Immediately after its discovery, European ships began fishing along our shores. An important centre in those early days was St. John's harbour where ships first entered before proceeding in small companies to various parts of the coast. A brisk business was carried on there with Spain and Portugal by bartering such commodities as salt, wine and fruits for English cutlery, cordage and woollens. Leaving the harbour these ships would proceed to designated places to prosecute the fishery. At the close of the fishing season, St. John's harbour would again be their rendezvous- before returning to Europe - so that they would escape marauding pirates who seized and plundered lonely vessels sailing the ocean.

A safe harbour, such as Burin's landlocked haven was undoubtedly a favourite resort for these European fishermen. A very lucrative fishing industry was carried on according to Historians such as Prowse who relates that in 1697 the French prohibited Spanish Biscayans from fishing in such areas as Mortiris (Mortier), Buria Chumea (Little Burin) and Buria Audia (Great Burin). Great rivalry was then being exercised as more countries began to need and greedily harvest the great wealth of the Newfoundland waters. Burin was naturally affected by this rivalry in its early history because of  its geography, as its physical features and natural topography provided all the essentials for a successful and remunerative fishing voyage. Since farmland was scarce or even non-existent, Burin became the centre of an important fishing region - next in importance to Placentia, the French capital of Newfoundland. All maritime pursuits such as boat building, sail making, iron works, etc. were a natural result of this concentration of fishing.

The town of Burin is located on the Burin Peninsula in Placentia Bay. It is situated on the Eastern side of the peninsula and on the western side of Burin Inlet, which extends inland about 8km. The town is really an amalgamation of several communities which surround Burin Proper. In 1950 the town was incorporated and included: Burin North, Ship Cove and Burin Bay. Then in 1970 the town limits were expanded to include Collin's Cove, Kirby's Cove, Path End, Bull's Cove, Black Duck Cove, Long Cove, Little Salmonier, Burin Bay Arm, and Salt Pond.

The name Burin itself is of debatable origins. Two possible suggestions are offered as to the origin of our name: (1) from a French word BURINE meaning engraving tool. Legend has it that a French sailor was standing on the deck of his ship holding a Burine and, struck by the resemblance between it and the harbour they were entering, named it thus; (2) from a Gaelic word Bureen meaning rocky place, named so by early Irish settlers. The french word is the acceptable version in use today.

Burin is well known today for its breathtaking scenery, friendly people and charming ways. The moratorium of the early 90's put a dent in the economy and the town but we are now in the process of rebuilding and are well on the way to regaining the stability we are so proud of.