the image above, this shows the plans in mind to facilitate creating a safeguard of the Islands supply chain, increase in capacity of handling future freight requirements, and overall, improving travel capability for Jersey.

– 2024

Task 1

What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?

By the beginning of the 16th century, Basque fishermen were travelling to the Canada to fish and by 1580, around 10,000 European fishermen were making the transatlantic voyage to the area each year to fish for cod. Channel Island fishermen were among these fishermen and by the 1750s they had set up lucrative trade routes between Canada, Europe and America, establishing bases on the Gaspé Coast where they could salt and prepare the cod. 

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

They sailed to Newfoundland and Gaspe coast and traded goods with Canada, Europe, America, British colonies in the West Indies, later Brazil, Cape Cod Castle on the Gold Coast of Ghana

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for codfish?

They traded cod for plantation goods, such as sugar, molasses, rum, cotton, coffee and tobacco. They had also traded the cod for slaves.

To what extend, has the island of Jersey benefitted from its constitutional relationship with Britain and the legacies of colonialism based on a slave plantation economy during the first Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)?

Jersey had severely benefited from slave plantation economy, they were able to trade their Cod to America in exchange for valuable goods such as tobacco and sugar which they were able to sell on to different countries in Europe and Britain which made them a lot of profit that allowed them to expand ship production.

Task 2

Provide a short history of the development of St Helier harbour (1830s – 2020s) and produce a mood-board of images.

• The harbour was first constructed in the early 19th century. 
• The harbour was then upgraded in 1790.
• In 1814, roads were constructed as Commercial Buildings and Le Quai des Marchands to connect the harbours to the town.
• In 1832, construction was finished on the Esplanade and its sea wall.
• In 1837 there was an order to construct two new piers, the Victoria and Albert Piers.

Old plans for renewing the harbour

Start of renewing the harbour – around 1930s

Before and after photos of the harbour

Key Links Used:

LOOKING BACK: Some 400 years ago Islanders were tempted to cross the Atlantic in search of rich fishing grounds

What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade? –

Since Canada’s discovery from around 1497, Europeans from early years, had their Fishermen drawn to the continents’ local seas full of fish. By the early 16th-century 10,000 European Fishermen made the Transatlantic voyage to fish in the area for cod.

Amongst these Fishermen where sailors from the Channel Islands, who by the 1750s, had set up lucrative trade routes between Europe, Canada and America. Although Jersey folk did not necessarily fish themselves some did. The majority that where involved in the Canadian Cod industry, where merchants, trading all across the globe from areas such as in central America, North Africa and Europe. Through this process, Jersey was able to gain a lot of wealth through the trade deals made with Cod for other commodities such as coffee, sugar, wines and spirits. Imported into Jersey and then re-exported free of tax this made it quite a popular location for the international markets. With wood such a Mahogany imported this benefited Jersey’s shipbuilding industry which in turn fuelled the Cod trade with more ships to obtain these items.

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

Voyaging from coasts such as Gaspé, here was where they salted and prepare the cod for trade and travel. All year round Fishermen could travel and fish, seas held plentiful amount of fish, nearer the coast proved harder for other fisherman but Channel Islanders experience with coastal fishing made use of their skills. Other ports included that on the Newfoundland, South America and others. Main ports which ships travelled to during their trades consisted of Bristol, London, Liverpool. Trading through both English and French ports in the Newfoundland, Jersey peoples native tongue and adoption of English benefitted them massively due to how similar they sounded. Using it also to discuss trade deals this allowed them to judge if they felt they where being scammed or not.

Charles Robin

1743 – 1824

Charles Robin, a Jersey Merchant , is one of many Channel Islanders who sailed to the Gaspé Coast as well as the grounds of Cape Breton Island.

Within his life he became the Island’s leading merchant and biggest exporter on the Gaspé Coast. Forming the family firm Robin, pipon and Co in 1765, they established links with Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and the British colony of Newfoundland. In the exchanging of control from French to British in the Newfoundland’s, Robin was sent to Seaflowerto to establish potential trading on the coast south of the St Lawrence river, which when under French control used to been the territory of St Malo merchants. Here, Robin discovered some of the best fishing grounds in the Atlantic were across the banks of the St Lawrence River by the mouth of the Gaspé Coast.

