Date Published:
March 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Chaleur Bay

Chaleur bay, an inlet of the gulf of St. Lawrence, separating Quebec from New Brunswick. Its length from east to west is about 90 miles, and its greatest breadth 20 miles. It contains several islands, of which the chief is Shippegan island, situated at its mouth; but it is remarkably free from shoals and reefs, and may be regarded as one vast harbour. Navigation is safe, and anchorage is good. The bay is much frequented for its mackerel fisheries; and several salmon streams flow into it, notably the Restigouche river, at its western extremity. It was called by the Indians "the Sea of Fish ." Its French name, " la baie de Chaleur", was given to it in July, 1534, by Jacques Cartier, because he and his men suffered from heat while in it.

Source  : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 28.