l - Memorial University's Digital Archives Initiative

SHORTIS PAPERS 

Vol. 2, Pt. 2

,l;.\;.j 

, .)y.. 1)..,1 

\.~ vo"'"'"()I!\~' FISHERY CUSTO!·!S OF THE PAST 

" 1J ! ~ ;" eod f'd rh i s R codrdoh, end ....hen you hav e salt and 81m it will taste the s etae 

~ B.~tt did one hundred ye ars ago . True enou gh , The see dnd the 5'.1J1 have not changed 

the :;alt ha s not lost its savour : but nan has changed and the vay s of catching and 

hand ling f iF:h till it goe s to the hold of t.he rt fot- gde gner-" ar e erdch rUfferent fro!l! 

,"hat t hey ver-e a hundred year !'! a go ; UD to 1868 , when Tilt Cov'" mine \18~ df eccver ed 

and vhen thre o or- f our se v :nills vcr e e at .abff sbed in the country, nc vfOl.:ndland 

ve s ~·..:re 17 end solely 8 fishin3 c o -nt .ry , If it va s not cod that too'< up the att 

ent.t en, it \/" U': eee I e or se dnon 0 ':" herring. }~en worked a t tho fishery in the 

SUL~er , and t .aI'red of i t in the vfnter , The buildin g of R schooner or a house, 

t he tAking of a vife , depended on the fishery, end a s an example of desperation 

i s handed 0.. '"1 t he fi sb~ry, end as an exemple of de eper-..t dce is banded do'"JD to us in 

the sa ying ' IlFi E'h or no fish JIll have her in the FaU" . It va n t he universal 

cus t.on that no man ....ould pr-esune to get 

mar-r-Ied un Iesu he had done 'Jel l at the 

fi~hery the previous sc aeer-, Nee Lh all the veddmgd ver-etn the Fall, vben the 

vo yag e vas over , ' the boats hAuled up on the beach, and the hook:'! . nd lines stowed 

8\,'a7 • .n. fishermc.n, vhc had ~ feather bed end a vct.ch, \I!1S a " snug" man. 'Ihere is 

8 \lell r ecognized tendency i n huna n nature vt c praise all past, times over much, 

F!lso the aen who lived i n those tdmes , t~riters and speakers bcve been acc used of 

this sinco Homer wrote abou t the fa ll of Troy. lhis fa i nt had passed i nto the 

proverb l audator temporis acti , e nd "ther -e ve r-e no times 11 1

lobsCO u r s e 

and pea-soup 

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the chief dishes. Spruce b e a r was 

the common d rink , and a cash , with a spi le in it, wa s k ept 

draught in the coo k - r oom a n d the planter ' s Kitche n all the time. 

Good Jamaica r u m, a t t h r e e and six penc e a ga l lon , u s e d o n 

specia l o c casions , and , Oar my e n qu i r i es a n d kno....l e d g e g o , 

no man's h ea t h suffe red t he r eby. No sentiment o f di'sgrace wa s 

attched t o anym a n wh o t o ok h is r h r e e dr a ms a d a y - hi s mo r n ! n ' 

his ' leven e r and h is even. On the contr a ry, if a f is,h e r ma n c o u l d 

no t take hi s g r og , h e wa s look e d, u pon a s b eing n o g o od I a nd dubbed 

a "white l i v er" any "a n g y s h o r c ". 

The first of May the men " c a me i n t o Collar", t h at i s t o say , 

they " s hip p e d " for the with t he planter f or ' fIBand a p air 

of b o ots . Th e wo od " shipped" in this ca s e board a vesse l . As 

a matter of fa c t, he may n ot be e x pe c t e d t o do a nything mor e than 

c a tch f i sh i n a ;ael l punt wi t h o nly a " s p read' sa i l all the 

s ummer. Shipped simply mean t hired on f or water work f o r l and 

wo r k, t ill t h e l a st o f Oc tober. Th e cry that we nt a round 

t he first of Ma y was " Out d og s a n d in dieters" . Th e dog s that 

were u s ed t o h aul wood a l l the winter , and treated s o kindly 

as t o b e fed in the kitc hen. had to go g e t their f o o d liil l s umm e r 

from t h e fi s h offa l wh er e v er t hey c o uld pick it u p . Th ere wa s 

n o l o n g er any r e g ard f or their welfare once the wa s gone 

fro m the groun d and the ca t a ma ran or wo o d - slide upt away . In 

later y ears, wh en the fi shermen introuduc ed sheep , the dog s took 

am pl e r e v e ng e fo r the ir s um me r neglec t , by killing a n d ea t i ng the 

poor sheep wheneve r t h e y c ou l d g e t a c hance to make a n i g h t r a id . 

The f irs t work given to the fishermen a ft e r going i n t o col lar 

to put out t he s tage - head , which t a k e n u p ever y win t er 

t o avoid b eing c a r r Le d a wa y b y i c c. No ·... l onge r s a n d new s t.r c u t e r s

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we r e no w put out, and the latter were fitte d d ow n into the crivices 

o f t h e r o ck on the bottom , or driven by the mal l a foot or 50 down 

t h e si l t s and. The water at t h i s t i me i s a s clear a s c r y s t a r 

me v e r s p c s e a r a t amy other time of the year - t h e ice tha t disa 

p p e a r ed out the bay a 

few days before e vidently purified it from 

s urface to bottom, where efery shel l and pebbl e can be seen at 

a dis t a n c e of ten fathoms down . I t is t h e favorite time too f ? r 

seeki n g to rec over atricles , such as chains, grap nels and anchors 

that h a ve b een lost t he previous season . A cornman expression 

amongs t the fi shermen when s uch c o n d i t i o n s prevailed was: "A 

g rea t day boys to take up an anchor" . I t wa s used in ....itty 

par tee on one occa sion , when skipper Johnny Morke"s s h a r e me n 

give n tea t o drink that they considered t wo weak. Fishermen , as 

a rule , are fond of strong tea , and the stronger it is t h e farther 

i t will be from the color o f c lear water . Da vy Waslh l o o k ed i n t o 

h is cup and said in t he hearing of t h e skipperY " Ba o y s i t i s a 

great day to take u p an anchor " . Th e t e a was mar to thei r liki n g 

from tha t day forward . 

T h e strouters ha v ing been fix e d i n t h e foo t and na i led t o 

the Cross beams o f t h e s tage , t h e l ong e r s are l a i d down, fo r ming 

the p latform standing par t of the stage-head , wh e r e the fi sh 

when brought in . wa s thrown f rom the b o a t. Great care t ak e n 

t o place these stage-head l o n g e r s closel y ti o q e e h e r- as possible , 

o t h e r wise the saml l codifhs would fall t h r o u g h when thrown u p from 

the boat. T hey often did fall throuqh , in sp i t e of the mos t extr 

eme care , and then followed the trouble of hooking the dead fish 

from the bottom aft.erwards. Th e s ame appl i ed when shipping off 

dried fi sh . The s h a r e me n , as a rule , woul d not stop to d o t h i s , 

a n d wa s b e st plea sed when thewaving k el~ covered them Over ,

7 

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4 - 

\ t hat the skipper did not s e e. At t c h e d t o almost e v e r y s tage , when 

the f i s h e r y wa s we l l und er way, wh er e a "boy o r t wo r i g g i n g t o m 

cads " , who kept o u t of the way wh en the men were smilele s s and d ow n 

t o g rm work: b u t, when they wer e g o ne , came on the scene, a nd, 

after ran s a c ki n g t he c u d d y o f the boat f or bre a d and b u t te r , t u r n e d 

the i r attention t o the l o st fi sh a t the botto m . T h e insid e o f 

the s t a g e , like the stag e of today , h ad a roof , but wa s cov e r e d 

with rinds i nstead o f boa rd . I h a ve s een some of the o l d s tages 

covered with sods and as wel l as rind s. 

The second and third we ek in Hay wa s rinding time, a n d to 

" g o in the Bay f or r i nds " was a household expre s sion . and an 

idea t h a t i ncl u d ed qu ite a number of ideas. In the v ery ear l y 

days r ind s woul d be p rocu red quite near e very h a r bor , wherever 

stages wer e se t up. In a f ew years a l l the n e arby tre es were cut 

f or firewo od , a nd men had to "go in the bay" in order to get rind s 

enough t o do the wh ol e s um me r . Be s id e s b ei n g used f or cove r ing 

s tages , t h e y i n r e quistio n for c o v ering the fi sh pile s 

t he fl a k e s and i n the bo ttom o f s a l t pou nds . When the fish 

d r ied and in pr o c e s s o f be i ng put on b o ard ve s sels, rinds we re 

u s ed a s d unna g e t o keep the fi sh from c ontact with the bottom 

s i des of the boa t o r v e s sel. The wo r k o f rindi n g having gone 

n ow fo r thr e e hundre d y e ar s i n New f oundlan d , has do n e in 

calcu l a b le in j u r y t o the timb er growth of th e cou n t r y . When the 

r i nd is t a ken off the t hree it grows n o more . In s i x months 

its boughs t u rn f r o m g r e en t o r eo I t i s, b y p r eferenc e , c ut d ow n 

f or fi re-wood in the FaIl or Winter f ollo wi ng. because the wo o d 

i s n ow comparative l y dry . Th e e nd f r o m whic h the r ind i s t ak en 

be Ln q whi t e , thi s k i n d of fir e .... - wo od i s a l ways ca l led " wb Lc e-c end s e ,

- s - 

In taking off the rinds in Hay, the fishermen select the best 

fir trees, because , if there is a knot in the tree, there will 

be a knot-hole in the rind, and the more knot-holes, the more rain 

will get into the fish pile . I t will be seen from this that at 

all times t h e most promising thres are destroyed. T he r i n d e r r e a c h e s 

up as far as he can on the tree, and makes a 

light cut all around 

it with a t a mi ng-h a wk, or small hatchet. He does the same at th 

bottom, and t h e n joins t h e t wo circular i n d e n t a t i o n s by a perpendicular 

cut. If t he sap is well into the t h e r i n d wi l l off easily. 

The hand orttlmmy-hawk, having done its wo rk, the .f i s h e r me n 

then applies a wooden instrument of a shape between a cinder shovel 

a n d a s p o o n , called a "shine". By prying this in gently and fol 

lowing the round of the reee with a gentle but firm l e v e r motion ". 

the rind comes off as c lean and c lear as the p e el of a banana. 

It at o nce doubles back to its origina l tree-shape , bu t this is 

suitable for carrying them from the forest. Ten r i n d s , called 

a "niche", are then telescoped neatly into each other . and makes 

a convenient back load. Any "youngster" who could not carry a 

"niche" of rinds a mile , called a " warm flaw" and an "angyshore " 

and l o o k e d one ....ho could not possibly be expected t o earn 

his ....ages at the fishry . When the rinds werea 1 1 brough home 

and landed at the fishing room, 

they were spread out and placed 

in a flat pike, and large stones placed on t h e ends t o keep 

them in position till they were dried. They remained f lat ever 

afterwards. 

The next work in order was to get the boats ready. Many 

of them had to be repaired with new thwarts , and the larger ones 

with new gang-boards, new oars, etc. All had to be "breamed" off 

on the bottom by mens of a torch and ta~ mop, after first having

- 6 - 

been caulked over all the 

The da y o f t hi s wo r k was as 

bUsy onc a l l a long the b e a ch a nd foreshore . Th e eror of tar a n d 

oakum borne down on the south we s t wind permeated the harbor , 

and symbo l ized the hig he s t hop e s f o r the co- i og s u mmer, while t h e 

sound o f t h e ma l let and the c aulki n g i r o n li k e t h e sw e e t est 

mine t o t h e ears o f the i n ha b itants a ft er t he d ull, dead mono t o n y 

of the win t ·e r , r emindin g o n e of the s pring de s crib ed b y Horac e . 

"Solv i tur a cris h e i ms grata vic e v eri s et F a v o nl, Trahu n tque 

sieeas mac t i n e carina s" ( S e v er e Winter is me l ted a way be t ween the 

agreeable c hange of Spr ing and the Wester n br e e z e; and e n g ines 

haul down t h e dry s h ips ) . 

T h e day o f l aun ching the boats wa s a great day . Al l the dif - 

ferent c rews c o mb i n e d t o do t h e ....o rk of e a c h e re.... i n turn, wh i c h 

sing Le could do a lone . T h e way s were l aid fo r the knell 

to d o wn the incline of the beach , a n d the fi shrmen s wa r me d 

around each s ide , s ingi ng a chanty t o get h er star ted . " Hau l 

on t he b o wl i ne , h a u l , boy s , haul ~ Whe n all afloat, the jars 

wer e brought a u t, a n d every man was given a g o o d "darn " o f r-um , 

The boats we r e t h e n taken t o thei r c ollars and " moved o ff " . 

It wa s 

g e n erally r e ported abo ut this junction of the prcparations 

t hat Joh n Doe had j igged a f ew n i c e s i zed f i s h out o n 

the Pidgeon Ledg e ground . The work of g e n g ing hooks s t r e t c h i n g 

li n e s a nd r o des, hurried u p next d ay , and h erring' n ets were 

searched a t dawn f or a f irst baiting. The c od-tra p s ....as not 

d reame d of , a n d it wither to be jigger fi shing or hook-and 

line wo rk t ill the f i sh struck i n f a r e nough , and plent ifu l e nough , 

to use the cod-se incc . Onl y a f ew p e o pl e had cod-sei nes - we l l -off 

p la n ters o r s k ippe rs a nd o wners o f s c h o oners. Th e first-fishing 

was t h e " he r ring school " , named from the fac t that herring only 

wer e e v e t Latbt e f or bait. The " c a p Ld n- scho ol" wa s n ext, a n d b egan

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the firs t we e k i n June, and 

the p r i ncip a l d iv i sio n of th e 

fishing season, and all wo rk wa s d one with h ook a n d line , except, 

as said abov e, in the few ca s es of planter s wh o had cod s e ine s. 

T h e " ba i t - s k i f r " was a well-known institu tion that i s now p a a s e d -, 

away. From t e n to twnety crews united, and each, to the number 

of seven , in turn s e n t one of t heir number to man t he bait-skiff , 

and t ake board the caplin s e ine , which a l so wa s wither p u r c h ased 

or h i red the co-operation plan . I t would be r e p o r t e d that 

caplin had struck in at Sandy Cove - perhaps t e n mile's away . The 

crew of six me n a n d the captain manned th e bait-skiff , maybe at 

midnight , or in the d og-watch, and rowed a way a s q u i t e l y as they 

could fro m t h e harbo r t o the pl a c e where the capli n o ught t o be . 

As they glide d a ro u n d the point under the june mo o n , y ou would 

hard l y h ear the click of their oars. They were ste a ling away so 

tha t the other bait-skiff crews of the harbor would not know t hat 

they go n e . There may be onl y bait enough running for one 

haul , a nd the fi r st one the s pot would get Lt ; From thi s custom 

t h e withe -band o n the oa r , ma de of gad s twi sted into a c ircle , 

a r o s e , and one thole pin instead 6f two. As the swing of the oar 

tightened the withe, there was no noise , such as cou ld not possibly 

be a v oided by having two thole p ins . 

The caplin seine piked upi n the stern of the b oat was their 

c a ptains throne, as he sw u n g the long steering o ar firmly, 

a little to port and now to starboard. The going awa y for baitwas 

, in spite of its h a r d s hip s , its watching and want of s leep , 

l o ok ed upon by the young men a s a kind o f pleasur e trip. There 

ce r ta i n ly was a d ven ture i n it , and the men being t ake n fr om s i x 

diff e r ent crew s were on their best behavio r t oward s 

ano t h er, and a l l s howe d their b e s t manhood. The sor d i d s i d e of 

fi shery work gone for l a b o r at the 'o a rs . Th ere was a good full

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Keg in the Cuddy , and no man wh o t urned up his n o se at a drop of 

rum wo uld be likely to have a man' s place in t h e bait-skiff . The 

spir i t o f g o od comradeship reached its highe st po i n t wh en the 

wea t h e r wa s f i n e and a good h a ul of capli n wa s made . 

A f lag , b rought a long fo r the purpose, was now hoi sted 

th e spread e rected in th e s ter n , and afte r a h e ar t y mea l , cooked 

o n the shore , the crew l a y to the i r oars o n c e more and started the 

favo r i t e o ld chanty , "Sa i ling i n t h e Lowla n d s, Lo w". Whe n t h e 

writer boy he wa s privi leged to see the dying-out embers 

of t h i s cus tom , and never wi l l fo:qget t h e l ilt of t h at song rendered 

by a happy bait-skiff 's crew r o wi n g i n ca lm water a lo'ng the 

hea t h - c o v e r e d shore of Eastern Point , a f i n e mo rni ng i n early J une , 

with the f lag , i n d i c a t ing bait, jus t flutte r i n g fro m t h e pole in 

t h e ttern: - 

Oh: I have a ship of my own country , 

And she" goes by the name of theGolden Vanity , 

I f e a r she 'll be taken by the Spanish Gal-il-ce 

As she sails a long the lowlands, l o w. 

Lo wla n d s : Low lands : 

As she sa i ls a lo n g t he Lo wl a n d s , low. 

These bait exped i tion trip s trul y a j oyo u s t i me fo r the y oung 

fi shermen. I t is t old of c ece qe Skiffington t ha t one t i me as the 

b a i t - s k i f f , going on the ques t , passed some boats on t h e f i sh i n g 

g ro u n d , one of the ere , t h e stroke , poised h i s oar and shouted 

out thi s e n q u i r y : .. Ho i s t h e f i sh today?" · S i mi l a r questions 

asked and answered , and t h e r e was a delay of some minutes , 

when Geroge , carried away wi th impatience i n vi e w of t h e pleasures 

in store for them , c ried out: "Le t ' s go on, t o h-- - - wi t h the f i sh 

boys , a s l o n g as we can get t h e bait" .

- 10 

room , wa s g enerally the cook. Whe n the was up th e height 

of the ma st, h e prepared his birch rind and birch billets f or the 

fi r e, which procure d by striking a s f lint a n d steel o v e r a 

t i n d e r - box. There were no friction matchesi n those days, and 

if a fisherman needed to l i g h t his pipe, he had to recourse t.b c. 

t h e f lint and steel. A fisherman's character, it was said, could 

be known by his tinder-box . 

which was generally made of the large 

c ros s - s e c t i on of a cow's horn , with a wooden stopper i n the bettom . 

A kla n with a neat and tidy tinder-craft, wa s a neat and t idy man , 

and had no trouble to get the girl he wanted for a wife, Such a 

would disdain to light his pipe with a bran, even in the kitchen , 

wh e r e a fire was available. He knew that he went up one notch 

f u r t h e r in the gir l ' s estimation, that of her mother, whcn 

t h e y saw him get h is tinder aglow at t h e first impact of the f l i n t 

and steel . He also wa s the ma n wh o had a silver cover with chain 

a t t a c h e d to his pipe , wore ear-rings and a glaze covering on h i 

ha t . He wa s a neat ma n all the time, and a decent Sundays"T' 

Abov e and beyond all , h e was a g ood fi sherman , and could "he ewe 

a line with any man that ever went ro und the heeds." 

I n the caplin school three l i n e s were used - t wo o n t he right 

h a n d side , and on the left , called the back l ine . When fish 

"afloat", that is playing near the surface , 

nothing b ut t h e 

h o ok and line wa s attatched . A caplin was " r o v e " on each hook, 

a nd the line coiled up o n the gang-board or thwart , was deftly 

thrown out t o its desired length , in lass o fa shion , bu one throw 

of the hand. Then the other two lines were dealt with Ln - t h e 

manner , ea ch hook compl etely concealed by the caplin t hat 

i t , acc o mmo da ted t o its e x a c t s hb p e , Befor e the l a s t line was 

wel l out, the first would b e see n t o taut, indicating that

- 

- 11 - 

a fish wa s removed from the other. As a s p ec i me n of muscular "1 

act ivity , I kn ow of nothing that c an transcend a g ood fisherman 

working t hree line s in the caplin school, wh en f ish is plentiful. 

When t he fi sh lie in d eep water , a nd wil l .n o t c ome t o the s urface , 

a lea d has to be us ed on the line a fathom from the hooks . This 

is d one t o make it sink quickly , as the l e a d i s f r o m one t o t h r e e 

pounds in weight. An inexper ienced person, catching hold to such 

a lin e, will think t hat there is a f i s h on it. He w i~ l b e d e c eiv e d I 

i t i s only t h e lead. It i s told of John Go odall, that beinq at 

a we d d i n g one night , he wa s sitting b e sid e t he gir l of hi s l a t e s t 

choice , that he really intended to marry , i f she would have him, 

wh e n the gir l he had gone back on , because s h e wa s t oo f a t , 

in , a n d was g iv e n a sea t o n a bench immediately behind John. 

Gabr i e l Ro nan , wh o rowed t h e midship oar wi th him tha t s ummer , 

was si t t i n g on the oppo site side of the house , and seeing hi s 

fr i e n d absorbed t o o deeply, as h e thought , in the ne w g i r l o f 

his , called out: "John , there 's o ne on your b a ck l i n e" . Quic k 

wind , J o hn r e p lie d : lO Ch : n o , tha t ' s a l e a d " . 

No wil l kno.... t h e r e al me r i t s of a mea l of fre s h 

c o d f ish and port ti l l h e eats i t on t h e fish i ng ground. It i s 

one of the pleasure s of our ance stor s t h a t we can en joy a ny time, 

t hough we ma y n ever be able t o arrange tha t entire set t ing of t h e 

per fo r ma n c e as i t used to be in the good o l d days . We will light 

the f i re wi t h luci f e r matches and a piece o f th e cur ren t n e ws pepe r 

t oday ; b u t the f lavor of t he fish and the pork h a s n o t b e e n c hanged . 

Th e b lu e smoke, giving of f a pungent and pleasant a rdor of birch 

wood , a scends t o the clear blue heavens , in a s t ra i g h t c o lumn , 

o n some fin e , c a l m morni ng i n June. I t is s een by the hundred 

b o at s ' c rews that dot the f i sh i n g ground a s a we lcome and i nvit i n g

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signal, and a hund red lip s are h e ard to s a y: "Bro wn i s g oing t o 

get on br e ak f a st" . Th e hundred sk i ppers look up at the " golden 

d isk o f the s u n , and say: "Jack you better g et on the fire". 

A mi n u t e afterward s a hundred tommy-hawks are sending the echo 

of th e stroke ma d e in c lear i ng splits out over the calm waters , 

and n o w a hundred column s of blue sm oke , like Brown' s, stretch 

up t o Heaven. The next thing i s to select the right fish. The 

midsh i p room and the after-room may be half full of fish, but 

one v ouLd thi nk of taking one of then to cook. The fi sh must 

come direct from the deep into the fi sh kettle, and not every kind 

will do . A dozen me y b e hauled in before the ideal up . 

On l y a fisherman can select the right one , and, when you eat it, 

you will b e the s t r o ngest witn e s s that he ha s done hi s work . It 

must no t be s ma l l , n ot l arge, not thi n, not fat. All the n egative 

quali t i es must b e e l i mi n a t e d , b u t , tho u gh you study closely, you 

wi l l be u n a b l e to tel l the positive q u a l i t i e s. Ther e is no doubt 

tha t they exist , and the true fi sherman knows them. The pork is 

boiled with the fi sh , and sometimes potatoes , with the skins off . 

Whe n done , it is s erved up on the g ang-boards, on a fish-bo ard 

kep t specially for the occasion. Before a morse l i s eaten, they 

cr y out to the nearest boat's - t he r- e-s t; are generally out 

of h e a r i n g - "Come aboard and have some breakfast". It i s the unwritten 

law o f courtest , but the answer i s generally : "NO , I think we 'll 

be having some ourselves in a few minutes". Sometime s , when.a 

boa t was small, had no ballast locker , and n o means of making a 

fi re , t h e crew took advantag e o f the invitation , "hauled up", 

and t o o k their o wn kettl e on b oard the boat wh ere t h e invitation 

came from , a n d boiled it. 

Afte r breakfast the re fol lowed a s mo k e of the p i p e , and fishing

- 13 - 

was res u med ti l l n o on . The morni n g s p i ri t i s generally o vee-by 

seven o ' c l oc k , and there would b e only a s c a t t e red o n e till evening. 

If i t b e a fine day, the fi shing ground, in the first h our or two 

after high noon, presents a unique appearance . All the boats 

des e r ted , and an inexperi e n ced on- l o o k e r wo u l d not take it 

a s a joke if to l d ~ that all the men had ate poisoned food at their 

dinne r , and were now dead. The men all stretched out s o u n d a sleep , 

the boats , acting c r a d l e s , rocking them to and fro . There i s no 

such sight in the world: The sleep that their work robbed t hem of 

in the night t hey are taking in the day . Nature will not be cheated . 

When the sun is gliding down to her setting, there is a general 

res u r r e c t i o n over the ground, as the evening spurt Every 

man i s on hi s leg s again, and three l i n e s are cutting the gunwhalenotch 

deeper . As the s u n dips bel ow the we stern ridge away in 

the distance , the s ma l l e r boats begin t o haul up . If there i s a 

litt l e air of wind coming from behind, the eagerness to get is 

a l l the g reater. To r ow out and row in likewise is the hardest 

l uck. One by one Killocks and grapnels corne over the bows, and 

sa i ls of black , brown, ochre and wh ite, are spread to catch the 

l i ght wind. To get in and stowaway the c a t c h before midnight 

i s the dominant idea, 50 that they will get a few h o u r s s leep before 

comme n c i n g tomorrow 's work. Th e fresh ening of the breeze in the 

twilight induces the larger boats to haul up too , 

and soon there 

arises all the excitement of a A hundre d boats all making 

f o r the same harbor. Al l sail is crowded on, and some are u sing 

the dipper to throw water 

the s a i ls to make them hold mor e wind . 

A modern yacht 

never more exc iting. 

But whi ch 

ge n e r a l l y wins ? T h e d espised , old , logy, j i b - a nd-ma i ns a i l skiff 

o f old Billy Hand cock, wi th her b r own b arked s ails , wh ite and yellow 

patched , a nd kept up with a s pread . As John Goud all said :

- 14 - 

"she kep t her wedge-nose down i n the water l i k e a pig r o o t ing up 

sof t clay a fter t h e potatoes are d r y" . Skipper Bi l ly g ot o u t a 

big s c u l l i n g oa r t o s teer h er, i nst e a d of a r u dder . He d i d not 

believe i n rudde r s. He c hewe d hi s tobacc o, and loo k ed at n o other 

boat , t ho u g h some laughed in d er i sion, a nd some c heered a s h e pa s s e d 

them one by He k e pt her no s e s t ra ight f or th e church, and 

k ept sayi n g t o h i msel f: " Hi n d your church, Billy, mi n d your church , 

b OY". Ha r d ly a nybo d y b e grudg ed him his v i c t ory, b e c aus e, t o a l l 

appearan c e , a boat like that, a n d a like tha t , s hou l d b e the 

l a st to come in , and when everybody realized t h a t everybody e lse , 

as well a s hims e lf , wa s deceived, all were s a t is f ied ; only Jim 

Samso n , wh o came secon d , had the ma levolence to say t hat t her d e v Lj, 

in the b oat; h e c o u l d see the br im stone c o ming out of her , 

and s he ' l l b e J i m Hand-Co ok 's coffin yet . In the old d ays e very 

r o o m h ad a shor e crew. All the b o at 's crew had t o d o on arrival 

t o pew up the f ish o n the sta ge-head . The shore crew , men 

a n d women , would do t he rest. Th e b oat' s after pewing u p 

their c atch, cou ld go h om e and s leep till the coc k crew. In the 

days of s hore cr e ws , t.h e r e v v e s hardly a ny b a dly-cured fish. As 

t h ey went out o f 

custom, the fi sh generally fell into the c l asses 

of s l i my , sun-burnt, s a l t - b u r n t , diem , etc. 

When the fi sh wa s p ew ed u p, t he shore went to work with 

dredge- bar r o ws which they fill ed with fi sh and dragg ed inside to 

t he r o ofed part of the s tag e , and o n to the s p l i t t i n g tabl e . .' Th e 

s h a p e of the dredge-barrow is s u gges t e d by the hal f-moon lying on 

its back . Whe n filled wi th f i sh , one per son of ordinary s t r e n g t h 

cou l d p u l l a q ui n t a l e asil y over t h e S l ipper y l ongers. Th e s p l i tt ing 

tab l e c o nsiste d o f a t a b l e - t end er, a cut- throa t , a h eader, 

a s p l i t t e r and a sa l ter , a nd e ven i n "headi ng" , s o me wo me n wer e 

good a s men , though, it i s needl e s s to pay, they did not g et o n e

- 1 5 - 

_te nth of th e ma n ' s pay. The s p l i t t er of bi g c atche s wa s gen eral l y 

a ma n working against time, in order to have good "putt - of fi sh 

u n d e r salt b efore midnight, and it was a fi ne and exciting c ontest 

on t he part of all, the header and cut-throat doing their best to 

k e ep up with t he s p l i t ter . He wo r e a a thi c k s wa n ski n c uf f on the 

l e f t hand, to save it from contact with the knife, and kept the 

right hand bare , 

the better to use the knife in raising the bone. 

Th e c u t - t h r o a t , with a knife sharpened on b oth e d g es, first t ook 

a f is h , and, giving a dexterous thrust under the gills, severed 

t h e throat. A s lit was a lso made down the belly. I t was passed 

on t o the header, who pressed the back of the fish' s neck against 

a purpo s e l y sharpened s pace o n the edge of the board in the table , 

and p ress i n g the head down with the right hand , and holding the 

body with the left, gave a quick jerk, broke t h e bone , causing 

the h ead to falloff. At the same time the entrails were pulled 

out and thrown under the table , all except the l i v e r , wh ich wa s 

d ropped into a covel or barrel beneath through a hole in the table. 

The he a d e r wore a heading palm or mitten, with half l e n g t h fingers , 

open a t the tips, to s ave the hand from being cut by the bones when 

t h e 

h e ad was taken o ff. 

The f i sh was next passed across the table to the splitter . 

who , with a broad knif e , with a s light curve in the blade - the 

better to insert the s i d e of it under the sound bone - i n s er t e d it 

i n the na p e, and with one swift downward draw took the bone out; 

righ t d own t o the t ail, i n the twink ling of an eye. A good 

splitt e r , warmed u p to his work , making the bones fly , 

fasci na t i ng s ight. He dropped the s p l i t fi sh into a tub placed 

undernea t h t o receive them . Th e salter then took them, and one 

by o ne laid them in tiers, f ace up, in a vat or punche on-tub. 

r--,- - - - - 

---._-

- 1 6 - 

V When a full l i n e wa s i n, t h e sa l t wa s t h r ow n on the f i sh b y h and 

in the requisites qua n t ity ; g reat j udgement wa s nee d e d o n hi s 

p a r t no t t o p ut o n t o o mu c h o r t o o l i t t l e , in either of whi ch 

cases the fi sh would be s po i l e d a n d reduced t o second or third 

quality. Thir teen q u intals t o the hogshead o f salt used to be 

the r ule for s hore fish, s alted i n vats and tubs. Salted in bulk , 

it requ i r ed about 131 f or t he h o g shead , a ssuming that they were 

u sing best Cadiz salt. Sometime s the catch was s o l a r g e that the 

work we n t on till mo r n i n g , and t able h a n d s were known to fall 

s o u n d aslee p , a nd s t i l l g o 

d oing their work. It i s told o f 

famous woma n - header, Kitty L 

that wh en the work 

was all 

finis h e d in the morning, s h e would wa sh d own the splitting t able , 

a nd ge t upon it, would p ut up h er skirts, and d ance a n-t Lr Ls h jig 

t o he r o wn singing . Ay e, t here ..... e r e , in tho s e days , great me n a nd 

g rea t .....omen t o o. They pl a y e d their pa r t well, and their me mory 

shou l d receiye mor e r e c o g n i t i o n from the heirs of their l a b o r s 

than it does. 

Light s i n t h e s t a ges all aro und the harbor wa s a sight that 

filled the h e arts o f all .....ith j o y . S e l dom i s it seen today . The 

i l lumi n a t ion fr om the codo il lamp s , hung over the s plit t ing table, 

sent its ray s over the c a l m .....ater, and made a golden s h e e n al l 

along the ..... a ter - f r on t , somet i mes till da ..... n , It ..... a s the surest 

sign o f a g o od f i shery . Laughter and g o o d-natured raillery .....ere 

hear d in every s tage , and a stranger visitin g the stage would s a y 

to himself : "Her e are the happiest people on earth " . Two hours ' 

s leep was cons i dered e noug h for the b o atmen i n the caplin schoo l . 

Ha r d l y h ad the cock s began t o c row , and the d awn t o lighten u p 

the easter n sky , wh en t h e y o n the ir feet aga i n , g e t t ing ready 

for a n o t he r day' s fishing. Onc man went to the brook or th e well 

and f i l led th e water k e g, a no t he r s upp l~ed the d epl e t ed bread-box ,

- 1 7 - 

a nd a third saw tha t a fresh~.)suPPlY of c.aplin bait was ~u t 

b oard . One by one the b a r k e d :- s aile d f Le e.t; d r o p p e d crown t he h arb o r, 

and sa i l e d away to the fi shing ground , t o r e p e at the wor k o f y e s t e r day. 

If it was calm, they put out the oars , and s lowly prope l led the 

b oat s to thei r favorite f i s hing g round, which was l o c a t e d by 

observing we l l -de f ined na t ural mark s o n t h e l and , maybe five mil e s 

b e hind . F or i n s t a n c e , t h e f o r mula would be : "Keep o n till y o u 

o p en t he wh i t e s t reak in Bluf f He ad, with J o n e s' hous e in wil d 

cove " . Both marks ma y b e fiv e mile s awa y , but the fish ermen o f 

tho se days had wonderf u l eye sight. Ch e una c c usto me d t o their 

methods wo uld b e puzzled ; but they f oun d the ledge th'ey wanted - 

t h e v ery spot wh e r e they we re y esterday - with a precision that 

coul d not be exce lled. by t h e fin e st navig a tion i nstrum e nts. 

We will n o w let the b oat men g o o n with t he work on the f i shing 

g rounds , and fo llow the fi sh in t h e s tage . After lying in the 

t u b s a n d vats , u n d e r s a l t , f o r a period , varying acc ording to 

weather a n d other c onditi o n s, f r om sev e n to n i ne d ays , the fi sh 

was ta ke n out , wa she d o ne by one , a nd pla ced in a p i l e cal l ed ' a 

"water hor s e " . He re it l a y fr o m o ne t o t wo d a y s, till t he wa t er 

h ad dra i ned out o f i t . T h e s hor e c rew waited for a fine day, and 

t he n p laced t h e fi sh h a nd- barro ws, and carried it to the flake, 

wh e re two more hand s p laced it f a c e u p, the toil of fi sh l ying 

beside th e hea d o f the n ex t on e , so that'::two o f the s am e size 

occu p i e d an exac t r ec t.e nqu t e r s s p a c e , and n o t inch 'o f f lake 

wa s ted . I n t h e e vening , just before the s u n set , the fi sh 

t a ke n up and p i led in f a g g ots, back u p, a b o u t t en fish t o a f aggot , 

r e d u c i n g in width towards t h e to p , and a larg e fi sh l aid on l a st, 

cover i n g the whole l ot , and p r o tec ting tho s e u nde r n e ath fr o m t h e 

r a in , s ho u ld an y f a l l b e f o r e be i ng s p read a g ain . Next morning,

- 1 8 - 

if the day pro mi s e d t o be fine, th e f i sh ....as s p r ead again, a n d 

in t he eveni n g taken up a s before, but made into f a ggots t ....ice 

large . Th e third fine day it ....as spr e a d back u p,a nd made 

into faggots of a still l arger s i z e in the e v e n ing. If there 

i n d i c a ti o n s of rain, a fe.... rind s ....ere placed on e a ch p ile . Af t e r 

t h e fourth, sometime s the fifth spreading , the fi sh was put into 

circular p iles, abo ut four feet in diameter. Th e under tier ....a s 

f a c e up , and the rest face do....n ....ards. Great art ....as displayed 

in maki n g these circular piles, s o a s to provide against the r ain 

g e t t i ng a t the fish during the next fe.... days , during ....hich time 

the fi sh ....as untouched, and left in pile to ......o r x " , A doze n or 

so of the very best rind s ....ere p lac e d on the top of the pile s , 

n e a t ly s h i n g l e d - o v e r each other , and extending out over the 

perimeter o f the pile all around s o that it i mpossible f o r 

any r a i n to g et at t h e fi s h. s o metimes old s a i ls ro tarpaulines 

....ere used to c o ver the big pi l e s. I t sometimes happened, ....hen all 

the flake s ....ere cove red ....ith fi shout to dry , the cloud s gathered 

i n the We s t and thre aten ed rain. Th e c ommotion that suddenly 

fol lowe d amongst t h e s h o w ere...., e specially the wo me n and girls, 

is indiscribable . Aunt Mary , weather-wise s ee r t e s e , would be the 

firs t t o notice the c hange in the ....e a t h e r , and you ....ould hear 

her v o i c e crying out in s h r i l l and excited t ones: "Come girls 

....e a r e going to have a d ....igh.. . Only fishermen North of St . John"s 

we r familia r ....ith the meaning of thi s ....o r d , What the o rigin of 

it is n o ma n c a n say , but that a l l t he people, from Cape St . Francis 

to the farth e st Nor th o f the French Sho r e , should use it to con ve y 

the i de a of s sudden showor of rain or snow , and the Western people 

kno.... no t h i n g a bout th e ....o r d , i s some th i n g t h a t i s cer ta i n l y p u z z l i ng . 

