Middle Bay (Pop. 52)

Middle Bay is the gateway to the Bonne Esperance region. It was settled permanently in the mid-19th century by Newfoundlanders and Quebecers. This small fishing village nestled in a sheltered bay has been a prime fishing location for thousands of years. In the 16th century, Basque fishermen traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to fish for cod and to harpoon whales in the Strait of Belle Isle. Archeologists have discovered Basque tiles and other artifacts in Middle Bay that reveal the existence of a significant historic Basque whaling station.