| Gros-Mécatina | |
|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |
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Gros-Mécatina
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| Regional county | Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent |
| Incorporated | January 1, 1994 |
| Government[1] | |
| • Mayor | Randy Jones |
| • Federal riding | Manicouagan |
| • Prov. riding | Duplessis |
| Area[1][2] | |
| • Total | 961.46 km2 (371.2 sq mi) |
| • Land | 804.80 km2 (310.7 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2006)[2] | |
| • Total | 566 |
| • Density | 0.7/km2 (1.8/sq mi) |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) |
| Postal code | G0G 1T0 |
| Area code(s) | 418 and 581 (773 exchange) |
| GNBC Code | EPSNX |
| NTS Map | 012J15 |
The Municipality of Gros-Mécatina is on the Lower North Shore of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, near the border with Labrador in Quebec, Canada. Located near excellent crab, lobster, and scallop fishing grounds, it is dependant on the fishing business, including a fish processing factory that contributes to regional economic activity.[3][4]
The isolated municipality can only be reached via a regular weekly ferry service, or La Tabatière Airport. The villages of La Tabatiere and Baie-des-Moutons are connected via a 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) dirt road that provides some spectacular views of the gulf from the mountains; but in the winter the road is not plowed, and the only access is via snowmobile.
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Exploration of the area began in 1535 when Jacques Cartier passed by during his second voyage. The place became an important hunting and fishing ground in the first part of the 18th century. From 1739, Jean-Baptiste Pommereau acquired the fishing rights of the region for a period of ten years. The Gros-Mécatina Post, built in the same time period near present-day La Tabatière, quickly became one of the most important fishing settlements of the North Shore. Big Mécatina Island also, granted to Intendant Gilles Hocquart in 1755, was a popular location with fishermen. They remained such until at least 1808 when the authorities of Quebec sold Gros-Mécatina. By then permanent settlement had began.[3]
The Municipality of Gros-Mécatina was formed on January 1, 1994, when its territory was separated from the Municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-Saint-Laurent. It was named after several geographic features within its area called Gros Mécatina, including a river, cape, island, archipelago, and lake. Mecatina comes from the Innu word makatinau, meaning "large mountain."[3]
The municipality consists of two small isolated fishing villages, La Tabatière and Mutton Bay, as well as the abandoned settlements of Lac-Salé and Baie-des-Ha!-Ha! (Baie de la Terre).
La Tabatière () is located on La Tabatière Bay, opposite Big Mecatina Island (île du Gros Mécatina), and home to a fish processing plant and reservoirs to supply vessels that serve this part of the region. According to popular opinion, the origin of its name (French for "the snuff box") refers to the loss of a tobacco pouch by a missionary. However, it is a corruption of a Native American word tabaquen, changed into tapatienne and then tabatière, as can be seen in the name of the local parish that in common speech was called Saint-Joseph-de-Tabaquen, especially in correspondence of missionaries. The name means "sorcery", referring to a customary ritual of the local Indians. A clergyman visiting the mission in 1887, wrote that the Indian groups who came to stay at this location to trade with the whites would consult witches before leaving the place for their camps in the interior forests, looking for omens for their return trip.[5]
La Tabatière has long been frequented by fishermen and traders, particularly attractive for fishing cod and seals. In 1820, Scotsman Samuel Robertson, former employee of the Gros-Mécatina Post, settled there and founded a permanent settlement that his descendants still occupy today. In 1855, he was joined by settlers from Jersey and the place became known by the English name Spark Point. In 1885, the catholic mission Saint-Joseph-de-la-Tabatière was established and La Tabatière post office began operations on November 1, 1907.[5] In the 1930s, the seal oil rendering and fish oil factory burned down and was rebuilt as a fish-processing plant which today is the largest on the Coast.[6]
Mutton Bay (in French: Baie-des-Moutons ) is a small isolated fishing village on the namesake bay, just east of the mouth of the Big Mecatina River. The meaning of its name remains obscure since it seems unlikely that there ever were any sheep present. The name may be used as a metaphor for the white foam of waves, or for the hills that surround the bay, which are all rounded at the top.[7]
In 1804, notary Félix Têtu reported the establishment of the Baie-Moutons trading post. In the middle of the 19th century, the bay was being fished but the village was not really established until 1872 when Newfoundlanders arrived and settled there. By 1886, the local post office opened, first identified as Saint-Joseph-de-la-Tabatière, then from 1896 on as Mutton Bay. In 1983, the place name was officially anglized to Mutton Bay, replacing Baie-des-Moutons, because of the majority of English-speaking residents. By 1988, Mutton Bay had 55 families, living mainly from fishing lobster and scallops.[7]
Population trend:[8]
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 244 (total dwellings: 265)
Mother tongue:[2]
| Petit-Mécatina | Saint-Augustin | |||
| Gros-Mécatina | ||||
| Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-St-Laurent | Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
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