The ....ri ter h a s s earched in mo st o f the ol d Engli s h ....r Lt e r s , fro m

- 19 - 

p i er's Ploughman down , but could not find it. Every man , 

o r child inter e sted in the fish on the flake , and able to walk 

t h e re , and pit one f sih on top of another , wa s supposed to turn 

out in emergency o f a "dwigh" . It was a race to get the fish 

u nder the rinds , or t h e t a r p a ulin , befor e the " d wig h " desce n ded 

in its f ull fury. A b usier scene there cou ld no t b e ima gi n ed, 

and a s t ranger not familiar with t h e conditions wou l d th i n k that 

the people engaged had al l gone crazy. The scene of t h e falke , 

wh en Aun t Mary gave ou t the wa rning cry , was duplicated on every 

f a l ke i n the harbor . People had such confidence in her weather 

knowledge t h a t t hey did not stip to l o o k up i n t he s k y , but d ropped 

wh atever wo rk t h e y were engaged i n, and ran to t he f a Lk e , If the 

race against t he rain wa s s uccessful , i n th e relaxat ion fr om wo rk 

t here was g reat j oy and joking amongst all who took par t in t h e 

c o ntes t , and you amy hea r the old people say , with a s igh of r eli ef : 

"Than k s b e to GOd, ' t i s a great thing fo r the gardens" . A grand 

c o-mingl ing of t h e religious spirit and true philosophy Soon 

t h e storm would have passed off , and the s un would shine out mo re 

brilliantly tha n e v e r, fo r i t is t h e d ist i nctive c haracteris t ic 

of "dwighs " t h at th ey never l ast more than a n hour or so, a nd rarely 

observe the l a s t h o u r of the setting s u n . The f lake was now cleared 

and t h e a l lowed to l i e i n piles to " wo rk" fo r a few days , and a lso 

t o g i v e the additional advantage of making r o o m to spread the n e x t 

batch from the wate r-h o u s e, how r e a d y to be brought o ut. So the 

work of the shore crew went on f r o m day t o day . Sometimes t h e 

we a ther sultr y and heavy , and one wou l d remark on a l l s ides ": 

"The r e's no " d r i t e" i n t he we a the r , i t 's j u s t s o v we Lf to y a f fl e 

up the f i sh" .

- 20 - 

We do not hear much talk abo ut catching fish with the c odse 

i ne in these modern days of the trap and bultow, 

It 

g reat engine for big hauls, under of avorabl e and item s, i n the 

olden times . 

A good cod- s e ine wa s 

e x p ens i ve a r t icle, a n d 

o ~ ly 

a we l l - t o - d o p lanter could afford to 

A few of t h e Northern 

skippe rs carry the m to Labrador s t i l l , b ut, speaking generally, 

thier u se has b een almost c o mp l e t e l y supersided by the cod-trap. 

I f you happen to meet an old f i s h e r ma n t Od a y, who was one of ti he 

c rew of a codseine skiff in his early days , and if y o u draw him 

out on the subject , 

the heroic tales of his times will be told 

with a glamour of romantic heroi sm and d a r i n g , in c omparison with 

which trap fi shing i s poor and prosiac , and only - as one o ld Viking 

said t o t h e writer: " f it for l a z y men who are n o t able to get f ish 

any o t h e r way , and , if I a young man tommorrow , I ' d depend 

the cods e Ln e e , A codscine 's crew should be picked men, and 

weaklings amongst t h e m, for the work r e q u i r e d great strength , 

wel l as agility . Nearly always , t he quantity of fi s h enclosed 

depe n d e d on the swiftness with which t he s eine was shot out. Let 

us s u p p ose t h a t fish is seeen breaching i n a cove, o r l y i n g on 

the bottom , wh ere it is s uddenly seen b y the s k ipper ws i n g the 

f i sh glass. The firs t oder i s "silence". There s ix - sometimes 

sev e n - in the crew , and every man knows what he is expected t o 

d o . The oars now d ip i n the waters wi t hout maki ng a swish , a.~d 

whe n they t o u c h t h e t h ol e p ins they make n o sound" , Back h er in, 

boys , on every face, but no word is spoken , except the whispered 

o rder s of the skipper , I n she goes, stern foremo st , over t h e 

d irected by t he skipper as fas t and as noi se le s s ly as t h e y 

can go. When half the l i n n e t i s t hrown o ut , the circle of corks 

is turned inward , a nd the bow o f the s k i f f is d irected once mor e

- 2 1 - 

t o ....ard s the shore. When it - L s seen tha t t h e fi s h is s a f e l y enclosed 

and t h e re i s no l ong e r n e c e ssity, f o r s i lence , the c rew i ncrease 

t h e boat's speed , a nd p ull l i k e demons ti l l t h e y reach the s pot 

where t h e i s b uoyed . Now the y can t a k e the ir t i me . Half the 

crew t ake the right arm, and th e other half the l eft, and gra d u a l l y 

pulling a wa y , they draw the s e i ne t ow ard s the b oa t . 

The s kipper g ive s o ut o r ders from t i me t o t ilme, " pull aw a y 

the f o ots; pull away the h eads; It in order that the corre spondi ng 

parts of both s ha l l b e haul e d h o rne t o g eth e r . He al s o, i f need be, 

u s e s t h e "trounc er" - a sma l l , light grap hnel s hank wi t h rin g s 

i t , a t t ach e d to a line - which h e throw s i n t o the water , enclos ed 

i n the seine , and the n, t o d rive t h e fish t ow ard s t he bunt 

and away f rom t h e arms of the seine . Sometimes , in s p i te of all 

precaut i o ns , the fish get out befor e being enclosed. Thi s i s called 

a "water h aul", and a l l the l a b or i s gone f or no thing. Whe n e v e r y - 

thing goes successfu l l y , t he fis h is d r iven u p in t he bunt , and , 

the c rew, taking their dip nets , soon fill her up . I f more 

b e carried , i t i s put into bags made of s t rong t wine , wi t h c lose 

me sh , specia l l y mad e f or such eme rgenc ies I Th e se b a g s a re moo r e d , 

and t he cr ew come for the m at t heir le i sure. Sho oti n g a c od 

seine i s somet i mes v ery da n g erou s work • • The sight of a shoal of 

fish bre a ching i n a c o ve e x c i tes me n t o t ake r i sk s tha t they would 

not attemp t i n their c ooler e oee n t s , Th e ten d ency t o ri sk the ir 

l ives is greater i f there are o t h e r cod sein e c r e ws in the vicinity 

a lso con s i de r i n g what to d o . The h e sitation occur s when it i._s 

a wi ld cove a n d h e a v y s eas bre a king on the r o cks n o w and then . 

At Sleigh Tick ,e , La bra d o r, in 1 868, a c odse i ne skif f , with a c r ew 

of s i x men , wa s capsized in a big sea that broke sudd e n l y , wh en 

they we r e s hoo t i n g o ut the ir se i ne , Th r e e of the cre w were drow n ed. 

Th ey were a l l able to sw im and migh t h a v e r e a c h e d t h e s hore , on l y 

fo r t he f a ct t h a t the y b e c a me entangled in the t wi n e, where t h e i r 

d ead bodi e s were f ound afterwards.

- 22 - 

Hook a nd line men a long in the sixties of the last century , 

made a great outcry against the of codseines , declaring , whene 

ver there happened to be a bad fishery , that the codseines were 

t h e cause. When the bultows and cod-nets came into common 

a few years after, the balme taken offf the seines and put 

the latter were first called. 

There was alwaus some cause, 

of which man is the author, to blame for bad fisheries . A few 

yea r s ago it was the killing of the whales. The argument was 

t h a t the wh a l e s drove the caplin to the l a nd, and when there was 

no longer cany whales to do this work the caplin did not come in , 

and when the caplin failed to come to shore , there was no induce 

men t for the codfish to come in out of the deep to look for this 

bait. fish . 

The very next year when whales were scarcer , 

this argument 

made t o l o o k ridiculous b y the fact that the caplin s truck 

in all t h e coast more p lentifu l than t h e y had for t wenty 

years . The same has occurred t h i s year ( 1 91 5), whe n the r e i s 

not a whale t o be seen on t h e Ne wfound land coast. For myse l f, 

I do not believe taht seines , codnets or b ulto ws or t raps . Ke e p 

the f ish f r o m coming i n . Be ing plenti f ul o r scarce depends a ltoge t he r 

on othe r causes over wh i c h ma n h a s n o control, such as we a ther , 

ice , wa te r - temperature a nd preva i ling wi n d s . Wha t does more i nj u r y 

to the f isher y , as fa r as man is concerned , is t h e catching o~ 

much imnature f i s h i n t raps with sma l l mes h , and , i n many cases , 

thrown out dead, because it is too small to split. 

Escept in t h i s 

I do not believe in making l a ws for the catching of codfish ; 

" ge t it whatever way you can" would be t h e best rule, provided 

t ha t none of what is taken i s thrown away because too small. 

The actor s in these great activitie,s of the past have l o n g ago

- 23 - 

passed away a nd been gathered t o the ir f a t h ers, but the record 

of their ",Iork i s n o t often enough s ubmi t ted to t h e ri s i ng generation 

to read. It i s t he tra d i tio n s o f a people th a t p ress i ves the spiri t 

of na t ionality a nd patr i o tis m, and pe r peturates t h e b r ave-cv , hardihoods 

and enterprise in their de s c endants, and k eeps 

virile manhood 

from becoming decadent , In the s p r e a d of so called modern education 

many p eople are inclin ed to regard the pione ers of the fishing industr 

y of our cou n t r y as ignorant a nd rude, b e cause in many 

deficie n t in b o ok-learni n g , a nd had n o t the adva n t age s o f their 

curricatum o f the Coun c il o f Higher Ed u c a tion. But educ ation, i s, 

after all, the drawing o ut (educere) of all t h at i s i n a man' s 

voma n t s natural gif t s. The fi shing c l a s s, who l a i d the foundation 

of industrial and commerica l f bbric so broad and deep, 

men o f primitive sinc erity and simplicity - they ....e r e hon est and 

truthfu l , and their ....o rd ....a s their b o nd . They were more h o spita ble 

and sympathetic f o r a n eigh bor 's sorrows and t r o ubl e s than ....e are 

today , wi th a ll b o a sted civili z ation. Writte n arguments and 

contracts were h ardly knpwn, bec aus e every ma n r egarded hi s p l e dged 

....ord as t oo s acr e d a thi ng to violate and they, therefore , h a d 

a f ine contempt for lawyers ' ....ay s and al l that presupposed sharp 

p ract i c e in d ealing s b etween man and ma n . Th eir book wa s the open 

v iolume of Na ture, and their teacher s t h e wind and the waves , and 

the firm end u r i n g rock s that the sea beat a g a inst in a vain s.~ r u gg le 

every day . 

Emer s o n the p h ilo s pher, says, " Al l thing s ....ith which ....e deal 

preach to u s , and a moral s e n t i me nd that s cents the air a n d impregnate s 

the water s of the world i s caught by man and s i n ks into her soul". 

Who can g uess how much firmn e s s the s e a - bea te n r o c k s h ave taught the 

fishe rman? 

110 .... muc h t r anquili ty h a s be e n r e fl ecte d t o man fro m t he

- 24 - 

sky , o v e r wh o s e u n s p otted d e e p s the wind s drive fl o c k s of s t o r my 

c l o u d s and leave no wrinkled or s t a i n ? This is the daily Naturepla 

y 

that the fisherman witnesses, and his soul must, by its 

t e a c ing, b e acme simple a n d s i nc e re , b eca use Nature i s Th e 

s t orm and 

the wa ve have told him long ago, what they can do, and 

n o t t o look to truce or mercy from them. In the midst of s u c h 

gre at force s every day, the fisherman cannot fail to be a religious 

man . He be an atheist, because he is too close to the 

s tage of the great drama of dynamics, behind which he knows 

there 

i s a directing hand-aye, knows better than all the book lore in 

t h e world could tell him. Above all, he learns the lesson of reveren 

ce and childlike dependenc e on theArgast Being at whose word - 

"Peace , be s t i l l - the sav a g e r y of the sea can be abated in an 

i nsta nt, a s it wa s that night o n angry gennesaret, when skipper 

Pe t er and his crew believed they wer going to be swamped. 

Big hauls of fish in seines 

a c t i v ity on the fi shing ground. 

naturally necessitated increased 

The skipper's wife a nd daughters 

did no t di s claim to lend a hand t ending t ab Le s that i s to say , 

putting the fish thereon for the cut-throat, and the 

skipper 's 

wife lending a hand at salting. Light s gleamed from the stages 

the coruscatingp hosphoresccnt wavelets of the harbor , 

turning 

t h e wa t e r into a fairy-like golden lake. The short July night 

p a s s ed quickly , 

and the heralding streamers of the dawn proc~.aimed 

t o the fishermen that a new day of profitable labor was inviting 

t h e m fo r t h 6n the again , reminding one of Homer's beautiful 

l i n e s, which h ave l o st nothing by Mr . Po pe' s translation:- 

" 1r. n d n ow fr om f orth the c b a mb e r s of the main, 

To shed his sacred light on e arth again; 

Arose the golden chariot o f the day, 

And tipp e d the mountains with 'a purple ray ".

- 2 5 - 

If thi s day was fine there rest forthe s h o r e crew. 

Th e going fishing could lie down a nd t a k e a nap , if there 

was a fail wind and enough of it to s a i l o u t to the ground . But 

the me n , women and girls working the room h ad to wa sh out a 

new water-horse , 

carry the former one to the f lake and spread it, 

als o t o spread faggots and piles that were half-cured, when that 

was d o n e there was work in the gardens, trenching , weeding and 

carr y i n g ma nure there - the heads and other fish offal from the 

pre vious night's splitting . a ll was done cheerfully , jokingly 

a n d frequently with a song. They were a gay , light-hearted , simple , 

happy 

people, close to Nature and Nature 's God • 

.Ship p i n g off the first new fish generally began about the first 

week o f August, when the foreigner came from St . John 's , or, as in 

case s , direct from England 's western ports - Bristol , Bridport , 

and Poole . This was a great t i me . The and girls put 

their best frocks and aprons , and their lilac sun-bonnets . As 

a s t h e sun rose and the weather gave indications of a fine 

d ay , the skipper called a l l hands to the room , and the dry fish 

wa s taken from the piles o n t h e fa lke o r in the fish store , and 

brought o ut ot t he s tage-head on - barrows , wh e n it wa s we i g h e d and 

put on board the big carte l l b o a t o r a ccd s e Ln e skiff - t he bi g g er 

the better for t hework . The fi sh ga thered u p in yaffles , and 

pa s sed down to a smar t man i n a b o a t, wh o caught it feft ly , a':ld 

laid it down in shingle form , back u p , except the first tier , 

wh ich was l a i d back down . When the boat was l o a d e d , the painte r 

l e t go , and the full crew of fi sh handlers, men, boys , women 

a nd girls, about a dozen people , rowed t o the vessel 's side; 

except in good , deep , safe harbors , where the vessel could hau l to 

the wharf. In that case the fi sh was carried direct on board the

- 26 - 

the ship skids - a gangway between the wharf head and the 

v e s s e l ' s rai l . The fish ....as weighed a second time on board , after 

being culled deck on the culling board , and then thrown down 

i n the hold , where it was stowed and packed back up, in the best 

way to economize space , t h e f i s h in each tier l a p p i ng half its 

l ength over the one immediately u n d e r n e a t h . 

There was great art in stowing a 

cargo, and not every 

cou l d do it we ll . Often t h e r e would be as many of boats 

a t the vessel 's side , each waiting its turn to be discharged , 

only one could be dealt wi t h a t the same time . If the captain 

and crew of the ship we r of a generous spirit t h e r e a lways 

r efrewhmen t s for the people from the shore , such as cheese , porter , 

biscuits I l i me - j u i c e for t h e women and rum for t h e men . A 5clfden 

y i n g , hard-working people , t h e y enjoyed little r e l axa tion of 

t his ki nd with a zest , o f wh Lc h we , their descendants , can ha v e 

adequate conception. 

We , wh o are Newfoundlanders, should treasure the t r a dit i o n s 

of our ancestors with pride , a nd n o t a Lo w the m t o b e f o r g o tte n 

s ubmerged b y tho s e who come a mo n g s t t o ge t easy living, 

and take f ramus t h e bes t fruits of our herita g e , by i mp o sing their 

inane insincere manners and custo ms amongs t us . Th e men or women 

in tbis country , whose a n c e s t o r s caught fish or ki l led sea ls , h ave 

the best right to get whatever i s best in t h i s c o u ntry . Th e luxury 

and fashions of the p leasure- l ov i n g Easterns kille d Ro me and a l l 

her splendid traditions. Traditions are the very s tone 

of nationality and patriotism , and a country a llows t h e m to 

b e c om e dead and inoperative in the body politic , that country 's 

greatest ass et , from a national stand-point , i s gone forever . 

I t will be our own fault if this shold happen in Newfoundland .

- 27 - 

Thomas Brow-n , an English Philospher , who tought deeply upon t h i s 

as we l l as other subjects , says: "Feel something of thyself in 

t he va l uable actsof thine ancestors , 

and find in thine own genuis 

that of they p red i cessors . Bu t r e s t not under thei r expired merits 

a s if thy du t y ·; wer e d o n e . Shine a new in t h e i r ins pirat i on by 

the improv ed merits of thine o wn , consonant wi t h t h e ad v anta g e s 

o f age . " 

The r e i s no t e a s o n wh y we s hould d efer and apologize t o 

s t r a n g e r s and accord them a merit which may not exist , but whic h 

they t h i n k t h e y can i mp o s e onus because they a re strangers . Our 

firs t duty i s t o ou r own people and our own count ry . The s t rength 

o f the s t rangers i s in t he k nowledge that we d o n 't know a n y t hi ng 

about t h ei r a n t e cedents . Th ei r recor d ma y be " ro t te n , whil e 

acc o r d t h e m, without t h e ask i ng , a ll the best q ualitie s that 

idea l best men possess . This is a Ne ....foundland weakness , and ver y 

little is ever done to counteract it. Let a well-d r e s s e d , g l ibrongued 

s tranger come amongst us from Eas t or Wes t , and h e will 

get o ur g o o d wil l and o ur money with an ease t h a t will surprise 

hims e l f u s e d to a l l degrees o f o b l iying and accommo da t i ng p e o p le . 

He find s tha t we a r e th e l i mi t . No o ne wh o k e e p s hi s e y es and 

ears open will deny th i s. Le t is be mining shares or b o g l a nd, 

break- fas t food , r h e u ma t i s m or spectacles , th e s t ranger will reap 

a golden harvast , a nd q u esti o n s asked . Le t t h e local ma n, 

whom we al l know , try to d o , i n a s incere , bonafide and h o n est way , 

what the fore ign cogliostro does in a s l ick, smiling , f rau d u len t 

way , and he will t h ank his stars i f he i s not kic ked o ut of the 

office or t h e h ou s e, as the ca s e ma y be. The r e i s the fact,t h at 

whilst most people ma y not l i k e t o r e a d i t in col d t y p e, t h e y 

ca n n o t deny it. It is right to be civil , pol i te and hospitable

Vt o 

- 28 - 

s t r a n g e r s , but is bad t o give them enough o f evidence to con - 

vince them that you are a foo l . Let us , at l e a s t, be fair and 

ippar t i a l if y o u like , and treat commcr s n o better than ....e 

trea t our o wn p eople, and 

Readers are asked t o pardon thi s digression,which the writer 

cou l d not f o r bear miking when ref lecting on the great forgotten 

me r i t o r i o n s work of our ancestors, who b ui l t u p the indu s trial 

and oommerc ial fabric of t he country by t h ei r p ioneer wo r k at t h e 

cod f ish e r y , s elfi s h e ry , and o n t he l a nd. Whatever is b e st i n the 

her i t a g e of our country's development we, wh o a re the n descendants , 

have the best right to it , and , to do this , we shot.ld a dop t the 

good o ld motto of our f ish e rm e n for efathers : "L et no man s t e a l 

your lines" . 

An a c count of the fi shery c ust oms of the earlY days wo uld 

not b e c o mp Le t; e without including a n allusion t o Labrad or. In 

the tines I treat of Cape Harri s o n wa s th e ultima t h u l e of the 

fishe rmen . T h e dte of leaving f orthe fi shery depended entirely 

t h e natureof the ho me f ishry . I f it ' wa s good up t o the l a st 

of June t h e f ishermen did not l e a v e before t he f i r s t we e k i n J u l y. 

I f there wa s not much doing th e y got ready t he second o r third we e k 

i n June . This was the general rule . There were some crews who 

sailed about the first of July , no matter wha t kind o f a s hore 

fishr y ther was . Th eir l a s t wor. before l e a v ing wa s to get wi th 

c e e e ne e. or seine enough o f c apl i ne t o t h e gardens . They 

genera l l y have u p in the Bight, abo u t a mi le off t h e Harbo r , t o 

treat t heir gue sts f r o m the fishing b o ats, who had been invited 

to t on b oard . Ev e ryone of the c rew was prov ide d with a jar 

of r u m , and dr inking and toasting went it the s k i p pe r ' s cabin 

for a bou t an h o ur . When , f ina l l y , th e ~a st h and s h akes we re given

- 29 - 

and the order wen t forth to " let out the s h e e t s a n d put he r before 

the wind", a l l th e v i s i ting crews we n t o ver the q ua r ter into t h e i r 

boa t s , and standing by as they wo re a round, t h e y united t heir voices 

in three hearty cheers f or t h e captain and crew • . Away she glid e d 

then l i k e a t h ing of life, wi th a l l sai l set and h er f lag g a iling 

s t r e a mi n g t o t he breeze in front o f t h e topof the mai n pole . In 

t hose days every crew carried g irls to help at the fishery , 

t h e i r 

wo r k included cooking , washing , mending and taking a turn when 

n eeded a t h e a di n g a n d c ut t i ng thr oats . Th eir p ay pitifully 

smal l - t h e ir diet and 6 f rom anchor to anchor, t h at i s t o say , 

f rom the time the anchor taken u p i n t he por tof d e p art u r e t ill 

it dropped again for t h e home port t h e as I t we e k of September 

the fir s t week of October . 

These were t h e f loating crews or green fi s h men. Ea c h schooner 

car r i e d o n ly her o wn I n Conception Bay a nd St. J ohn' s , the 

v ess e ls l arg er, a n d car ried somet imes a doz en cr e ws and al l 

t heir household effects. There wer e shore They we re l a n d e d 

a t stations owned by the skippers , such a s Bo lster 's Rock , Gr iffin 's 

Harbor, Do mi no, I n d i a n Harbor , e tc , where t h e y f i s h e d a ll t he s umme r. 

This was t h e golden age of So uthern Labrador , and wo uld d e s e rve 

a s p e c i a l history . The freighters , as t h e y we r e ca l led , s uffered , 

s o me t i me s , dreadfu l h a r d s h i p s on t h e way down, but ,on ce l and e d , 

they soo n f org ot al l p revio us mi s ery a nd j oyfully b e g an to b u ild 

their s tage s and huts , and get r e a d y for the fi s h ery. An o ld song 

composed it i s believed, by a River head fisherman , n a me d Doyle, 

e n t i t l e d "Huntindon Shore" , which was sung a t we ddings f ifty years 

a g o , g ives a graphic · description and perpetuates t h e memo ry of 

the joys and of the voyage to t h e r.eb r e do r s -.

- 30 - 

We s hipped unto Good r idge t h e Spr i ng of the year , 

We got t h ir t y Shillings t o fi nd gear, 

Thi rt y shilling s in hand , and t e a in galore, 

And four meals a day on the Huntin' son Shor e . 

On the fou rteenth of J une o u r two anchors we weighed , 

An d o r ders c f o r- sailing we re not l o n g d e layed; 

We were c o n s i g n e d to Goodridge , Hu n t and La r mo r e, 

Who send the i r boats fishin g on Huntin 'don Shore. 

Th e f i r st n ight at sea , bous , we met a g rea t squal l , 

We l e t go our r o y al s , o ur t o p s a i l s and a l l ; 

We shortened our canbas , we could n o t do more, 

An d k e pt on our course f o r t h e Huntin' d o n Shore . 

Many a nd ch i ldren l a y prone on the ir b a c k s , 

Wh'il e in their bu n k s, t h e y lay s t ra i g h tened in sacks; 

And some l a y boxes - their sides the y wer e sore - 

prayi n g t o t h e Almighty tSor Hunti n 'do n Shore . 

We ancho r e d n ext mo r ning at breaking o f d ay, 

We ro s e fr o m our stumber s and g ot under way ; 

Put the br e a d in the cuddy and p ork on the flo or, 

An d sta r ted for fishing o n Hu nt i n ' d on Shore . 

We put o u t three l i n e s, o u r luc k there t o fi nd , 

Ev e r y man i n t h e b o at f o r fi sh was i nc l i ned ; 

We cooked our three mea ls , I' m we ate f o ur, 

And t h e n we h aule d up on the Hu nt!n 'don Shore .

- 3 1 - 

The girl s of Long I sland o n us they did s mi le , 

Say i n ' n e r e comes McCormack , young Gree n and yo u n g Doyle , 

Th ey t h r e e s t r anger s on the Labrador , 

who l a t e l y arrived on t h e Huntin' d o n Shores. 

No w , as f o r Lo ng I sl a nd, th e tru t h I will t e l l, 

Th e r e ' s who visits but loves it right well; 

I t is a fine har bor on t h e Labrador , 

But i t can ' t b e compared with the Hun t in 'don Shore. 

Th a t I am a t o p e r, ' t i s v e r y we ll known , 

If I saved a l l I earned , Oh : I might live a t home ; 

I n drinking a n d s porting I spent a l l my s tore , 

which make s me l ament on t h e Huntin ' don Shores . 

It wa s no t ti l l t h e ea r l y s i x t i es t hat t h e Newfoundland f ishermen 

v ent u red t o go North t o Cape Harr i s o n in g u e st o f fi s h. The f irst 

c rew t o v entur e into the u n kno wn wa s that o f S k ipper Pa t rick Brown , 

of Carbonear , in 1 8 6 2 . I t is p e c ul i a r ly fi t t ing t hat his grandson , 

Re v . P . W. Brown , should be t h e a urhor o f tha t book , a mos t exce l len t 

volume , " Wh e r e t h e Fisher s Go . " the y wer e the first that e ver 

burs t i n t o t h a t s ilent sea. Skipper bro wn 's adventure wa s t alk e d 

a t many a f i r e - s i d e the f o l l o wing wint er ; a n d it i s pecu l iar how 

s o me p l a c e s o n La bra d o r rec eiv e their n a me s . Be ck ' s I sland is 

c a lle d a f ter a young woman , Reve c ca Whe lan . She and a n o t h er you ng 

woma n , both servant s i n a s c h o one r from Bonavista Bay , were l a n d e d 

on that island by t h e craw t o wa s h their c lothes and dry the m i n 

th e It wa s t h e fi r s t time t hat a n y Ne wfou n d l and schoone r 

had been t h e r e , and the c r e w named the p lace " Be ck ' sIsl a nd ,i n 

h onor o f Mi s s Whelan . Fa nny 's Ha r bor named for th e s chooner

- 32 - 

by the fa ther of the writer. 

She went there for 

fish in 1 8 6 8 . Her skipper was the late Mr. Thomas Ryan o f King 's 

cove - a great fish-ki ller, and a lways in the f t hose schooners 

that e very summer tr ied t o penetrate a l i t t l e farther into t he 

unknown No r th. T h e crews of t he schooners goi ng the r e first gave 

all the English names to the harbors, i sla n d s 

and bays be low Cape 

Harrigan. Som e of t he Esquimo n a me s a re r etaine d and some corrupted 

to suit t.h e . English word r e s e mb l i n g i t i n sound. For instance, t he 

Esquimo word Kiddlapeek was called by f i she r me n Kettleor - pike s. 

There a remany similar e x a mp l e s. This subject would make an interesti n g 

study in i tself. 

I t is a surprising t h ing to ourse lves , butm ore so to t h e people 

outside of Newfound land , to consider that o ur men fourid their way 

n p and down the uncharted Labrador Coast below Cape Ha r r i s o n for 

year with out l i g h tho u s e s, chart, o r 

any of t h e u s ual n avig a ti o n 

aids . T h e y had a ma r v ello u s memory for a r o c k, head-la nd or island. 

Once was enough to see it to print it on their memory for ever . 

Necessity c c rap e L'l e d this . One o ld fis herman , speak i ng of t h is , 

used to say that they cou ld sme l l the land, a nd could t e ll wh e re 

they were in a fog , or at night , by t h e r o te of the sea o n t he 

rocks a long the shore . No t wo breakers mad e the samekind o f noi s e, 

and t h e dashing aga inst t h e rocks in any particu lar pl a c e mak e s 

a noise q u i t e different from that of a l l t h e other p laces. Th i s 

is something that y o u or I would never u n d e r sta n d , b u t it i s a 

well-known fact to most of t h e Labrador fishermen . I n cons i deri ng 

those early days of the Labrador fishery there is no 

t hought chal lenges 

one 's faculty of enquiry with greater force than the a lmost tota l 

immunity of sickness amongst the fishermen. The great contrast 

that has in t h i s r e s p e c t ar isen the pas,t. t wenty-five years is ,

- 33 - 

no doubt , the cause of this. Before there were-so many vi s iti n g 

doctors , hospitals andme d ic i ne dispensaies o n t h e coast , t h ere 

were very f ew cases of illnes s amo ngs t fishermen . It wo u l d 

be such a rare t h i n g t o h a v e a man die on t h e Labrador , or t o h a v e 

a sixk f ishermen broug h t h o me be f o r e t h e vo y a q e ....as ove r , t h a t 

the wh ole c o a st would b e talking about i t f or months afterwa r d s . 

There i s th e f a c t - make wh a t y ou l i k e o f it. The mos t fr e quent 

o f i n c apa c ity a mo n g st t h e me n wo u l d be when one o f t h e c r e w 

would have a " bad hand" , c a u s e d by d riving a hook i n it o r cut t ing 

it wi th a 

spl i t ting k nife. 

s inc e Dr . Gre n fe l l and h i s assistants hve b een goi n g t o Labradar 

, the of i l l ness of different kinds - many never heaed 

of before - have multiplied every season . I am not going t o tak e 

the s t and o f saying t h a t Dr . Grenfe l l i s no t d oi n g good ....or k , b ecau s e 

I do n ' t k now t hat he i s , or tha t he i s not. But , i f t h er l e s 

s 

sickness b e f ore he wen t t h e re , and 

o f illne s s b e g a n t o tak e 

sudden increase wh e n he began t o go t h e r , an o p i nio n i s f o r c e d 

upon o ne ....hether he l i k e s t o accept it o r no t . Of cou r s e , t h ere 

was a l ways s k i l lfu l me n i n c o mmon me c i cal treatment , and the h ea l ling 

of c u ts and bru i s e s a mo n g s t the Labrado r f i sh i n g c rews , and near ly 

every one carried. A medi c ine c hest containi ng f i a l s f or treatme nt 

of t h e common a i lments and a c c i d ents , such as tho s e r efe rre d t o 

above . Ther i s a s t udy for the phi losopher in thi s ~u b jec t , . I s 

it no t possible that a r e ady a ccess t o d o c t or s and medic i ne s will 

act on t h e mend , which r e a c ti n g on the body. A 

when , i f there we r eno doctor to consult and 

wi l l b eco me ill : 

medici ne t o get , 

he wo u ld not be s ick at all? Somebody will say that t h e f i s h erme n 

in the ear ly time s we r e n a tur al ly mo r e r obust than the ir d e s c e ndants, 

and , t h ere f o r e were not SUb ject t o so ,ma n y o f t h e " t h o u s a n d n atu r al

- 3 4 - 

shocks t h a t f lesh is heir to". This may explain some , but n o t 

a ll . Th e y certain l y stronger me n , and not acquainted 

....ith half t h e diseases h a ve today. They lived o n the open a ir 

most of the t ime , and , in winter, had the open f i r e - p l a c e, instead 

of t h e c losed in s tove; and if thei r food was r o u g h a nd plain , i t 

wh ol e s o me - muc h mo re so tha n it is t o d ay . 

I n the e arly t im e s a grea t ma n y of the "flo ate r s" - schooners 

that ....ent f a r d o ....n o n t h e c o a s t f ishing - r e tur n e d u p t o So uthern 

Labrador , or , i t was ca l led , "up t h e shore " , wh en t h ey had got 

a l oad , and made the fi s h on t h e S t rand i n the s e Southern por ts . 

Other s b r ought the gr e en f i sh t o New f oundl a n d and made it in th e 

home port. The place where the fish wa s spread t o d ry Labr a d o r 

was ca l led t h e "baison", a nd a famous song made by Mr . Hark wa lker , 

of Vona v i s t a Da y , perpetuated t h i s name i n "Fanny 's Harbor Da ....n" : 

"A S I roved o u t one e veni ng 

In t h e l ovely mo n th of J une , 

Th e verdant vales I rambled 

To scent t h e heather y b loom I 

The crafts we r e f locking down the shore , 

An d pleasant 'Was t h e day , 

To my s u r pris e , a maid I spied , 

which caused me some d elay ". 

The Ne wfou n d l a nd cre ws used , i n t h o s e d i sta nt days , t o do 

a lucrativ e t r a d e with the Esquimos , b u y i n g f r o m t hem s e al s k in 

boots , beaded p o u che s , s k in cossacks , i n e xv hang e f or g a u d y ' handkershiefs 

, kn i v e s , guns, h o o k s and l ine s . Th e advanta g e in thi s 

t rade 'W a s a l lan t h e side of the white man , bu t i t i s not so today. 

You r Esquimo were then a much healthier r a c e than they a re today . 

As i s almo s t invariably the case 'When coming i nto contact with 

the white ma n' s ways, and a d o p t i n g the wh i t e man 's f o od, t hey

- - 

35 - 

contrac t e d his diseases rapidly, i nclu d i n g consumption , so 

t hat it i s o nl y a question of t i me when the race wi l l b ecome 

t inct. 

Sixty y e ar s ago , whe n t he fishing fl e et u s e d not to g o b e l o w 

Ca pe Ha r rison, the c ustom was to r e t u r n h ome not later than t he 

t hird week i n September. Only v ery daring and courageous c rews 

would rema i n o n th e c o a st in Oc t o ber. Th o s e wh o broug h t their 

f i sh home gree n used to wash i t out by t h e s ide of a schooner in 

t h e harbor i n a box- l ike machine ca l l ed a "Ramshorn " . They 

very rarely I t was t en fee t l o ng, fiv e f e et wide a n d 

fou r fee t deep, made of boards p laced a half inch apart , t o qive 

the water fr e e i n g r e s s and outflow , and kept up b y rwo falls from 

the aloft the schooner. Wh en the f i s h was t h r o wn down the me n 

got into the "Ramshorn" with swabs and mopped a way on t h e f ace 

o f the fi s h till a l l t h e s l ime and pickle cl e an ed o f f , Th ere 

always a - supply of c lean water comi ng i n a t t he b otto m spaces , 

a n d t he d irty water goi ng out a t t h e spaces between t h e boar ds 

at the top , anspach , t h e "Newfound land Hi s t o ria n" speaking o f 

the "Ramshorn" is puzzled over the origin of t h e name , and h azard s 

the c o nj e ctu r e that it is a Fre nc h wo rd cor r upted by the E n g lish 

a n d is derived f r o m the French word for " t o Rinse" . Ce rtainly 

there i s nothing in i t s make to suggest the wo rd "Rain" . The 

number o f wind s tha t t h e fi sherme n u s e d on con nec t ion with t he i r 

wo r k that a re not t o be fou nd in t h e dictiona r y , opens u p on int e r 

e sting study fo r the p h ilolig i s t . I f a tre e wa s t all a nd g rac eful , 

it a " t a nt" t r e e. I f a piece of sawn lumb e r was t oug h a nd pliable, 

it cal led "Suent", I f a man wa s shivering with the col d , 

that h is t eeth were beyond t he control of h Ln facia l musc l es , he 

was sa id to be "b Lbbe r Lnq " with the cold,

- 3 6 - 

An u n l u c k y man , wi th whom everythi ng we nt wrong , was c all e d 

a "leward l y " f ellow a nd a " j u n ke r ". New ice , o f o n e n ight' s 

freez o mg , was c alled "sish". When the water was s mo o t h in cold, 

calm we ather, and just abo ut to freeze , the s u r f a c e wa s s a i d t o 

be cove r e d with "lolly " . Ca k es, baked with s ma l l bits of f at 

pork in them were called "toutans" . A man eager to get up early 

in t h e morning, a nd wh o woke at the first gl eam of dawn, was s a i d 

to be a " y a r e e " . A s cramble for coi n s , or anuthing els e thro wn 

up in the air, was "garagew". The reflection of the edge of the 

i n c o ming ice in the s k y immediately over it , was spoken of a s 

the "glem" Gl i m of the i ce. Thi s i s certainly a corruption 

of g l e an . To " stog" a c e l l a r was to put mo ss tight into the 

i n t e ratices b etween the logs. A "niche" of rind s I have already 

spoken of. Porridge known "burgoo". Water, sweetened with 

molasse s a s d r ink wh en ma k i n g fish , allned to a s 

"swi t c h e l " . 'An y pi e c e of b us i ness in proces s of being s e t t l e d , 

but hung up by delay, was s a i d to be "in s lings". When a fi sherman 

a s k e d , "H ow is the fi sh today", he would s a y , if they wer not 

plent i f u l , "ch ] ther is a sca t ter e d one going" . The "ballac arkis" 

was a ridge of ice on the rocks of the fore-shor e in spring . 

When the ice drifted out in Spring, the "ballacarter " remained 

t ill the rain and s un melted it away. A meal of pork , cabbage, 

turn i p s and p otatoes , cooked up out of the regular meal time on 

board a schooner 

a b u l l oc k ' s head 

called a "scoff" . On coming to St. John's, 

a favorite s c o f f . "Owigh," I have already 

refered t o . The protesbera n ce in t h e fran t of th e neck , known 

as Ad a m's appl e ws by the fishermen called the "koe-Korn" . The 

arm-pi ts were t h e "oxters" . wh en a y oung fi sherman wa s learn i ng 

to s wim , 

h e should go t o the "oxter s" before "splaShing off".

jiiiiIP 

- 37 - 

The " b a ....n .. ha s b e en alr e ady d e s crib e d , a lso "angry s hore· a n d " no 

"dr i t e " i n t he weath er. 

Un d er a l e e-s h o r e or high-land , where t h e wind had no effe ct 

o n the wv e s , i t wa s sa id t o be " l u nd" . " Br ewi s ", a mea l of soaked 

ha rd bi s cuit bits , with s ma l l piece s o f fi s h, is , I t hink, a d i ctiona ry 

wo r d . " Lobscouce " a k i nd o f fi sh-soup , wi t h i ngredients , s u ch 

as bread a nd l e a n pork t hro wn in ; our people l e a r n e d t o make t h i s 

f rom the French f i shermen . A " yaffle" was many dr y fish a s 

a p erson c ould c o nvien t ly throw to ano t her in o ne parcel; i t i s 

poss i b l y a West Country corruption of handful . An i c e-b e r g - not 

the l arg est one s, wa c alled a " c Lum p e r " of ice. " Slob " wa s aki n 

to " sish" , alread y r e f e r e e d to . but the f o r me r wa s no t pounded u p, 

a n d fl o a t ed a long inc rushed on the s u rface of t h e wat e r. A "barb el" 

a s heep-sk in o r l e athe r apr6n , with t h e c lear s i de out , u s ed 

t o keep t h e body c lean s i d e out , u sed t o keep t h e body c lean and 

d r y when slpitting , thro a ting o r h e a d ing fi sh. Salter s also 

mi ght u s e t h e m. T h e y were held u p by straps over t h e s h o u l d e rs , 

a n d c o ver e d the leg s a nd br e a s t. So me writer s s pe l l it " Ba r v el" . 