On the gravelly beaches of the banks, this proved perfect for the drying process of the Cod collected by fishermen. In the following year robin returned and established a dock within a lagoon which ships could safely anchor within. From this point onwards, Robins lucrative industry began thriving. Trading with America, Britain and many other countries this generated a lot of wealth for Robin. However due to fluctuations in the need for Cod life at the Gaspe was exactly perfect. Wars would occasionally cause trading difficulties, with the British-American war of 1812 – 1814 for example, this forced him to close for a couple of years. Annoyances such as ship seizures by privateers, lost valuable cargos and attacks from French ships caused Robin to suffer some difficulties. However being a resourceful man, during Britain’s war against France, he made his men disguise them selves as French soldiers. Speaking Jersey’s dialect of French he could deter any questionings by French warships. Due to fears of losing his men for pressures of joining into naval service, he avoided British ports, sailing to Portugal and Jersey, he recruited more workers from the Les Quennevais area. Bringing in carpenters and shipwrights this allowed him to construct his own vessels and develop his industry further and have ships docked in both Jersey and at the Gaspe. Settling back home in Jersey, Robin left the Gaspe for last time in 1802, however still ran operations. Even after his death his firm continued on in his legacy.

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?

Throughout the Transatlantic carrying trade, Jersey Merchants received, by French and English fishermen, dried and salted cod. Providing economic benefit to Jersey, these allowed for much larger exchanges to ports in the Americas. Through these trades, Jersey folk received commodities, exotic in comparison to the food on the island. Islanders could now enjoy items such as rum from the Caribbean, molasses in the West Indies, coffee from countries in Africa, wine from brazil and mahogany from Honduras.

To what extend, has the island of Jersey benefitted from its constitutional relationship with Britain and the legacies of colonialism based on a slave plantation economy during the first Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)?

Although beneficial to Jersey’s economy at the time, these commodities received through trades in the cod industry were provided of the backs of slaves within the Americas. Goods such as mahogany were obtained through trade as a result of the Slave Trade. Harvested in Honduras through the work of forced slave workers, this wood was crafted into items such as furniture for Jersey’s richer islanders to purchase from trading merchants involved in the slave trade. Furthermore, with the importing of Mahogany into Jersey, this wood was provided to be used within Jersey’s ship building industry. With ship construction across numerous building yards In Jersey, these ships were made and sold to more traders and merchants involved in the trades. Slave traders from Britain, using purchased ships built in Jersey, would use these throughout the slave trade.

Ships from Jersey such as the ‘Neptune of Jersey’ delivered 165 enslaved people to the West Indies In May of 1762. The ship ‘Hope’ built in Jersey, 1747, departed from Bristol in 1759, to pick up 230 enslaved people, here they then disembarked 199 enslaved people in Jamaica. These are only 2 examples of numerous accounts taken of Jersey’s involvement with the slave worker.

Popular myths
It is a popular myth that the slave trade was invented by the
Europeans; the reality was that when the first Europeans
reached West Africa in the 15th century slavery was already
long established,

Popular myths
It is a popular myth that the slave trade was invented by the
Europeans; the reality was that when the first Europeans
reached West Africa in the 15th century slavery was already
long established.

Museums have a central role in creating a more equal, diverse and inclusive society. Through the objects that represent us, the stories we share and the historic places we look
after, we hold the collective memory of our community.

What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?

It has been more than 400 years since the first Islanders crossed the Atlantic in search of pastures new. They went to plunder the cod-rich seas of the American and Canadian coast.

A family pose in the Point St Peter shop: Charles Le Marquand seated between the two women while standing behind are Thomas Alexander Le Gros, John James Le Gros and his wife Edith Emily Le Gresley. All images supplied by MUSEE DE LA GASPESIE.

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

Jersey has been an island for approximately 8,000 years: therefore, apart from the last 60 years, the only way for people to come to or leave the island has been by sea. Over the centuries the way in which boats have been powered has changed – muscle power, wind power, steam power and now diesel power. The largest island is jersey, followed by Guernsey, Alderney, sark and a number of smaller islands, islets and rocky outcrops. The islands were separated from mainland Europe with rising sea levels in the Neolithic period

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?

They traded molasses and rum for cod fish

Fishing:

Oyster Dredging became important and started in 1828 centring around the Chausey oyster beds, where the French also wished to fish. News of these beds brought 300 fishing boats from the south of England, Gorey pier was rebuilt to assist them and after ten years, the beds were shown to be over fished.

Manufactured goods:

Knitting in the Islands as a trade had early origins, the quality was so good that Queen  Elizabeth I wore Guernsey stockings. Large quantities of wool being imported to the Islands from Southampton by special licence, where a major cottage industry turned the product into desirable high value goods. Stocking were in high demand in France,240,000 pairs a year being exported there in the 1660s.

Entrepôt:

Being free ports, as the British Parliament had no right to levy taxes in the Islands and the Islands themselves not wishing to levy taxes on goods brought to and then exported again from the Islands, The Channel Islands could import goods from anyone who was not an enemy of Britain, free of British taxes. The local merchants would buy up and supply goods at favourable prices, especially goods taken by privateers. There were no restrictions on whom the goods were sold to, and no liability on the Islanders if the ship subsequently landed those goods without declaring them and paying taxes at their destination.

