Goose Cove is an incorporated fishing settlement located southeast of St. Anthony. Goose Cove was originally named Petit Oie from the French meaning "small goose". In 1857 six French rooms were in existence with four of these premises occupied by 256 men from four large vessels. The men manned 34 small fishing bateaux (boats).

It is probable that the shore operation of the French at Goose Cove had grown to the extent that guardians (Newfoundland or other fishermen who protected the French premises) were hired to protect the shore equipment during the off-season.

By 1857, Goose Cove was inhabited by 43 people in seven families, mainly Roman Catholic. From 1884 to 1911 Goose Cove was visited by sealing fishermen from farther south on the Island who used the community as a seasonal base. The economy of Goose Cove has been supported since the earliest days of settlement by the land-based seal hunt and the cod and salmon fishery. The trap fishery, from June to July, predominated, with the catch, which was lightly salted and sold to the local dealers. A mineralized area at Goose Cove, which is located between the cove and Big and Little Back Cove, contains deposits of copper. Once discovered, a copper mine was opened in May 1908 and worked for several years under the management of Brenton Symons of London. Four main shafts were sunk, mine buildings were constructed, and ore was recovered, dressed and stockpiled. However none of the ore was shipped, as it was discovered, once the ore was mined, that there was actually a low percentage of copper in it.