Th e liquid offal that was kep t o ff the body by t h e " barv el . in 

h and l ing fsih wa s ca l led " s l u b" . A spi got in a c a s k wa s c alle d 

a " s p ile .. .. Be tween d a y a nd dark was "duc kish" , e q u ivalent f o r 

the Scotch " i n the gl o a mi n g" . Co d f ish , t o o sma l l t o s p lit , salted 

ro u nd , a n d k ept f or home u s e i n winter wh e n dried , wer e known as 

" leg g i e s " . A " Killo c k" was a cheap , home made substit u te f o ~ a 

grapne l . Th er e s ho u ld be on e o u r Mu seum , fo r it will be a gre at 

c u r i o s i t y i n days t o come . It wa s a l l wood, except t h e big stone 

enclosed by t h e r o d s . "Sta r igans" were g r e en, young firs, cut d own 

a nd brought out fo r f ire wo o d, 

I h ave a lready r e f f erre d t o. It 

an y o t her u s e . The pew o r " p u e" 

pro ng, wtih one ti n e u s e d

for throwing the fish o ut of the b oat i n t o tn e • • --.- 

.e wi t h t h e cold was e qua l to c h ille d with the cold . " S u n - d o g s " 

d" 

that circled the 

"sun-hound!) " were the firey -coloured 

il 

o d 

sun a t its rising . and a t wa u e portened a starn before sunse t . 

I h a v e al so heard t h e express ion , " t he sun drawn ' wa ter " , u s e d 

bY fis h e r me n t o character ize t h i s phenonenon. lie l o o k e d very 

"sha r oosh" , it is very difficult t o give the fine s hade of me an i ng 

in t his word. It includes t a k e n aback , surprised , disappoin ted , 

ha s i tating . a nd a small mixture of disgust . "solomon Go sse"s 

bir t hday" was the name of t h e dayS of t h e we e k in wh i c h p o rk and 

duf f wa s served. 

A "Gulch" we s a h o ll o w i n the road . as ....e l l as a »er e e v COVe 

The root of a tree 'Was a "mo or " , and a 

s tu,pid 

alo n g the sea-coast . 

p e r s on not able to l e a r n radily wa s "awfU l stunned " . " Lo g y " "'ean t 

hea v y and inert ' a sultr y day was " logy weather". "Binnac y " "as 

u s e d for c roSS and peevish. To t e s t the we i g h t of any objec t by 

holding it o ff the ground i n the h a n d was t o " h e ft it". F o r ·.ample, 

"Is t ha t fis h very n e ev v t " "It i s, just h e f t it". To s toop " ith 

the knees dra wn up wa s t o " q u a t d own", t he p o s i tion wa s d e scribed 

a s " i n a c ri t " . quat dow n " , the p osition wa s desc r ibed as "in a 

"Th e h e e l of the day " wa s t he l a st hal f . h our o f the e Ve n i n g . 

cirt " . 

" ~ i s h" 

A hungry schooner " wa s o ne with n o fish or seals o n b o a rd . 

denoted gr e en o r immiature, as small fi sh . "NightmareN was not 

known . it th e " o l d Hag" . Whe n the "old u a a " a t tac~ed the s leeper , 

if it wa s know n t o the observer , the reme dy wa s t o k e ep on c alling 

t h e name o f t h e person b a c k ward s. For i nstanc e: wh e n Ga b e Ro na n 

h e ard his bunkmate , John Goodal l , g roaning in hi s s leep . he "'ould 

say a s fast a s he could) 

J o hn : 

"g o o d a ll, John : Good all, J o h n: 

Go o d a l l

- 39 - 

for probab l y a hundre d time s. On e would think that ':it would b e 

a muc h mo re simple cure to wake John up. But " t wa s never done , 

because it would bring the " o l d Bag" back to f insh h er work wh en , 

pe r h a ps , no one would be present but the s l eep e r , a n d then she 

wo u l d take r e v e ng e f o r having been driven off against t h e r u les , 

wi t h compound interest. A narrow road o r l a n e, bordered o n each 

s i d e with e i ther houses gardens, was cal led a "drune" . I believe 

t h ere is a street in carvonear still k n ow n by that A " d r ake" 

was either a thick c luster of wood in a valley , or the valley itself . 

A " drak e " of birche s , a " d r a k e" of s pruce , we re common expressions 

amongs t t h e f i shrmen who went into the wo o d s t o cut their winter 

f i r e wo o d . I f the valley wa s there without the vood , I do not 

t hink t h e word wo uld apply , but Mr. Eevereaus , member fo r P l acentia 

and St. Mary 's , who wa s born at Trepassy , that the word i s 

"dr o o k " , and i s retained in the name o f a smal l settlements near 

h i s native t o wn. This l e a d s one t o suspec t tha t t h e wo rd c a me 

with the WEst Countrymen ( En g l i s h) , a great ma ny of whom set t led 

in and a r ound Tr c p a s s e y in t h e 1 7 t h c e n t u ry ; th e sameaa p l y ing t o 

Bo n a v i s t a Bay, by whose pioneer settlers and their descendants a l I I 

the word s gusted were used. The origina l word veing droke , a s 

p r o n o u n c e d b y the English settlers; t h e Iri s h wh o came t o Tr e p a s s e y 

i n the next centry, would give i t a braoder p ronunciation "drook" 

a touch o f the brogue. 

A fi shermen s i t ting down quietly in the house , would jUJ.nP u p 

SUd d e n l y , put on his hat and say : I t h i n k i"ll t a k e a s lew around" , 

me a n i n g t hat he wo u ld ta ke a wal k up or down one o f th e r o ad s o f 

the harbor. If he intended t o go a long distanc e, he would s ay: 

"I am going up t h e bay for a c r ui s e nexx t week'

- 

- 4 0 - 

It did not mean t h a t theywould go in a boat no, simply to wa l k 

drive on t h e r o a d . These wa s another v e r n a c u l ar wo r d that 

veyc d almost the s a me idea, viz , .. I ' l l take a s k i r around " . 

Th a t would mena to go up the harbor , or down, as the case may be, 

and back t o t h e house of departure . A "busker " is u s ed today, 

but o n ly i n t h e sense of a bus y , energe tic p ers o n , h u stler . 

It h a d a n o t h e r me a n ing in t hea Ld days am ongst t h e fi s herme n , namely 

a poor man , wh oh ad n o t muc h of t h e world 's goods , and sent about 

6eg g i n g thing s f rom hi s neighbors . Our a nchestor s we re t o o kind and 

s y mp a t h e t i c for a fe l lowman ' s n e eds to ca l l him a b e g g er, so t h ey 

used the word "bu s k e r ", wh i ch conveyed the i d e a of a cer ee Ln amount 

of spirit and enterprise , and took away t he odium t h a t wo u ld be 

a t t a c h e d t o t h e other word . "He i s a g reat 

fe l l o w i s able to busk his winter's grub " , 

t o b usk " , or " t h a t 

common expressions . 

The mos t popularna me for dogs am ongst t he f ishormen in the o ld 

day s was "Busker". I f they t h o u g h t there was anyd i sgra ce 

i mplied in t h e word they would not give it t o t h e i r dogs as a Name . 

If a b oa t or schooner , with crew on board , wa s d riv e n out o f sig h t 

of land b y the wind , the expe e s s Lc n used was, " s h e got a cent off" 

t hewi nd canted off" . This word Ls ua e d t o t h e present d a y . to 

c l o s e - q u e s t i o n , in th e manner of a l a wy e r e xamin i ng a witness was t o 

"crosac k l e " one. "Frore" was said for frozen . The wa ter is "frore". 

T h is was a good Englis h word i n t h e reign of Elizabeth , and i s 

fo u n d in Spencer , as wel l " S c r i z e " or "Scr uge" , to press c lose ly 

i n a c rowd . "Steeve" , to wa lk wi t o u t making a n o i s c . " Tic k l c " 

d i f f i c u l t to pass t h rough . 

In C h a uce r we fi n d s e v e r a l wo r d scu s e d by the fi shermen - 17th 

cen t u r y E n g l is h - now obsolete , such as "afered" , for afriad; "axe" 

for a sk; "betwixt " for between; : G I Ulll" , fo r s ilent ; " g abb l e " ,

- 

- 41 - 

for idl e t alk; "ne she " o r " nisl o ", f or soft or t ende r ; "rot e", 

or "rout e " the sound o f t h e sea a t a dista nce . A fi sherma n in 

the f og , off the s h o r e would s a y ; "We are off Green Point. I 

t ell by t h e rot e o f the sea " . A "scad" of s no w was a t h i n 

coat i n g of it o n the gro und. Chauce r u s e s "shade", a v erb, 

to f all i n sma l l d rape of r ain , o r part i cle s of s now. Shakespe 

a r e uses " sagg" to drop or sink down, in Hacbath , and " skie " 

alread y refere d to" " S end o u t mo r e h or s e s, s k i r the c o un t r y r oun d ". 

"Karn" , used by the fi shermen for c rooked or bent , i s foundiin ~ : 

Shakespeare in Cor iolanus . T o "se u n" a sh i p was to g et in t h e 

bow or for e-t op , a ns stout and the directions to t h e helmsman, 

especi a l l y wh e n goi n g t h r oug h loo se ic e . The same t erm is u s ed 

in the sea l ing steamer s today, and the man who goes into the 

bar r e l , or "crow s -ne st" , on the f or e ma st h e ad , goes thereto s cun 

her . A seali n g c a s e wa s b e ing h e ard in o ur Supreme court s o me 

f iteen years a g o , and the witn e s s in the box b eing a sked by the 

l awyer what h e wa s d oing in th e b arrel at the fore-top , h e 

answe red the lawyer: I wa s scu nn i ng h er". The whole c ourt , 

j udges and all , wer e puzzled , till another l a wy e r, who had b e en 

once at t h e S e al-fi s hery explaine d to the jUdge wh at h em e ant. 

HOu ff" , which wi t h por k, ma kes a f a vorite me al for the sea ler , 

is a word too well known t o n eed any explanation to anyon e in this 

count r y , but for th e b e n e f it o f an y outsider who may r ead thi s 

i t i s we ll to say that it is another name for pudding, made of 

p la i n flour with o ut a nyingredients . On festive occasions , whe n 

fig s or currant s are mixed with the dough , i t is called a Hfiggy . 

dugg" • 

A quickly-eaten lunc h wa s ca l led a " smack " . For example" 

Let h a v e a snack b efor e we g o . In Sco t l a n d , in the t i me of

--- 

of Dr. J o h n s t o n, t h i s wo r d , 

vcrym cuh like it , wa s used . 

In Boswe l l 's account of h i s and Dr. :Johnsoo ' s journey to the Hebrides 

, he says: "Our hostes s would n ot Le t.u s go ....i thout a " s n a t c h " , 

as they c alled it ; that is to say a l u n c h ". The wo r d that our 

fi sher men h ave, in r e c ent y e a rs , s u b s t i t u ted f or i t , i s a "mug up' . 

bor r o we d front e h Nova scotian and Canadian bank fishermen. Kipli n g 

r efers t o it in h i s " Ca ptain s c oura g eou s " , and J. B. Co n n o l l y i n 

some o f hi s exc ellent s tor ie s descriving th e Bank F i shery. A 

favo r i te drink a mo ngst the fisherme n wa s " c alibo g u s" - a mixture 

o f s p r u c e beer and rum, swee t e ned ....ith molla s se s . An spa ch, who 

....r o te in 1818 , descr i bes the me r i ts of spruc e b e er and how it we s 

ma de . Bo u g h s and top s , pref er a bly t h o s e wi th b uds o n the m, t h a t 

had bee n lopp e d o f f i n wo o d -cuttin g the p r e v ious winter , we r e 

bro u g h t -ro m t h e wo o d s to the c o o k-ro o m and chop p ed up into sm a l l 

p iec e s . They wer e the n put i n to a larg e iron po t , containing about 

t en-ga l l o ns .o f water , h u n g over a f i re ma de of birch wo od, and 

l ef t t o b oil f or sev e r a l hour s . The p ot ....as t aken off , and molasses 

put in _ a b o u t one g a l l on for everyei ght e en . The ....hole was then 

s t i r r e d u p with a wo oden s lice or ladl e , a nd when s u f f ic i e n t l y 

c o o l e d , 

poured into a cask , wh ere a p oint or t wo of "grounds " 

left by the former brew ing ,a nd a certain quanti t y of cold water, to 

p rese r ve the "ground s" fr om b eing s c a l d e d , had b e e n previously 

put in . The c a sk wa s then c o mp l e t e l y fi l l ed , and af t e r being we l l 

shake n , ....as left t o f erment and s ettle f or 24 h o urs. I The b e e - wa s 

then fit f or u s e. I t was t h e genera l drink am o n g st t he fi s herme n , 

and wa s c o nsidered a cer tai n pr eventativ e o f s c u r v y , t o wh i c h the 

p e ople o f thes e d ays 

s uscept ible on a c c ount o f b ei n q obliged to 

c a t 50 much sal t pork.

- 43 - 

A p lant, indigenou s to the country, called Indian tea , wa s 

al s o u s ed as a substitute for China Tea , which in t h e oeginning 

o f the 19th c entury , was fiv e s hillings a pound; only t h e we llt 

o-d o cou l d afford to h a v e real t e a . The India n tea, on the 

con trary , could behad b y the poorest people . I t gathered 

t h e h ea l th l and s e v e r y settlement by t h e wome n , a nd b rought 

h o me and d i red. I t is easi l y d i s t ingu i sha bl e fro m t he gold-worthy 

plants. amongst whi c h i t general l y grows , whereas, while the l e a v e s 

o f t he I n d i a n t e a p lan t a re g reen on ' t h e u p p er s ide, t h e y a re wooly 

and o f a d u l l s i lve r c o lou r o n the und er s ide , and of th i ck t extur e. 

Th e leaves were boi led o ver anight a nd a l lowed to s leep t i ll the 

f ollow ing mo rning. Anspach says he o f t e n drank the I n d i a n tea 

....hil e in Newfoundland , a nd tha t : " I t not o n l y i s a pl e a s a nt b e v 

e rage , bu t a lso considered by the o ldes t inhabitants , wh o h a d been 

f o r yea r s using i t exc lusively , par t icularly wholesome in the 

Spring . " Th i s Ind i a n t e a is st i l l grow ing in abundance in Ne w 

foundland , b u t it i s questionable i f o ne out of t e n t h ou s a n d people 

eve r had a taste of it . May it not have g reat medicina l and 

cur ative properties , wh i c h would accoun t f o r the f a c t Wh y t he p i o n e er 

p o pulation of our coutnry ....ere such a h e al t hy and hardy r a c e ? 

Anoth er p lant , ....hich wa s much sought after , but wolely for medicinal 

use , wa s the snake-root , whi c h wa s , a nd i s t o d a y n o d o ubt , 

found i n t h e semi:=-dry ma rches. T h e t r e a d- l i k e r o o t s a re o f a 

g old en c o l o u r , and e r e c s c u nd a few i nches below t h e sur face . 

It s e e me d t o be a regula r p a na c e a amongst t h e o ld p eople , b e for e 

d octor s and diseases b e c a me so nume rous i n t h e outports . The 

snake-roo t c u r e d , am ongst other di seases , i n d i g e s t i o n, c o l i c, headache, 

l i v er e r o u b t e , k i d n e y weakness a nd wo rms . The o ld women

""e r e ma r v e l l o u s l y ski l lfu l i n treating a l l tho) com:llUIl u ......,.. . 

and a Ki n d P r o v i d e n c e ordained i t so t h at there wa s generally 

l o c t o r - wo me n in e ve r y set t lement. One of this kind s u rvived t o 

a l a t er d ate the South Side of S t . J oh n ' s, in the person o f 

t h e late Mr s. S taffor d , wh o cur e d cases t h a t some o f o u r b e st 

d o c t o r s failed t o c ure . 

An d n o w to c om plete the l i s t of v ernacul a r s u sed by our a n 

cestors. A "Mausey" day. l Thi s word i s s t i l l u sed by many p e o ple . 

It me a n s a damp, cl o s e d a y , with no wind and a little r ain f alling. 

Po name g iven to distingu i sh o ne Joe o r Tom from another wa s "foxy" . 

Fo x y J oe i s the Joe o f the r e d o r Sand y h air beard. S ame way , 

a foxy d og i s a r eddish or yellow d o g. No w , in the United State s 

t h e word foxy con veys quite a n o t h er mean i n g , and h a s no t h i n g to 

do with colour or comp l e x ion. A f o x y man s im p ly is 

sly; a n d n o t t o b e o utwitted in h is p lans or scheme s , s om e t hi n g 

like o u r word cu t e, as u s ed at the p rese n t day. The United S t a t e s 

f oxy then me e n s ' cute a n d s l y a s a f ox; while our foxy means 

red aand y ellow f ox . J Th e" s i 1v er-thaw " has been often 

referred t o t h at it would s e em t o be super f lou rous now t o again 

mentio n it . It i s the b e autiful e f f e c t ma d e by the s un s h i ning 

on ic e - c o v e red tre e s , etc , in the Spr i n g o f the y e ar ; a fine day 

a nd s u d de n mild turns of t he weather aft e r a hard fro st . "Rotte n 

Snow" was an expre s sion applied t o old s now i n April , that was able 

to b e ar one up yesterda y , owing t o b eing frozen , while today , owi ng 

to a warm or mild chang e in the we ather, i s not abl e t o b e ar u p 

the p e rso n wh o tries to walk on it. !. To "tail" a trap is simply 

to se t it for f axe s , bears , or a n y wild game , A welco me ha r b i nger 

o f Sp r i ng i s t o hear the " s a ddle b ack " c i rc l i ng over the blue 

wa ter o f th e bay some fi n c, off-wind d a y in l a t e Apri l , and i c e 

out of s igh t . 

T h e y ma ke a cry t h at s t i rs the b e a sts o f the fis h_

e r llle n, and tel ls them there is a good t i me corning. "Saddle 

fl y ver y h igh , a n d soar very s lowl y and gracefu lly , s oeo c Lnes the y 

a re a l mo s t l o st t o sight over h e a d, but , wh en the y sec a d e ad 

f i s h on the s u r fac e o f the water , swoop d own wi th amazing s wif t ness . 

There i s ano t her bird , wh o s e h a bitat is o n l and, a nd is , I 

be l i e v e, a variety o f t he snipe f a mily . T h e fishe rme n i n the 

old e n times c a l l e d it the " whabby ". It make s an u lUlating call 

f r o m i t s hiding p lace o f the marsh on the s ullish e ven i ng in the 

l a t t e r par t o f June, and i s said t o ind i c a t e wet wea t he r . Why 

i t l s ca l led " wh a b b y" o nly surmise, b ut I h a v e tho ught that. 

it has some a f fin i ty t o the word wa b ble, f or o ne c an make a s imila r 

noise with the t o n gue by making i t wabble abo u t r a pidl y from s i de 

t o s i d e o f the mou t h . An s p a ch speaks o f the wabb y , and incl udes 

it in the diving ge n us with t h e loon . Other game b i r ds that we 

do not hear a ny me ntion o f in t h o s e days wer e th e hounds , t i n k e r s, 

grips , carey 's c h i c k e n p ieb i r ds and hag- down . An s p ach s a ys that 

the hounds g o t t h e ir n a me from t h e fac t tha t the sound made wh e n 

they a re fly ing is like tha t made by beagles ) s mall h oun d s) whe n 

out on t he c hase i n the Old Countr y. To " sh e a v e" u s e d genera l ly 

70 to 1 0 0 y e a s r ago , mean t t h e same as t h e o rder " b a c k wa ter " , 

given by the cox swain o f a b o a t. " She a v e" the midship oar; p u l l 

the b o x o a r", wer e orders f o r a quick tur n. A "strad" p resents 

a rathe r intere s ting con t ras t l i k e the wo r d f oxy, a s e xplained 

above . If o ne went into a s tore now . and a sked t o be s h o wn a 

"strad" , the owner wo u l d k n ow that it o ne o f the ' r are v i o l i n s 

made by Str adivarious t ht wa s wanted . Whe n our g ra n d fa t h e rs 

wen t into a s tore 100 years ago , a nd sa id t h e y wa nted a "st rad " , 

they handed down a r ol l o f good u p p e r l e a ther, f r om wh i c h 

the p lanters or fishe rmen wo uld se lec t t h e bes t part and c ut of f

- 

- 

46 - 

a " stra d" t o mak e or me nd a pa i r .o f long f ish i ng b oots . The st i f f 

piece in a b o o k i n the back of t h e hee l wa s ca l led a .. c lick " . 

Whe n the f i s h ermen h a d g iven up d r ink i ng r um a n d take r'\, to hot 

peppe rm i n t , 

he 

sa i d t o b e "eagg e d " . A "tilt" i s ~o 

a word t h at i no c o u n t r y n e e d s e x p Le ne t.L on , It is 

s impl y a t emporary hut of log s , with r o of c over ed wi t l) rinds, 

erect ed generally i n th e woods , far from any s e t t l em c l),t . An o pe n 

space in the roof l eft for the smo k e to g o out. 

"To s moke l i k e a wi n ter tilt, is a n e x agge rated e c epe r Ls cn 

ma de in the cas e of a fisherma n wh o u sed up 

than his normal 

al lowanc e o f t oba c c o . "Linney" i s 

word now , 

some wr i ter s 

s pel l it linh ay and lean-to, a s in teh case of t h e United States 

f i c t ion writer s i n magazi nes . If t he word wa s spell e d Itl imey lt , 

a n d a n d wa s cal l ed "Lcnney" from the outset, i t i s a Sorry affectation 

to b e s t re tchi ng it out t o l e an-to . They say it i s Called this 

because it l ean s towards the mai n building. Th ey s h o u l d put it 

down that i t is c a lled "l i nney" , b e cau se it leans t o the house 

a n d be done with it. For mu self I have never heard ~an . 

o r chi l d in count r y c a l l i ng it a l ean-to . Spark ~ _ big o nescoming 

out of a chimney i n the night called " fl

- 4 7 - 

they have no claims to b e a u t y 

good l o o k s . She is a very h o mely 

p e r s o n , i s the charitable way in which one l a d y will convey t h e 

idea that Miss Smith is ugly . I n Newfoundland a Home ly woman was 

one who kept at h o me , and did no t go out and visit the neighbors . 

toMrs . Brown has got very homely this winter " . 

The voyage home from La bra d o r was of ten made to stormy weather 

a nd high gales . The l a r g e v e s s e l s took the outside out, and 

i n the night time wel l as the day . The smaller schooners took 

t he inside course and through Star Harbor Run. .They generally 

h a r b o u r for the night when there were i n d i c a tio n s of a storm . I n 

mos t cases the v e s s el s would be deeply l a n d e n wi t h fish , and often 

in many sorms would have their decks swept and canvas carried away . 

In s u c h 

emergencies therewas always one of the crew stationed i n 

the l o w to "cr c s s t h e s e a v s sea that would be coming on thr e a t e nin g 

t o swamp the s chooner. The i r faith i n t h i s wa s marvellous and 

indicates the kind of a god- fear ing and r el i gio u s people t hat t h e y 

The i r be l ief i n the efficacy o f "cr c s s Lnq the sea " wa s 

k n o wn to f a il . About th e fi rst of Oc t o b er , a fte r t h e first 

N. E . g al e , the f ol k s at home wo u l d be expecting t h e La b r a dor fleet. 

The woman , boys a nd o ld me n wo u ld be seen goi ng t o t he highe st 

hi l l o r l o ok-out, over look i n g t h e ocean , o r, in t h e wo rd s of virgil 

"Om n e m p rospectum l a t e Re l a g o peti t s i quem jacta t u m v e ntum videat" , 

a n d of ten it wo uld be , " Na v e m in c o nspecta nuLj amv , toto tak e in 

the whol e circuit of t h e s ea f a r a nd wide; but no s hip appeared 

in s ight to. There were t hen no t ele gra p h s or marconies , a n d no t hing 

cou l d be k no wn about t he whereaboutsof t h e schooners, t i ll t h e y 

showe d the tops of their white sails above the horizon making for 

t he harbor. Their identification a l o n g distance at sea , by men 

on the shore , wa s another of the marvels of those by-gone days .

HO\>· they c ou l d distinguish one vessel from another of the same 

size wa s n o thi n g s hort o f a mir a cle. Th i s f a culty has b e en , thro u gh 

s o mewhat impaired, transmitted t o thei r descendants , and we remember 

r ading i n the p a p e r s a s hort t i me ago that the Brit i sh captains 

on t h e 

warships have expressed the ir s u rprise and admira t ion 

of t h e wa y i n which the New f oundland n ava l o n t heir s h i ps could 

distinguish objects a t sea at a l ong d istance , especially the 

periscopes o f submar i nes . Th e r e is no d oub t that the i r ability 

to do so has b e e n t r a n s mitt e d t o th e m fro m thr e e or four g ene r ations 

of sires, who, f rom t h e very necessities of thei r exis t ence , h a d 

to wa t ch t h e sea a ll their l i v e s, a n d d i st i n guish objects a t a 

great d i sta n c e, whether it we r seals , bi r d s , buoy s, boats, s chooners 

or br e a k e r s . It i s a g rand vindication of the l aw of the tra nsmission 

o f hereditary tra i t s, and when t h e g rand fathers we re 

wxerc ising their eyes t o l o c a t e, seals , bird s a n d bultow buo y s 

one hun d r e d years ago , t h e y perfecting a valuable v isua l l e g a cy 

tha t wo uld help to save t h e british empi re in 1 91 5. The f i rs t 

arriva l fro m Labrador t o a harbor was as p recious and a ttractive 

t h e first a rri va l f r o m t he sea l - f ishery b efor e we had th e Marconi . 

S cores of boats would put off f rom t h e stages , and l n e h er 

sides a s soona s the a n cho r dropped . All wante d to h e ar the 

news abou t t h e i r fri end s, especia l ly t h e answer to t h e a l l-importan t 

enqu i r ies , "D id they s ee them th i s s umme r " I a n d "how did the y 

do with t h e f i s h ? " An answer t hat sat isfied everyone , and was 

not c ompro mi s ing wa s, "they used a l l the ir s a l t ", After the h om e 

news and the Labrador wer wcchanged , and t h e sails f urled 

and tie d u p, the cr e w on shore , every ma n a hero in th e eyes 

of his people shore, A certain we ll-affec ted modesty and lack 

of en t hus iasm were c haracaeristics of t h e f ishermen o f t hat day , 

: -=~

- 4 9 - 

as they wal k e d t h e p rincipa l s t reets of the port , " bear i ng t he i r 

blushing honors t h i c k u p o "' t h e m" . T h eir ....o rk was the r e t o speak 

for t hem , and they h a d a grea t con temp t i n the ir souls f or 

who bragged a nd b o a s t ed of their e xplo i ts, and ....h o , b y the ir very 

act of d oin g so , set themselves down as being " n o good". Discharging 

the vo y age, n ow safe at home in a g ood harbor wa s r ather 

p lay than work f or the men wh o had g one t hrough t h e v icis s i tude s 

of a Labrador trip . If the we ather was fin e , t he fi s ,!l made 

in l e s s than three weeks . The s upplyi ng mercha nt t h e n h a d it 

brought t o h i s premise s and weigh ed, unles s in the case wh en the 

skipper d ealt with a merchant in St. John 's , wh e n i t wa s agai n 

put on b o ard, and the trip to the capita l made the first fair wind. 

Planters and s k i p p er s who h a d their d ealing s wi t h St. J ohn ' s 

chants were con sidered 

f ortunate, and were regarded as being 

partively ind e p e n d e n t men . They c o uld ge t settled u p a s soon a s 

t he fish discha rged , and t h e balanc e to their credit , if any , 

could b e had in cash if ask ed f or. Many t o o k it as a c hoice , h owever 

, to "l e a v e it on the boo k s", af t er a l i t t l e p ersuasion from 

the merc h ant a nd the b o o k - k eeper. "Leav ing it on th e book s " brought 

many a financial d isaster t o t h e c o n findin g o utpor t planter in 

t h o s e old d ays. Hundr eds wer e ruined in the periodic crashe s t ha 

came t o some o f t h e old Water Street firms in the latter half o f 

the 18th century . If their c ase wa s bad a s a clas s {b e c a u se they 

a l l did n o t me et with s uc h mi sfortun e), the l ot o f the planter and 

fishe rm a n who dea l t with f i rms in the outpor ts wa s S e t t l ing 

u p day , especia l ly a f t er a g o od voyag e , 

put o f f by the merchant 

ti l l the winter set in , and somet i mes 

wu u Ld 

n e ver get 

accoun t at a l l . li e g iven all the fl o ur, mo lasses , t e a, pork

- SO - 

and bread that wa s required to k e ep thims elf and hi s family going. 

that i s provided h e wa s on the right sid e of the .acc o unt. li e 

da re not ask for money . While h e was waiting for hi s summer ' s 

acco u n t to find out "how he stood" , the Spring wa s coming, and 

i t was time to see about s h i p p i n g for the s u mme r again. If he 

had a 

good balance due when he clued up at the fi shery the previous 

fall , it wa s a l l eaten up by hi s winter a ccount , so that 

hund r e ds of fishermen went down 

to their graves, and never had 

arriv e d at a solution of the question - "how they stood " with the 

me r c han t . They did their work nobly and we l l b y the sweat of t heir 

brow on land and sea , and it is to be hoped t h a t when they sailed 

out , the g reat Bo o k-keeper beyond the Bar was able to gratify them 

by t elling them "how t hey s t o o d on His books" , and that the big 

balance to their credit far outwighed their transgressions. 

The charges made by the merchants in those early days were 

reg u l a t e d f o r each i n d i v i d u a l skipper and planter in proportion 

t o q u a n t i t y of fi sh caught during the Where and wh enever 

i t possible tomak e a charge, in orde r to help to cut down the 

c red i t balance, it made . A fisherman who lost a grapnell 

whi l e working · as a shipped man , was told by the merchant that "he 

n e ed not be anxious about it, because he would find it in the 

Fa l l - charged on his account . "Looking back on the system now , 

witha l l its faults, it possessed certain advantages. I f the 

chant fleeced the fisherman by high prices , and s c r u p u l o us l y abstained 

fr o m e ver pauing him c a sh , he generally flet , in honor bound , 

t o s e e that all his dealers would get enough of food oj! some kind 

to keep them a l i ve during the winter , no matter ho.... poorly they 

did a t the fi shery. Whilst a g o od many did thi s out of natural 

kindness of their hearts. other s did 5 0 , purely through self-interest,

.... 

- 

- 5 1 - 

a n d wi t h a view to future gains . T h e f ishermen wo uld be wanted 

n ext year t o catch f i s h. I f the y did no t g et an y food they would 

d i e of h unger, and if they we re dead , t h e y could c atch no fish; 

e r g o , i f no fi sh was caught, the merchant wo uld make no mon ey, 

It wi l l be s een then that they s ystem of pater n a l ism that p rev a i led 

h ad i t s advan tages, and one was, t h a t it took off the shoulders 

o f the fisherme n t h e responsibility o f his upkeep , as f ar as actua l 

n ecessa r ies wer e concerned d uring t h e c o ming winter. Th e mer c hant 

wo u l d see t h a t he would be "Kept along". T here was a lways a 

brand of f l o ur, pork and mo l asses fo r t h e men who h a d " f alle n 

b a ck" in t h e ir accounts. Th ere we r e, b e s i de s , a mn y ,:"a ys o f ear ni ng 

a bag liarrell after t h e fi s h i n g season wa s ove r. T h ere wa s 

work on t h e room handli ng the dry fish , and gettin g it r e a d y 

f o r shipment i n No vember . Th e r e was wo r k goi ng i n the Day f or 

wo od , and , l a t e r on , h a u l i n g up the boats , and lay ing up t h e 

scho o n e r s for t h e winter . I f the harbor was not a safe o ne , and 

s u c h t h at the i c e g oi n g o u t in t h e Spr ing would b e likely t o 

take t h e m away embedded i n it, t h e schooners we r e t ake n up the 

Da y to some lan d';" l o c k e d harbor , wh e r e such a c on t ing e n c y would. 

no t be likely t o happen. Ma n y c rews would a l s o g o in t h e Bay s 

f or the winter, and would build t i lts , and r e side t h e r e on a "wi n t er' s 

work" , ei t h er cuttin g cask-staves , h o o p s or h e a d i n g, s aw i n g b o ard, 

and c ut t i ng wh ar f s ticks. Th e r e we r e ma n y harbors in Bonav i sta 

and Trinity Bays where t i mb e r was so p lentifu l in t h e vicinity 

t h at this wo r k cou ld be done at home. T h e f irst ....o r k comi ng on 

Ch r is t ma s was to go i n t he wo o d s , a n d cut the wint e r fir ew o o d . 

Nea r l y every planter kept on a crew o f winter men , inc l uding t he

- S2 - 

yo u n g sters , i nto whose shipping paper thi s t e r m ....as included , a nd 

wh o worked duri n g t he p e riod for the ir die t only . 

Af te r putting their fi r st wi n t e r o v e r them, the yo ungs t e r s 

wer e cal l ed " wh i t e n o s e s " . 8 0 th An s p a c h a nd Wil s o n, Newfoundland 

h i storians , are p u zzled over the origin of this 1 8 80 informed the 

writer that it originate d i n thi s way: "The Iri sh a n d Eng l ish 

youngster s h ad no i d e a o f the insidious nature o f the Ne wf o u nd lan d 

their ears , would almost inv"lrwel 

l 

fr o s t , and their nos e s I 

i abe l y get forst-bitte n u n known to the m a t some t im e during the 

winter. The n c s e would turn wh ite before they were aw are of it, 

and af t e r undergo i ng th i s ordea l , they were c a l led "white noses" . 

Like t h e measl e s or the sm a l l - pox , they would never have it the 

secon d time . Th e y wo uld never give tho new corner s the benefit. 

of the ir own experi e n c e by wa y o f advice, s o tha t all ....ere destined 

to become " wh i te no s e s" . From t his time f orward t hey had graduated 

from the stat.us of y ou ngs t e r s . and we r e known a s oldster s . After 

the wi nter 's firewo o d ha s b een c u t and s t uc k u p in t h e woods in 

big p i l e , the f irst snow a n d fr e e z ing over of the ponds 

waited for in orde r t o h aul it out. A ~ . p a t h wa s cut and the 

bea t e n down with p ot-l i d racket s . All who had wood c u t in the 

direction turned out in a b ody- s o me time s o n e hundred men - 

f avorabl e mild d ay to mak e a path. wo e t o the me a n man wh o 

attemp t e d t o come in and haul on that path without h aving helped 

to "beat it". Hi s dogs ' h auling r o p es would b e cut , and he would 

have t o tur n round a nd push the slide h o me. When every planter 

a n d fi sherman had hi s writer 's fir ew o o d h aul ed o u t and wel l under 

way , t here was a lway s a day g iven for a l l h and s to cut and h aul 

the wr i ter 's f irew o od for the clergyman , s o metime along about the 

middle of J anua r y. The s l i de s wer e do~bl e manned and the h orn s

- 

- 53 - 

o f double length . None but the choicest wood-clear , sound black 

ps r uc e - would do for the priest or t h e par s on. I f there were 

II 

I 

bot h in a harbor, each had his d ay . I t wa s a regular festive r , 

o c c asio n , and the mea l s were s e r v ed t o the men a t the c l e r g ym a n' 5 

kitche n a c cord i ng a s they a r r i v e d f r o m t he wo ods . 

The xitchen in those days was not the coo ped u p modern 

depa r t me n t of today , where half a doze n people o n l y c an find 

to s i t down. I t wa s a l a r g e room , from fifty t o one hundred person s 

coul d find rrom to sit down together. Liquid refre shments 

a lso s eve r e d t o t hose who had no t e mp era n c e s c r u p les , that is to 

s a y , nonety n one out of hundred. Porter wa s a favorite beverage i n 

the ear ly time s, and the drinking o f a whole c a sk o f i t such 

fes t i v e o c cas i ons was nothing u n u sual. At the weddi ng s of the 

me rcha n t , hi s s o n or daughter , three casks o f p o r t e r was the req 

u l a t i o n number in those days ....hen Slade's h ous e f lourishing 

in the North, not to me ntion the large number o f 

boxes of cheese 

t h a t went nearly a ll t h e festivities prevailed in the cut.po r t e - 

from Christmas u p t o the first of Lent. Every merchant I s estab - 

lishment h a d i ts s taf f of c lerks , book-keeper s and s t o r e - k e e p e r s , 

a n d cooper s , and t h e y were g e nerally o f a gay . l i g h t-he art e d spirit . 

who we r e both wi l ling and able to organize am u sements t o beguil e 

the d reary day f r o m De c e mb e r t o March . 

" Handy" h a s mu c h t h e same d ual interpretation as h o mely. 

A " handy" man means one who can do near jobs of manual wor k .' o r 

va r i o u s kind s , e specially of carpentry. I n Newfound land , if J o hn 

Go o d a l l "s hous e i s the nearest to mine ,he i s then the "handiest.. 

ma n in the se t t l e me n t , t h o u g h he may not kn ow how to drive a nail. 

A "nunny" b a g wa s a article muc h in by o u r ancestors, e s pecially 

i n winter . wh en g oing on a journey. It wa s ma d e o f the s k i n o f

- 5 4 - 

some of the s ma l l !uI:-bearing naimals - euch as the otter , the 

~ood- c a t a nd the young fox. Provisions for the journey were carr 

ied in it , 

and they were protected from both the frost and rain. 

of c o u rs e h ard biscuit . "To t ak e a spe l l " wa s 

"Hard Tack" 

j ourn e y wh en c a r r y i n g a l oad. Bring ing a b ack load 

to r e s t 

o f . o o d fr o m the forest , a person would take a " s p e l l " every half 

a i le . A " b r e sney" wa s a load ad dry stick s and b ough s c arried 

the sho l de r . The equivelent to the American "quit work " was 

to " Kn o c k o f f " . "It i s six O'clock, boys , its t i me to "knock off". 

