Conflicted Colony: Critical Episodes in Nineteenth-Century Newfoundland and Labrador by Kurt Korneski (review)

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador is unique in Canada because of its isolated geographical position, rich fishing grounds, and diverse contribution to the contest of Britain, France, and America that operated in that region. Korneski reconsiders the relationship between the ‘distinctive imperial networks’, diplomatic decisions, and ‘commercial relations’ that shaped the ‘social developments and identities’ (p. 7) of the inhabitants of this borderland province during the late nineteenth century by examining the repercussions between the decisions made by the colonial and imperial authorities, the effects on the lives of ordinary inhabitants, and the diverse interests and nature of actions of the inhabitants. Thus he proves a crucial, but often neglected, antagonism between ‘passing laws and enforcing them’ (p. 45).

The book consists of seven chapters, and five case studies that represent five crucial conflicts in Newfoundland and Labrador during the late nineteenth century. After introducing the historiography and positioning his study within the borderland analysis, Korneski begins in Chapter 1 with the Fortune Bay Dispute of 1877–8, located at the south-west shore of Newfoundland. Although lots of research has been done on this conflict, he convincingly shows that this dispute was not just based on ‘local dissatisfaction’ (p. 15) of the fishermen with their American and French competitors. The effects of ‘ecological changes, locally and internationally shifting commercial practices’ (p. 45) resulting from diplomatic agreements and the emphasis on the diversity of groups, with their diverse interests and practices adapted to the effects of these agreements, in this case, of the fishermen, sets the narrative of this study well. The dispute over the salmon grounds on Hamilton Inlet, 1871–83, at the west coast of Labrador (Chapter 2), and the tensions on Avalon Island caused by the policy of landward development and the construction of railways (Chapter 3) illustrates the diverse ways decisions made by politicians affected the situations and interests of the inhabitants. Moreover, the two chapters clarify that, these were not homogeneous groups, but had differing perspectives and intentions based on their social background and commercial interests. With the St George’s Bay Dispute of 1889–92 (Chapter 4) Korneski elaborates that the aspects of living conditions and commerce were more important for developing identities than political representation. In Chapter 5 the Lobster Controversy of 1890–1904, Korneski convincingly concludes his study with ‘how place figured into the process of state-building’ (p. 14).

These five case studies clarify the diverse nature of interests and of local and imperial authorities and those of the inhabitants of Newfoundland and Labrador. Neither the interests nor the identity of these groups were identical, but consisted of workers, merchants, fishermen, and politicians, who each had their own interests based on their social, demographic, and ecological conditions. Elaborately written, clearly structured with a wealth of written sources, Korneski has created a great achievement in the studies of the social, economic, ecological, and diplomatic history of Newfoundland and Labrador.