Saint John's --: is the capital city and  provincial capital and it is situated on the  South Eastern part of the island.The city  overlooks a fine harbour. Its major industries include fish processing and the manufacture and repair of fishing equipment, boats, and marine engines. One of the oldest settlements in North America, its site was discovered and said to have been named by John CABOT in 1497 and thought to have been settled shortly thereafter. It was formally occupied by England in 1583 and taken several times by the French before coming under permanent English rule in 1762.