When a boy would attack another , it was quite a u sual e xp r ess i o n 

t o h e a r the latter say in plaintive protestation , "knock off" . 

the floor of t he h ous e s t o re wa s called the "planchin". A 

t e r m of contemp t , ....hich was used by 

....oman to another who had 

an g e r e d her , ....a s a "stre el" - to 

you dirty s t r e e L'", I t 

co nv e y e d the idea of diry and s lovenly. 

Th e round part of oar , which is grasped in the r owing , 

ca l led the " lum". There was f o r me r l y in St. John 's ....ho 

disti n g u i s h e d under the soubriquet of t h e "lu m of the oar " . 

The s tring of a b o o t , made of l e ath er or deer skin, was ca l led 

a " f a n g ". A white-rod , twisted i n t o c i rcular f o r m, to keep u p 

t h e rail s o f a fence any other s im i lar purpose , was cal led 

a "gad" . A sma l l pat ch on a b o ot " t e e-v e e n ". A fa l l of 

sno w was a " b a t c h" , sic- "We had a grent " batc h " of snow l a s t 

n i g h t ". The wooden part o f a dog 's or horse's co l lar (semi -c i rcled 

piec e s that went r o u n d t h e n e c k and kept the col lar i n shape) , 

wa s c a lled the "haime s" . Smal l thin pan-cakes, c o oked in fat 

pork , we re called "slitters" . Qui t e a number of quier wo r d s , a ll 

expr e s s i ng contempt, ..... e r e . on being brought over fr o m the old 

COu n t r y , retaine d by both the Irish and Engli sh se t t l e rs , a n d h a n d e d

pa 

- 55 - 

d own t o the i r childre n , - s uch as "K enat", " o wn s hook " , " omadawn", 

" o malo o r ", " g a mmell", " b o s tho o n", "angryshore ", An adjecti ve was 

mad e f rom t h e l a s t mentioned. Fo r wx a mp l e : "lie l o o k s very " a o g 1 sh", 

meaning sma l l, mean and miserable . " Sk e d a dled" meant t o run a way. 

Th e word was u s e d in a l o c al s o n g by a pol i t i c a l verse wr i ter about 

fifty years ago : 

"Amboose Shea Skedad led away 

To paddle h i s own c a n o e" . 

Fa l livantin " is a word 

seldom heard or written. 

A p lanter 

would say t o h i s servant o r h is son , ·YoU h a v e nothing t o do but 

"ga l l a v a n t i n " about the harbor " . "Slant " was u s e d in the 

o f c h a n c e o r opportunity. six , " I am going u p t o spend t h e day 

...,ith yo ur the firs t slant "I get . " We at e wa iting fo r t he i c e 

t o move ou t t o get a " sla nt" t o go i n the Bay " . I n sa l ua t ions 

our ancestors had some beau t iful forms; on going i n t o a h ous e t h e 

visitor wo u l d , on opening the door , say: " Go d save a ll here , 

" a n d the f amily i n c horus wo uld r e s p o nd, " Go d save y ou kindly" : 

when a p er s on wa s g iven any t h i n g , s uc h as b read , meat or clothi ng, 

by one who wa s be t ter o ff in ' .th e world · s g o o d s , th e r e c ipient would 

say hearti l y " " Go d inc re a seyou r s t o re " . When a v isitor wo uld 

happen t o e n ter th e h ous e at meal h o ur , h e vo r s he would s alute 

the family a t th e t a ble by say ing: " Go d ble s s your wo rk": 

Thank you kindly , come and ma ke o n c withus" Sneezing wa s inv ariably 

followed b y t he audible e xclama tion : "G o d b less u s ": " He ' s 

a fine c hi ld , God b less h i m". " God between us and a l l h a r m" . 

" God save t h e ma rk " . "A fi n e day tommorrow , p lease God". 

all e x p r e ss i o ns used every day , 

and attest. to the piores and 

God fearing dispoisiton of our f o r e f a t h e r s. They also add 

i cted to superstituion in f lok-lore in wh at porte nded good and

- 57 - 

black cat , put under a pot, could keep from going an intended 

j ourney , provided that he knew not that it done. To spill 

s a l t on the table was very unlucky. To hinder one from getting 

water from a well even on your own private land, would bring a 

curs e member of your family , who would die away from 

home and have to bring him her a drink of water. 

To k i ll a we a s el would bring t h e worse kind of luc k, Rats 

l e aving a schooner was strong an i n d i c a tio n that ahw would be 

l o st that no one would go on a voyage in her . To pick birch for 

b r o o ms in May was bad luck, but the first snow in that month would 

c ure sore eyes. Girls put raw eggs out of t h e shell in a galss 

i n the sun on St . John's Day to read their f u t u r e in the forms 

t h a t the eggs would assume after standing an hour. All those supers 

t i t u i o n s - if you ....ish to call t h e m such - were brought over 

from Eng land and Ireland, and we will find a passing a l l usion to 

many o ld games and sport s that are now only a memory amongst the 

ve r y old people swr iving . "Forfeits" was a favorite game for the 

l ong winter evenings. The Master of Ceremonie s invited each 

of the company of both sexes t o deposit a forfeit with h i m - such 

a picket knife , pair of gloves , handkerchief , ring or coin . 

Mea n t i me , a young man chases by lot to be the oracle, and who 

al s o would give him hi s forfiets, and the Master of ceeoeLnee made 

him keep his head down on his lap to that end. 

The ma ster would 

se l e c t a forfeit from the lot , and. l a r g i n g his hand with the 

article in it on the back of the Oracle, would repeat in a sentent 

i o u s and s o l e mn manner the f ollo....ing: "Here"s a forfeit , a 

v ery fine forfeit, and wh at is the owner of thi s forfeit to do? 

"It was then up to the Oracle to think of some unique anddifficult 

t a s k to impo ~e o n the owner of the forfeit , but one t hat wa s rcas-

- 

- 

S8 - 

onably possible t o accompl ish . bec a use he h a d t o k e e p in mi nd that 

he ma y be, in a n y p a rticular instance , passing sentenc e on himself 

. S u c h t a s k s a s the f ollow ing 'Would be given : " Th e owner 

of t hat forfeit is t o t ak e the b uckets , go to the well i n s tock ing 

feet , and being a turn of water to thi s h ous e" . The owner of 

tha t forfeit i s to Kiss Mollie Brown; and i f it i s Mollie Brown 

hersel f - a s s h e i s unabl e t o d o thi s - she mus t Ki s s me, and, 

if i t i s me , I can o nly g e t o ut o f it by Ki s sing Mollie Brown , and 

it went on . 

Another g ame that wa s indulged in , and one, I believe, wa s 

brought fr o m the Ol d Co untr y , wa s " t he Bird s and Fis h e s ". Th e ;:'1 

Mast e r s a t i n his chair , and, c alling e ach one f orward, gave 

him the name of a bird or a fish by whispering it in hi s ear . 

You the wh ale ; you, the pid g e o n , etc . when a l l had been g i v e n 

names , which t hey should not f org et , o n pa in of b eing made the 

guesse r or diviner themselves . The l atter was selected by drawing 

l ots, and would r e c e i v e a lash the hand with a s l a p p e r made 

of r u she s or s t r aw , eve r y time h e ma de a wrong gue s s . The Ma ster 

would b egin :b y saying : " Of all the birds in the air and all the 

fis h e s in the sea , find me out the do g f ish , or the salmon or the 

blue - g u l l , "according a s h i s chaise would d irect. wh e n t h e names 

wou l d be said s u d de n l y , a s ha r poob s e r v e r , glancing with lightning 

r a pidity around the semi-c i r c l e , if he were s h r e wd enough , w

- 59 - 

name given 

t h i s g a me , 

b y l o t. T h e r e was g reat f un and great e xcitement in 

we ll as that of f o r f e i t s. 

Other o ld games we r e used , a nd which a re now no longer 

practi s e d , we re , "Poor Crippled Tr a d e s ma n " , "Pri e s t of t he Parish 

l o s t his Boots " , "Ride the Grey Mare " , " My Man John " , "uLde the 

Button " , "Rul e s of Co ntrariners", " J a c k alive i n a v e r y good 

state " , "H ou s e that J a ck Bu i ld , "Crooked Crab T r e e" . There 

a lway s a n u n e n v i a ble pas t in t h e s e sports wh i ch somebody s hould :; 

t a k e, or else they could not be h e l d a t a l l. So metimes t h e c hoice 

wa s made b y drawing of l o t s , ma de of s ma l l s t icks of .d ifferent l"l 

l e ngths wh i c h t h e master of the games h eld concea led ·i n h i s ha n d s. 

Th e o n e d r a wing t he shortest l ot would g eneral l y b e t h e victi m; 

s o metimes the selection wo uld be made by e ach if th e c o mpany 

l a y i ng hold t o an outspread handkerchief with t h e fing er and t humb 

o f t h e right: h a n d , a l l setting or s tanding r o u n d in a circ le . Wh e e n 

a l l hands h a d t a k e n hold t h e Master e x p l a i n e d that the sele ction 

wo u Ld be made according to the " Ru l e s of Contrar i n e n " , and that when 

h e san g o u t the words " let go " t hey should " h o l d on" , and wh en h e 

s a i d " h o l d on" t h ey shold " let g o : . He wo uld t h e n proceed in a s i ng 

s o n g voice , making circles in the air wi t h hi s fing e r a s he d id so , 

" Al l around t h e Rules of Contrariness; wh e n I tel l ye "let go " , ler 

y e "hold o n "; When I tell ye "hol d o n " , l e t y e "let go " , a n d th e n , 

s u d d e n Ly , i n a raised voice suddenl y and with strong e mpha sis, wou l d 

p u t some off their guard and the y would act li t erally on th e o rder 

and let go. Those who did the contrary, and were not shoc k ed i nto 

d o i n g what the should not , then safe, and we re a l lowed t o stand 

out . The others would have! to undergo the ordea l a qe Ln , t ill 

el i mi nation brought i t down to o n e p e r s on , wh o h a d then' t o go for 

War d a nd take the disagreeable r ol e i n '[me of t h e! games me ntioned

- 60 - 

above. An other p lan of selection was elimination by a sing-s6ng 

ve r s e, the l a s t word of which relieved a member whenever repeated . 

I do not know where this came from , or whether the words have 

b e e n c o r r u p t e d , or what they were origina lly. There were t wo 

f o r ms of this i n c a n t a t i o n, 

Onery , ewery, ichery , a i r e y, 

Fi l labo , c rackery , t e n n e r y , L e a r y , 

Hisum , mentum, me licum , mine , 

Hu mp ty , bumpty , t we n t y - nine - o u t . 

THE OTHER 

WAS: 

Owne r y , ewery, Lc k e cy , Ann , 

Filosy , fo lishy , Nicholas , J o h n, 

Quabey , quary , Irish Mary , 

S t i n k a l u m, stanki l um, buck - out. 

The Ha s t er of Ceremonies pointed his fi ng e r into t h e b reas t 

of ever y membe r corresponding t o t h e word u t tered , a nd t h e p e r son 

whom t h e l a s t wo rd fe l l wa s d e clare d "ou t ". The Master h a d 

t h e righ t to b e g i n at any par t o f the l i n e o f h i s c l ass . The 

"Poor Cr ipl e d Tra d e s ma n " , i s , I b e l i eve, a n I r i s h g am e , as t h e r e 

i s a n a l l u s i on to i t , as we 11 as " t h e Bird s a n d t h e Fis h e s" i n Seamus 

bo o ok , " Yourself and the Neighbors" . , In p l aying - t h e "Trade s man" 

for instance, a tailor , each i mpl e me n t used by one n e edle , thi mble 

etc p u t down in a l i s t and one wa s selec ted b y the Haster . 

He ca l l e d t h e tailor a side and they whispered t o geth er f or a minute 

so , and then agreed o n what article the t a ilo r wo u l d lik e t o h a v e . 

Le a n ing the arm of the master , t h e t a ilo r t h e n limp e d fo rwa rd 

toward s the company, whereupon the Master said in a l oud , sorrowf u l 

voice , as if both t heir l i ves depended somebody donati ng a g o o s e

- 61 - 

or a t h im b l e , "H ere comes a p oor old crippled tailor, what would 

ye be pleased to g ive him"? Then, e ach o ne , i n turn, give a gues s . 

I t was necessary to have a complete knowledge of. every article used 

in every t r ade , and the g a me wa s a k ind of e d u c a tion in i tsel f. 

Th e n fo l lowe d the lame c arpenter, the fi sherman , the c oope r, the 

mason and a l l the well-known crafts. Besides being played indoors 

i n t he winter evenings , those games games used t o be indulged in 

h olidays , and sundays in s ummer on t h e green . They may seem 

simple and e v e n rfco Ld s h to u s of t his generation , b u t , there wa s 

l o t s of g rea t fun and innocent a mu s e me n t i n t h e m , a nd they we re 

engaged in with a z est that we are now u n a b l e t o appreciate . 

"The Priest in his Boots" began with the question after a ll 

t h e comp a n y had b een given a "the Priest of the Parish lost 

h i s boot s ; some say thi s and some say that , and some day my man , 

J o h n, got·em~. John, ....ho should be on the alrt fer the accusation 

wh e n hi s name ....a s mentioned , denied the imputation quickly , and 

t h e d io l o g u e went l i k e this: "Who me , sir" : " Ye s , you , sir : " 

"Not true , sir: "Who then, sir :" Then the answe r ....ould be 

sw i f t and not a second 's delay " "Red Cap " or " To p 0 ' t he Ho u s e, 

" Ta il Hook, or , amy be, the " P 'r Le s t; himself" . Each one shou ld b e 

r e a dy i -a f l ash to answer to his name , a nd failure to do so wo uld 

b e p unis h e d by a forfeit . o ther games p layed b y men and b o y s ....ere , 

" Ri s e the Gray mare" and ·Start the Ca s k out of the Cargo" . I do 

not know much about the first beyon d the fact that one man , s e l e c t e d 

in the ....ay already r eferred to , lies prone on the floor , t h e 

ground if it be s umme r , and the game is played outdoors, vb Lj e the 

r e s t o f the comp a ny gatheres aroun d h im a n d proc e eded by s t i p u l a t e d 

up mo st efforts of s t re n g t h t o rise h i m up in a horizontal position. 

The o n l y game of this kind that the writer played wa s i nterrupted

- 62 - 

b y a row, wh e n a s p e c t a t o r t h r e w a shoe, which struck the principal 

actor in the gray mare scene on the head , a nd p r 'cc Lp Lt a t e d a row 

wnich broke up the p e r for ruan cc, " S t art the cast o ut of the Ca rgo" 

was a game t hat furni:she d a t est of strength o f tho s e t a k i n g part. 

It was on t h e principalc o f a t u g of wa r , b ut n o rope wa s u s e d. 

One. s t r o ng man sat do....m on t h e g round wi th h i s arms aro und t h e 

waist of anothe r sitting i n front of him. 'rbcy r epre s ent e d t he 

"cast in t he cargo" . The o thers line d up in front, with hands 

around eac h othe r ' s waist , the f r on t man g rasp i n g the h ands of the 

man r e p r e s e nting the cask . The y p ulled in op posite directions till 

t h e cask wa s " b roken out" o f t h e cargo , o r t h e pul lers on the opp 

osite side were pul led off t h e i r f e e t o n t o p o f the c argo. \'lith 

an e q u a l number- of men on each s ide , t h e s t r uggle woul d go on for 

a long time. 'l'he . c a p t a i n , with one end of t he rop e in his hand 

brandishi n g i t , would encou rage t ne partici pants by s i ngi n g out: 

"Well done , boys : II "Ano t her pound: " 

"Hi cJ.e t ile Button" wa s a quiet i n d o o r game p layed at wedding s , 

when tire d of d a nc ing, Ly both sexes . Thi s g ame , as to/e l l as "Uunt 

t he S l i pper" , i s so uni vers a lly k nown that they n e ed not b e described. 

What i s n o w c alle d hoc k e y wa s p layed on t h e froze n ponds in winter 

un der the n a me of "Hurley " , whic h n a me was als o g i ven to a stick 

us e d to hit t h e b a Ll, , 'i'h e r e we r e no r ules , s uc h as " hal f time" 

a nd " o f f s ide". The c ompany s imply div i ded i nto two s q uads , a nd 

One s ection d rove the b all a gainst the o ther, hi s wherever a nd 

Whe ne ver you could. 'I'h c game of "Cat" , pla yed wi t h stick s and a 

u a Lf , -wa s e Le o .« popular one. 'l'he stick wa s fla t tened a t the s t r iking 

e nu , wa s a f o o t f rora t he bottom half the wicJ th of a cuckct hat . 

'l hc r c we re two-hole-cat and f o ur-hale-c at, according t o t h e n umbe r 

t hat wi. nhes to p La y , '1'0 decide whic h q :ue:trtet te would " go in It f irst ,

- 63 - 

the t wo leading men tos s ed for the priville ge of taking the sticks 

in thi s way er- 'faking one of the four-cat sticks, the Captain on 

A s i d e grasped it on the extreme lower end with his right hand, 

holdi n g i t up perpendicular; the Captain o f B s i de the n g r asped it 

over the hand of the other, so that both hands touched; the f i r-a t; 

man then moved his hand upto a new position over the hand of the 

othe r 

and close to it, una they went on moving on moving up, hand 

over hand, till one came to the l ~st place on the end where the 

stick 

would be held, there being no room for the hand of the other; 

tile man with the lust hold on the 

stick won the toss, and he then 

t h r ew it over his head; if e n o u g h on the top was left for the other 

t o g r a s p it with his teeth, he allowed to do so, and, if he 

then was ab.Le to throw it over his h ead with his teeth , he would 

wfn the toss and his 

men and himself "went in" first; that is to 

say , 

t he 

they had their first innings and did the hitting out, while 

others had to throw the ball to them with the forlorn hope that 

i t mi g h t drop into the hole at the feet of the striker. Very seldom 

wa s a man put out this way . He could only be got rid of by one 

of t he opposite side catching the ball after it was hit , o~ by his 

apponen t getting into the hole , while the quartette was making 

a r u n and nobody with a stick at the hole. \'lhen one of the side 

wou l d hit the ball out at what he considered a safe distance, and 

decided to make a .ru rrc t o the next hole, the other three of that side 

wo uld have to move forward tothe next hole also. If they all got 

safe to position, this was scored down as one run. If one 

wa s p u t out, all that side was out. If the ball was hit away a long 

u i s t a n c e they made a s many runs a s they thought they could a c e e rnp 

Li.ah in safety before it was thrown in again. A lost ball wa s "out" , 

uno n o mo r e bhan t en runs could be coun~cd while the other side

- 64 - 

",'e r e s earching for the 1>al 1. 

The young fishermen used to p lay t h i s 

q arne , As t o t h e b all its elf , it wa s not r o und l i k e a c r icket b a l l , 

rather cy l indrical and about thr e e inches l o ng and tw o i n girth. 

It was , i n fact, t he end of a birch or spruce stick. of f irewood, 

sawn off , and the ends pared down on the r im of t he c ircle , so as 

not t o c ut t h e h and s. As f a r as I k now , t h i s game i s no l o n g e r 

playe d in any par t of the country , as the generation of young men 

living do n ot k n ow a ny thing about it. If t h!!¥ kn e w wh a t; f un and 

h e a lthy e xercise t he r e i s i n it , there i s, n o doubt, . t .ha t; i t wou Ld 

be revived .. 

"Ouo r t .s" the old Grecian game , wi t h f lat · s tones substit u ted 

f o r r i ngs or d isks , wa s a lso a s ummer o utdoor game pl ay e d by y o ung 

f i shermen on the green. Arms , l e g s and eyes were e xer cised thoroughly 

i n t his, as we l l a s i n t he game cal led "Duck" , p layeed wi th r o u nd 

s t o nes , each p layer in t u r n a iming a t a nother r ound s t one , pla c e d 

on the t o p o f a Lou lder , c a l led the d uck r o c k. When t he cluc k or 

s maller s tone o n it was kn o c k e d off, ever y p layer wa s r eli eve d a nd 

could get back to his firs t position a n d f i r e away again . The duck 

man he l d a s wi t ch or wh i terod in his h an d , a nd , a n d i f h e h a d time 

t o put t h e duck on t h e r o ck a g a i n a n d hit o ne of the pla y e r s runn i n g 

b a ck to position , t h a t player wa s obliged t o bec ome duc k - man and 

t ak e h is pos i t ion at t he duck-rock , a nd put u p hi s own duck as a 

t a r get f o r t h e others . Any player , wh o , in t h r owin g, did n ot s e n d 

h i s duck beyond t he duck- rock , cou l d bring it hal f way back t o fi r ing 

po s ition. i'his was cal led " Ch i s e l lin g" , whe r e he wo u l d keep h i s 

h a nd on t h e duck bending down till he saw a c hance t o get away witho 

u t being tou ched , so it wi l l lie seen that o u r ancestors h ad p lenty 

of o u t d oo r , a s well as indoor , games to beguile t he i r l e i s ure hours .

- 65 - 

I shal l go o n to a dd a f e w more dialect woxda of the peopl e: 

"Conkerbil l s" were i ceclcs hanging from the eve of the house . To 

"dout" a c an d l e, fire or l amp , to e x t i ng uish it . In turning 

into the bunk a t the cookroon , a f i she rman wo u l d s ay to another , 

"dout; the light before you yet i n". "Dunch" c ake or bread was 

t he term u s ed wh e n, owing to a cold or bad barn , the mixture failed 

t o r ise. Even when it did and was b adly baked , it was c a l l e d 

"dunch " cake or "dunch" b r e a d . To " Gu l c h " was to swallow with 

difficu l t y . To "hap s" a door o r gate was to fasten it. No doubt 

a c orruption of h asp. 'rhe "helf " of a hatchet or axe was the 

handle . To "mouch" wa s t op l ay the truant and stay away from school. 

There is an o l d En g l i s h word " me c he", wh Lch means t o l i e h idden 

or t o s k u l k , of wh i c h likely to former i s a corruption. A peddler 

is a merch a n t doi nq busine ss in a sm a l l way exc han g i n g goods for 

fish. The verb i s to pedd l e . " Ructions" denoted noisey , quzrrreLs 

or r ows: " 'l'h c re'll be ructions when the skipper comes abo ard and 

f i n d s that Betty burnt the ma ins ail" . Th e raafn-broom, with the sail 

oni t , a lwaus l ay near the stove- pipe, coming through the "companion " 

from the cabin stove, and the 

test of an experienced and competent 

girl for Labra dor wa s whether she would come up and s e c where the 

ma i nsa i l l a y before making in a fire. 11any a girl had half her 

wa ge s "stopped" for burning the mainsail. Once at a dance , the 

writer heard t h i s dialogue : " Th at' s a f ine girl you danced . wi th 

George : S h e i s the one that burnt the mainsail." " Ye s, but its 

better to have one burn your mainsai l t.han to burn your jib" . 

Dilly's g i r l..was t he: bar t e nder in a public h ouse , where Dilly , 

who h a d a very rednose "jib ' .we n t; oftener than was good for him . 

't h e wo r d "brie d" wa s u a c d i n a s t range c onne c tion, a nd , I believe, 

ruua t; b e a corruption for rife. Thus , "The measles is very brief 

in our harbor this week" .

- 66 - 

An other example of t h e pecu l iar u s e of t h e word "bri ef" i s, 

"dipther ia i s a ver y b rief a t Seal Cove". " J:'l a t form " wa s u s e d f or 

platform, and " Chastice" for r ebuke or scol d . Stove pipes , as 

used t o d a y in Newfo u n d lan d , were always c alled "funnels" . 11. 

man with more tha n ordinary learning wa s c alle d a " Know l edgable " 

man . "Hea h" wa s ofte n u s e d inste a d of marsh , to denote a bog . 

Half-mittens to prevent t he fingers from being cut b y the line 

when f ish i ng , were kn o wn a s "nippers". To bark a net or sails 

was t he t erm u s e d for s teep i n g in a tan mixture ma d e from the rind 

of t h r e e s. There was a lso p atent b a rk . " Sp urt" i s a s hor t time. 

A fine "spurt" of weather, a g ood "spurt" of fish. A "gaffer" 

was a t e r m a pplie d t o a boy n e arin g manhood ; a fine "gaffer" o f 

a boy . Ice , pile de up hig h b y t h e act ion o f the sea . or a river 

rising , wa s s aid to b e "rafted". we t.chLnq a t op e n holes in the 

ice for seals with a g u n wa s and i s c alle d t o d a y b y sealers , 

"swatching" . A "chronic" was t h e dry s t ump o f a tre e, whitene d 

by years o f exposu re t o t he we ather , easily pulle d o u t o f t h e 

ground and s u itable for f Lrewood , "C o p yin g" o r " c oc kying" de s cribe s 

t h e f irm o f jumping fro m o n e p an o f ice to a n o t her when the p ans 

are i solated . Panca k e s , f r i ed with pork f at and molasus , were 

cal led " gandie s ", Pork t h at wa s t ainte d and s poi ling f or want of 

salt , wa s c alle d " s matc hy " o r " r usty" . The l atte r t e rm i s a lways 

used t o deec r I ue herr ing t hat a re s poi l ing and covered wi t h a 

yellowish s l ime. Ha nds or arms , cheppod with the wind or cold , v c r c 

said t o b e " s praye d" . A sol itary h i l l s tandi ng u p p romi nen t l y in 

a plain , is called a "toll" . "Ni n key " a smal l key used by t he fi s h 

erman on boar-d baot and vessel to carry fresh wa t e r in , and "pompey " , 

a sme Lk kettle in s hape of a truncetcd cono , uacd in getting up a 

"5mack" or q u Lck l unc h on b o a r d the vc ~ s cl.

- 67 - 

I made r efe r enc e t o the g reat histo r ic article of diet , s o 

well k nown and a ppreciat ed by a l l Ne wfou ndl a nder s (to give it the 

ph o neti c spelling) - "Lxuds.e" , Th ere i s a great diversity o f opinio n 

a s tat he o rigin o f t h e wor-d , a n d a decade o r mo r e a go , a great 

controversy was kept u p in our local paper -s by our literary lights 

as to the ma nner in which the name originated . His Grace , the 

1a t e l a mented Archbishop Howley , wa s of opinion that it should be 

spelled "brooze "; the l a t e Judge Prowse maintained that "brewis" 

wa s t he correct word , whilst H. F. Shortis stoutly advanced his 

t he o r y t hat the right word wa s "bruis e" , and gave a s "h Ls reasons 

t h a t f01 10\...Lnq particulars, which his Gr ace admitted were very 

reasonable and p lausib le : "In the ear l y days ( a n d the a b o ve 

artic le o f diet i s l o st i n the musts o f a n t i q u i ty) it was the 

cus t.om f or all lJig planters t o have a punche on of rum in t he roo m 

aujoining t n e lar y e kitc hen. Fro m S t . a t.epnen s s Day until the firs t 

of March , the cre ws o f the sealing ve s sels (wh i l e in collar) a l wa y s 

die t e d i n the s k ipper 's b ig kitchen, and it was a rule as immutable 

as t he l aws of the Hede s and Persians that they were t o receive three 

"jo r ums" (drinks) o f rum per day - one i n the morning - the second 

a t-out e l e v e n O'cloc k a nd t he third in the evening . A b lue and ",..hite 

bowl or mu g wa s a l wa ys a t hand into which to draw their a l l o wa n c e 

f r o m t he cask or punche on. This rule t he crews carried o u t with 

conscien t i ons s c r u pul osi ty and s yst em i c regularity . After t akin g 

ni s "jorum" of rum, t h e scale r always d i ved his hand d o wn in the 

ba g of b read , a nd t o o k up a cake o r l arg e p iece of "hard t ack " , 

wnLcn was k nown , and i s known to this day , a s a "gro g uit". Af t er 

a f e w d a ys a l l the l arge b r'c a d became cxh a uat.cd and nothing remaincd 

but t he s ma l l , b roken -eup , or "br u i ncd" bread . 't'h c thrifty and e c 

onomical wife of t.h e p lan te r do t .cr rnfn ccf t o do aw ay with the wilful 

....aste , bcc a uae tne smal l "Lru i s cd" b r ccd wa s worthle s s c s a "gro g

- 68 - 

bit" , s o she gat her ed it a l l t o g e ther, boile d it up, addi ng s mall 

pieces of good salt fish, pork c ut u p smal l , a b out the s ize of marbles 

, which was flavored wi th other ingred units , which ma de a d ish 

fit for the 1\ing . 'I'hus originatcdthe favorite Sunday morning meal 

of " b r u i se " , which is to be found at t h e breakfast table of our 

arist o c r a c y even at t he present d ay , a l though the f lavor does 

not a p pe a r to be there as of o ld . It looks to me that the real 

Newfo u nd l and " bruis e" is a lost art . The good wife of the planter 

of o ld should 

h ave taken out apatent". 

Rev. P . W. Browne, who i s very keen on Na me Lore , suggests 

t o me that "Uedlamer" , a term used by our fishrmen for the t wo - ye a r 

old seal , has no r e f e r e nc e to Brc.llam, a mad -house or hospital , bu t 

i s a corruption of the E'rench word s bete-ue-Ia-mer , beast of the 

sea. Th e name was given by the French , wh o frequented the c oast 

i n the early cey s , and then people took the word up, and , a s 

u s ual, made their own u s e of it , like t asse de largent (c up of 

sil ver) , which our English-speaking ancestors turned in to "To s s o l o 

J oh n ". 'l'hey have mad e a further improvement , a n d n ow say , "T 'is 

e r ough day to t h e 'roe soao '": 'l'h e "Hiragc " wa s and i s pronounced 

b y the fishermen with the accent on the first syllable . A " g i g 

ama ree " wa s a U - shaped wooden frame , with a strong wire or bar 

for unhooking the fish when hauled on board . It stood upright by 

t h ~ owing the fish acros s it so that the line , where it e n tered the 

fish ' s mouth , c ame in quick contact wi th the wire bar , the hook 

was loos ened from its hold and thc fi sh fell into the room. When 

the hook was well d own i n t h e fish 's s conecn , an instrumcnt cal led 

a "

7 

- 69 - 

t o buy i n St. John 's uoarc f r o m "tt e r-amichdv , t he o utharbor man had 

h ad to get board t o build h is h o u s e a t home . lie hau led t h e sticks 

o r s t o c k s o u t of the wo ods i n winter , and sawe d t h e m i nto boar'da 

with a p i t-saw. The pit-saw was a well-recognized l o c a l i t y in 

ever y settlemen t , and drew as many onlookers as t he b lack-smith's 

f orge, espec ial ly when a we l l ma tched pair o f s awyers were a t wo rk . 

1'h e under sawyer wore a vei l to keep the sawd u s t from his eyes. 

In l ater y e ars the vei l was d iscarded f or go ggle s, s uch as a re 

worn to t he s e alfi s hery . "Lining" the s t ocks , pre p aratory to putting 

them o n t h e saw-pit , was very parti cula r work , a n d r e q uired a n e a t 

man to do it we l l. It was general ly t h e wo rk of t he t op-s awye r . 

The rind we s first taken o ff t h e l o g with a d rawing knife , and 

t he n a flat surface was chopped on two opposite sides with a " s o r v y " 

h a t chet . Some of t h e fishermen were adepts in "siding" down a 

stick , and the s urface would b e so uni f o rm and smooth t hat would 

find i t dif f icu l t t o bel ieve t h a t t h e work wa s done with a hat chet . 

'I'h e iron b races that kept t h e l o g in position on each end were 

called "d g o s ". They were of t his shape L wi th sharp pointson 

e a ch ends that could Lc easily d r i ven i nto t he woo d or granb re l 

blocks on which the y l ay. when the l o g \...as faced o n each s ide , it 

wa s turned over and "lined " , that i s t o mark o n both f a c e s with 

a line i n to divisions corresponding t o t h e number of boards that 

i t would make . 

The milking for cla p-board wa s a wo rk of a r t, and r equired more 

skil l a n d judge ment than for half-inch or inch bo ard . 1\ tin can 

of r e d o c hre , with the ma r k i ng line coiled up i n it , s e t of compa s s es 

a nd a p l umb - Lob were the o n ly utensils required to d o the work . 

'r he middle o f the stick was found first , and then a heavy l ine wan 

s t uck on the face of til€..! l o g from end t.o end by catching i n t h e 

mi ddle of the ochre-steeped line strctchcti t ight u po n i t , a nd l e tti n g

- 70 - 

it fall back u p on the wo od. Th e o ther line s we r e ma d e in the same 

way. through not so h e a vy . when b o t h f a c e s wereline d o f f , t h e l o g s 

t h r e e o r f our at a s a wi ng , were put o n the fra me o f the saw- pit , 

"d og ged " in p o s itio n, and then t he sawi ng bega n. '1'wo b adly-ma t ched 

sawyers would wear each other out in a f ew hours ; while t wo we l l 

matched ones , that kOCH each other ' s stroke , and whose bodies 

worked in graceful unision , could saw a l l d a y , except me al hours , 

and be able to go to a danc e at night, when s p e cial attention would 

be given t o the t o p-sawyer: "He's a smart man , a nd a top sawyer 

t oo , "was a wo man I 5 proud encomi.um on the man that s h e a dmi red . 

'rbe saw- d u s t was u s ed to s prinkle over the flows of the house s , 

and t here would b e gre at rivalry amongs t the g i r ls in getting a turn 

of sawdust fro m t he pit a fter t h e d ays sawi ng wa s over. 

Uoat building and s c h ooner building occupied the time of 

quite a numoc r "of me n in the wi nter. Timber wa s plentiful in tho s e 

days , and e ver y p i e ce u s ed in the c onstruction o f a fifty-ton vesslc 

could be g o t a mile or two fro m the h arbors, except the spars . 

Which nece s sitate d a trip to t he bottom o f the Da y , and some time s 

a consi d e r a b l e distanc e in the country . Nex essity mad e men do 

many things t hat t h ey d i u not bel ieve at first they were c apab le 

o f acc omp l i s h i ng , and the number of boat-builders a lso s p r ung up 

wi thout h aving ever l e arne d the trade was most r emarkable . Hen 

who never s erve d il day in a f orge b eca me bla cks miths, a nd others, 

some who had me rely the s hape o f a s a i l in their mdnd t s e ye , beca me 

sailmakers . I t wa s n e c e s s ary t o h ave the work done , a n d s o me nativeborn 

genuis was found to LiD i t. n e c e s sity made NcwfoundLande r s 

t h e nros t; vers ati Lc men in t h e world in handicrafts , a nd it i s no 

wonder that whe n t heir granc..lchi ldren in the s e moder n t imes emigr ate 

t o the lmi t .cd Sta te::> a nd Ca nada , a f ter: d r o p p i nq t he i r fi s h i ng line s , 

t he y c a n t a k e u p n t; will a dozcn d i f fe ren t occupations t o t he un d Ls-.

- 71 - 

g u i s e d surprise of t h e people of the other countries whom t h e y meet. 

They b e c o me s t .ee L bridg e - builders, p ainte r s, carpenters , gardeners, 

mi ne r s , c aptains of ste ame r s on the c o asts of both the Atlantic 

and P acific . \-lhen they go away, a nd a re l o okin g for wo rk the y wi ll 

not r efuse t h e f irs t job t h at o ffers me rely beca use the y never 

d i d s uch wo r k b e fo.re s- Th e confid e n c e that their a nces tor s h ad i n 

any o n e being able to d o mos t; kind s of man ual work wh e n nece s sity 

is the mast e r , i s hand e d down t o their descend ants a nd e nab les 

the Newfoundlander of today to h o ld his owner wherever he goe s. 

\-lhcn the seal fi shery f irst began t o b e prosec ute d in 30 to 

6 0 t o n schooners , there used t o be g reat act i v i t y in t he o u tports 

nor t h of St. J o hn' s abou t t h e fir s t of Harch . Durin g t he first 

t wo decadcs o f t he 1 9 t h c e n tury , and p rev iously , wh a t s eals were 

take n were got in nets from the mi ddle of December up to the latter 

p a r t of J anuary , a nd during t he Spr i ng , a b out; the first we ek in 

Ap r i l , were t a k en i n l a r g e ski f fs t hat went o f f in the mor n i ng and 

r ejoined t he f oll o\lin9 night. Sometimes t he ice, with t he sea l s 

on it, wo uld be driven t o t he l a nd the third we e k in Barch , a nd then 

ther e would be a g rea t "h a u l on l a nd", Which would b e participated 

in b y men , wome n a nd c hi l dre n . Th e s e c h ance s were rare that they 

we re easi l y kept i n memory

- 72 - 

and the seals used to be general ly found in t h e 

strain of Baccalicu, 

o r off Trinity Bay. So nroch has been wr i t t e n i n historical and 

s t a t i s t i c a l forIJ on t h e sealf i s h e r y by Newf'ound Le n d wr iters , such 

as Judge Prowse, Hr. U. F. Shortis and Nr. Chafe, a nd others, that 

i t wou ld be superflous for me t o attempt t o c ove r the ground where 

t hey h a v e to a b l y garnered and g leaned. The c ustoms connected with 

that f ishery i s a aubj c c t. more to my l i king, a nd t o t hi s p articular 

phase o f the seal f ishery I may happen t o add a little add i t i o nal 

informat i o n that ha s not yet be en r e c orded, becaus e historians treating 

o f the s ub ject fro m a hig h and c o mpre he nsive v iew po int , have no 

time o r space t o dwel l the details , such as a re found in a n 

a r t i c l e of t his kind . to some people t h e y are , nevertheless , 

i mportant as the l a r g e r and more potent facts of histor y , and it 

is for such a c lientele that t h i s article i s wr itten . 

