Five years after the discovery of America by Columbus, the English, baffled in their attempts to reach Kathay by the N.E., turned their attention in another direction, and on the morning of the 24th of June, 1497, Newfoundland was discovered by John Cabot. Thus began those series of memorable voyages which have been continued, unto our day, with but short interruption, until the northern seaboard of the American continent has been perfectly discovered. The annals of these Arctic voyages have been read and re-read, published and re-published, evincing the deep interest which generation after generation has taken in these touching records of skill and daring, perseverance and long-suffering; and well may we turn to them with pride and pleasure, exhibiting as they do such proof of that spirit of maritime enterprise which always has been Great Britain's boast and glory.

In the year 1500 the discovery of the Cabots was followed up by Gaspar de Cortereal, in two ships from Lisbon, and attention was attracted to the value of the fisheries on the coast of Newfoundland, and in 1504 small vessels from Biscay, Bretagne, and Normandy resorted thither for this purpose. In 1506 Jean Denys drew a map of the Gulf of St. Lawrence; and in 1517 no less than fifty Spanish, French, and Portuguese ships were employed in this fishery.