An obscure detail of Canadian history

September weather in Chateau Bay

September 7, 1572 – on this date Canada’s earliest recorded commercial transaction was made when an unknown Basque fisherman bought four scallops in beautiful, but often foggy, Chateau Bay, Labrador. Whom he bought them from is unknown; possibly an Inuit family, though more likely other Basque fishermen (who were there to hunt whales).  Chateau Bay is a clover-leave of bays and a great natural harbour. Captain Cook later surveyed the bay, an English fort was built there and the area thrived for centuries with boat building and fishing until the close of the cod fishery in 1992. Chateau Bay is now abandoned, except for a few summer cabins.  I’ve spent many days anchored there waiting for falls gales to pass.