Savage Cove-Sandy Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Savage Cove-Sandy Cove (2006 Population
133) are consolidated communities located at the northwest end of the Great Northern Peninsula
, north of Flower's Cove on the coast of the Strait of Belle Isle. Savage Cove is the most northernly sheltered harbour in the straits on the island of Newfoundland.
of Newfoundland, Savage Cove had first been used as a French
staging harbour in the early 18th century. Once dubbed Anse aux Sauvages(Cove of Savages) by French seamen who had most likely encountered a Beothuk
settlement in the area, the harbour was permanently settled in the 1830s by an English
seaman named George Gaulton. The English seamen of the time had come to know the harbour as Savage Cove. The English
name was finalized after the French relinquished their rights to the area in 1904 under the Entente cordiale
. Nearby Sandy Cove was settled by Thomas White and George Coles of Devon
shire, England along with the former's wife Ann Gould of Anchor Point in 1843. They were hired by the French to protect French possessions on the shore during the winter. Up until the early 20th century, Sandy Cove was initially known only as Poverty Cove. It was eventually renamed for the unusual presence of a small amount sand found on the shore near its wharf
.
For years the dominant industries were that of the cod
and lobster
fisheries. The Canadian Saltfish Corporation had built a processing facility in the area making Savage Cove the focus of long liners
who would conduct their fishing in the straits on the Labrador
side. When moratoriums on the cod fishery began to take hold in the 1980s and 1990s, the major saltfish plant was forced to close and these long liners
began to focus on the scallop
fishery.
In the 1970s, an area near Savage Cove was slated to be the site of an undersea tunneling operation called the Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link
meant to link the island of Newfoundland with neighbouring Labrador
. However, the project was cancelled in 1975 with very little accomplished. Remnants of this operation, including discarded boring
equipment, remain on site to this day.
In 1996, Savage Cove and Sandy Cove were officially consolidated as per the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
.
fishery, Savage Cove-Sandy Cove, as well as many other neighbouring communities, are suffering financially. The towns' population's has been steadily decreasing as residents leave their homes for better job opportunities elsewhere. However, a fish plant
in Sandy Cove is still operating and serving neighbouring communities. Also, various industries still function such as the shrimp
and lobster
fisheries, as well as other available smaller fisheries and fur trading.
In 2006, 133 people resided in Savage Cove-Sandy Cove.
In 2008, Savage Cove-Sandy Cove had a population of approx. 300 people.
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
133) are consolidated communities located at the northwest end of the Great Northern Peninsula
Great Northern Peninsula
The Great Northern Peninsula is the largest and longest peninsula of the island of Newfoundland, Canada, approximately 225 km long and 80 km wide at its widest point and encompassing an area of 17,483 km²...
, north of Flower's Cove on the coast of the Strait of Belle Isle. Savage Cove is the most northernly sheltered harbour in the straits on the island of Newfoundland.
History
Being on what was known as the French ShoreFrench Shore
The French Treaty Shore resulted from the 1713 ratification of the Treaty of Utrecht. The provisions of the treaty allowed the French to fish in season along the north coast of Newfoundland between Cape Bonavista and Point Riche. This area had been frequented by fishermen from Brittany since the...
of Newfoundland, Savage Cove had first been used as a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
staging harbour in the early 18th century. Once dubbed Anse aux Sauvages(Cove of Savages) by French seamen who had most likely encountered a Beothuk
Beothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
settlement in the area, the harbour was permanently settled in the 1830s by an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
seaman named George Gaulton. The English seamen of the time had come to know the harbour as Savage Cove. The English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
name was finalized after the French relinquished their rights to the area in 1904 under the Entente cordiale
Entente Cordiale
The Entente Cordiale was a series of agreements signed on 8 April 1904 between the United Kingdom and the French Republic. Beyond the immediate concerns of colonial expansion addressed by the agreement, the signing of the Entente Cordiale marked the end of almost a millennium of intermittent...
. Nearby Sandy Cove was settled by Thomas White and George Coles of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, England along with the former's wife Ann Gould of Anchor Point in 1843. They were hired by the French to protect French possessions on the shore during the winter. Up until the early 20th century, Sandy Cove was initially known only as Poverty Cove. It was eventually renamed for the unusual presence of a small amount sand found on the shore near its wharf
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
.
For years the dominant industries were that of the cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
and lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
fisheries. The Canadian Saltfish Corporation had built a processing facility in the area making Savage Cove the focus of long liners
Long-line fishing
Longline fishing is a commercial fishing technique. It uses a long line, called the main line, with baited hooks attached at intervals by means of branch lines called "snoods". A snood is a short length of line, attached to the main line using a clip or swivel, with the hook at the other end....
who would conduct their fishing in the straits on the Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
side. When moratoriums on the cod fishery began to take hold in the 1980s and 1990s, the major saltfish plant was forced to close and these long liners
Long-line fishing
Longline fishing is a commercial fishing technique. It uses a long line, called the main line, with baited hooks attached at intervals by means of branch lines called "snoods". A snood is a short length of line, attached to the main line using a clip or swivel, with the hook at the other end....
began to focus on the scallop
Scallop
A scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Scallops are a cosmopolitan family, found in all of the world's oceans. Many scallops are highly prized as a food source...
fishery.
In the 1970s, an area near Savage Cove was slated to be the site of an undersea tunneling operation called the Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link
Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link
The Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link refers to various proposals for constructing a fixed link consisting of bridges, tunnels, and/or causeways across the Strait of Belle Isle, connecting the province of Newfoundland and Labrador's mainland Labrador region with the island of Newfoundland...
meant to link the island of Newfoundland with neighbouring Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
. However, the project was cancelled in 1975 with very little accomplished. Remnants of this operation, including discarded boring
Boring (earth)
Boring is drilling a hole, tunnel, or well in the earth.-Earth boring:Boring is used for a wide variety of applications in geology, agriculture, hydrology, civil engineering, and oil and natural gas industries...
equipment, remain on site to this day.
In 1996, Savage Cove and Sandy Cove were officially consolidated as per the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly
The Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly is one of two components of the General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the other being the Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador General Assembly meets in the Confederation Building at St...
.
Present
With the demise of the codCod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
fishery, Savage Cove-Sandy Cove, as well as many other neighbouring communities, are suffering financially. The towns' population's has been steadily decreasing as residents leave their homes for better job opportunities elsewhere. However, a fish plant
Fish processing facility
A fish factory, also called a fish plant, fish processing facility, is a facility where fish processing is performed. Fish factories range in the size and range of species of fish they process. Some species of fish, such as mackerel and herring, and can be caught at sea by large pelagic trawlers...
in Sandy Cove is still operating and serving neighbouring communities. Also, various industries still function such as the shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
and lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
fisheries, as well as other available smaller fisheries and fur trading.
Census
In 2001, 152 people resided in Savage Cove-Sandy Cove.In 2006, 133 people resided in Savage Cove-Sandy Cove.
In 2008, Savage Cove-Sandy Cove had a population of approx. 300 people.