The t i me of preparation f o r the sealfiser y i n t he t we ntie s o f 

t h e l a s t cen t ry began on t h e fi r s t of Ba rch . Th a t is t o say , the 

pu t t i n g of t h e outfi t on board t he vessels and t h e signing of t h e 

crews . Of c o u r s e, a l l t h e winter p r e v i ously t here we re men e ng a ged 

c u t t i n g o ars , build ing punts , ma k ing and men d i n g sai ls , f aah i.onLnq 

iron-work , and mak Laqvqaf f s at t he forge; Lringing o u t pokers , and 

p u t t i n g sheat h ing on the s ides of t h e vessel a t t h e we t .er-e Ld ne t o 

prese r ve t .he ra from b e i n g "chafed" t h r o u gh by the i ce. The provisions , 

wood and wa t e r were put on board the f irst we ek in ncr ch , and t he n 

t he gaffs , pokers , punts and shear poles. In most cases t h e harbor 

would be frozen over solid , 

a nd a ll the outfit would be hau led 

hoar d slides o ver the ice. The crew were s hipped for half 

t.heLr' hand , and the week Le for e sailing al l would take t heir meals 

i n the big kitchen of the planter who owned t h e v o aecL, When fina l ly , 

t h e sai ls were b e n t, a nd there was no s:ign of a b r e a k-up i n t h e

7 

- 7 3 - 

ice , s a ws werc procured and t h e work of s a wi n g out a channcl t o 

t he mouth o f t h e h arb o r was begun . 'rhis was hard wo r k, and required 

s t r o n g a rms and great p a t i e n ce. A passage , the width of the 

largest vesse l , was s awn out and the ice cut out t o the open wa t er, 

or ice l o o s e enough for t h e vessel to get t hrough , a fair wi nd 

v a s awaited. People now l i ving , and whose knowledge o f t he seal 

fishe r y i s c o nn e cte d wi t h t he s teamsh ips can f orm n o adequate idea 

of t he e xcitement a nd bustle that ma r ked the l e a v i n g ?f the sailing 

ve s sels for the seal fishe ry . 'rhe domest i c a n d privat e com f orts 

o f the old days a rc c omp letely wip e d o u t i n the condi t ions that 

pre v a i l on steamers . In t he sai l ing vessels e ver y man wwas a 

pers on a l i t y and i n d i vid u al ; in t h e s teamers me n are merged i n t o 

a c rowd , often moat; of them s trangerx, snd t h e y a re only a number 

or a ticket. This unfortunately a modern tendency ; man i s on ly 

a toot h i n a big mac ine, and only the whoc l wh e el counts ; t he 

too t h i s nothing . If it i s b roken off , it will hardly be r.tissed . 

I n the sealing b e s s els the r i g h t s and comfo r ts of t .he men we re 

har d l y distinguished from those of t he skipper . \ihe n a man paid 

thirty s h i l l ings for his ber t.h , h e h a d an i ndepcndant and i n a l i e n a b l e 

right on boar d , a nd not one wo u ld dare d ispute it . Ea ch scaler 

h ad his own s tock of extras , such as c o f f e e , s ugar , oet me a I and 

r aisins . 

One of t h e first signs that t he seal fishery t i me was approaching , 

wa s t o see the big coffee-mill , attached to the wall in t he kitchen , 

set goi n g by the woman of the hous e, and to inhale the puge nt odor 

of t he newly-grounu coffee for the scal e rs I stock the l atte r part 

o f Pebr'u ary , was a p leasing experience that shal l know no more . 

Knitting stockings , wristl ets, drawers , mi tts , and making warm 

c Lo t.nLnq , was a l so an Lmpo r t.c n t; part of :t hc dorne s t.Lc programme ,

- 74 - 

a s we l l as t he making of buckins and swan-skin c u f f s. the c lothing 

worn by the sealers of the s e good o ld days , i f rough , was warn and 

com fortab le , a n d there are many living y e t who believe if the same 

cloth i ng h ad b e e n worn b y a l l who followed u p the ir work there would 

b e no s uch big d e ath list in t h e Greenland and Ne wf oundland disa 

s t e r s a f e w years ago. Holeskin, swanskin and canvas were i n 

g r e a t r e quisitio n f or clo t hin g i n the old days , a nd n o man wouLd 

go to t h e sealfis hery without a cap that would cover his e a rs . 

They wore b eaver hats at the s e alfishery it is true, but they 

h ad sense enoug h t o k n ow when t o put the m o f f. Th e y also wore 

b l u c he r s Iboors ] and b uski ns , and provided a man as wa lking over 

the ice where the r e i s dange r o f mee t i ng water t ht will come o ver 

the a n k les - good , h a rd, d ry i c e, with very little s n ow on i t 

there i s nothing yet ever a man put o n his feet c an , for comfort 

an d swift ness in wa lki ng t o beat t he c l uchc r a nd buski n o f our 

f orefathers who went t o the i ce . The b luche r and buskin faile d 

when t here was a cont inual c h a n c e o f get t ing wet up to t he knees , 

or in deep clammy snow. In s uch condi t ions , the skin b oot i s , no 

doubt , much better , for it can k e e p t h e l e g s d r y . But s k i n boots 

were ve r y r are in the days I write of , and man y scalers wore 

leather r kn e e b oot s inste ad , but the tra v e l l ers ma king seven o r 

t en mi les a day over t h e i c e was at a great d i s ad v anta ge c omp are d 

wi th the Man wi t h the bluc her a nd b uskin . 

Ev ery man car r ied a sealchest a n d a can vas u ag fu l l o f c l o t h i ng . 

Th e conventional s c a l e r s ' chest wa s painte d a d ark b lue , a nd h a d 

good fancy-woven s trop on each end , J'l'herc arc a few of t hese o ld 

c he sts to 00, see n in the outports , b u t t h e y arc f a s t Le Lnq s upe r ceded 

b y c ommon paper-covered f lat t r u nk s , a nd the more i mp o s i nq "Saratoga". 

Instead o f b un ks , made of p ine s havings.:, most o f t h e crew carried

- 7 5 - 

t heir f e ather bed on boar d t he day o f sai ling . They had their own 

bed c lot h i ng and pillows, and we re 

c o mf o rtable a s if s leepi ng 

in their homes , ner t h s , e i t her in the cab in or in the fore c astle, 

wer'e f ound for every man , - t wo s leeping i n one b u nk. There was 

no such hardship as l yin g on the coal, o r o n t he seal pel t s , t hat 

came in with the s teame r s. Ever y man, s o incline d, cou l d easi ly 

do t wo important things , viz, Ke ep hims elf cle an and keep himsel 

f d r y . I f he "fell i n", wh i le out on the i c c, h e c o u l d h a ve 

a c lean , d r y shi f ting a few minutes a f ter c o mi n g o n board. lie 

n e e d never 1 i c i n we t clotfiing, whic h so o f ten happe~ s men a t the 

scalfisher y , a n d which has s e n t man y a s t r o ng man into consumption 

a nd an e a r ly grave . the seer e r ' s b l ue- pai n ted chest cont.a Ln e d his 

private s tock o f c o mf orts r eferre d t o above , a lso some o rdi nary 

med i c a l remedies , s uch as Friar's Balsam , Ey e Ha ter , Opedeldoe a rid 

a smal l jar . o f. rum. He h a d it f e w sweet l o a v e s to harmonize with 

the liquid , and he ma naged t o eke it out till the e nd of the v o y a g e . 

Ever y recognized g unner h a d to b ring his g u n . and t h e s h ip provided 

h i m wi th powder and shot f o r "swatching" . 

Th e s h ip a lso pro v i d ed e ach man with his gaf:f a nd r ope, but 

he wa s e x pcc t .cd t o brin g his own belt and s heathe . Now tht I h ave 

r efer red t o t h e sealer 's outf i t , l et us g o b ack to t h e channel that 

it cut t o give t h e vessels passage out of the harbor . The f irst 

flaw o f f t he l a n d is l argely sniffe d b y t he s k ippe r , 'a s h e stand s 

on the q uarter deck . I f t he \'Jind i s t oo light , or i s in the wrong 

q u a r t e r , l i n e s a re put out fro m t he bows , and the c rew swar m out 

on each s Ld eof the channe L '·ih i le the "cha n t y" man of t he gang 

str i k e s up a warp song. I t might be :

- 76 ~ 

a cn ae was a sai lor , 

lie shipped o n board a whaler , 

Ran zo b o ys, kanao" , 

'I'he c h a n t y men were g rea t l y in requisit i on in thos e days i n 

ship s a l l over t h e wo r ld , and i t d id not t a k e l ong f or the s e a 

s ongs s u ng b y seamen in othe r c ountrj.es to reach Newfo u ndland . The 

mos t p o p ular s o ngs uenq by the sealers were, " Sailin g in the Lowl 

ands" , "'l'he F'e male Smuggler" , "Sally Brown " , " Goo d b ye , Farc y u o 

well " , "Rio Grande" , " Reuben Ranzo", "Blow the Ha n Down " , "Th e 

Gr eenland Whaler" , "Johnny Bo ker " , a nd l ate r in the f iftie s, " The 

Plains of Hex ico" , "Pa dd y works on the Ra i l wa y " , and "Acro ss t he 

He ster n Acean", It wa s a treat to h e ar a crew of good chanty singers 

getting a ve s s el u nder way , we i g h i n g t he a nchor or wa rpi ng her out. 

It is a phase o f Newfo undla nd life that we sha l l never see again, 

for when s t eam c a me i n it kille d t he c h anty , and with it a good 

de al o f the r -oma n c e o f t h e sai lor 's li f e on t h e sea . Th e c rew of 

a sealer h e l ped the ves sel 's progres s by get t i n g out on the " Sh e ars" , 

or, as it wa s callc d i n s o me par ts , the "ra ms", a nd p ush i n g the 

c ak es and pan s o f ice from under he r b ow . 'I'he " s h e a r s" wa s made 

of two s t o u t s t icks , 3 0 t o "4 0 a nd 5 0 f e et in l e n g t h , and e x tended 

from t he bow under t h e jib - boo m, a nd o ne on each side , with s pans 

he r e and there. A t ackle was rove on the outside end of the s hears , 

an d i t c o u ld be hoistc d u p a nd l et d o wn a t will. lVOhen it cle ar 

wa t e r i t wa s l o were d down , a nd t he watch on d e c k we nt out on the 

" r a ms", s ome t. Lmc s two s core mc n , an d , r e sting thcir arms upon it, 

pus hed the pans of i c e out o f t heir c ours e wi th t heir f e et , and wi t h 

gffs when necessary . I t was t e d i o u s work get ting down t o t hc Funks 

t h r o ug h t he i c c in t he sai l i ng vessels . soroct I uc s a s t .orm would 

C O nic up f r o m t ile I... E . , a nd the wo r k of a whol e we e k b e undone in

llli._--------E.~':;-...1 _ .... o f th!o

- 7 8 - 

Good luck to Skipper Nicholas l\sh, for he I s a clever man . 

He spied the welcome "laddies" away in the jam- 

He followed up his good advice and struck a heavy patch , 

And ..twasn ' t very long before we filled her to t he hatch, 

The next verse described a row over the ooiling of a kettle of 

"br u i s e " when 

The Sk ipper he came f orre'd , he swore o ut once or t wi ce, 

He t o o k t he Ke t t le by the t o p and t h r e w it on t he i c e" . 

Pe a c e aeems to have been r e s t o r e d v e r y q u ickly , and t he c r e w seemed 

to 't h ink that the Captain was dodnq on l y wh a t wa s his duty. All 

scems to be serene i n the next verse when ' t he follo wi n g d ialogue 

too k 

p lace. 

"Are you going to tap your boots 13il1"? and yes indeed I am , 

For t o mmo r r o w morning early we 

must face the frozen pan; 

So go and p u t t he Kettle on , we 'll have a bowl of t e a, 

Fo r the weather bow t o mo r r o w will be better t h a n the Lee " , 

Thes e o ld songs may be regarded as crude and unrefined by t h e 

e d u c a t e d moder n reader , never the l e s s t hey possess merit o f another 

kind that s hou l d not be i g nore d , a nd shou l d e ntitle t hem t o a p lace 

i n our r e cord s . They are t h e very wa r p and woof of o ur early col 

onial l i fe, and the spontaneous outspring of the people , who sang 

of conditions as they were , 

and should their aspirations, t h eir 

hopes , fears and dislikes, as well as the greatest epic t hat, ever 

was written by a c ountry's poet laureate. l\n attempt has been 

made to col lect these old songs and print t.hera , that they may be 

han ded down to posterity. It would be better still if the music , 

to which they were s u ng , could b e secured before the o ld people 

Who kn ew t h e m have p a s sed awya. In revciwing the ancient days 

i n the l i q h t or our modcr-n knowledge of t he sealfishery as pu accu t.od

- 7 9 - 

in b ig s teel ships that are o f ten u nable to penetra te the icc and 

reach the seals , we a rc a s tonished when we r e ad o f the l arge c a t c h e s 

o f seals t hat were made , spring after Spring . I n 1 8 31 ove r 686 , 000 

seal s were b r o ught i n. It mus t be r e membe red t h at there was no 

s tea m c ompet i t ion , a nd a l l t h e sai ling f leet we re o n an e q ual foot.Lnq , 

I n the next place the seal s were not usually g o t till t he l ast week 

in Mar ch , a n d , oftener s t i l l , the first we e k in April. Rarely we r e 

a ny s e als killed be f oce St. Patrick I 5 Day . 'l'hey were on the ice 

f i t to b e t aken a s they today, but the sailing v e s s els could 

not get to them, a n d h a d to wait till the ice went a b raod , and 

for med l e a d s of v ace r , i n which t he ve s s els could work o u t t o the 

wh i l p i n g ice . And if t h e s teamers were a l l t o go' o ut o f t his business 

thi s y e a r, and sailing vessels o f t h e o ld t y p e , wer to be 

sub s t i t u t e d , I believe t h e seals would be got the same as in the 

ede n d a ys. The only differnece is t h a t t .hey'cwou Ld b e got l ater 

i n t h e season . Bu t we could hardl y hope t o b e a b l e t o man our shi ps 

with me n as good for t his \..ork a s t ho s e of t h e thirtie s a n d fortie s 

o f the l ast cen t u ry , who cbr c uq h t; s uch weal t h into S t . J oh n ' s, harbo r 

Grace , Carbone ar, Ur igus , Cupids, Ba y Hobcrts, Trini t y, Ca talin a , 

and Greensp ons , e tc . 'l'h e p r i ce which the men paid f or their berths 

was not unifo r m. In St. J o hn ' s it ranged fro m two t o thre e pound s , 

an d in t h e No r ther n o u tports , from t en t o thirty shi l l i ngs . 

Fro m t h e very beginning of t h e s c a l f i s h e r y there wexe f a mou s 

cap t a i n s , who were known a l lover t h e l a nd f or b r i ng ing i n b i g tri p s 

of fat . 'that man who would get a berth with t hem was f ortunate , 

a nd d i d not beyrudge paying t h ree pounds for h i s berth . The master 

o r s k i pp e r vrho was paid h i s wa g e s by the me r-chrm t; who ow ned t he vessel. 

at s o much per s eal . In the fifties i t wa s p u t u p t o six pence, 

u nd Ca pt. Jam rtu xp h y , of cote Lt no , in ~h e s . S. Hctriever , was t h e

- 

80 - 

f i rst master who was known t o get a s high as n.i ne-q.ence a seal . 

fie was a great sealing captain , and ma d e a f o rtune in a few years. 

Besi d e s the h al f o f the v oya g e t h a t t he owner got , he wa s a lso 

giv e n one man I 5 s hare t h r oug h the oaster of t h e vesseL In the 

ear l y time s, alo n g in t he twe ntie s, the pel ts we re sold for 60 

muc h a pie ce, i n s t e ad of weig hing . On account o f the f at, it 

wa s fou nd nece s s ary to p u r c hase t he seals b y weight. After that, 

the c arca ses were c lean enough to satisfy the mos t captai ns. 

I n the s ealf isher y of 1844, t here were 10,527 men e ngage d . 

Of t his n umber 3,775 sailed fro m St . John' s in 121 v e s s els . 

Harbor Grace sent o u t 48 ves s els; Carbonear 5 2 vessels ; Br iqus 

and Cupifd 4 3 v e s s els; Por t d e Grave 10 vessels; nay Roberts 11 

ve s sels ; Spaniards nay 9 vessels ; Trinity 11 vessels ; Catalina 19 

ve s sels ; Salvage 2 ve s s e l s ; Twillingate and Fo g o 8 ve s s els; 

Han t ' s Ha rbor a nd Perl ican 5 vessels; Greenspond 18 ve s s els; King' s 

Cove 3 v e s s els; 'l'i l ton Ha rbor 2 v e s s els. A gra nd t otal of ne arly 

360 vessels . One can i magine the activ ity that used t o prevai l 

in the ports, where a l l these v e s s els sai l e d , and the d e ep interest 

t h a t wa s taken in the fishery by o ld and young, rich a nd poor. Han 

were r e ady to ris k a l l to get a berth, end the f act that 2 1 vessels 

were l ost t he previous Spr ing (1 843) a nd sever a l c r ews, d id not 

de t .er t he m fro m emharki ng t o try their for t u ne , a n d search f or the 

golden f leece . 

There were no sealing l a ws in those days , a nd the skipper wa s 

mon a rch of al l he surveyed. once c lear of t he l and. Seals were 

ki l l e d and hauled on Su nd a y s , except i n a few cases , by men whose 

rcliyious scruples were so str o n y on t he point . t hat they woul d 

r ntho r r isk l osin g a l o a d o f f at than desecrate the Lo r d ' u Da y .

- 8 1 - 

'l'here wa s h a rdly a Spring that a few vessels we r e not l ost by b e i n g 

crushed i n the i cc, and several Springs t.her e was wholesale dess 

t r uc t i o n , l i ke t he "Spri ng of the Wadhams " . 'l'heae men we re coura 

ge o u s , hard y a nd strong. Nany o f t he m, even t h e captains , we re 

raw emigrants fxo m England and I reland , and qui te n e w t o t he b usiness 

o f the scal f ishery . No twi t hstandi ng t heir l ack o f experience , 

they found the seals just as ofte n and as q uickly as skippers in 

the seventies and eighties , who had been a t the wo r k a l l t heir I i ves. 

Tile l ate Ca pt . Sam Blandford t old me , wh a t h e sai d was " a gre at 

scc r c t " t he year before the pa s s e d away. lie wa s i n a r e minis cent 

and genial wood one day when I cal led a t his office at the Reid 

Newf o un d l a nd Co . Dock . He said , " n o man when he sai ls out o f port , 

knows where t he seals a re , no matter how much p revious knowledge 

and experience. he has had . It is chief ly a q u e sti o n of l u c k . No 

capt a i n can say he i s going t o s teer straight f o r the seals , but 

\...hen he c o me s,. b y chance , in t h e d i rection wh e r t he y a re , a nd is 

wi t hin t hirty and f i f t y Miles of t h e \...hitecoats , t h e indications 

t hat he wi l l the n see \'1il l help t h e m to find the m, i f he i s a k e en 

and exper ienced man , and one able to make t h e best use o f his 

know ledge ; b u t. getting into position where t h e knowLedqe avail s , 

i s p u rely a q uestion of l u c k " . Th is wil l explain why so many 

i nexperienced Bng l i~h and Irish skippers , \...h o had c o mma nd of . shivs 

gaine d t he reputation o f bcLnq great seal finders and non o f 

knowl e d ge . Ha ny of t hem fooled i nto the aeeLs wh d Lc doing thcir 

b est t o get .:aHilY from them. 'fa read thc h i s t ory of t he seal-fishery . 

One will not be inclined to doubt; the truth of ccpt , n Landfor-d t s 

opin i o n . uno Spring , i n thc Resol u tc " h e s t.u r'ck t h e s cnl s on thc 

t o s s of a shi l ling on the quarter deck . Very fov... skippers i n t he 

ear l y days knew ill\ythinfj about; navigation . Once outside of t he

- 82 - 

the sight of land they very often found it difficult to snake it 

at a ny desired poi n t . 'Fhc r -o was a general proverb , whic h most of 

them acted u po n returning , viz: "Wh a t e ver you arc , steer South 

wea t; of -ne c c e i t eu'". 

The ret urn tri p in these days was no t ear lier t h an t he first 

week in April , f o r those ships t h at had a l o a d of seals; others , 

not s o successful , r emained out s ome time till the month of May. 

Ther e was g reat exLceraerrt; on t he a rrival of t h e l o a d e d sealer. 

She came i n n e arl y a l ways in t he day time, wi t h f lags f lyi ng a t 

bot h masts . A gan for every hundred seals was fired by t he crew . 

In a oroe of t h e o ld S t . John 's firms , i n the f orti c s and f i fties , 

t he se was a custom prevai ling of giving a s i lk penno n t o t he 

shi p t h a t arrived first with a l o a d of seals. 'rbe streamer was 

at on c e proudly hoisted to t he ma i n - t o p , and worn in port t ill 

t he seals were a l l d Ls chaxqcd , Gabr Ronan, "A fore-now man" , 

informed t he writer t hat it was Hon L. O' Br i en who i n t r o d uc e d 

t he custom i n St . John's , and that it wa s the "Kingalock " t h a t 

f i rst sported t h e silk pennon. Here is a typical song written in 

1842 , 

U\ie'll sound the h a r dy sealers ' priasc 

I n g lad and cheerful 5 trjlin , 

Who coast each creck and shine a long , 

Or c ross the foaming main ; 

Nor winter's storm , nor sea's a larm 

Can daunt his daring mind , 

Unknown to f e a r , any he ' ll s t e e r 

Old Neptune 's home to find . " 

'r h e mc r-c hent.e-n.cn coaac voyaging 

uncn winter's s t a r s appe ar; 

The mcn-vo-wa r go cruising far , 

Propelled by Sou t her n a i r .

- 8 3 - 

But hardy sons of New foundland 

Wai t not for season ' 5 change 

Mid icc and s now , t hey daring go 

And Arctic deverts runge. 

" Th e stormy mon th o f Harch h as come 

Boy s muster and prepare 

To l e a v e you r home , o 'er seas t o r o a m, 

And t ak e t h e sealer ' 5 f a r e. 

Away , awa y t hro ugh s torm and sea 

A tra ckle s s course t o tra c e , 

Whe re seeedoqs lie , a nd sea g u l ls f l y 

To f ind you r f a vorite p lace . 

"When s torms prevai l , to shorten sail 

Al o ft t h e sealers go 

On s l ippery shroud , wh i l e piping l oud , 

'I'h e s tiff No r t .he a s t.e r s b low 

Hh i le i n t he shroud , winds pipe a loud , 

'rbe y mount; t he q u i veri ng yard; 

'l'he c anva s r oll , the bill ows f o am, 

Each l urc h t h e y disregard. " 

"Th e gusts i n c r e a s e , " take i n close r eef " . 

Ou r wa tchfu l s kipp e r c r ies ; 

"L u f f, h elms man , l u ff , a t e v e r y puff " 

\'1nilo mountain b i l lows ris co 

"Let a l l but f ew d e s c e nd bel o w 

Le st a t orms s hou ld overwhe l m; 

Th e smar tes t h a n d o n deck mus t s tanr.l 

'l'he b r a vea t; a t the he l m" . 

"Whe n n ~ g h t s ' dre ad moon , with s ickl y g l oom, 

O ' c r s hadows and l a n d , 

And lJr c a k e r s o 'er the tempes t r o a r , 

Proclaim the ice a t hand . 

\-li th courage true , over hardy crew , 

Fo r denqer- then prepare, 

And boldly wedge the i c c t 5 edge , 

U:lcrc none but sealers dare".

----- - - - - --- - ------ - _._._- _...- _. .. _- 

- 84 

"In y onder court boqLn s the sport , 

\ihcre many a wh i te c o at l i e s; 

\'1it il £a 99 or g un , e ach man h a s s prung 

To sei ze the l o nge d for prize . 

\ihile here and thee olel seals appear , 

The whi t c c oats clos e a t h and , 

Now h a u l ing gear and guns prepare , 

And l et t h e punts b e manned " . 

" Yon i c eberg' s wake h a s forme d a l ak e 

That lea d s our c ours e a long , 

To wharp her t hro ugh o u r sealing crew 

S t r ike up a c hn t y s o ng . 

A week fro m t h a t o u r trip o f f at 

" Neath hatches batte n e d down , 

And homewar-d now , o u r barque s hall p low , 

".i'he sealers I hopes to c z o wn , 

Hhenever t h e crew, or any portion of them Lrae i n r e bellio n 

agai n s t the captain , the wo rd u s e d was not to mutiny, but to 

"Hanu s ' . This" often happened a t the seal f ishery , b u t i t was, in 

nine cases out of ten , a c o mplain t about g rub. Finally der tain 

day s had t o be set down as pork and duff days - t hre e work d a y s 

out of the we e k and Sunduy s , "Du f f " Ha 5 the n a me g i ven t o t he big 

flour p ud d i ngs boile d for the c r ew . " mi x ture of mola s s e s and fat , 

t o poru over it aa a sauce , was cal led "cocdy" , Our a ncest ors, t here 

i s no denyi ng i t , He re t errible por k -eaters , and t he numher o f barrels 

o f pork tak e n on a voyage to the cod o r scalfishery , would , in o ur 

o wn days , be reg a r d e d aa an amp le s upply for twi c e t h e nwnber of 

men . There wa s wonderfu l ma g i c i n t h e mere mention o f pork. and ... 

uu f f , and the sealers and f La h .rmen of t ho s e far off clays we re so 

f o nd of the me a k , that it i s n o wonder t h e y "measured" when the 

supply was shut off , or l i mite d by an economical c aptind n , tryin g 

t o s a ve expenses against a bad v oya ge. It i.s d ifficult t o say with 

a gainst a bed voyage. It is d i fficu l t t o say with certain ty what

- 85 - 

o r iyin of t he word "ma nus" . I f I mistake not, Hr. 

Shor t i s , writ ing on the sealfishry s cme years ago , put forth t he 

opi n i on t h t t h e l e a de r of a r e velli ous c rew , sai ling out of Harbor 

Grac e , was one Hcl·Janus , and he n c e the neroe , Hyself , I have always 

s usp e c t e d t hat it i s s!i:mply a c orrup t i o n of t he word "menace" . 

"h e menaced (thre a t ene d) t he c aptain". The Latin word of h and i s 

"ma n u s " , b u t it wou ld Le t o o far-fetch e d to serve key t o the 

pu z z l e . " Swatching" may be a s hor t f o r m of s eal-watching, e nd 

"coady " may be the n arue of the cook wh o first s e rve d this kind 

of sauce to t h e sealers . "To " s c u n " a a h Lp through tihe i ce , I 

i magine t o be a corrupt ion of scan . For i n s t ance t h e captain wo u l d 

say in Nelson I s day , " go a loft and scan t h e horizo n, out , a lso , 

at; t he seal f i shery, watching t he t r end of a s Lek e o f wa ter , open 

ice , and guiding the ship through the cours e o f l e a s t resistance . 

'1'he combiniJ~gs of t h e batch , s ued by t h e men of Ne lson's time , 

was known i n Newfoundland as t h e "coleman " of the batoh , u s e d 

by the men o f Ne lson 's time, wa s known in Uew f oundland as the 

"colcmans " of t h e Oaten . The word "Ta i s c a un" i s a p uzzler . It 

mea n s a small portion . Fo r exa mple , "Gi v e me a " t a i s c u n " or por k , 

a "taiscun " o f fis h etc" . " Ra l s" i s a word equivalent t o rowdies , 

but not conveying so h a r s h a meani ng. An i d e a, somewhat o f t he 

spi r i t of Hov in Hood or Claude Duval we n t wi til t h e me n t ion o f "Ral s " , 

and popular sympathy WcJS general ly on t he i r side. 't'ho "winter o f 

the Ra l s " is a well known expression connected with the hard t ines 

in Ne...vf ound Land in toe winte r of 1817-18 . Pr-ovLs Lo n u were scarce 

emo n q s t; the poor , but; there ver e l cJrgc s t o cks in t h e merchants ' 

s t o r e s . 'Iwo fire s broke o u t in S t . John ' s in November 1 81 7 - 

on the 7th a nd the otehr on the 21 st - wb Lc h burned down more than 

) 0 0 hous e s, and l eft a bout; 2,000 peopl e d estitute .

,... 

- 86 - 

Th e " Rals" origina t e d i n S t . J ohn ' s o n the principal of s elf 

pres e rva t i o n being the first law of Na t u re . 'I'hey bro k e into the 

s t o r e s of the mer cha nts , a nd t oo k what provisions t hey wanted . 

'J'he fever quickly apxe ed at the outports , where provisions were 

also scarce owing t o bad fishery , and " Rals" appeer'ed on the scene 

in Brigus . Harbor Gr ace, Catalina and s e ve r a l o ther large centres , 

and did exactly what the "Rals " did in s t. John ' l3 . I n Day nulls 

the "Rals" boarcied a vess el, load e d with provisions, and took half 

of the cargo . It wa s a f ailure of the s eal fishery thilt helped to 

c on t r i b u t e to the amarchy tht prevail e d the "\'linter of t h e "nats " , 

i n who s e favor it raus t; be s a i d thaat they did not t ake up their 

l awless wo r k till two men had. died in St. John I s of hunger; and 

that t h e foo d. they p Lundc r 'ed wa s distributed .:uno ngs t t ho s e whom 

t h e y thought needed it mo s t . noths seal and codfi sherie s turned 

out good in 1 818, a nd the c olony i n a s hor t time we nt to the height 

of p r o sper i t y . What a ppea r s to me a s a plausablc t heory of the 

de r ivat i on of the wo r d "Ral" is tht it coraea from the first s y l a b le 

o f rollicking , rol l , or r a l, it i s pronounced both Hays . ]I. " Ral" 

was a t e r m of mi l d reproach t o a man , so a woman of an u ncert a i n 

age and unmarried was c alled a "Sn a z"- and "Old s n a z v • 'I'his is 

a p u z z l e r . Once I heard a f ishermen say to a no t her : You mad e a 

good bill this Sp r i ng , Jim, and " spo se you and Hannah will "spLfce 

u p: in the f all" . "Gellon g , boy , if e v e r y s o i l ( s eal) I h auled 

t his S-ring wa s a g o lden o ne , I wouldn I t ma r ry t h at ouLd Sn az l " 

whc r e thi s t erm origina t ed, a n d how it came , a rc not eas y que stions 

to a n s we r , but , t o me it seems to h a v e some a s s oc Lat.Lonu with it 

l ady I S nose, and this men t i o n o f the word s ugges ts a woman wi til 

a s h a r p nos e , r ed a t t he t op , a n d the own c r h avin g gener a l l y a sour 

ex p ressi on. 

The Frenc h f or uoac i s vcr; nc ar it , a nd a So l u t ion

I 

/ - 87 - 

~ possib l y be f ound in t h at direction. "0 have a "swig " o ut of a 

, bottle i s to take a drink b y tilting i t on one 's mou t.h , 'l'h e r e wa s 

a word u s e d by t he old p e ople , which is seldom heard now . It 

den o t e d tric k s or j o ke s . A planter would say t o his servant: "Get 

t o work over there , a nd ne v e r mind going on w.i t.h you " andrarnartcns". 

'1'hi s is the phenetic spel l ing. If it be a n Irish wo rd , which I 

susp e c t it i s, t h e spell ing may be q u ite different . 

The wo r d "Gauc h e s" i s of s imi lar meani ng "S t o p your - Gauches" . 

Re v . Hr . Horton who wa s stationed a t Greenspond in the earl y f ift i e s 

of the past century , wrote an i n teresting pamphlet o n Mission exper-ei 

ences, in wa Lch he mentioned several wor-de and expressions used 

by the people that were new to h i m. One of these i s " Stop your 

wo r ks " Behave your Works" . lie n e ve r before he came out of EnqLa nd 

hear d a male cat called a "ra ra cat, or a "ja c ket cooler" for t h e 

f all i n t h e .me rcwxv- He was a lso s urprised when h e f irst he ard 

a man say of another with whom h e ahd a b usiness dea l , in whi ch· 

t he y could no t agree : 

" He I 5 not going to get the win I ard of me" . The u s e of t h e word 

clever in this wa y "cle ver stick " a "Cleve r Spar "; he a lso 

comme n t s upon as well , " i dle" for mischievous , and dangerous applied 

t o a very sick person . "Ichle y", for we ak , quoted by t he same r e v. 

gen t leme n , mus t be gone out of c urrency l ong ago ; I h a v e never he a r d 

i t. A "shocking" cold day i s of Bonavista Bay expressions that 

appeal s to him as very funny , a nd certainly a stranger hear i ng it 

for the f i r s t time it must be. "Simp l e" for foolish i s worth notice. 

Not t o hurt the f e e l ings o f anybody concerned, a l luding t o i diot, 

a ne Lq hbor would s a y : "that boy i s simp le". Exactly what constituted 

" f og meal " it i s not e asy to d efine. "when we went; aboard , J i m 

an d Joe we r e down in the ceb Ln with the skippe r , h aving a f og meal. "

_ 88 _ 

I t is pr oba bl y a hot meuL, as dfstdngufshed f r om A cold one , The steam arisi ng 

froill t he cooked meal su ggesting the term-fog . T he dd seare jaundice, by a l l 'Who 

never ee v the vord i n prints, the nYellow -Iaunder-s'" , Low gr-ovjn g bush ...as 

tltuckamore" .. A smal l piece of tobacco a " gumbe f n'" , Sea Urchi ns , growing on 

th e rock, 'Were known as "hoze egg s'' or " hor e t e eggs'" , " Scr -acd s half dr ied, 

small fi~h . 

The first oil -skin ba t s that came into u se amongst our fishermen 

~~;e ca l l ed " Sou -ve ster-s'" , next "nor -cve ster-s'" , and then "Lfnkums" an d "Cape Ann t e , 

Oil-skins were f irst call e d " Oi l ca se c 'lot.he e'", "Civil " va s u sed i n 8 pe cullar 

way by our ancestors, who qed always to wat ch t he see - "the fir st civil" day 

" 

will rO'J up along shore and cut SOcr8 'Wood .. Of c o r-se a " c dvf L'' da Y i n t his 

connection meant B c..,l m day. On the c ontrary when the i ndicRt ions showed f or 

bad wea t her or "fa llen weather" , as i t wps called, the ex pression wa s : "We a r e 

going to have dirt ll • I t i s said when t he late Bd.ehop Pover, of St. J ohn' s, f irst 

hear d this f r om the l at e Ca pt . Hackett, he wa s a sur-or-Lsed man : A "mackere l sky" 

i s a nhenomenon .....e l l 

kn own a l lover tt.e English_speaking 'World , as well a s i n 

Newf oundland . " Ovor --r dght." i n t he sense of opooed te i s now r ar ely hea r d . I t wa s 

8 good s ound compound i n the fiftie s . "He en cbcred over-ri ght the light hcu ee , 

or over-right Sea l Cove Point . 

"Scupey" boot s was the t erm epn H ed t o t he noi se made by new boots i n 'Walki ng . 

"Ther e was a timenot many year-n riga , .....hen pe opl e u sed to be delighted t o wal k u o 

the Church on C-tmday with "acrupey boots ", said an old InAD t o t he vr-I ter- when 

speaking of t he Bi:;; Haul" . "You ' d a lways know by t he " scrupey bootsII going up 

the Church in J une, there was 8 good h~u l of seals that S:lr : ng " . Young la ~, i e s and 

young ge nts now get t he shoemaker t he kill the noise made by the "ecrupey boots - 

the delight of their grand-mothers . Well, t hi s old faahion , like many others , 

l:1£:.y coree buck, as ., ne w fashion t o the gr-and -chfI dr en of the lSirls who today do 

not 

l ikp. '1scrupey boot.s" • 

"For fashions change nans , r-ea oon end r-hvme, and woman is woman all the time" .

/ - ~- 

/ 

/ ',.thore Ls nov t ho hair not with the beads on i t , that delighte d the heart of 

t he young I ndy of 50 yea rs ag o? It may no t b e far of f , right a t t he door-a , 

becau se , like t he comet s , It 11 fashions ha ve thei r per -Lod f ce I tdmes, t he i r r e solution 

aro1;nd s ome central mind thought, End t hey are bound t o c ome ba ck to earth a ga in. 

Where are t he steel 

hco-e , t he ca-e boo-as that geve t he gi r ls of t he ckden dzy s 

such a circu:nferen ce a t 

t he bot.t.oa of t heir dr e-eea, t hat no door ..va s vic.e enough 

t o let them en t er? These fa shion s may be inolined to laugh at, but t hey areno 

nor-e ridiculous or absurd than the fa ehfons of t oday will be i n the eyes of t.he 

girh ....ho "Ji l l be here fifty years hen ce . t hey will smi l e at t he ba r e bos om 

picture of their grarilmother long sinc e gone , and t hey gf ve a very l oud guff aw at 

t he pi ct ure of the hobb le-skir t end say.. "vej .j , dea r dea r t' iJ:ha t a f oolish little 

voaen grandmothe r va s l liT he "Oucfen Bend" ve e en institution t ha t flouri sh ed wi t h 

gr eat r u-ond se of a l ong r e i gn i n 'th o dRYS of t he nest :nid-century. Nobody not... has 

t he cou rage to allude to it. 

Xother s , who vcr-e i t , ....ould 

be a shame d t o l e t their daught ers kno .... t hat they vere at an y time of t.bedr- l i ve s a s 

f oolish , ntill the "Cucian B e nd'" , may bo 0 :'1 i t s last I e!> into the regi on of" t he 

or bi t of our f a sbf on-c hangfng earth , end ....e may veke up a ny :norning and find it has 

ent er ed t he t own. There is t hif; difference , men change gene r a l l y to ge t more comfort , 

vomen t o ge t more st yle regardless of co:nfort . Yet I DlU :t confess that the men, 

in the days I treat of, be d t heir veakness in this respec t , a s ve Ll, AS the vc men , 

The men of the fortie s end fifties, I find we're very f ond of pe r-Jume , They u sed 

cover thei r ~a i r vfth bea r 's gr -ease and an odor ous sc ent, ....hich they called 

" sncccbm'" , 1'hey ....ant-ed s ce nt on their hand kerchie f s ~ nd c lot~ n£: - the more t he 

better . The y liked to have thdr boots shini ng like e r.4rror on Sund aYs , and to 

have a neat, black stock t ie , a t't3nd-ueJ collar ....i th ....ing corners, a f anc y ve s t and 

beaver hat, , ··inr,:1 i n thei r ears ( solid gold) va s a craze t hat many , ct.ber-vf se 

eoo,~ fishcrr.ten , r-uccuabed to. ;,11 these little nrererencos , \Ie c an 100k on \lith 

re s ~ct , i n vfev of the rcne , aanky , sdncere , ooenaeer-ted que I dtdoe that. ve ImO'.J 

they pos sc s sed , nnr! ....-c knc .... e Leo , t.hrtt our-se I ve s , as rensfb.le find \ll r.e an \16 or e 

in co nce Lt e , nre Indl :1f'~ne: in cer- tn I n fSl':hlonl':, m~;nn"" rs nod cu :-:tms that vill

- 90 - 

looked upon vfth good nature, if no t ~·fi th t ca r-fuL fli t y , by our grandchildr 

en in 1975. 