Cod and North America:

The Channel Island fishing industry took to the opportunities offered with the opening up of the Grand Banks Fisheries. Cod was valuable and from 1763 when Quebec was ceded to the British, colonies were founded by both Jersey and Guernsey in Newfoundland. The people in each colony undertook the fishing and drying, waiting for the company ship to arrive with trade goods they could exchange for the fish. Barrels of dried cod, 1,000-2,000  quintals a year, each weighing roughly 50 kg, being exported by ship to the Caribbean or western Europe. Sometimes there was a three-way trade with ships returning to the Channel Islands where the ship chandlers and merchants benefited.

Horticulture and agriculture:

In Guernsey the introduction of glasshouses resulted in a growth on eating grapes and then tomato production from Victorian days, when in the 1880s 10,000 tons were exported annually until the 1970s, with 60 million tomatoes exported each year in the 1960s to England.

Quarrying:

During the 19th century quarrying of granite for use in England became a valuable trade good from Guernsey, adding value by creating cobblestones for London streets, although after 1847 gravel was exported for macadamizing roads. In 1861 St Sampson’s harbour saw 142,866 tons of stone loaded in 737 ships, it became very crowded and required piers to be rebuilt and repaired, by 1913, annual tonnage had risen to 453,947

Links used:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_history_of_the_Channel_Islands

St Helier harbour hasn’t changed massively between the years, although there are some clear changes, the area has stayed homogeneous. Saint Helier Harbour is named after Helier (or Helerius), a 6th-century ascetic hermit from Belgium.

This picture, by a Mrs Slater, one of the earliest female photographers whose work in Jersey survives, was taken in 1860, or soon after, and shows the La Folie area of the original harbour, with the French Harbour in the foreground and the long, thin, North Quay lined with sailing vessels in the background.

This painting by John Shepherd dates to the 1870s or early 80s and shows clearly how close the top of the Old Harbour came to the original weighbridge, which was in front of the Royal Yacht Hotel

This picture was taken in about 1886-7 and shows the work under way on some initial widening of the North Quay behind the weighbridge. A new cargo shed has been constructed.

A rare photograph showing the Old Harbour infill from the other side, with the row of Commercial Buildings properties showing very few similarities to what survives in the 21st century

An aerial view of the harbour at high tide in 1934

1950, and nothing has changed

links:

https://www.theislandwiki.org/index.php/Pictorial_history_of_St_Helier_Harbour_from_1850_to_1973

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Helier_Harbour

What was the involvement of Jersey mariners in the Canadian cod-fisheries and the Transatlantic carrying trade?

When the first Europeans reached Canada is unclear, but it is thought to be Italian explorer John Cabot’s descriptions of ‘new found landes’ and a sea swarming with fish in 1497 that drew fishermen to the north of the continent, and around 1600 English fishing captains still reported cod shoals 

By the beginning of the 16th-century Basque fishermen were travelling to the region to fish and, by 1580, around 10,000 European fishermen were making the transatlantic voyage to the area each year to fish for cod.

Channel Island fishermen were among these and by the 1750s they had set up lucrative trade routes between Canada, Europe and America, establishing bases on the Gaspé Coast where they could salt and prepare the cod. 

Which ports did Jersey ships sail to and trade with?

A concerted effort to build harbours did not take off until the late 17th century, when work began on building a pier on the islet on which St Aubin’s fort stands. During the 18th century St Aubin’s harbour proper was constructed and work began on developing St Helier as a port, although the capital had to wait until the 19th century before it really began to develop as a port.

It was during the early 19th century that stone piers were built at La Rocque, Bouley Bay, Rozel and Gorey, to accommodate the oyster boats. The harbour at Gorey also took passenger traffic from Normandy. The primary purpose of these harbours was the movement of cargoes and not people.

What type of goods did Jersey merchants exchange for cod-fish?

Jersey cod-merchants also exported cod-fish to British colonies in the West Indies and later Brazil too in exchange for plantation goods, such as sugar, molasses, rum, cotton, coffee and tobacco which it brought to markets in America, Europe and the UK (inc. Jersey). Within that context Jersey benefitted from the profits made in the British Empire build on a capitalist model of a slave-based economy.

To what extend, has the island of Jersey benefitted from its constitutional relationship with Britain and the legacies of colonialism based on a slave plantation economy during the first Industrial Revolution (1760-1840)?

 By the 1770s there may have been up to 70 Jersey ships and 2,000 Jerseymen engaged in the cod trade. By the 1840s it is estimated that the industry directly employed 4,000 people. Also, many others were engaged in manufacturing goods to be exported to the Canadian settlements. https://www.policy.je/papers/jerseys-history