Plum Point
19th century engraving of a cod fish
Plum Point, originally known as Old Ferrolle Harbour, was a Basque fishing station in the 17th century. Ferrolle was probably named after the Spanish Basque port of Ferrol. Some historians believe the Basques might have arrived in the Strait of Belle Isle area before the first documented date of the European cod fishery in 1504. French cod fishermen, both Basque and Breton, used Old Ferrolle Island and the surrounding coves for catching and processing fish. Visitors to the island can see the best preserved cobblestone drying beaches (les plages de galets) for the salt cod.
England and France competed for over 200 years in Atlantic Canada for dominance on land and water. For much of that time the French fishery was a bigger operation than the English in northern Newfoundland. In an effort to gain an accurate picture of coastal waters around the island, Capt. James Cook of the British Royal Navy moored in Ferrolle Harbour in 1764 while conducting his cartographic survey of the coastline. In the 19th century the French located a lobster canning factory at Old Ferrolle, another bone of contention with the English-speaking government in St. John’s. After English settlers arrived in the mid-1800s, Old Ferrolle Island was renamed Darby’s Island.
The historic name, Ferolle, was lost in 1928 the International Pulp and Paper Company made the community it’s regional headquarters and requested that the community name be changed to Plum Point.
Plum Point Photos : ( Click each for full size )
French cobblestone beach for drying cod on Ferrolle Island.
Plum Point : Basque Document in the New World
Ferrolle Point, once called Amuix, was a well-known landmark for Basque and French mariners, having been noted by Louis Jolliet in 1694 while on his way to explore the Labrador coast. In 1632, a Basque sailor named Joannes de Ea died at Old Ferrolle harbour after having taken ill further south at Port au Port. Before he died, he had a will drawn up. It is considered the oldest known official document written in this region and, along with other legal papers found by historian Selma Barkham, it tells us about life of the Basque mariners of the time. Today there is a memorial plaque to the Joannes de Ea at Plum Point given by the community of Ea in Spain.