The population grew slowly in the 17th century: St. John's was Newfoundland's largest settlement when English naval officers began to take censuses around 1675. The population grew in the summers with the arrival of migratory fishermen. In 1680, fishing ships (mostly from South Devon) set up fishing rooms at St. John's, bringing hundreds of Irish men into the port to operate inshore fishing boats.
the population grew slowly in the 17th century st john's was newfoundland's largest settlement when english naval officers began to take censuses around 1675 the population grew in the summers with the arrival of migratory fishermen in 1680 fishing ships (mostly from south devon) set up fishing rooms at st john's bringing hundreds of irish men into the port to operate inshore fishing boats