Goose Cove

An incorporated fishing settlement located southeast of St. Anthony, Goose Cove East is situated on the easterly shore of Goose Cove. Goose Cove was originally named Petit Oie from the French meaning "small goose".

Goose Cove was not a major French fishing station on the Petit Nord because of the smaller capacity of its sheltered harbour. Its importance, however, had grown by the 19th Century as the capacity of the larger stations was stretched to the limit. In 1857 six French rooms were in existence with four of these premises occupied by 256 men from four large vessels. The men manned thirty-four small fishing batteaux. It is probable that the shore operation of the French at Goose Cove had grown to the extent that guardiens (Newfoundland or other fishermen who protected the French premises) were hired to protect the shore equipment during the off-season. Goose Cove in 1857 numbered forty-three people in seven families, mainly Roman Catholic. From 1884 to 1911 Goose Cove was visited by sealing fishermen from farther south on the Island who used the community as a seasonal base. This was the case with many of the settlements on the northeastern shore of the Great Northern Peninsula which was also advantageously situated for the land-based spring seal hunt.

The economy of Goose Cove has been supported since the earliest days of settlement by the land-based seal hunt and the cod and salmon fishery. The trap fishery, prosecuted from June to July, predominated, with the catch light salted and sold to the local dealers. A mineralized area at Goose Cove which is located between the cove and Big and Little Back Cove contains deposits of copper which were developed in the early Twentieth Century. A copper mine was opened in May 1908 which was worked for several years under the management of Brenton Symons of London. Four main shafts were sunk, mine buildings were constructed, and ore was recovered, dressed and stockpiled. However none of the ore was shipped, as it was discovered, once the ore was mined, that there was actually a low percentage of copper in it.

Goose Cove currently has a population of approximately 230 people.