It is not manI 8 clothing :or his manners or cu stoms 'We must. rate him b7 , but 

either by his head or his heart, the words he had said, the ....or -k he bas doae , and 

the cha r a ct er he he s built up I and left us to con sdder- and say:' II did he do well 

or i11 l1 '] I s vha 't is good in hi , his great lif e work vor-thy of 1 mitation? They 

have l abored, end ot her s have entered into the1r Labor-e , rind r-r -c r-eer dng the fruit 

th eir industry today. Their st.r-ong charect.er-Letac "''BB industry. 'J. hey hungered 

f or fndepende nce , and the fever a chieved i t by sheer dint of hard vor-k, The i r 

straieht-forwarfnes s and rugged 

ef nce r-Lt.y stand cut in cont.r-est. to the ',lays a nd 

manner s of t.oday , 'l he11' vor-k vas on the l a nd r B well an on the rea , one the 

evi dence can be seen i n t he cI a ar-ed acr-e -..;;ie of t .he country today . Probably mor-e 

then haLf the f ~ -- ms ......e r-e celled by I r i sh en d EngLi .ob i::l:n~ier:_nts , ncv f'r-om the 

ph. cd of t heir bi r t h , .::nr~ '....Lt.h to::,: Innd-bung e r- 1n their souls. I n any part of 

NetJi'oundland today, 

one viII see dry walls built of stones gathered f rom t he 

gr ound cleared by Irish and English who braved the perils of t he Western Ocea n 

to get a f ree home, and r e ar up t heir .families. Those wal ls st i l l r -eea fn for 

ever- a ao nwaerrt to their dndust.ry, 

The vvor-k vas done in the Fa l l 'When the fishery 

vas ove r , and in Hay , before it be gan . No l azy man came across the Atlantic to 

l ook f or wor-k and a hozae, The l a zy men and the covardky men stay at home. We 

got the very best blood of England, Ireland and Scotland i n all the trades and 

accupatdcns , 1'he men of adventurous sp;lrit are the ones who l eft home to better 

the i r fortunes . They ver-e t he keenest haters of tyranhy and oppr-e s sd on, s~~ owing 

not a foot of so 11 i n the Land t hat eave them birth, ve au st, not 'Wonder that 

the 

Iand-hun ger- pc nse nsed their soul:'> ·...1th such a grip, that 1n 

spite of foolish l aws 

enact ed to drive them out of the count.r-y when the fishery vas over, defied t hem 

vhencver- they could e nd clung to the un or-omising shore-front soil of NevfcundI and , 

like cIaran t o :1 r-ock, bu llt their chimneys by nteaI t .h, and fenced their l ittle

- 91 - 

lotS of l end :mr rept itiollsly bu t de t ermi nedly vhe never- they p;ot A chance . To 

tlind ~n 0. biy of l and and c ..l1 i t t heir own, no metter hoy rugge d nnd barren, 

ent. a thrill of joy into t he ir souls , e nd ga-e t hem 8 

prid e of ovne r-shf p and a 

ope of indepe nde nce that prepar ed t .hem t o risk tho great est hardships and pr i v 

tions . 

Itevar vere a colony se t .t.Ied i n the ieee of such t errible obstacles of 

. ieb fo r 250 years confronted and hare ssed t he emigrants to Newfoundland .. the 

ec-aon pe op 'le , t he fi sh erm en , the c odf'e ere , b'lackenn.t.ha, cat-oent.er-s , tailors , 

~sons buil t u p the commet-cda L and industrial fabr-Ic ' of the Colony. Merchant 

,fter mer cha nt came, made fortune s out of f i sh , sea ls and oils , converted a l l 

into gol d , and t ook i t 8\l8Y out of t he country for 200 ye ars , and Slent a ....ay 

the:nselves to enj .,y t heir vea Lt .h f f!r liNay from a country that ve s good enough 

to make i t in, but not good enough to s pend it in. They l e f t not a e cnueent, 

behind t em i n the 'Way of an l nstituti'ln t o he Ln the pe op'le , bey ond the shanefuL 

loTi t t en monument> of eone r ev dd sc er-ded old ac c oun t boo ks shovfng the ndner e b'le 

or-tc e s t ey pa Id for the c o-nt .ry cr-oducte , an d the !nexorb1tant char-ges made 

for the necessaries vhLeh they imported for the peo p'let s c on auapt.Lcn , The only 

t hi ng that sa ve d the vor-kers va s that t he su pply of fish and se a Ls 'Were inex 

haustible . If Na t ure ....e re n ot so bountiful , they coul d not possibl1y s t an d the 

strain a nd survdI e , Seeing that t he pe op l e ....ho did 'the renl vork of the country 

la bor ed so hard , one 1s not surprised to find they indulged in a good deal of 

relaxation on cer-tafn occasions . 

The tlChignon" or waterfall, another imposing and seriously r e gar ded institution, 

s hould not be ~~ghed "a t t oo l ou dly either, and eoee a gain may be at its 

per he Hon , 

"'11 t his Ls r ather a deigressioh I'r-ora the mai n r oa d of Dy theme ..' 

Still vhen deaLmg vith the f a s hi on s of the men, vbo he ld the stage of life in 

this cnnt.r -y i n the fiftios of t he pc s t, century, ar-dent, spi r i t s , vhf ch vere che ep 

i n t ho se deys vcrc ge ne t -e'Lky indulged in . When t he vfnt er- set. in, a nd 'the seas on t s 

Yor k co nn oct.e d ....ith the sea e on ! t; fishey ..nHI ove - , fe :,tivitiAs vere very frequ ent, 

especial l y during the t.vc ve eka of C hri~tmAR , in the housea of t he planter and \lOll-

6 

off fisher men . 

- 92 - 

The sa me a pplied t o veddfnga, ....hich usuallt t ook place I n t he Fall 

of the yea r , or between Chr i st mas and Lent . These ve r a t he only se a sons vhen 

nin c _t ent hs of t he men could find l eisure t o get ~ arrie d .. On both tha ne occasi ons 

t he ol d - t ime sealing gun played a pr omine nt part. 

Thes e c oul d be no public or 

private celebration ce l eb ration unles s gun s ver-e fired. 

The cu st-om is one , I 

t hi nk, pe culiar to Newfoundland , -and it i s st i l l u se d , through in a diminutivd way , 

and, if i t ever di e s , it vil l die 8 hard dea t h . Sealing guns a r e now fired a t 

veddi ngs i n 501:10 places in the outpor-t.e , ~nd t he practice I s gener r -I on the arri va l 

of fistingu i she d visit ors, ilks a bd shop or t he seaber-e of t he district. I t \18$ 

t he late B i shop Macdona ld' s dread vhen he 

left Har bor Grace to make an epfecopeL 

vi sitation . He vou'l d r at her suffer a l l t he tor t ures i nvo lv ed t han dampen t he 

people 1 S errthuef a som, but he va s never in his he ar t reoonoiled to t he sudde n noise 

mace by 100 se aling gun s f i red off t.oge t her , 

When visiting a certain harbor in the Nor t h , ac c oapamed by an ol d and \litty 

Irish pr i e st , t he Bi shop sa id : 111.10 you t hink Father J ohn t hey viII fire guns 

vhen we l and'l" " Certa i nly, 'IIl7 Lord: they have be en laying i n powder- f or a ao nt. h 

t o sa l ute you pr o;>er 1y ll . ','°011311, We l l1 " sa i d t he Bishop , and con tinuing, Md on't 

you thi nk it vould ne as veIl t o sen d vor d on sh ore t hat t hey be reque s t e d not to 

use t he guns a t all: don't you knov Father John that the con cu s sion of guns 

has of ten broken peopl e I s ea rs, and that might hap pen t o you or mati . "We l l , my 

Lord n, i f you f orbid t .hea , you \1111 break t heir hearts , and , for my par t , I would 

rather hav e f our broken e ar drum s then l OO broken heer-t.s" ], "Ve r y velU "re plied 

t he B ishop r e signedly, "in t he naee 

of God l et u s face i t, but you ~evfourid land e rs 

ar e a strange people" t I n ev ery k.i t.chen t.her-e va s a r a ck , f ormed vft.h t 'JO r;l a t s , 

nailed e cr-oas t he be ams to ke ep the tun on over he ad a nd out of harm 1s vn:!. They 

....ere ge ner ally kept Loaded , so that t hero wou.Id be no de l ay if a bi r d or soak 

8;>pe;l.red in t.he ba r -bor-, Some of t .heee guns vere five f e c t 

i n the ba rrel , an d 'Jere 

"vckoned amongat tho co st pr-ec dcus t .ree sure a of the p'le rrte r- and fi shermen . Thore 

'Wa s a so ng corapose d by a Tr i nit y man , over sixt y years ago , vhfch given one an

- 93 - 

. i doa of t he hiEh e st. feat.Lon 1n ....bleh t .he ce guns ve r e I; el~ 6 

Here er-e t.vo V CT :'i8f1 

of it, which I r-erae eber s 

Oh once I vent to Trin!ty 

' T"'8 s there I look 8 str ol l - 

' Tw8s t her e I took 8 etr ol l 

Al l around Green I sland Shor e 1 

' Twas t her -e I met my own true l ove , 

The gi r l that I ador e- 

The 

he ndeoae st, little crea t ure 

Thol I ever S1!:.... be fo r e .. 

Oh Sal l y L dear Sally t 

I III tell you ....ha t I can do 

I 'm able to knit se Inon nels 

And go out f i shing t oo .. 

Bes i de s I have 8 st. cct, Lar -ge gun 

Tha l ' s five feet 

barrel - or e cc-e 

And I ' m the c oon t h:lt Can carry her 

Al l a r ound Green I sland Shor e .. 

In or der t o e ppr-ec de te the s ong , one ahoc Ld hear t he musi c 8 8 weLf 8S t he 

wor ds . 

J ohnny the hero Was putting up e. strong or e e , e nd r ec oun t ing all his good 

qualifications , in order to vin Sa l ly's acceptance of h i s of fer of marriage, but so 

r eplied t .o him in t.he se 

ter ms in the thi r d verse. 

"Johnny t 

de er- J ohnny t 

Ti s t 15e fo r you to 100< out. , 

Y au have t\10 very small Ie rs

- 94 - 

B asides you are not 

able to stand t he cold 

or a hard vinter ' s day , 

l Id r ather wed 8 vea eeL, 

So J ohnny go away . 

The pos se s sd on of the big sealing gun va e no doubt, 8 

strong t .emptatdon , but 

i t did not bind Sarah, a pr a ct i ca l young f emale to the fact that Johnny \l8. S sp dnd I e-, 

le g ~e d, and a "wrm flay" f or a husband . 

Guns ver-e alvays fir ed t o u sher in ChristmRs and Nev Year l B Eve . !'be sealing 

guns ver-e ....hat wer-e su bsequent l y 'te r raed when percussion ca ps came in, .,open-fire 

place guns" , cOlll.:llonly kn own up to that time as "flint locks" . The se guns were 

\Jell made , a nd t hey vouk d do anything the il!l..1gination might think of - except 

bur st . 1'he flint vas he ld in 8. vice -grin in t he breach, and t he po....der 1n the 

pan 'J8S exploded when the tri gger was pul ls!:! and t e f lint ca me in c ontact with 

t he stee l end gene rated a cpe r-k ny t he pe r cuaefon , The re i s one of these :' ol d 

guns no.... i n the lfuseum , ....ith the oc....der- horn and sh ot - bag be l onging to the outfit. 

Ther e wer e often some very f a ncy inscripti on s a nd carvings on those powder -h or ns , 

es veH 8 S the name of the ovner- - \

- 95 - 

1J!1' the fi shermen hav e retained the idea e nd changed the word to ~it modern 

understanding . 

A sealinp; case va a being heard before the l a t e J udge Little about 

tlo"cnt y years ago , the litigan ts being both Gr ee nspons captains. The master~ l _ 

t he_watch t.'9S In t he box: "HO\I f a r away vere you hoa Capt. B I S ship vhe n you 

saw the crev hauling seals on board?" sa id the J Udge . The answer carne' quickly 

but pua aje d the judge a nd the l avyer sJ " About a three-b e l l spot, my Lord .. . 

A rev ednut.es ve r e l ost in e lucidation .. Inst ea d of the old form, three gun _ 

shot s" J it ....a s three times the distance f ron whi ch a ba l l f i red vou I d be ex - 

pee ted to kill 8 se al . A ':)lanter l s or fishermen t s degree of pr osper i t y cou l d 

be pret t y nearly gauged by the number- of gun s he hac on the gun -rack in the 

ki t chen . 

The firing of joy-K\.UlS at veddmgs dates f rom t he ea r liest t i me s i n 

NevfcundIand , Oftenti mes 8 par t y I'o'l I ove d the bride and gr-ooa to the Ctmrch and 

a regul ar and wel l-organized cannonading followed , vhe n they c ame forth, vhkch 

....a s kept u p along the r out e to t he horae of t he br ide . 

Mr . Wilson vbo spent fourteen years on the :~ethodist l'.i ssion in Ne\lfoundland , 

and, on his retirement t o Engl and , wr-ote 8 history of his labors, refers t o this 

cu st.om as follo...,s: "AR soon 8S the perty came out of t he chu r ch a number of guns 

\lw l d be fired over the head s of the br i de end 

gr-ooa , and (l'"so over the head of the 

parson , 8 S a salute, vbdch vou kd be occas fonaHy repeated '.:ot i l ve reached the house . 

H oro an 

invitation ·...ould be given to dinner., vhdch woul d eoae'tdmes be so general 

8 S to i nc l ude a l l hands. At the dinner there vou'ld be great or ofu sion and crlnking 

.e s .....a s the cuntoe of the times 'l . 

Se c ond to the wedding, f rom the etend-oofn t of f e st i vity , ....a s t he "ra f f le" .. 

.' 

The f all of t ho ye ar, vhen the fishery was over, \1'1 ::; r-ec cgn f ze d time f or "roffles" .. 

In 1lI0::;t ca ses the r affle ....a e or-gnn t eed to help 8 c oer vfdo-... voee n or (;I man who 

", 

bad rdone much at the fishey . The favorite article for 8 r affle ....us a gun . Some_ 

t i !:lc S it W3 5 a s dIv er- vat ch , 8 violin, 8 sb e ep or 8 goe t , 'i he man se l e ct ed to 

COnduct t he r affle a nd dr-ev , p t he rule s therefore \I S S Looke d upo n with r e cpe ct , 

""h~ n the ' I Rul~D of tho Raffle" vcre written th"!y ....er e poat.ed ~ n II c onaof c f ou a place

- 96 - 

j tJ t b6 big 1dt.cben , One shilling ha d to be de posited for three t.hr-o-..., of the ddce , 

"nCo the person vlio made the highest r-hrov loins adjudged the vfnner , when the amoun t 

pre v i OUsly decided upon as the value of the a r t i c l e or ani mal had been taken 1n 

by the master of the r af f l e. During the thro..nng of t.l.e df ce , dancing vas 10- 

dulged i n by the young men and women pr e se nt , and the man vho 00 

far made the 

hi ghest t hr ow was l ooked upon 'With a mixt ure of r e s pect and e nvy 85 he swung his par - 

t ener' in the da nce \lith a 10'01 1- assumed a i r of mode sty and di sinterest ednes s . 

He vas !' hero for the time being . Before the dan ce had concluded r e ports might 

re ach hi m from the c orner vhere the di ce "JaS being . t.hr-ovn that he h ad 

bee n knocked 

off the pedestal by 8 fortunate r -iva L for t~e pr-Lae , and 8 whif:per vent round the 

dancing circle th:J.t J ohn Good e H had thrown ?9 ; one more t.he n t .heihe r -o, When the 

dance is over t hO) l at t er goes forward ag ain to the table vher-e the di ce are being 

t.hr ovn , 

H e i s a cccm-iarded by an admi ring er-e'...d of hfs frien ds and they va t ch him 

excit edly till he be ats tbe I e nt, throw or scende hi:"' Lest, shilling: it Ln either 

or-e or t ~ e ctber , When t.be u :J ~ e t pr-Ice ~!; be en r-eached t he r affle 1 ~ dcc'lared t o 

be ove r and the 1.t1nner i s named . This 1 s f0110....ed by a f;t or m of applau se , after 

Whi ch d~ n c i n g 1s z-eeuaed and kept up till devn, 'When the coapeny disperses, t he 

\li nner taking the prize \lith h i-m i f i t be 30 antnaj., dead or alive , i t is sent 

horne next day. The

~5 cro o ~,o d build, vas cn L'led the "Ponder- Horn"; enothor tho II ~111l ue r " , another 

the "box end heat.ers'", owin g to her ChAplil .A " cr edle'' wan n bed of flm~ll r-oun ded i ce 

Br aund the ve ssaL'.e side to nave her f rom being chafed by heavy pieces of i ce . 

Besi de s the " Spr i ng of the vadbems" there vere the nSnr ing of 

the Cats" , the Green 

13a1 Spr i nell t he "Fr ost y Spring ll J t he " Spr i nt of t he Growlers" , the " Spr-In g of the 

Sheet s" (i ce all all in lar ge sheets) , the " Spring of the Flower s", etc, etc. Berth 

money in Conception Bet , Hr . Shor tie says, ven t as high as V . IOs , but of t en an 

exceptionally good man (gun ner) got his berth without paying anything. One of the 

Har-bor- Grace capt a i ns (J ohn Stevenson) pu t the pr i ce of berth money up t o ~ 3 . 

As 

a pro t est to this net. a gang of sealers went on board his ve ssel at night, when she 

va s be en ready f or the seal -fishery, and cut 

the spa r-s out of her. A riot was 

Iaoe ndt ng , and next doy being Sunday , Father Dalton, who knew t hat many of his 

people were 

involved in this t r ouble , addressed t hem i n the Church, and called 

upon them with a strong appeal to make good at once tIe denage done on board Capt . 

St evensont e vessel. T....o hundred men turned out t o vork next daY, and in twenty 

f our hours two n,e'ol et.a r-s were set up and rigged, and the ve ssel r ea dy fo r the 

sealfishery. 

The skipper meantime agreed to cut dovn t he b er t h money to the 

usual r at e . 

"So lomon Ooooe'", whose name was given to the days Sundat , Tue sdaY, and 

Thur sday , on which pork and cabbage was served on shore and pork and duf f at sea , 

was a netdve of Spabfard' s Bay, and 'JaB ver y pcpu'lar, 

The'Se ·days were ever afte r 

Called " SaLomon G0 3 'Ht iS Birthdliy" . 

The t i n pl at e in which ea ch man's diff and pork 

....as served up ....g B called a lIoannekin" . Most of the great "jocner-s'' (sealing captains ) 

i n Conception Bay had names by ....hich they ver-a better knovn t han ;t he one give n 

t hem at their christening. Capt . Rob er ts wa s known 8 S "BdLky t he Dandy" , Capt. 

Bill Whel:m as Frog March, Capt. Robt . Gos se as 

tonti- Bol o , Ca pt . Pearcy va a t he 

Admir al and Capt . J i m Hilcox lIThe Britainer" . IISt ormy" (ovfn g to ht.s lou d v oi ce)

- 98 - 

'0/9 8 t he fam i liar ne -ne 0 ' - Ca pt. 'Ihcs , Tiq?gerald , Oarbonear, a nd Sky -sai l J ack \.t30 

the soubr -Ique t. of Oept. , J ohn Ade . Then t hese ve -e "Br-du se'" , " Toa s t er" J "Rendy: t he 

Rope Sll, etc . They ve r » all f amous sealing skippers . 

The hou se s i n the se daye, like the vessels, vere built more t o a vtev to 

com.f or t and uuefukne ss than t o st yle and ez-chi tecturu L appeer-ence , They wer -e 

I on;: 8n~ 1,:,.J wi t h th~ gr-oundet. or -ey and atti c . The bedr-ooms , e a 'We l l 8S the par lor , 

vere on t he gr-ound floor . Li nney and outhouses "Wer e at.teched to t he house vhen 

re G..uired . The chimney fire -p lace ....ouI d bo t he most i nt ere sting fea t ur e of t he old 

diJelli ng to thr modern person 'Who has been fa:nllhr ....1th no hou sehold fires but 

those in st oves and grates , The cr-eme over the fire , on which pots a nd kettles 

ver-e suspended by means of hange rs and cotteri1s is see n no more , 

There is not 

even a pict ure of i t i n t he Idu seum , The hearth occupded a apace of 12 X 8 in an 

or di n.:.r;r sized kit chen . Looking up the chi:nne y one cou ld see t.be sky . The c r e-ae 

c:r.;,l c be -aoved easd.ky a t \lill, or in or au t , in order t o brir..g t .he pot ove r t he 

hear t of t he fire , ""and , vhen the c on tent ~ vere boiled , t 0 drnv the pot e ....ay 

f r om it, so as to make ec s:I the wor k of dishing up the dfnner-, The pots and kettles 

co-ill a Lsc be r-ad.aed or lowered as desired t 0 suit t he height of t he fire . If 

bread 'Wer e being baked t here vas fire over a s well as under, and it vas a f a scinating 

si ght to watch the good v oman deftly pick t he choice gloving coals out of the fire 

\li t h the t ongs a nd pi le the!:l up on the pct.-ccver-, Tha t bread ....as cortainly to be 

wel l baked , lind 'ther e voukd b e no ne ed to put t he bjaee on t.he b er n , The fire va s 

....cod everyvher-e in t.hore da y s , 

except St. John' s , 'Where raneeR were used \lith 

b r i ck oven s to do the c ook ing . The 0?6n fire-place required a large qua-~tity of 

'Wood to do the cooking, and kee p t he hou se 'Warr:J i n vfrrt er , A vhcde slide Loed ....ould 

be enten up in t.vc winter day s . It \1111 b e e n ~ily unde r-st-ood then \lhy t here \I :l.S 

e need of wint er men f n ever y hou ne , who c i d nothi ng e Lse Fr-om Nove mber t ill March 

exc e nt, cutting and haul1ne out fire_wood . On ea ch s ido of t he fire-place was a l ong

- 99 - 

pl tl cb 

with a high back 1n it, ce H od 8 " settle" . Here the quests and visi tors flat 

lIi tb 

t he f BOily on vinter nights, 85 close a s they could get to t e fire , and talked 

of t he cur r ent 'topdc s of their I oceIf.t.y; Y arns were s pun a nn inoidents told of 

tb8 fishery t he previous eueeer-, 

SClIm9tiWtS a n old nevapaper- Or' stor y-book f loated 

into t he house , and a r e ader va s f ound t o "give au til t he contents for t he ben e fit 

of th e ecapeny, 

Besides t he " se t .tde s" f or gen eral ccapany, t here vera: tlJO er-a-chedr s , one 

ellch f or the old people . They were bome -mde and comf ortable , and there wa s no 

~ en~er of re.l ~lng: out on the floor vhen one sat in t.hera, The hearth itself vas 

eit her of bricks or l arge blue f lnt et.onea , Doglrons, one on each side , kept 

the ....cod f ro:n f alling out . Some of those dog- dz-ongs , or end -irons , were vor -ks 

or art, espe ci a l l y in r e s pe ct to the fancy knobs on t he e nds, 'Which vas a pr ide 

and a pleasure to keeo shining . \.lhen t he American s t ove came i n the ea r ly sixti e s , 

the end-ir ons had to go , but one is inmced to wO:J.C'3::" whnt b ecene of the t hou san d s 

that 'Were i n the countr-y at th3t t ime . The floor vee c overed \o1ith e1t her sa nd or 

savdu st, end was scrubb ed tcv or t hre e times a week . Everythi.l'1g was kept 

scrupulously clean in t ho sa "f' ore-nov kitch en 5 , end t he chief ornament. va s the 

"dre sser'" , gener ally on the side op po rd te to the fire- pl.ece , end where the reflection 

of the liJ;ht mace the crocker-yver-e on the ooe n shelves shine like f a i r y gems a t 

the 

t1dlic ht hour . t. well-fillf;'d dresser v as t.he delight of a thrift y hcusa -vfre , as 

vell as th e en vy o f 8. ne i ghbor. Sane of the plates and d i she s _ t hos e on t he 

high ebe lves -wcu'ld no t be touch ed in a ye ar , and pr-ob abl y not t.uen, only they 

required t o be dusted. They were too m-eacdcus for use . \:ithin the past twe~tyfhe 

rears United St.atea v i sitors ha ve be en comi ng around to NeW'foundl and 

looking 

tor old 'JillO"oI va r e and other kinds of old china: They ce r -e t oo l ate . In t he da ys 

I \l!"it e of they could fill a schooner- i n nenrly every cu t.por-t , When the st.ovea c ame 

in they killed the old "dr-eos er-" , whi ch 10 :'1t i t.a beaut.y and char-m when t here va s n o 

tire light to " l ay upon it at ni ght and turn the "dresser" i n fairy pa lace . The 

~J I.l. !'!l Cr-ock Han" got. ar-ound r,bout, the same time, and eranrlmot.r.t lrt s da ughter- an d

- 100 - 

atl\.lght "r-in-laW fo und a ch e ap 'Way of gee t dng erocker-rvere , gla s ~es and dishes, 

".tLi ch ~he believed vere nicer than the old ones . The top sh e Ive a were no Longert16 

1d sac red , and vere taken do"," and pUt -Within th~ reach of the rising generation 

and t he ephe me r al hired girl, 'Who . between them, 1n ten years - f'rom 1870 t o 1880 

broke up the r ar e china and 

w1l 1ow-W'3.re that mothers and grandmothers has taken 

balf 8 cent ury to get together end en shrine on the top shelves . The amount of 

Househol d work that was done in t.hose days by t he houae-vi.fe and her da ughters 

vas marv ellous. Al l the baking , brevmg, sewing , \la shing , end knitting ve re done 

in t he hou se . The girls of today would n ever be able to ac complish half the day's 

work that their grandmothers did . There wer-e certain times of the ye ar, ge ner a l ly 

the I et.t.er- part of March, for ~q u ilti n s " an d "mathoofing ot • Parties of RU or ' eight 

vcoen a ssembl ed to do this wor~ , except at their meal tdme s the male part of the 

household should keep out of the way; 

Th e qu i ltin g f'r erae w~s en insHtuti on in ev ery hcu sehc'ld at the time I 

vrite of, but it "',QUId be ~ r ar e sight to eee today , end pr-obnb ly r -ar-er- ~ti ll 

to get he Lf c ozen voae n t oge ther- vhc would kn 0"" what to do with it. Neorly' all 

the clot hing vas mede a t ho me, Cloth an d dress -stufr vere brought by the pi ece , 

and suit s mode at home f or a l l t h e member-s of the famil y . I t may not b e 

stylish, but it Wa G warm and cccrr or-t eb'le , In the idea l bcuseho'Id a l l the provisi ons 

vere l aid in for the ",inter in the :nont h of No'vember- , 'i'he cellar wa s "tick-ed 

\lith pot at.oe s , cabb age , cnr-r-ct.s , per-r ndps , etc . en ough t o d o t ill the mont h of Hay 

In t he outhou se or shor e there were ba rre ls of per k, flour, beef, pe as, ont:oeal and 

t 

' I 

r 

I 

hamber g br ead, ca s k of molAsses, a few 'Ioaves (cone s) of sug~:r , acuple f irkins of 

but t er, a bar-r-e L of Labrador her-r-Ing, an d R qufnteL of late-caught f i sh (dry) . Some 

live st ock was killed the next montb, vh fch no t only gave fre sh meat for christmas, 

but e l sa r an into Lent . There ....as no running out to a grocery f or a pound oC sug ar , 

8 heI r poun d of ten or P. qua r -ter- o f but.ter , ~~od ern chili2stion e nd up cto-do t e llD 

Proveaen t.s , so much bca et.e d about, br-ought, in that par-ect.Lce , !lnd I am sur-e \16 are 

pr oud eno ug h of our r-onr-e es out of t he dark dey n of our- gr-endmot.her-a , to say that

- 101 - 

ve Ar e e njoyin~ it. Gra ndmothers mAy n ot Look wel l in 8 Iushf on-p Iat e t oday a 100g - 

si de of her bore- bre a st, hobble-skirts grand-daughter, but she va s 8 voman ....ho 

jnev hcv t o e ar n 8 d'lil ar by hard, hone s t vor-k, an d to save i t by coaaon sense 

ec onOJlY and to r -eer- a f amily of t en childre J vher -e her gr-and-daugh ter- halt s at 

hev dng t .vo , Gr an dmot her l ooked quite ha -dsome , vt .co, as she ve nt, ou t t o church 1n 

her poke bonnet, crinoline dress and ne at ?s ls1y s~.8 101 1 , draped 1n V shape, over her 

shoulders. AnY'Jay f a shion is no t hing , it 1 s onl y the de eds t hat c ount . 

'l'he r-e were two 

square halde s i ·n the ch i ::'l."'loy of there old-timo kitchen s - one 

on ea ch s i de , about five fe et from the hearth , called "c Iavfes'', , One was used by 

gr andf ather as a de posdt.or y for his tinrler-cr aft, pi pe , tobac co a.nd general odds a nd 

ends that he may r eq uire any moment. and the. t need ed to be kept. dry . 'j;he a perture 

on the ot her side va a used by gr a ndmot her- t o depoe f t her needle s , t hi mble , thread , 

but t ons , snurf - box , etc . Abou t t.ve Iv e f a ct up the flue 'WE're s t out 1ron hooks or 

nails on ea ch s id e of t he fir e -'.oT3y , and here to e baas ....er e hun g 1n the Fa l l e f ter 

the pigs ....ere kill ed t o be II smoked or cured . Pigs 'Wer e kil led only a t t he f ull of 

t he aoon , and there ver-e onl y tva or three r e co gnfzed men in e e h sett le:ne nt considered 

qU6lified t o s t i ck Ii pip, - Rum ye s se rved out liberally on these occ e efons , and , a1 - 

t oget .her- , 

November-, 

pig-killing and COy killi ng cays ....ere f e stive even t s i n the full moon of 

The blood , v hf ch wa s sa ved to make "bla ck puddd.ng s" vas not su onosed to 

be in r.r dme con dit i on unLe..e a t t he full -f t he moon , 1IITis not eve r y day that 

Maur i ce Kolls a cov" , is a saying t hat COile over f r o::! the Old coun try, and t he 

pr oper r -ee I daatdon •....a s verified i n 1\e\l f onndland ev ery t i me that 8 CO\l ve e killed . 

The u se of t he vcrd " b ill e t s" as cloven pi e ces of fire wood, 1s peculiar , and 

prob ably not use d i n t his se ns e enY'...here outsi de NevfoundIand , 

The ordinary u se of 

th e vcrd 'lbillet" , a s a l~t t l] r or a sit ullt i on, i s CO:'1,:l1')n the vor-Id ove r . "He ha s 

8 good bille t " , meant, t hat a men is in a good situa tion , or , i n mode r n oer-Lence , ha s 

got a good job : vhtLst. the Fr e nch vord "billet" is a Let t.er- bi llet-doux (love l e t ter) . 

I f a Nevr cu ndl ander- sa y~ , "Do 700 va nt. t o buy any billets? \0'0 m ow t ha t he i s se lling 

fire ....ood , When tho Mord a Gcvernoe nt, cnme i nt o power , a well-known j okor , vh o got 

t ho firnt nevn tha t t he ol d t r ee:'! in front of t h6 House of :..qo;s mgql:r vere t o be cut

- 102 - 

down a nd spl i t up into junk-length fire-wood , he went around the 

town t e l ling a ll the office-seeking s uppo r ters that Sir Edward 

woul d be in a position on Wednesday to give a "bil l et" t o every 

man that wa s expecting one f rom the Government. When Wednesday 

came he triumpha ntly confirmed h is rep o r t by saying : "There a re 

t e n thousand "bil lets" up i n t he Hous e of Assembly yard , a nd they 

are a l l good Go vernment billets, a nd a l l you ha ve t o do i s to g o 

up and a s k for one". 

"Goss ip" in t he sense of idle t alk, we all a re fami l i a r wit h . 

I n New f o un d land it expressed t he r e altic n ship betwe e n a god;O-=father 

or god-mo ther and a god-chi ld , that is o ne o f who m the y s t ood s ponsor 

in bapt ism. In this sense it is purely Irish, a nd was perpetuated 

by the emigrants who c ame f rom the Emeral d I sle .. Be side s the we d 

d i n g cake , the Ch r La trmaa u c a ke and the birthd ay cake , there wa s o ne 

cal l e d t h e "gro a nin g c ake" , u s e d at one"s fi r st b i r t hday and at 

the chr istening f e stivities. "Lo a f " wa s soft bre ad, a s distingui shed 

from hard viscu i t . In the ear l y f i shing days hard Hamberg bre ad 

wa s u s ed at n e arly every me al, e xcept Su ndays and Fe a st Days, when 

i t was t h e p rivilege o f t h e fishe rmen to ge t " loaf" . The idea of 

the s u pe r i o r i t y a n d the privile geimplie d i n t he word i s retained 

till the p resent day.. A fis herman tha t came a long t o t h e city by 

the coast a l b oat l a st we ek, bei n g aske d by a fri e nd whether h e h ad 

good food on t h e shi p r eplie d : "Wel l we h ad p ret t y good g r ub; we 

had potatoes and ma t e , a nd sugar, t ay a n d " l oaf". 

Most people born in Newfoundlan d h a ve h e a r d t he word "jonnick" . 

It i s not easy t o f i nd o u t i s derivation, o r wehether its o r igin 

i s on thi s or t he o ther s ide of the At lantic . It i s equivalent t o 

"be h o n o r able", or OI l zun honorable and t ellin g the t ruth ". John 

Good a l l wi ll say t o Gave Ronan: "Now Ga ve, did y o u give me my righ t

- 1 0 3 - 

money you got for t h e fish; "jonnick": " Ye s, John , 

every penny he gave me for i t, and I gave you 

you r s h a r e r f ifteen shi l l i ngs-jonn ick" . 

A "Knapp" is a smal l g rassy o r moss- covered hillock in the 

pl a i n o r a l ong the road-side. lOWe wi l l take a s pe l l at the grassy 

Kna pp " . o ne would say to a c o mpan ion whe n bringing home a ba ck-load 

of wood . "'Li v ier" is a r e sident". Dr . Grenfe l l goes o u t o f his 

way to show that bhe words "livye r'" , and his expl anation i s r idiculousl 

y f ar-f etche d. He suppos e s a vessel anchor ing in a n o ue -. 

po r t and o ne o n board asks a visitor fro m the Sho r e about the i n 

hab itants and t he answe r comes : "We live s yer", a nd f rom that 

cir cwnstance they a re c alle d " Li veyers" . Th i s is n ons e n s e . "Livier " 

i s a made word s t raight from t he verb to live. Like sawye r - one 

who s a ws - i s from t he verb t o saw , and l awyer - if I may put it 

s o - f r om the verb t o l aw; to practic e l aw . The"Iiviers " were 

pe ople who set t led in the dista nt outports and in t he bot toms of 

the bays , an d were s upposed t o b e outsi de t he circle of wha t 

civiliz i ng influences of the time that were then e xisti ng . At first 

t he y we nt t here from larger s e t t lements" o n winter's work, " and 

finding the l an d good , wood plentiful a nd easy t o s uppl y in winter, 

t h e y wettle d ther cone by one, and when they g r e w to a certain s t a t us , 

and we re numerous e nough t o build their c hurch a nd school and to 

hav e a mail ser v i ce , they were no longer r e g arde d as "Liviers" , 

which, in itself i mplie s i s olated a nd o utside c i v i l iza tio n . 

"moidered " means d i stra cted or half'craze d with some trouble 

or an xiet y . "'l'h e man wa s 50 "mo i dered" t hat he i d not know what 

he wa s doing" . A s udden calamit y will oft e n r e nder a f i she rma n 

t e mporily i nsane , a nd then he i s said to be "mol dere d " wi t h trouble. 

John Goodal l's house and all its content s we r e bur ne d down one

- 10 4 - 

(li9 ht, and, of course , there was no insurance; Gave Ronan and ' others 

were s ympa t h i z i ng with him , when he suddenly interject ed: "yes, 

and I wou ld not mind i t so much o nly for roe f ine new gimlet that 

, 'I 

I br ought ye ste r d a y and l e f t in my other jacket pocket". A I 

"pat i antate" man was considered much more e x p r e s s i ve than patient , 

",hl eh was har d ly ever u s e d . "Disgusted It had a much wi d e r meaning 

amongs t the fishermen t han i t h a s with the educated c lasses. I t 

als o mea nt sorrowful , overwhelmed with r e gret, painful. This 

mean i ng is stil l retained in aonavLst a ' and Green Bays. I once he a r d 

thi s conversation on the arrival of a skipper from La brador: Johnnie, 

whos e father died while the skipper wa s a t La brador , i s g reeted by 

the latter wi th a warm handshake and , "Wel l J o hn nie, 1 1m shocking 

pu t o u t about your f a t he r - whe n I he a r d he was dead I was disgusted" . 

A "poo k " of hay is the Newfoundland substitute f o r a cock of hay , 

o r a hay-stack. "Swinged" wa s the form f or scorched by the f ire , 

an d not singed. "Stand" hac f r o m be fire , o r yo u wi l l ge t your 

clothes swfnqed", A girl who was sought in marriage by a well-of f 

fis herman , and would not say the wo r d, repl ied t o t he c lergyman , 

an d wou ld n o t. say the word , repl ied to the c lergyman when he went 

to intercede: " I f Jinunie Goodal l wants me to marry him he wil l 

h ave to "swinge" o ff them whiskers " . This was a sacrifice too 

great f o r J ame s to Make , and , a fter several days ne gotiatio n , t he 

c ompromise o f a "boot' jack" o r "mutton chop" wa s agreed eo, Speaking 

o f whiskers reminds me of an i mc i de n t t h a t occurred in a Northern 

outport in t he eighties . A young l a wye r, a f riend of t he writer, 

came there to spend a vacation. At t he time Gladstone was at t he 

he igh t of hi s fame , and a l l his peculiarities , including his l o ve 

fo r chopping down trees , were recorded rcgularly in t.he newspapers 

an d ma g a z i ne s . I n fact tree-chopping t ook the place amongst the

- 105 - 

the rich and leisured class tht golf d oes today. "1'0 line long, 

be h e althy and s t r o ng , one should imitate Gl adstone, and cut 

do ....n trees whenever the chance offered. My friend , the young 

lawyer from St. John's , soon s howe d h i s enthu s i a sm f or the Gl adston 

i a n pursuit, and the school-master of theplace took advantage 

of his penchant, for h e ahd a piece of forest land that he wanted 

badl y to hve cleared of trees , which work, under ordinary c Lxcume 

stanc e s , would have cost him a good many hard-earned dollars to 

execute . All was needed now was a good axe for the young lawyer, 

who was burning to develope i n t o a Newfoundland Gladstone. The 

best axe in the harbor was known to be the property of Uncle To mmy, 

he treasured it so carefully that he was never known to loan it to 

anyone . Th e s choolm a s ter thought that an exce p t ion might be ma de 

1n this cas e , and ventured to approach Uncle Tom and ask him for 

the lend of his axe, but when he went to its hiding place in the 

store he found i t was not there . After enquiring from all the f amily, 

J oe, a "simple " boy, on being hard questioned , s uffered his memory 

to rev i ve a nd admi t t e d that he h ad l ent it to a man, but he could 

not remember who it was. The school,a s t er went back and reported 

t o t he young Gladstone the s tat of the cas e . lie could not understand 

the story about the boy not being ab l e to s ay who had t he 

axe. "Come on" , he said, "r'll go with you , and I bet I'll get 

it out of him". They returned to Uncle Tommy' s, the Lawye r- ' was 

i ntroduced, and im mediately a sked that Joe be brought out so that 

he c o u l d q ues t i o n him. "There is a right way and a wrong way" he 

said to the a s smebled crowd, "of getting i nformation out of a boy , 

and yo u s hould s e e the way J ohn Boo ne han dles a wi t ne s s in t he Co u r t 

at S t . J ohn ' s . Me anwhile Uncle Tommy had told him the man he s uspected 

, and d e scribedhis a ge, s i ze , hoight, complexion and clothing.

