Page Twelve

Farming and cattle raising was the chief occupation in Lance Cove during the early years of its settlement, and the extent to which that was carried out is evident from the census returns.  Bell Island butter became famous for its quality and special flavour and was always in great demand.   The potatoes grown there were also noted for their evenness and smooth texture.  Most of the Lance Cove produce was marketed in Harbour Grace for the obvious reason that Harbour Grace could be reached directly by boat; however, some of it was transported to St. John’s, via Portugal Cove.  During the summer months, it was a common sight to see Lance Cove jack boats tied up to the wharves at Harbour Grace and Portugal Cove, loaded to the gunwales with vegetables, fresh meat, butter, wool, birch junks, birch rind, and lobsters.  All of this was sold for cash and the fortunate vendors, free of the exploitive "truck system", enabled to maintain a unique independence and the enviable position of being able to “pay as they went”. 

While the emphasis was on farming, fishing was by no means neglected; the whole beach, from Kerry Head to well east of the wharf was lined with stages and flakes.   A few of the Lance Cove fishermen owned schooners and “prosecuted” the Labrador fishery; however, most of them fished off the Cape (St. Francis), sailing to and from there every day.  Only one of the “old timers” fished exclusively off Lance Cove.  He was “uncle Alfred”, who inherited the original Rees home and fishing room.  The story has been handed down that one year he caught, single-handed, one hundred and sixty quintals of fish off the clapper head.   At the same time he kept thirty head of cattle, which most likely would have been milch cows.

The following statistics from the1891 & 1901 "Bell Isle & Lance Cove" census returns give some idea of the signifance of farming in this outport economy, as well as of the degree of prosperity  existing there just before the mining boom: