Acadiensis/Volume 1/Number 4/Bluenose
“ Bluenose. ”
In a letter to the writer, Prof. W. F. Ganong, of Northampton, Mass., remarks:
Why do you not, in the coming issue of your magazine, call for quotations and early references to the use of the word "bluenose?" The only way to ascertain the origin of the word is to find its earliest use in print, and in what connection it was employed: if you call for references to early uses of the word you may bring out something good. Merely guessing at its origin is useless.
The Rev. W. O. Raymond writes, in the St. John Sun, in the issue of October 8th, 1901, that in his opinion the explanation that the name is derived from a variety of potato called the Bluenose potato, or "early blue," which has been credited by many persons, is certainly incorrect, the name being older than the potato. He is further of the opinion that the people of the Maritime Provinces of Canada got the name because their noses were supposed to be blue with cold. He also states that the name was in common use in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia about the beginning of the last century, and that he noticed it, not long ago, in a letter written by Elkanah Morton of Digby, under date January 27, 1807. Mr. Morton speaks in his letter of a dispute between the Irish and the Yankees at Digby, adding the remark, "being a bluenose myself, did not think it prejudice that made me consider the Yankees least in fault."
This carries us back nearly a century, and it is doubtful if any references of a much earlier date may be discovered. Mr. Morton's letter, however, does not throw any additional light upon the origin of the word, or the meaning which it is intended to convey.
Following the suggestion offered by Professor Ganong, we shall be pleased to hear from any of our readers, of any other early uses of the name, and to publish any information obtained, should it prove to be of sufficient value.