History
La Scie, which means "The Saw" in English was given its name by early French fishermen who had established a fishing station here in the 1700s. They gave it this name because of how the surrounding hills appeared to look similar to the teeth on the blade of a saw. La Scie was part of the French Shore, Le Petit Nord, from 1504-1904. By the time the French relinquished their fishing rights to the French Shore in 1904, La Scie was settled by Irish and English fisherman, many of whom were previously living in nearby Shoe Cove. By 1911 the population had grown to 429.
Although La Scie had been owned by the English, the water surrounding the area was considered to be a part of the French Shore. During the spring and summer months the French were permitted to fish in this area. They could stay on the land and have properties but were not permitted to stay during the fall and winter months. During the time that they were away at the end of the fishing season, an English family in La Scie, the Duggan's, protected the French belongings such as tools, stages, and boats until the fishing season reopened again in the spring.
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In the 1600's France and England used the waters around Newfoundland as an important source of codfish. As the two countries were constantly at war during those times much of the hostility spilled over to this New World with both countries claiming rights to fish around the island. The English established early settlements on the east coast but most of the island was fished seasonally with the fishermen returning to Europe in the early fall with their catch. In 1713, with the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht, the English agreed that the French would be given sole right to fish the grounds from Cape Bonavista to Cape Riche. This came to be know as the French Shore and included La Scie.
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The small harbour of La Scie was used by early Basque fishermen as a fishing station. They erected fishing facilities and dried their fish on the rocky beaches that lined parts of the harbour. In 1904 France gave up their fishing rights in Newfoundland, keeping only St. Pierre et Miquelon, two small islands off the south coast, which France still maintains today.
Today there is no French culture in this area, however various artifacts can be found throughout the "French Shore". Several towns such as La Scie still retain the names that were given to them by the French.
Following the departure of the French from La Scie the town continued to grow. Fishing continued to be the main industry throughout the 1900's and eventually fish processing plants were built in the town. As there were no roads all transportation to and from the area was by boat. Road connections were not made until the mid 1960's which allowed more rapid development and expansion within the town. The town reached its peak in the mid 1980's when about 1600 people lived here. Since then, with the cod moratorium and the closing of the fish plant, the population has declined to only half that number due to declining birth rates and much outmigration.
Today the town is still a very busy fishing port but all product is shipped out to other processing plants in other parts of the island. Essential services are still available, however medical, police, and banking services have been centralized to nearby Baie Verte.