Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is an island province of Canada, in the South of Gulf of St Lawrence, occupies a great bay formed by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Cape Breton, and is somewhat larger than Northumberland. The coast-line is exceedingly broken, the surface low and undulating, and very fertile. The chief industry is agriculture, oats and potatoes are the best crops. Decayed shells found in beds on the shore are an excellent manure. Sheep and horses are raised with great success. The climate is healthy, milder and clearer than on the mainland, but with a tedious winter. It has limited coal resources. The fisheries are the best on the Gulf. Manufactures are robust.

Discovered by the Cabots, it was settled by the French in 1715, and ceded to Great Britain in 1763. Constituted a province in 1768, the name was changed from St. John to Prince Edward in 1799. Since 1875 the local government have bought out most of the great proprietors, and resold the land to occupying owners. Education is free. There are normal schools and colleges. Half the people are Roman Catholics. A railway traverses the island, and there is daily communication with the mainland. The capital is Charlottetown. Other important towns are Summerside, Georgetown, and Sourio are the other towns.

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