- 1 0 6 - 

There was enough for the l a wy e r, and t o the great admiration of 

all a s sembled , he b egan to put questions to Joe: 

"Did you l e n d your father 's axe to a man? " 

"Yes , Sir" . 

"Good . Whom did you give i t t o ?" 

"I d on 't k n ow". 

"Was he a s hor t man ?" 

"Yes , sir". 

"Good , What color coat did he h a ve on, bla c k ?" 

"Yes, s i r " . 

"Aha : What kind o f t r ous ers did he we ar? II 

"Brown "'. 

"Al l r ight. Did h e we ar a hat or a Sou ' We ste r ? " 

"A Sou'Wester , Sir . 

"Now we a re g e t ting a t it: Did he h ave a kin d o f r e ddis h h air? " 

"Yes , s i r , Red." 

"Aha! Did he have a wiske r ?' 

"Yes , s i r " . 

"Now , what color wa s his wisker ? " 

"Blue" • 

Table au: 

Colla pe of t he l awyer i nto t he arms o f Uncle Tommy , a nd a 

c horus of deri sive l aughter fro m t he ass emb led cro wd. 

No fis herman, and n o one having orinary knowledg e o f the f i s h e r y 

ne ed s to be t old that "washboards" we r e put around a skiff over 

t he g u n nel t o keep the s e a and spray f rom coming i n . A fisherman 

Wou l d fee l much more c omf o r t able in a l o ad e d boat whe n he had wa s h 

bo a r ds. 

1\. We stern pla n t e r, who came to t own i n the eighties a nd put u p

- 107 - 

. :. tM Tremont Hote l , on .....a tor- Street, \I ::JS not us ed to tho i ron bednt.ead t hat he 

l'lept on . It va s eo unlike t he old wooden bedsteads that our grandfathers were 

t1 sed 

to, t hat he cou ld not see ....het ....auld keep him f ro:n f alling out should he 

go to s l eep and move I n his s l umber . He spent 8 bad night, and vas d - dll! he 'd 

lie i n t hat bed an y more till they'd put qashboards on i t . The old bedsteede 

t hat our grandf athers used wer-e ce rtainl y aade f or r etire :nent : one can i magi ne a 

aan vho s lept 1n t hem ever being abl e to get out un less he had all his facul':.ies 

in full activity. \/hAt has be c cae of all the old and e I ebor -eteIy made cubi cl "ls ? 

1'080.1 ve r -e of beautifully carved and ex- en ef ve ....000 th!.t coat bet veen t20 and 

.t S~. No vender- our f riend , the aU oI a nt .er- f roil v'la cerrt da Bay , i f he va s ac -, 

ec st.omed to the old style, e sked t o have va shboa r -ds put to the iron cot to save 

hi s life . 

"Tib l s Eve " amongst our &nce stors meant "Never" , and ve a e...ufvaI ant t o the 

"Gr ee k XaLl e nds'" , vhf ch never c oaes , t.. per s m ....ho did not wi sh t o accede to a 

re que st would flay : " Ye s , I 'll do it fo r you , Ti b i a Eve!' . "Je nnt e s , as a l l kno v 

....ho were born before the f iren , is t he wor-d f or "rsu-eee r s" , or f ools , person who 

dr e s se d u-r in ddsgu dse at Christ mas and ven t, about from house to house . The old 

English vord in 1Ia l 11\1e11 is "Yannfes'' our s i n the cor-r -u-t.f on , "Half baked " 'Was 

anythi ng but 8 c omoH men t .ar-y t erm t o our f nt.e Ll Igence , I t va e eq uivalent t o 

say ln r, "h a Lf fo ol" , and i s stil l us ed by the men 

t o ke ep up their t r ou sers vhen 

t hey did not us e be lts. Hay be the I de a of han gdng, bed na e eeocda t .ed vith bot h , 

Rave us the wor d in i ts s e c ondar y aeendng , 

The t.r-ou ser -e ar e hUng on the man and 

t he man 1 s ha nged on t.be p'fli lu ses . The vor-d va a never heard t o better ad va ntage 

t hF.n i t vc s i n the House of Assemb l y i n the Bond GJVern ~~nt 19 time , when one of 

t~ member -s fo r PIscrnt h , eu lo~i71. nh a deceased -aember-, ~e1 d in his soench that 

" h~ ve n 8 fine ae n , !".r. S e nke r -, l! l": ever hove 8 " r,all u s over hfc sb ocIder-e'" , Anot.herform 

of eu logi7J nr, ve e " a s fi ne Am on 6 :0: ev er ve t. e L' ne '" ,

- 108 - 

In our ol d days our fishermen ....ere acne vh a t super-st.Ltdous, although the most 

daring, 1ntreped e nd hardy amongst the people of the gIobe , To a certain extent 

they believed i n t hose f ollo....er-e of t hose "three beauties of wi tches" , 

no gra phically 

described by Shak espeare in hi s dr a:na "Hacbet .h" ; In the Ejdola Ages they 'Were 

styled "vd'tcbes'" , and ha d a hot ti:ne of it a t the hands of t he author i ties. In 

our more moder n days t he y are styled. clairvoyan t s , cryst.a l-{;87.ers , etc: but emongs b 

our fisher men they were known c s fortune -t eller s here i n St . J ohn ' s and severaI of 

the outpor t s vere general l y l ooked upon 8S " \lidolJs" , t heir husbands acting as oulscou 

t s , picking u p a l l t he necessary m roreat.t on , \lhi ch t he "vfdov a " used t o ad 

vant age in r elievi ng their dupes of t he i r superfl uous and hard-earned ca sh a t t he 

fieheries . Our l ocal "vitches" pos sessed no cauldr:m like thei r pr edecessors in 

II¥.acbet h, by t hey usua lly were the cvn er e of a foxy cra ckie dog or 8 black ca t , 

gener ally B r-cbu s t.f c Toa , The mut tered no im?lious incan t ations , but seated upon 

a stool. or t ub , vith ehav 'ls ove r thcT heads, and hair ke pt, up ..n t h large b..ck coeb, 

appeared I S if' peering into 't be future . Mr . Sho r-td s says : "Those imposters r ecei ved 

e terrible set-back dur-Ing t he .e pi sco -a tes of Rt. , Rev . Dr . Sca llan, 

t hird bishop of 

St . Jot-.n 1 s , Big Fa ther Fitzgerald vas t he parish r-r -Ie st, 1n 'those far-off day s , and 

he could do :nore t o dt.sperse a mob or prevent crime than vou Id twe nty policemen , 

even if l ed by such r edoubt able ver-r -Ior-e as .supt . GU me s or I ns pe ct or ...per-r-ev, The 

force of 

his argument rested in his well-polished blAckthorn, vhich he brought vith 

him f r om t he Emera ld I sle . 

One of t .ho re "HveIy las sie s l ! r e si de s s omewhere nea r t he Barking Kettle, and , 

of cour-se , besides the \lindow's" husband, r-he had nuee r-ous satellites to i~8tter 

in a l l dfr-ect.Lons t o -d ck up i nf or mAtion about her "c H e nt.e I e " which she used to 

advantage a nd at good profit financially. Father Fitzp,erald de t ermine d to root out 

thoRe dena of impo ~ter r. , and d i !':~is in r: hilll;.')l f 8 S a fairly vell-off fishermen , he 

Visited the "vd do'... in her rooms and tole her ~e vf shed his fortune t ol d . The 

tl ..n ndov" drew out her ne ck of cards and , After 

study-inr them for some time r emar ked: 

1.. JOun~ woman _ 8 dar-k yo -ng vo-mn _ is thinking Clf you , and a l l the otber rf'iemarole

- 109 - 

of guess v or -k used upon such occasions . 

There we e a coapt-es afon of t he lips and 

steely glitter in t he blue e yes of hi l'1 r ev ere nc e a nd his ha nd va s placed i nside 

of his r e e f er j a cke t . After the seance va s oeer- Fathe r Flt;,.gerald rernarked , - 

"That I s very good . No'" I sh al l tell you fortune . 1 am an expert, and my 

pr ophecies a lways c oree t rue " .. 

"You e enn ot'", r epli ed t he "vido·.t , lIi t is 8 g i f t " . 

rtOh i " s af d hi s r ev e r ence , " I have that gi f t , and to sbov you he", corr e ct I 

am, I assure you , you are very near tro ble _ very gres t, troubl e " .. 

nI em i n no t rouble" J eedd the "widow" .. 

IlYes y ou er e " J thundered t he priest, and his ha nd emer -ged :fr om his breast 

\lith a 'Whi p i n i t , an d t here ....ere "ructions" i n t hat doafcf Le for ' t he next five 

or ten mfnut.es , Ho....ever it ended up \lith the f or t une-t eller folding U;J her tent 

like the J.rabs and disappe ari ng f ror!! t ha t classic r egion f or ever-ac r-e , ~ or some 

years the impost er s had hard times, b ut they Afterwa rds ga i ne d f oot ing age dn , 

"Gaumogu e s'" appears to be an I r ish word , and is e quivalent t o playi ng tricks 

and pr a ct i c a l J ok i ng . "Stop y our gauaoguee over t.hcr- i n the corner" was t he or der 

gi ven to the y ':l ng peoo'le at vekes , 

'I 

n\Jhisglgging" had an 8~"DOst simll iar m 'Olanin~ , and r eferred to laughing end 

~i g gling . I on ce he ar d the grandson of a n old woman flay at a vak e , i n or der to keep 

th e young oeoo'le quiet : 

"Now b-:tys, if you can't stop your gaumcgues and whif'gi ggling ove r t here , ve lll 

have the Rosa ry a gain" . 

When c oe par-ed t o the ancient practice of our- ancestors no 

pUblic events ha ve unde rgone su ch an 1.. Lt er -et.Lon aft ve ke s a nd f uner als . When the 

deed pe r -eon had no so rrowing r elatior., or ha~ a t t.edm-d I' very r i pe ol d ag e , the 

veke pa r t ook a good dea I of the nature of a festive gathering .. Pipes and t oba c co 

and snuff \.Icrf' su pli~ d gr atis to all vho e t.tended , and ","ere displayed on a table 

in an invit:!ng manne r-.. Lna t ead of t he re be ing two or thre e to stay up ell night 

at a wake , there wou Id b e a score or mor« ....ho vcuId sit it out til l rlB.\JIl , end 

'lUi st ~8~e s , such as forfeit~ an d those referred, to 1n A pr-evLoue cbept.er, vouk d

- 110 - 

be indulged in after the how of midnight. 'l'he amusement and the 

no i s e would be regulared by tacit understanding in proportion to 

t he loss sustained by the death of the deceased. "The same idea was 

e xe mp l i f i e d here in St. John's uJ, to thirty years ago, when shutters 

we r e used on all the shop windows. For the death of a man of the 

h i ghe s t aocdaj, standing, all the shutters waul,d be put up; for the 

ne x t grade six shutters; then four for a middle-class citizen, two 

f o r a nondescript, and one 'for the lowest social grade. To find 

s e a t i n g room for all who would attend a wake in the old days was 

nearly always difficult; chairs would have to be borrowed from the 

nei ghb o r s , and in some cases - a "popular wake" - fanned from the 

s ch o o l - h o u s e . 

There is no need to borrow seats in our day, especi 

ally in St. John IS, where the few ho go to the wake just to put 

in an appearance and let the relatives of the deceased see them, 

a r e watching eagerly a chance to slip gracefully out before midnight, 

s o 

that they will not be, themselves, bored to death staying up 

a l l night listening to the whispers of a greater bore than themselves 

an d losing their night I s sleep in the bargain. Heighs: "Tempora 

mu t a n t u r and nos matamur in illis". The utilitarian spirit is permea 

t i n g 

the whole world and the practical and materialistic sweeps 

awa y sentiment and sympathy with a ruthless hand. "Burying the dead", 

a s one of the corpooral works of mercy was no empty phrase in the 

mi nd s of our ancestors. Attending the wakews and funerals was reg 

a r d e d a duty as incumbent as going to church. Both sexes walked 

i n the funeral procession practice discarded in St. John's over 

s i x t y years ago. 

In most of the outports the women and girls still 

wa l k at the funeral. 'l'he wearing of crepe-linen was formerly the 

c ust o m allover the I sland. 

It passed out of use in the city some 

fifteen years ago, and I 

have notyet met anybody who is not quite 

sat i s f i e d that it did so. Certainly th~ custom ent a Lked a great

- 111 ~ 

deal of u s ele s s and o r namental expense on peop le , more espec i a l l y 

poor people , when they h a d a l s o t o p r ovide blac k g loves a n d thos e 

l ong white s ashe s of " body mou r ning" for the doctor , the clergyman 

a n d the schoolmaster a nd other distinguis hed citiz ens . It is one 

o f the customs of our a n ces tor s for which it is hard, e ve n for 

thei r wannest apologist, to find an excuse or justification, · a nd 

while I write this, a f ancy strik.es me that, some fifty y ears hence, 

s ome writer, reviewing the customs of our own t i me s , ' wi l l be making 

s ome funny comments on our present practice of using tho s e expensive 

c aske ts with their a c c omp an y i n g load of flowers. "The casket was 

liter a l l y covere d with flowers" will be a n express i o n u s ed by the 

scr i be of the 21st century to "point a mo ral and adorn a tale". 

Rev. Mr. Wils on , l1ethodist Minister , who wrote ab o u t the customs 

of the early s ixt ies in Newfoundland says of funerals: "They were 

a l way s a t tended by l arge bodies of pe ople, and particularly was 

the c ase if the dece a s ed were an a ged person or one much regretted 

in the community. Sp i t i ts and sweet c ak e were served at the house. 

'l'he corpse was then taken to the church where t wo les sons and the 

who l e funeral service were r e a d , and the entire matter made as ceremo 

n i o u s and imposing aspos sible. A funeral sermon must always be 

prea c he d , and, however the person lived a nd died it was expected 

that the preadher would p rea c h him into He aven. In order to secure 

this some on e would go to the pre acher just before he e n t e r e d the 

Ch u r c h , and t ell h i m what pe rha p s he nor no one e lse ever knew before 

a bo u t the goodn e s s of the deceased, what he did , what he said 

wh i le sick ; and expec t all this and a great deal more in praise of 

t he d e ad, would be e xpl a i ned from the p u l pi t. Onc e the writer wa s 

c a l l e d upon by a man t o attend the ob s equie s of his wife, a nd he 

wished a very good char-ec t.e r- to be qt.ven of the dece e aed , but all

....... 

- 112 - 

t he information he gave wa s that she never robbed him and was a 

f i ne hand at the garden. When the deceased had not wisely lived 

wi t h ou t religion and died in sin, the preached in a different 

posi t i o n . When he attempts to do t he best under the circumstances, 

and to avoid giving pain and insult to a whole family connection. 

One party will afterwards complain and say to another: -The preac 

he r did not say as much about my friend as he might have said". 

He wil l be met with this reply from aneighbor; "if t he preacher 

h ad known -him as we l l as I do , h e wou ld not have said as much 

a s he did, and it would be something different" . The making of 

the coffin never cost the r elatives a penny , no matter how weil 

o f f they were. Who would think of making anyone pay for a coffin? 

I t would be almost an act of desecration. In every harbor there 

we r e one or two well - r e c o gn i z e d coffin-makers . They would get 

a l l the voluntary assistance t he y required, and work a l l night on 

t he job if need be. The boards to make it, too , were got free 6f 

c har g e from any neighbor who had board, if the man who required 

i t had none of his own. In fact e ve r y t h i n g connected with the :.; 

wak e and funeral that the neighbors could do was sone free of cost. 

Who ever heard of the idea of arnking a charge for such a service? 

Suc h it was in the time of our grandfathers; but it is not so coday, 

The change certainly came about gradulally, and we do not know of 

any outport today where a can get a coffin made for nothing e 

He must pay for the board and the labor, except it be in the case 

where the friends and relative s of the deceased are so poor that 

they can't find the small s um of money requred for the service. 

So far most ot the good people of the outports are s a f e from the 

devo u r i ng maw of the hard-wood casket, and are content with a neat 

p i ne- wo od coffin covered with plain black material . Long may they 

r e mai n s o , is what their best friends should wish them, for in the

- 113 - 

cities now , as a witty observer said to the writer at a r e c e n t 

funeral: "It i s che a per for a ma n t o live than die, if he's got 

to have a n outfit like that". Lo ad ing u p a man' 5 cof f i n with 

Chinese asters and n asultri ums is a crue l joke on him, when you 

wou l d not give him a butter-cups when he wa s a l ive a nd well". 

Th e e xpr e s s i o n "o u t dogs and in dieters " is a f amiliar one 

amongst the older portion o f our pop u l a t i o n a t t he pre s e nt d a y . 

It i s r e markable t h e l arag e number o f tho s e "kieters" we r e to b e 

foun d in St . John's a nd the other towns in our country. They 

were a h a p py-go-lucky, c ome - d ay-go-da y clas s. The ma jorit y , a nd 

the l arge majority o f t hem, ne ver married . They looked upon a 

wi fe as a n e n c umbrance . They devoted t heir s pare time (which was 

nine month s of the year ) . in playin g c ards a nd h aving a good time 

gneral l y. Th e y t oo k l odg i ngs wi th some house keepers , pu t in s o 

many barrels of flour, pork, etc, an d whe n not occupied in their 

games , went .i n t o t.hecount .ry for firewo o d e tc. It wa s this custom 

that gave ris e t o t he we l l -known c o uplet: 

"Where a r e you going with your dogs and t ackli ng s " ? 

"In the wo od s for a l o a d of s tar r i gano" . 

The y always managed t o pro cure s uff icien t d r i nkab les , as well 

eatables, to h ave a good time. Mr . H. F. Shor tis h a s i n his 

possessi o n t he census of St . John' s i n the year 1 897, in the penmanship 

o f the census taken of tha t d ayIP whic h i s in a per fect s tate o f 

p reservation , and which wa s much tho ugh t of by t he l ate l ame n t e d 

Ar c hbishop Howley. I t gives the names d. t he l and a nd p roper ty , 

the occupies, rel g i ious d e nomination, t he nu mber of male s and f emale s, 

whe re born, e tc , and the nwnber o f "dieters" in each dwe l ling. 

in some houses ther were sixteen a nd eigh teen of those wo r t hies. 

The town wa s divi e d i nto four d i v i sio ns, a nd ve r y m..my o f t he names

- 114 - 

a re not to be found in St. John I 5 t o d a y I a l though t he g reat majority 

of the names a re s til l amongst us. This cens us book wa s over fifty 

yea r s out o f t he c o un t ry, befo re it fell int o the hands of Mr . 

Sho r t i s . It wa s t he i n tention o f the l a t e Archbishop to wri t e an 

a r t i c l e on t ho s e ear l y days and the people who live d here in St. 

j ohn t s , but, unfortunately, His grace could not get time to do s o . 

~: I h ave publis hed this c ensus on page 1 of Vol.l = H. F. 

Sho r t i s . 

Those dieters cou l d work when s ufficien t induc e ment was held 

out to the m, but t here shou ld be a n i nd ucemen t and a good one to 

mak e the m fors a ke t heir r e gula r r outine of "busines s" during the 

winter mon ths. They we re like a the soldiers of fortune in the 

s i x t e e n th c e ntury. whose only possession wa s a trusty sw o rd - s o mething 

of the Dugal d Dalgetty or othe r f ree lances, in the day s of 

chival ry. They l o ve d the exci tement of the adventure more than the 

mon teary gains , and we r e to b e f o u nd under e ve ry f lag on the globe, 

e v e n in f ar away J a p an, Chin a , South Amer ican Republi c s - etc. 

About s ixt y y e a r s ago, a f amous seal-ki l ler , Skipper Moses Pike, 

was without a v e s s el, a nd the merc h ant told him h e had nothing to 

give him just t hen except t he old s c hoo ner "Meg Merille s", but h e 

wo uld h a ve a n ew square- rigge r f or rom n ext Sp r ing . Sk i ppe r Mose s 

decided t o t a k e her, b u t the que stio n was - where wa s h e to get a 

c rew? The merchant emp loyed a c ouple o f popu lar citizens t o hunt 

up t he "d ieters" , and offer t h e m every i n d u c e mt nt to p rosec ute the 

voyage, as t h e r e wa s a good c h anc e f or a loa d of seals. The y s t ipulated 

t hat t h e y should be well s upplied wit h eatab les , a nd more 

par t icular l y d r i nk able s, wh i c h wa s readily a c ceded to. Th ey sai led 

a wa y , a f ter t h e great f leet h a d l eft, and s t r uck a l a r ge patch of 

seals (white c oats) i n the s t rain o f Daccal ieu and f ille d the Old

- 115 - 

f'I

- 116 - 

l on g as t hey got food e no ug h t o e a t a nd clot h i ng to keep 

them wann . Th ere i s in the c l i ma te and a i r of Newf oundland a s ub t le 

sec r e t t hat ha s never yet been amalized. All who c o me within the 

s phe r e of its i n f l uence and r emain for a year, like tostay , and 

those wbo are info rmed to g o awa y like t o come back eqeIn, It i s 

asset that we h a ve never valued becaus e most of u s d o no tknow 

of i ts existence aas a ma ter ial conununity. We have all often he ard 

the expression "there's somethi ng i n t he air", when speaki ng of 

certain cli mate s a nd countries. Well, t han to t a ke t his a s t he 

text t o appl y to Newfoundland , there i s somet hing i n 't he a i r we 

a l l know tha t matures por t wine here which c onnot b e found in a ny 

par t o f the world . There i s som e t h i ng in t h e air tha t for genera 

t i o ns h a s ne ver a l lowed a case of r abie s to exist . Dog s h ave be en 

biting people o c c asio nally i n Newfoundland for t he past thre e h u ndred I 

ye a rs , and t have never heard of a of death from rabies . There 

cert ainly h a ve Leen made dogs , an d the y h a ve bitten people - or 

rna y the d o g s be mad without h aving .rabIes , Ta ke it which way yop 

wi l l , t he f act r e mains that "there i s s ome t h i ng in the a ir" I n the 

newspa pers of Americ a a nd the o ld Country the fac t o f being bitten 

by dogs i s r egarded as a rush case of r the Hospital, the same way 

as we here r e g a r d the c a s e of a child being burnt b y the fire , and 

the chance s of r eco ve ry are ab o u t equal. Th e r e i s somet h i ng in the 

air in sou r c ountr y , and in t h e human r a c e I find it s ho wi ng itself 

in the f oillowi ng ways ; we .• a re more ho s p i t al t h an any o t her people 

on this side of t he At lantic; we l i ke t o d o acts of kind ness f or 

s t r a nge r s ; we are good hwnored and hopefu l ,as may be s ummed up in 

the saying of old fisherman whom I k new: "It will be Le t ter t omorrow 

p l e a s e God M • weare believe it will be bet ter tomorrow , a nd t he 

ha r d e r t he winter is , the f iner do we expect t he s ummer to be. Now ,

- 117 - 

a nalyze wha t other peculiar c haracteristics t h i s "something 

in the a i r " possess , which mel lows poot wine t o the he i ght of perfec 

t i o n , a nd r enders inocuous the virus of mad dogs for us. We a re 

intens e l y f ond of fre edo m and ind epend e nce. The v i rus o f tyranny 

and autocracy c annot t hrive in the pre sence of t his "s ometbing in 

the i ar". We hate o pp r e s sion a nd love f a ir play . Compared with 

o t he r o c untries, Newf o u ndlad res a re God -fear i ng r eligious pe o ple , 

and "something in the i ar" help s u s to build churche s a nd a t tend 

them f aithfully o n Sundays . S t rangers who come here from t i me to 

time a re edified b y the s ,~ ght s of the crouwds all going to the 

d i f f e r ent place s of wors hip on Sundays . We have a pa s sionate love 

o f music , particularly vocal, a nd we would l e ave our dinners untouched 

to hear a good bra s s band . I n the above r e cord do the sal ien t 

charac ter isti cs o f "mi ne own people" stand out, but the list could 

be e xtensi vely added t o . Fo r i n s t an ce, the a re no s nakes in Ireland 

- there a re no d r unke n women in Newfound land . Th i s "s omething in 

the air" Keeps o u r womenin Newfoundland. This "something in the 

a i r" keeps our women the soverest and chastest in t he world, and 

nobody thinks o f boasting abou t the f act o r putting it d own to a 

nat i onal asset. The ear ly emigrants who c ame to thi s cou n t r y were 

s ub ject to this s ubtle current of climatic e lect rons in their first 

fre shne s s, and D OW it i s e xp l a i ned for the first time why they could 

not be dri ven out, even whe n not a l l owed t o build chimney-houses 

and whe n fire a f ter f ire furnt them out, not t o s peak of the regons 

o f t he cold winters , wh en, a s Quigley t he poet , sai d i n his f amous 

song". The b arren plains a rou nd St. J ohn I s Ha rbor were a l l cong e ale d 

by the fros t a nd s now" . 'I'hose who did l e a ve willingly, or were 

d r i ve n out, did not turn their faces eas t wa rd , h ut j ourne ye d o n 

further We st to the Con t inet , where t .hey prob ably hope d to e n joy

- 118 - 

... 

greater d e gre e. We think that they 

it, a nd that t h e mother l ode of optimi s m and t h e p rime 

o f hospit ality lie s here in New f oundland, and e ver an inanimate 

port wine found out l on g a g o , and the swmner essence o f 

t he o f the Spanish g rape , long s eeking a mate-spirit at crown its 

uni on found it at l ast in Newfoundland. The irishmen, who wa s 

tlos pitable a t h ome, became more so when brought under the mellowing 

in f l uence of the Newfoundland climate . Th e Eng l i s hma n , who was 

ge nial , h e arty and neighbor l y a t home i n Wes t Country v i l lage , b l osso 

med o ut into more genial fruitian a nd g ood- h e a r tedness when h e 

once t o ok r oot i n Newfo u nd l and . Th e Sc otchman s uccu mbe r·ed t o all 

co nq uer i n g ..:..i n f l uence of the Newfoundland climate, and all his former 

good qual i t ies were i ntensi fied and me l lowed; so that, r i ght d own 

t o the a g e s, sinc e the first emigr a n t op ened his shop on Water Street, 

we have b e en hear i ng in song and s tory of the centu r y that, "he' s 

a jol l y good fel low a n d n obody can d eny" ~ Ca p t . Richard Whitbourne 

wa s t h e first wh o ever gave expression to a publ i s hed opi n ion o f a n 

experience of thi s s u b t le i nfluenc e tha t exists i n the climate o f 

ou r c ou nta-y, It had t h e same e f fect o n his English b l ood t hat it 

ha s s i nce on Newman 's Po rt Wine. It is pity that Capt. Ri chard did 

no t get more e ncouragemen t and t hat h e could not i nocculate the 

he art and mind of t h e English Governmen t with a little of h i s own 

optimism. Could he d o s o t h e hist ory o f Newfou nd land would be mo re 

pleasing r e a d i n g t oday , and Lord Sal isbury wo u l d neve r be abl e to 

allude to our unf o r tunate and h andi c a pped country as the "s port o f 

historic misfortune" ~ Wh e r e the a bsent Wes t Co u ntry merchants saw 

only a s t rong fish - f lake ancho red in t he \'lest At lantic Whi t bour e 

s aw a Pa r -addae , He revel led i n t h e sight of he r b e a u t i f ul l a nd 

Locked h arbors and bays , her trees , f lowers a nd wild a n imals , and

- 119 - 

wh e n he entered Trini ty Harbor a nd d ropped a nchor he wa s intoxicated 

wi t h t h e natural b e autie s of the place, and made u p h i s mind to 

buil d a hous e o n shor e a n d s pend the r e st o f h i s days there. In 

later years, when severe l aws were enacted to compel captains of 

fishing ves s els a nd sack s hips to bri ng b a c k a l l the i r men, the 

l a t t e r , i n hundr eds of c a s es, sacrifised t he ir wa ge s a nd t oo k t o 

the woods. They did not want t o l e ave Newf o u nd land . In the ear ly 

times there wa s verylit tle wo r k tht a f i s he rma n c o u ld get i n winte r, 

e x cept cutting and h auling o f wood, a nd room s t u f f f o r the summe r . 

Buildi n g s mal l b o a t s for the fishe r y went on for y e ars before the 

building o f s chooners , b rigs , e t c . The first r eco r d we h a ve o f 

schooner buildin g i s in 1 80 4, wh en the r were thirty v e ssels buildt 

a l l o v e r the I sland - schooners, s loops and brigs , aggregating 2 ,294 

t on s . 'rhe b uilders were a t f irst o nly handy men , but nece s s ity, 

with growing e x perience, in a f e w years made t h e m prof icient in 

turning out fine, s t rong s ubstant ial schooners well s u ited f o r the 

fisher y . Th ey general l y , in hard time s, wo r ked me rel y f or their 

winter's diet , and sometimes thi s included bad flo ur and I ndian meal . 

The winter o f the har d time s in Trinity, that Re v. Ca no n Smi t h wrote 

of in the Daily News , a song was composed about t h e building o f 

a schooner a t Rocky Brook for t hree broth e r s named Harry, Joe and 

J i m. Th e poet was e v i den t ly on e o f t h e builders, and mentions r e 

ceiving "maggoty flour a t .~ 2 •.10 " . Some o f the v e s s els I r e me mbe r, 

having h e ard t h e m s ung b y a Trinity ma n when a child . Th e a i r i s : 

"Johnny fi l l u p t he bowl".- 

\'lhe n h a rry agreed t o b u i l d a boat 

Soba: 

Saba: 

When Harry agreed t o build a boat 

To me h i r o d ee: 

When Ha rry agreed t o bui ld a boat 

"awee b e t t e r for him t o cut his · t hroat ,

- 120 - 

For its oh: ro cruel men 

Harry, Joe and Jim. 

"Twas up to Rocky Brook we went 

To me hi ro dee: 

'Twas u p to Rocky Brook we went 

To build a boat ~ei ng our intent, 

And its ohI r o, crue l men- 

Ha r ry, J o e 

and Jim. 

The Charity house up i n the So und 

Saba! 

Saba: 

The Char ity house up in the Sound, 

To 

me hi ro dee! 

The Charity house up in t he Sound , 

A cruel ler place could not be found, 

And its oh : ro , cruel men - 

Oh : 

Harry , Joe a nti Jim. 

Martin Dewling was the best 

Saba : Saba ! 

Martin Dewling was the best , 

To 

me hi ro dee! 

Martin Dewliog wa s 

the best, 

He done more work than all the rest , 

And its oh I ro , c ruel men - 

Harry , 

Joe and Jim. 

They built the scaffold up so high , 

Saba! 

Saba! 

They built the scaffold u p s o high 

To me hi ro d e e! 

They built the s caf f o l d 

up so high, 

Old Fox fell down and broke his thigh, 

And its oh! ro , cruel men - 

Harry , 

Joe and Jim. 

Now when the spars were stuck in end , 

Soba : 

Soba I 

When the spars were s t u c k i n e nd, 

To me hi ro dee! 

For when the 

"twa s 

s pars were stuck on end 

mag g o ty f lour for two pound t en, 

And its oh I ro, cruel men - 

Harry, Joe and Jim.

I( 

NEPTUNE I S 

BRIDE 

T. J . Murphy D. L . 

List y e n ow t o the sad dirge : of the main , 

On Terre Nova ' 5 shore in mi s t and r ain : 

There , bre d t o t oil , h a th s prung a people bold, 

Who troll a sea o f s t orms and Ar c t ic cold. 

Once o n a time, in circling years gone by, 

whe n Ear th and Sea were formed from gaseious sky , 

Old Ocean wra pt in s o u nd and s i l ent s leep . 

Hi s mi sty breath l ay l azy on t he d eep. 

Then Vis lean r ais ed up fro m t h e 

Fa i r Te r ra Nova smi l i ng o'er the wave s . 

deep · sea c ave s 

That blushing morn s he f l oat e d p xo ud a n d f air , 

Clad in the rai nbow I s mist y g ossamer .. 

Ol d Ocean warke and shook h i s ample b reast , 

And gaze d on her who early b r o ke his rest; 

And as h e gaxed a l l r o s y grew his f a ce, 

And then s we p t round and clasped i n quick emb race 

He r form; with l aughter low and rourmers s we e t 

He s hispered his grea t l ove and kis sed her f e et; 

"Fai r child of sea , now d ripping from the wave, 

'l'hey hand in wedlock i s the boon I c r ave, 

To ma k e me h a p p i e st of the Gods on high, 

More blest than Jove, who rule s the r o s y s ky , 

' Mid s h i n i n g s tars that stud his vaulted sphere , 

Whi te sof t their light s teals through the lyric a i r " . 

Then h e ave d h i s bre ast in folds of tre mbli n g b l ue , 

Dlen t wi th the risin g sun t o r o s e ate h ue : 

So much h e f elt, yea , t o h i s inmost sou l , 

His b u r ning word s his lip s j ust ceased .t .c role . 

-J"" '

- 2 - 

She answered h im from out the soughing trees , 

And aged p ines that bend not t o t he breeze 

Their hoary heads , full white with ~t.h moss and snow, 

S t oo pe d in attent ion to the s t reams below , 

That flow i n l ov e a nd l i quid me l ody , 

Ou t o'er the tUmbling sands into the, sea 

Her s i l very voice i n music ou t she f l ung 

Th r o ' rising mists t hat 0 I e r t he braod sea hung; 

"Th y wo rds of l o v e 

have filled my lonely soul 

Wi t h passion far beyond a maid I s contr o l 

To me t ho y com 'st a l l bright i n d e e d and fam e, 

And offe r I s t me t o s hare they glorious name- 

A s imple Nymp h , jus t sprung f rom ou t the sea ~ 

Oh ! Wh a t r e turn can I e 'er make t o t h e e ? 

Ye s , as the y wife a s tal wart r a c e I'll b e a r , 

Who' l l troll the deep wi t ho u t a t hough t of fear . 

Bu t t r i d e n t - b e ari n g King . of dread a c loud 

St e a l s o 'er t ho s e joys which i n my b o s om crowd: 

The g r ieving wail of mothers fro m t h e shore 

Sh a l l r oll for sons t h e wa ve s have covered o 'er" . 

Sh e spoke and sank u p o n h i s soft deep b reast, 

Where a l l her anxious fears we re l ull e d t o rest ; 

As when in s t o r mi n g seas a youthful bride 

Forgets a l l dangers by her f i s h e r' s side. 

His melting s o u l l o o k s tender f rom his eyes, 

Hi s heart cloth s wim u po n the f loods t hat rise; 

To her fair cheek h e bent h i s h a p p y head , 

"My wife" , he spake t h e work , a nd they were wed.

...----------------------~~.."'.,_;;~VCvr'c_ .. - ~'1 u./.) 

RANDOM .JOTTINGS OF BY-GONE DAY S /olu lYle. Z • .s c€" 

~ 

It i s one o f the privilege s o f ma t ure lif e t o l oo k b ack-on 

'4'> J 

f ormer d a y s an d cont rast the ma nners and cus toms of those d ay s with 

these of the present . As men grow old t hey become more or l e s s . 

remin isent , and I propose t o r e c all some o f t he manne r s and customs 

of St . J ohn' s i n t he l ate f orties an d middle fiftie s o f the p~. _ (/? 

I","~ 

cent u r y . My jotting s will be e r rat ic and discuraive, as I h a ~ ~ 't:.: ~-F' 

no data to g u i de me , an d pro pos e merely t o r eco rd customs a nd ~~n tt 

as the y c o me up t o me from r etros pect. \ ~;

_ 2 - 

vell-to-do pkarrter- he ld 0 hi ghe r place in the place in the popular esteem t bnn even 

the Rc or e sent a t i ve of Royalty itself.. 

The:r wer-e a noble end fearless r ace of men 

who gl or i ed 1:1 their ca lling, vhoee lif e from the cradle to the grave vee one con -, 

tinual battle \.li t h the e leme nts, and it must be admitted t hat t hose vere the Vi kings 

....be l aid the f oundation of our prosper ity , end to vhom 'We owe a l l t ha t we have , and 

all that we sha ll have i n t he fu t ure . It i s glori ous for us Newfoundlanders to know 

t hat thei r de s cendants t oday are keeping up the best t raclti ons of t he i r si r es on the 

Dreadnaughts end Bat t leships in the Nor-th Sea or on t he broad Atlantic .. 

In the days I speak or it ve s an im':'ossibility to n:.eet a fi she rman , either young 

or ol d , on the s t r e et .e of St . John's i n the acnt.ha of Harch, J uly or August . t:d 

100111. man, especial ly, vou'ld thank of being seen at horae curing t he se mont hs . Such 

an eve nt ....ould be l ooked u pon e e an everlasting disgr a ce . When a boy , I re member t he 

follo·...i ng story going t he r ounds : A youn g re Ij.ov, f onder of D. spree t.han work, having 

obtbined his " cr-op" i n t he Spring of the yea r , faile d to tur n uo, and hi s master had 

to go on t he voyage vit hout hi:!1. 

He ve c subser:uently r-ounded up and br-ought. before 

t he Cour t . The J Udp,e, a ster n old disciplinarian, in pa s sf ng se ntence upon him, 

re aer-ked that his term of i mpr i s onment 

vc uId ex odr-e at !'!lid summer , end , "then" , he 

re marked , ",hat 

·...i1l you think of yourself on hav Ing to ve I k t he streets of St . John ' s 

at t ha t time of t heyear-" , The J udge made tt.ir,- appeal to his eent.Je en t.e , t hinking it 

voukd heve mor-e effect upon him than the fact of hi s Lnpr-L sonment. r so i t vou l.d on 

the or di nar y yO',:nr; na n of the d3J-"' but t.hfo fello..., va s equa l to th~ cccaatcn , and he 

eoo17, r -eaar-ke d , " '.4el1 , Your Honor , I'll c oee in handy f or going to funerals" . '·l'he 

old J Udge was df egueted at his vent, of se ntdraent. a nd M I f - respect, and he r eplied : 

-If ce opke vere ca lled uoo n to attend your f uneral the community vcu Id no t rafas you 

::::u: h" • 

Lenv ing out the lI "'ua l1t y" , t he r e wer-e t hree distinct c I a ss es i n St . John's _ 

th o Fishe r men , the Mechanicn wer -e t.obr-at.ed , and a s ocial occa s i ons fraternhed with 

t.he I'Lshe rmen , but t he line ve s dru vn at the "Counter j Ulllper s"; thi s we e th e title 

th ey gave t.he c I e r-ka in the ver -Iou s stores . 

'I'he mechsntdcn ort.en evufI ed therase Ive a

- 3 - 

of the opportunity to go to the fishery in t he s ummer time. This 

was e s pe c i a l l y so in the case of t he coopers , who , f o r some unexplai 

n e d reason , were prime favorites ' wi th the fishing population. 

In those days there was not a "Rooom" on the We st Co a s t t hat could 

not boast o f having t wo or three coopers on its staff. Trap fishing 

was u nhe a r d of at that t i me, but t he codseine was in t he zenith of 

its glory . The d urat ion of t his fishery wa s from s i x t o e ight we e k s ; 

the worthwh i le i t l a s t e d was a rdous and continuous, but xe mune r a't.Lve 

in the extreme, a nd as a r esu l t this b ranch o f t he i ndustry absorbed 

all - t h e spare coopers to be found in the city. Thi~ was l u c ky for 

the coopers as d u r i n g that season of the year there wa s practical ly 

no unemp loyment for coopers in St. John I S . 

In the case of shipwrights , bla c k s mi t h s and sailmakers matters 

we r e q uite different, as during t h e summer mon t hs there was a lways 

emp l o yme n t ~or t hat c lass of men. The t ailors , a lthough a very 

nece s s a r y c lass of men, did not stand high i n the popu lar favour. 

'l'his may b e accounted for by the fac t t h a t near ly a l l the c lothing 

then i n use was imported from "home", meaning, o f course , the 

Bri t i s h I s l e s . As a matter of p lai n f a ct, t h e t ailo r o f t hat day 

stood only one degree higher in public esteem tha n the unf o rtunate 

"c ounter-jumper" . I am i ncli n e d t o think t hat the s t yle of dress 

t h e tailors affected , being very near the approach of t he "Jump e r s " 

ou t f i t, has much to do with their unpopulari t y i n Society . 

Even i n those far-off days the cut of one I s coat h a d very 

muc h to do with his status i n Society. The "Re e f e r" was the a 11 

preva i l i n g outer garment to adorn the manly person , a nd anyone 

deviat i n g in the slightest degree from this s tyle of coat wa s l i kely 

to f i n d h imself cast into outer darknes s t o foregather with t he 

"jumpe r " and the t ailor .

My c b j e c t; i s t o t ry and g i ve t he people o f the s e days a n 

outl ine of how their for bears went through l i f e, und e r what conditions 

they worke d, t he r e mune r a t i o n they r ece i ved, t he condi t ion of the 

c i t y at the time, the c ontentment of its people, a nd a general 

fai t h f u l por t rayal of how the f o u ndati on s of the presen t prosper 

i ty o f o u r c i ty were l aid dow n . 

As I s t a t e d a t the c omme nce ment of the s e notes, I do not 

c laim to set forth dates for the f acts herei n stated, nor will 

there b e any effort made t o s tate consec u t i vel y e very e ven t and 

i nci den t r elated. Facts, c i r c ums tan ces a nd e vents will be r elated 

as they come up to memory , and in describi n g conditions, manners 

a nd c ustoms , I shal l be c a r eful t o a void , e ndea vouring t o prove why 

these existed . I should l e a ve all t he s e t hings t o t he politi c al 

e c o n omi s t an d speculation phi losopher wh o s e provinc e it is to 

e nq u i r e into t he s e things, a nd t o s ho w c aus e a s to wh y they e xisted 

an d p o i n t out r e medie s a nd thus prove how the y could have been 

e v i d e nt. My object i s t o poi n t o u t f acts, not to s how what gave 

rise to t h em. 

It is surp r i s ing, i n l oo k i ng ba ck, t o see wh at can be accomplishe d 

in on e life-time. I, in my day , h ave s e e n s u r gery in its infancy 

in Newfoundland; I have seen phlebotomy prac t i c ed , a nd have known 

the ext rac t ion o f a tooth a matter of more serious i mportance than 

an operati on f o r appendi citi s a t t he present d ay. Later on I s hal l 

have s ome t h ing to say o n t he s ubject o f surgi cal operat i ons in my 

day . 

I h ave witne s s ed the e vol u t ion of d ress in our maternal ancestor s. 

I have s een the com for table and serviceable paisley shawl, t i ghtly 

fitting about the t h r o at, and the "p u ke " bonnet made of wa rm a nd 

s e r v i c e a b l e material give place t o the modern flimsy an d open- b reasted 

d r e s s and lig ht-te xtu r e d and fashionable hats, a nd i ncidental l y h a ve

- 5 - 

s e e n the phenomlnal i n c r e a s e o f c o n s ump t i on i n e very successive gene 

r a t i on . 

I have seen t h e school-mistress in S t . John ' s in the p rime 

and z e n i t h of he r g l o ry . I have sat at f eet of the old-time pedagogue 

and h ave s u f f e red from the i nfliction of his terrisle .. 

have s e en the s a n i tary c on ditions o f St. J ohn' s s u ch a s would vie 

with a Ch inese and Turkish slum. }\S 3 a r e sult I well r emember the 

days when we had tho s e hardy annuals - typhus, typhoid a n d s ma l l 

po x visiting u s every year with a r egularity that wa s monotonous, 

and the advent of Decemb er brought those unwelcome visitors to the 

cit y with unfailing p reci sion. 

I have seen a l l t ho s e conditions pa s s awa y . Th e school-mistre s s 

and antiquated pedagogue g i ve p lace to institutions of moder n and 

ref i ned e ducat i on. Prirnative and unwhole s ome sanitary conditions 

hav e b e en swept away before the march of s c ien t i f i c improvements . 

I a m t h ankful t o s tate o f epi demies of the n ature r eferred to above 

are merci f u l l y t he exception and not the rule as in the d ays of which 

I speak . 

I fancy I h e ar s ome p e ssimistic youth e xclaim that this must 

he c entenarian old fos sil who i s t aking in this s t r a i n . No at all: 

Al l those thing s a r e more have h a p pene d in my time, a n d I claim to b e 

still o n t he bri ght a nd bre e zy s ide of seven ty. Ne vertheless, I 

am mo re t h an surprised in looking 

b a ck and viewi ng in r etrospectiv e 

momen ts the wonderful impr ovements that h ave b e en wrought in this, 

my nativ e city, s i n ce my boyhood d ays. 

I h ave seen St. J o hn' s a military s tat i on.. I h ave s een the 

two Fort s occupied by tro ops. The f irst mi l i t a ry c ontingent I 

remember wa s t h e Royal Newfou nd land Company .. Those were h ardy and 

tried ve t erans. 'l'he t i me o f man y o f t h e m exp Lr-ed while in this Col-

- 6 - 

o ny, and few , i f any of t he m, went back t o t he Ol d Country . They 

mar r i e d .a nd sett led down here . Many of their descendants are at 

p r e s e n t i n St. J o hn's, but the g reater par t o f them a re to be found 

in the o u t ports. 

On the withdrawa l o f t he Royal Newf o und l and Co , their p lace 

wa s s uppl ied by a con t igen t f r om t he 62nd Inf ant y Regiment , a mag 

ni f i c e n t boyd o f men in the prime and bigor of manhood, mos t o f whom 

we r e decorated with c l a s ps a nd medals won a t the Crimea . The bat 

talion wa s composed o f Eng lish , Iris h a nd Scotch , t he l atte r p red-. 

omi n a t i n t . Th e 6 2nd r e ma i ne d abo u t f our y e ars a nd were t hen withd 

r awn t o 9 i ve p lace t o a mixed con tingent c o mpo s e d of the Royal 

Cana d i a n Ri f les and a Company of Royal Ar til lery; t he f o rmer being 

q ua r t e r e d a t Fort Wi l liam and t he l atte r a t Fo rt To wnsend . 

Af ter t wo years service t h e Ar til ler y we r e withd r a wn , b u t t he 

Ri f l e s r e maine d until the mi litary we re f i nal ly withdrawn a l toget her 

f r om t h e Co lony . 

Just a t present I am unable t o recall the c i r c umsta nc e s that 

l ed up to t h e r ecall of the Force s f r o m Newfoundland , and l e aving 

withou t adequate protection. Man y of the off i cers of bot h branch e s 

of the ser vice inte rmarrie d i nto the f i r st f amilie s o f the city, 

an d some o f thei r descendants a re serving with dis tinct ion in the 

p r e s e n t Wor ld War. 

Responsible Government is a product o f my most youthfu l days . 

The we r e s tormy and t rouble s o me d ays f or t he aspiring politicia n. 

'I'he men o n t he u npopular s ide r a n ser ious ris ks, an d during an e lection 

contest their personal safet y a matter of grave c oncern to them. 

St . J o h n' s and Harbor Hain carried o ff t h e palm for stormy e lections. 

Those were the days of the open vot e, and every man k ne w how 

his neighbor voted. They were courageous and fearles s men , and k new

- 7 - 

hcv t o etend by and back up t heir convictions . 

'i'hflY feared no threat , and were regar(lles3 

of conseque n ces vhrn they vent. into the booth to record their votes . 

Few peopl e now Uvinr, 1n St • •John! s remember the old-timed tlhu stings", not the 

t empor ary structure of compar-tdve r e cent date. I mean the old- t i me and robstantial 

erection s , one of which was , f rom the first devn of po'Ht.fce I c ontests, erected on a 

pr ominent site on queen' s Street, and the other e.t the he ad of the King 's Beach. 

'fhe se two sections became hist oric A S the site of the "h ua tdngs" as the elections 

enme ar oun d • 

.uur i ng the excitement of the elections f e elin g s Tan high and strong !"'lSSiOD::> 

wer e at-ou sed , Then , a s now, e-viea Ls vere made to the Lowest, pe safons of the human 

hear t often with the resultant after:nath of br-oken beedn and t ender bones : but wi t h 

all, the redeeming quality rem ain d, there vas no an imosity or i l lfeeling retained . 

The hatche t of war was buried till the next election C'1m':! r-o-tnd , 

Those old-time cand ddetes wer-e fine fellows , full of mora l a nd physica l C OUT l'1e e. 

Tr.ey ent e r ed the !?ontest to vtn, 

and and no mat .ter- hov t ':e fo r tunes of t he day •....ent 

on, fo r or against t.he -n, they st ood by their colors and invariably fought to a f i ni sh . 

The II hustdngs'' wer-e erected a for-tnfgbt. before polling day, end had t o be sub-, 

st antially built 11:> many a rough encounter took p'la ce on i t s p1f;.tform, end if it gave 

vay the conseq ue nce s woul d prove ser i ou s . 

Fully matured eg gs ve r-e an Lapor -tent; fa ctor 

in t he conduct. of a n e lection 1:n those cny s , end 

vere U:;OO .;BS a meddu-i of I nt .er -change 

of c oun t e ef e s between the opposing par tie s . 

I wel l r emeub- r-, as a very smaLl , boy , in HcLea ':o: election, bed ng etendfng on 

Queen Street , 

listening to the oratory of Ta l b ot , Renouf endnaeey, "vhen a orominent 

and inf l uentia l merchant , vho hap oened to be blessed 'With a ·ver y v oluminous beard, 

orlfmed his mouth to ma ke a speech : the cavity was i ns tant l y filled by OM of t.hose 

H ~hly flavored sp her oids and t he contents therefrom at.reemnc dovn his capacious 

'Jhi Rkers made his nr-eocnt. a very l urlicrous appenr-a nce ,

- 0 - 

All this is changed today , and although the same amount - and 

more- of duplicity and deception is practiced, the "rough and tumble" 

element is almost entirely eliminated. 

Few people in St . John's knew what a "truckleymuck" is. This 

was a small two-wheeled cart drawn by two or more dogs, used by the 

people of the nearby exterrn settlements to bring into town such merchandize 

as f resh herrings , s almon, l o b s t ers, e tc , and i n t ho s e days 

this was not the exceptional , but principal mode o f conveyance f or 

such commodities as I have mentioned , and on Saturday's, which was , 

then as now , the principal market-days , in certain sections of the 

city t he side-walks were often blocked with t ho s e sma l l trucks and 

the dogs stretched under t hem enjoying a needed r e st after their 

long a nd t i r e s ome j o u r ne y . 

In the early and up to t he middle of t h e f i f tie s a mi lk-cart 

was a rare thing to be seen in the city. The farmers of t he country 

settlements; those English , I r i s h , and Scotch pisneers to whom we 

owe so much , would consider i t an outrage to t a ke away a horne a nd 

man f rom their l e g i t i ma t e duties , namely, hauling wood for fuel , 

reclaiming the forest , collecting peat for fertil izing p urposes , 

for the l e s s rumunerative purpose o f suppl y ing mi lk to t he folks 

of t h e city. 

There was a special man kept on every farm , for the purpose 

of bringing the milk into town. His duties , especially in winter 

time, were far from being a s InecLere , This class of man was l o o ke d 

upon as being a sort of institution in those days . I n t h e different 

sections in which he served , he was known by his c h r istian name as 

"J"inuny " the milkman , Paddy , the mi lkman , e tc , etc . 

Fewer sti l l of your r e a d e r s remember that style of conveyance 

known as the " Pa n n i e r s ". The "panniers" were two square boxes ,

- 9 - 

somet h i ng s ho r ter , but very mu c h deeper, t han the ordinary cracker 

bOxes . These were strapped together by s tou t a nd broad bands o f 

b r Ln , of much the same material a s the bags containing Hamburg bread, 

whi c h wa s imported in s uc h large qu antitie s up to the seventie s . 

The po ny or hors e was a r ara avis in most of the o ut.poxt,s in those 

days , but , I have seen, in my youthful day s , once or twice a week , 

a hors e from Portugal Cove or Torbay lad en with "pann de r s ", that is, 

the two boxes I have mentioned, thrown over the hors I 5 

7 or pony I 5 

back , and each box laden with salmon , cod , herring or lobsters . 

I t is a s ad cornnentary on the present day feverish desire to 

amass riches, a nd still more , t o call to mi nd with what content and 

sat isfac t ion t ho s e simple fishers prepare d to return to their ho me s , 

many of them well up in years, having travelled, some seven, some 

nine-mi l e s , 

then cheerfully undertaking to go back over the same 

road , beLnq vern-Lched by their days toil in the sum of thr e e to four 

dol lars . Th e s e a re facts hard t o understand, no doubt , in the l i g ht 

of pre s ent d ay c o nditions.

- 

/ CHRISTNAS 

REVERIE 

As I gaze into t he f ire tonight watching the falling ember s, 

my mind wanders b a c k t o t he days of a uld lang s y nne , and one by one 

face s of friend s l ong d e a d and gone come before my v i s i on ,-"Sweet 

dreamland faces passing t hrough and f r o bring back t o memory days 

o f long ago " _ The great myster ies of life and death grip my attention 

and my mi nd i s a p palle d , humb led i n t he contemplation of t he external 

eni gma which c a n ne ver be solved on thi s side o f the grave . Cur 

friends a nd acquaintanc es who have crossed the borderland, and gone 

beyo nd tha t " bourne whence no travel ler r e t u r n s " , have uttered no 

wor d and given no s ign . 

Man' s c o ndit i o n woul d the n be abysmal ly pit i ful onl y f or t he 

God - g i ve n gift of Fait h . These are some of the t houghts t o come to 

mi nd as I l o ok into the t o n i g h t and r e f l ect on t he meaning of Christmas , 

a nd how it dra ws mi l l ions upon mi l lions of men t hroughou t the world 

to t h i n k on and t o observe , and how t h i s observance has go ne o n for 

ne arly two t ho u s a nd years, and , no doubt , wil l go on "the He a vens 

will be r olle d u p as a scrol l , and t i me shal l be no more" . 

Th e f alling of a g lowi ng l o g brings me d own to mater ial things, 

and a v ision o f t h e preparations t ha t we nt o n f o r Ch r istmas i n St. 

John I S i n the o ld d a y s i s conj ur ed u p t o my mi nd . A week or two 

before the great festival, the most indiffere n t o b s erve r would real ize 

that t he joyo u s season was a t ha nd . The decorations of t he s tores 

along Water Street were c ommenc e d, t he wo r k bei ng performed artisti 

c ally by t h e l i b e r al intertwi ning of g r een boughs , d og-b e r r i e s, 

holly , and Misteltow. Th e r e was a we l l -recognized window dresser , 

in every store on Water Street , and t he y vied with each on her- in 

t heir efforts to produce the most attractive and artistic d i s play. 

Sheet s o f white wadding were sacrificed and cut in l e ng t hs, and twined 

Of pillars and a:ches t o r e p r e s e n t the v LrqIn ~now. T he!"t?~er ~ a Lso /t' 

) V "1"':

- 2 - 

displayed in the windows, woven into such mottoes as "Happy Xmas " , 

" Ha ppy New Year", "Seasons Greetings", and when the colored lights 

wer e turned on at night, the effect was very beautiful. 

The grocery store decorations were particularly profuse. The 

floors were covered with saw dust. Most of the dry-goods stores 

had a life-size figure of "Father Christmas" , and the skates, s lides 

and sleigh bells were conspicuous in the hardware stores . There 

wa s general ly a well-beaten snow road in the week before Christmas, 

and the merry tinkling of the sleigh bells filled the air with echoes 

of hope and promises . Hundreds of sleighs and slides came into town 

from the nearby outports , their owners buying Christmas requisites .. 

Th e influence of t h e Season was visible everywhere, and it was no 

figure of speech to saythat "Christmas was in the air" .. The books 

tor e of Christmas Fenelon and r.lcConnan were crowded with customers 

a l l day buying" Christmas cards and other gifts t o be found in shops 

like these.. The pastry-cook shops, such as Lash's , Horwood's , Toussaint's, 

Foran's, =Chancey & Heath's and John D. Ayre 's , displayed 

a plentiful and tempting supply of turkeys, geese, ducks, chicken 

and Christmas cakes , ahd all hands were busy as could be filling 

the numerous orders of their customers. 

The activity increased as the days progressed , and reached its 

climax on Christmas Eve. All l a bo r e r s, working outside of shops 

and stores , knocked off work at mid-day , to get ready for Ch:::istmas .. 

Water Street was thronged all the afternoon, with men , women, and 

children, all wdhaling the spirit of Christmas , and in happy mood 

g r eeting acquaintances with the time - honored salutation- "I wish 

you a nerry Christmas". Every second man you met had a fine fat 

goose or turkey under his arm. In most cases it was a present from 

his employer ..

- 3- 

If one vt. sbe d to see the bdgg e at. cr-cvd a , he 

should go to the Auct don market.e of 

JAme s Pitt s , Clift, Wood & Co , , Dr-yer- & Greene and G. F . B own . "Any adva nce on __, 

g o i n ~ t e 01n[':1 gone l I W

- ~ - 

The dou b'le - neeted ~ lelghs J hi ghly polished , sh i ne I n the gas lir,ht . Ri ch furs hand 

over the back, end the dr i ve r I s c'lct.hed in black frOlll. hea d t o f oot - 8 beavy black 

fur tur-ban, and an ample fur coa t , r i ch en ough for 8 Russian Cour t . J lne~ t Jingle I • 

J i nr;l e t Ther e go nI l th~ be lls In de see r-dent. co nce r t , 8S t he hieh stepping pa i rs 

pass 880'1 ot he r on Water Street . 

Here they come t Phi lip H - ut ch1 n ~ s ' J O' Dvyer l 5 , Hare ' 5 , Tes siers, Edvi n Duder ' 5 , 

A. W. Harvey ' s , CS9t . Terry Hal l e r an's, Bowring' s , J ob ' s , j.,' il son '~ , Bedne Gri eve ' s , 

eng Gover nor Hi l l ' s . OHl t hey make a gr and epec'tac 'le , t he like of which is se en today 

onl y i n t he Ru ~ s i an ca rd .t.eL, The c oac hmen ....ere gre...t f allows ....i t h t heir silver ba nd s 

and black furs . 

The y ke pt, up the rivalry of thei r empl o;rers in having t heir 5 1e l~h~ 

and horses i n the be et, p ossl b l~ cond i tion . Mingling now ,,;it h t he tinkli ng of the 

sleigh bells , I he ar the ejover- an d de eper acundof the ha nd be Ll.s ut, t he ecuaree and 

cor -ner-s calling the pecp'le to t ake a cba ec e f or a shilling l lJCo.-,e e I ong , Ladfes an d 

gent.Ieeen'", 

I'he l ot ter i e s are going on a t Beck t s Cove Hi ll, !-fcBrlde s H jl1 , Her-chan t. I S 

Block, Adelaide St ree t, a ndon t he Beach . The sp eces -on the whee l of f ortune ar e laid 

out with t he names of pjeces, end raaLs e nd seaHng s teamers, I:l.8kiog t he a f fair more 

pO:;lU111.r end i nt e r esting . When t he wheel stopped at the name corresponding t o t he one 

on the ticket that you held , t he pr -Ize wa s f orth-n t h hand e d ove r . I see the cr owds 

sur gi ng up v.1t h t en se excitement on their f aces vhen the whee l i s se t going ; each 

ticket holder is hopdng to yin 8 prize . 

The su ppl y of poultry i n the city ....a s bountiful in t hose days . It came f'r-oa 

p!'i nce Edwar-d I sland i n sc hooner- I oada to ";lift's and Pi t ts ' • I se e tho ve s sels l ying 

at the whar f t wo da ys he fore Chr i st mas f ill ed to t he hatche s with !>oul t r y 8 0.d meRt ; 

eI sc oats, potatoes, 'turnfpe and oysters in barrels. Ohl ye s , Pr ince Edward Island 

Rave us f-e r- best pr oduct s i n t he sixti es and se ve nt i es. Near -Iyever -y well'of f cithen 

had 8 bur r e l or two of oysters for t he wint er . The ru-Lce s of -oukt.r -y and fr-esh me at, 

\fflr e Fa 10'.1 t ha t a l l could a.f for d t o heve t.hem, I magi ne paying t ....o- oe nce a pound f or 

8 ":000 quar -ter- of be e n .....hrdutme e \JIJS i ndeed 8 CTCHl t t i lDo f or the poo r man t o Lny in 

C h~ rl n nr cdu cts for tho win e r s , - ot.a t.oe s , five El h il l\ nr,~ II ber-reLj tu r n in~ , four-

etullings and six pence; oat three shilllngt1 El bushel end butter ni ne-pen ce 8 pcun d , 

The crows on the street gradually l e s sen ed aft~r e leven O"clock Chris t lD8. s Eve . 

'the wo;nen, 

eir ls end children are gone boae with t heir purchases to get ready for the 

morr O''''. The streets are !'Itill thronged vith men folk, f:l ides, s leighs and c~tall\8.rans , 

taking home good things for the holiday s . Pat-ce Ls t per-ce Ls t pa r -ce Ls t i n all 

cirections. The c onveya nce s are going out at full s peed , taking parcels f rom the 

stor es to t he pe ople I S bcnes , The shops ere c-en stil l and doing a brick t rade , and 

kee p it up till midni ght , vhen the Ca t hedral bells r i ng out t heir i r on t.onguen , 

saying 

as neer- to the spok en ver de AS ca n be , lIGl oris. i n exc elsi s Deo at i n terra pax homi 

ni bus bonae v o'lun t .at ds'" , 

see t he bands c omfn g out of Par-ade Water St reet, calling on f riends to serenade 

t .hee , 'f he Total Abstinace, the Phoenix, the Avalon and the Scotch Pi per s . " hey are 

all there in their uniforms malcing e oict~ ~ue and attractive dfsp'lny, .lhe eng.Hcan 

Chur ch Choir Boys are out too, singing carols through the st reets . UobOOy is i n bed 

bet, the children, ha lf asleep and half eveke \la l t ing f or t he f'oot. at .epa of Father 

Christmas on the r oof: the houses are lighted up with thei r 

best display of gas and 

Ker ose ne oil . 

I n those days there va a no Yddnight Mas:>: the first Mass 101'3S at 6 O!>clock in tb 

mor ni ng . Host pe ople stayed up all ni ght i n conseque nce , FI nd i t vas a good -natur ed 

and j oyous t hrong that met on t he \Jay to Chur ch in the gr ey of 

t he da \J1l , wi shing e a ch 

ot her e. t·1er r y Chr istma s , 

;'S the last br-and i n the fire t umble s dovn and di e s on the ashes, the las t sound 

of t he joy be lls dies awa"', end I evake f'r-om l!1y r everie t o t ha nk God that i~ vhe tevereLse 

:0.7 nature has becoae ilD:'laired and weakened my Faith is stronger then ever i n all 

tha t ny youth \l3S told t h ,.t Christmas means, and my soul goes forth to join in the 

e h "J~ s toot re-echoes round the wor ld tonip'ht : -Glory be to God on High , end Pea ce 

on ea r t h to men of ROod vUB

Oi{F. f.'.AXtiERS CU ~i' O~S AND PHRASES 

F OOR FOEFATIll'R Fl S!C. 1ll0 : 

(~6j 

VOLUME :z. .str 

f or r eflec tion fro:a boo ks , nevsoa per-s or tradition , it e L; 

Col ony who hav e l ong a go been l aid t o sleep i n t he quiet 

c emete r ies of the cit y a nd 

th e out-i or t s , Most of them ....ere r ough an d unlettered men who 'Were forced by privation 

t o l eave the l and of their birth i n t he West of England and I r e l and in the 17th, 18th , 

and first half of the 19th century t o seek a livelihood on the shores of Newfoundland . 

The fa :lle of our great fi f:heries had spr -ead ove r t he whole of Westp.rn Europe by the 

middl e of the 17th century, a nd een , full of t he sp i r i t of adventure , turned their 

face s t o t he promising t,.,'est whe r e many believe d that the nsil ve r 

t he..," v e e no figure 

o~ spee ch , but that in Ne vfound l an d , i n certain sea s ons of the ye Rr , money could be 

pic ked up f rom the gr-ound or gather-ed off t he trees . Only comoar-etdve Iy f e'" of the 

ne\.f 1::rui grant s had any a ct ua l 

ex perience a s n sher men , and herein lie n t.he vende r- t ha t 

t b:q a l l - f armer-s, ebe pber-ds , t a i l or ~ and t .anner- e - ada pted t.bemse Iv e s in 8 ve ry 

s~or t t i me to thei .r nev surroun dings and bec ece e y' ,~ert-fi :: her me n , se al hunters, boa t 

baf Ide r s , blaci l ro" t.o 8 

n l "' n ~ ~ r f or t vo nl~e r r; end vJntor-, and h i !' '.J'iy,es· ver o t l A a nd e pe Jr of b oot.r • :, ft ' ~r 

~~~-J.~ .4.. ~ i- If F S h.rT.s, vo c, • .z , 3'S/> .";'" It.. 

~~ e:.-.-(.. ~ St ·,Jb"' '''-S .

- 

_ 

2 - 

the first yea r 's se rvice , counting f r om the first of May, he ''''03 kn ovn e s A " vh i t,e 

nose". Th i s I ndf.cetes t.hs t he had scent. -ne ...-In t.er- i n the c ountry, a nd , not kn owi ng 

the effp,c l. ()f Nevfound'lan d frost on t he ra oe , had gone t hrough the or deal, of having 

hi s nose f rostbitt.en and 

sa ved from a tot al loss of t hat member by a homeopathic 

ap?1ication of snov by his mor e expe rienced f'eLl.ov- vor-kae n i n t.he voods or on t he ice . 

;'s :n'ly be expo c ted ignorance of t he con ditions i n Nevf'oundIa nd , e specf.eH y on the ice 

either on pond or on the sea boa r d , cost many 8. der-dng and f nexperdenced "youn get.er-" 

hi s life . Hal f t he pones in t he c oun t r-y have thei r name a fro:n youn g Engli::lh en d 

Iri sh fi~~he r ;nen '..n o .....ore dr-evned there in the season fo r getti nz ou t fir ewood end 

r oon "t uff f or the ,f ish r ;r . 

Rough clothing was u sed i n t ho se days , including swans ki n drever-s , aoje sjdn 

t r ouser s, vfth a n oc casional chan ge to ca nvas, and heav y slee ved waistcoat or nai1- 

beg guer n sey , Hambur-g bo ot s a nd bluchers were all the go, and the white sven s jdn bu sk in 

vhen worn ove r 

the 1 t .ter, made a tidy , war-m a nd comfor-t ab.le footwear, except in wet 

veat.her , Sve nslcl n currs , wi t h a seoer-at.e pl ac e f or the t.humb ohly, were \0101'0 on the 

hands, and the he ad-ge ar in win t er va s a ver-m , if evkva r d- dookfng, ca p raede of fur . 

Soft fe lt ha ts a nd eou t ve ater-s were v er-n in t he summer' ti'.1 the begdnntng of the 19th 

cent ury, when the bea ver hat t ook su ch a hold on the teste of our forefathers that t hey 

soon made it the pr eva i libg f a shion Nonday s , a s ve Ll, as Sunda ys , v inter- and summer , 

so that 

case s ar e handed down t o us by t r adi tion in which they wer e worn at the i cefiel 

ds an d in the vood e , 

It vou'Id t ake a l arge volume to

- J - 

A Y oungater- fr om. Dunger-ven , 

And his name I s Pad dy Rorke , 

Oh, ba d luck to t he man t hat brough t yoo. 

Didn't bring a b arril of pork 

To this NevfoundIand , 

The youn gst-er- vh o stood the t est sson became him l'elf a boa t.! s master and planter , 

an d vas able to em,loy men of his own. '.Lh e best men only survi ved . 

A great many of the ....or-ds used by the f isher;;l.en of t.ho ce days will be f ound 1n 

Webst er or i n t he current literature of t oday, but -na ny wil l be fo und fu r t her ba ck 

in Shake s pea r e , Chau cer e nd Spe ncer , 

HAny f1 ::;her:nen 's t e r-as t hat peop'le r egard a s bad 

English is t he -rea ), coin from the mfnt , For instance, " a f'er-de " for afraid : "axe " for 

"ask"; " b e twfxt," for bet.veen s " davnf n'", for day break, " dr a f ' " for rUbbish; idle 

"f er -tour " for idle I'e Ll .o.. ( pr-onoun ced j.Iur-tber- h "gab be'' for i dle t alk; " gobe t," for 

a :norsel;: "n e sche'' fo r t ender:;: " pr-o'l.Ie" f or to go about in search of 8. thing ( pr o- 

nounced pr ovl ) ;: " r ot e" t he r oar of the ee a , " a cbe dde '' a fall of enov j " sc'Hev er-e'' 

(silver ) a sul l slice;: and " sm'lr t'l t o r-uff'er- pa in ;: e l l VI ~se ar e f ound in Chaucer . 

I n Spencer ....e find our ea r ly I'Laherme n eh dor-sed i n saying "froz e" for f rozen and "tickl e" 

for diffi cul t place . In Spak e s pe are ve find the I'Lshermen l s ter-m " sa f f ll to bend , "shaLk 

never lf segg \lith d oubt nor bend with fear . ThA vord "skfr-' used by the fisherme n is 

pur e EngId sh , Shakespear e eakea 1-1a cbeth 5ey : " Send out hor se s , " skfr-" the countr y 

rouric'l . "Ska r f'" t o j::>,in t vc pieces of timber , is retained in use here ;ret , through 

i t i s obseI et.e e I sev her-e , Macbet h seeo "skar f_ up t he tende r ele of pi t iful day" 

the fishermen !'-ay A. " .scul!!' of f1 ~h . Learned moder -n vr-Lt er-s say " schoc'l'' of fi sh, the 

eepkf n school , scudd schoo 'L, etc . Now both Sha kespeare i n ",r oil us a nd Oressade" a nd 

:Ulton i n "Pe r-edt se Lost" e ndo r-se the u sa ge of the fi shermen and sa y " sc ulls" of f i sh . 

The onl y t.or m tbet 1 how r e call u sed by t ho fd sher-men of the older d o.y~ and dr opped 

by literature nrc " dvfgh" fo r 8 sudden she....e r of sno.... or r uin t.hot, pessen of f qu ickly 

"Tnnt ll ap pl i ed t o 0 tn l l a -id grfi ce fu l t .rec , pole or ~pll r , ctc , " $nent"_ rIhble , 

l Ol lqh Po nd strong , 98 R sue nt, n'Lank , "Dibil':'r inc" , { he teeth 1mockine t.oge t.her- as t ho

- 4 - 

r e su l t of co ld - a l so a pnkded to shfvcr-fng , -Bf ne cy' ", er-os e a nd peevf sh, 85 , fo r 

eXI.mple, "the sld per is " bf nec y' this tilornine;, and ·...111 be t i l l he gets his " Levener-" 

(glsf;s of rum} at II O'clock . " Lever-cky'" , 8. I ever -dIy fe l low, one subject t o conet.e...t 

ill luck end mis for tune . " Si sh" pound ed U ;1 563 Lee driven together , but not f rozen 

nar d enough t o .....a l k on .....ith sa fe t y . " Scof r'", 8 hur r i edl y ' cooked meal of mea t and 

vegeTables, ce neral l y on bo ar d 8 scho oner . IIKee co rn" J the Adami s app le . "Bavn '", 8 

bea ch or island wher e f ishis spr-ead to dr .r. "Driet" i s a noun f 'r oa the adjective dry, 

as for exaa - Le , " t here i s no " dr l e t " I!'!. the \Jeather".. n;.ngyshor e " 8 youngster who 1a 

no ; 000 - si ck , weak and unabl e to .....or-k, I t s ee-as to me t hat this I s a pure I rish .vord , 

85 ve Ll, as " Kena t " , " onaj. ocr v , " onsbuc k" > a l l vor-ds of c ontempt, a nd u se d C o::l, ')~ly b Y 

men of the olden da ys in t hi s cou ntr y . Rex t ers" mea nt t he 8 r m':l1t~ , but t he term is 

no..... r arely used . 

Besi de s t he above ther e are hundr ed s oi' ...ords t.hat, have he ld thei r pIa ce in t he 

print e d pag es of the vr-Lt .er-e of t he sext.eent.h cen t ury . The se wer-e ke pt, e H ve by 

....cr-d of mout h and br·~l ~ht to cur- cvn country, vher-e t hey ',J "' ~ e handed docn f ron father 

t o son . I shal l end t his l i mi t ed e ~~ay vith a rev ...nt-hout a ny ex pl anati on abo ut. the 

meani ng : - 

St.r-out.e r-a - poa t , tout lj S , bur-goo , nrch, l und, l oll y, eter-ej an , clumper, barbe l , 

l eggi e s, Lob sc our-se , garagee , webby , pue , ldl lock, yaree , bc L'la cer-ter-s , gulch, a nd ducld.eb , 

Most of the se , I believe , ca n be f ound i n t he earl y Anelo-Sqx on vr-Lt.er-e , They hav e 

been soa evhat, a l tered a nd ccr-rupt .ed , b ut that shouI d not j us tify u s i n a l lowing them 

t o becoae ob soe.Ie t e , 

The old •....est Country words used in Dor de t , Devon and Cornwall 

1n Shake spear -et e tdme , nov obsol et e , !I18y be hea rd t.oday i n Tr init y Bay , For tune Bay 

end Tw11lingl:l.t e di s trict s i n a l l i t s primitivo our-Lt y , "bey er e l os t to the bo oks 

anc df ctdonar -Iea , but 

t hey Pore secure ly r e t a ined on tho t oneu··s of the peop le in the 

bays of Newf oundland .

! 

elF All mlKllO,ll 

HERO OF 14 ITDS 

("7.5) 

VOI.Vt-\~ 2 :!>t(, 'Nfld. 

te Rev . Dr. Hosee Harvey 1%7) 

There arc t rue heroes in the humble st 

walks of Ufe, 85 well 89 1n the high 

pl aces of the f i e l d . "Tha short and slm;>le annals of t he pco r '", i f vrlt ten vcu kd 

di scl ose eoae of the noble st instances of self- eacrI f'Ice find brave endurance fo r 

t he sake 0: ot.hers , that have eve r glorified our hw:vmity, end l i f t ed our soufe 

t o higher l evels . It vert touching i l l u stration of t his has Just bee n related to ae 

by one vbc has r e cently returned f rom Labrador. I sha ll ende avor t o tel l t he tale 

br i efly and simp ly. 

The awful hurr i c ane that r-a ged along the coa st of Labr a dor on 9th October- last, 

bas no ?STa l l e! 1n the memory of the oldest i nhabita nt . The sea r ose , I n many p'Lace a , 

t hi r t y or forty feet higher than it had eve r been known to r i se bof' or-e , Clif fs 

that had stood the buffetine of the vave s , \.lith :> t perceptible cba nge , f or half a 

e-mt ur y Eave way bcf~re t he f uriou s r-ush of t he ....s ter be t e Lt ons , Huge bor kders 

t hat, the united effor ts of t.ve nt.y strong men could not move , were hurled f r OOI the i r 

beds a nd carr ied far un the beach by t he mighty swiO!~ of oce an . BlindinR sn OWdrifts, 

shover-s of hail , nIcot, and r a i n ecconoenf ed t he tera-ies t, Al a a t f or t he poor fishermen 

along that ironbound coa st, who se f r ail barqu e s ....ere not sufficient l y she l t e r ed 

It-on the st.orm , I n a fe .... hOUTE! t hirty vesaeLs ·...ere driven ashore or swal l owed in t he 

boili ng sur-geu j sone f i fteen hundred human bei ngs wer e shipwre cke d , a nd mor e t han 

t hirt y met a ....at.e r y ga r -eve .or- pe r ished of c ol d end hun ger- on the dnh cept t eb ke c oa s t . 

The pr-oduce of months of ha r-d toil vas svept away . 

A vessel ria -ned the Renfrew , Delaney, ne st cr , wi t h n l arge rumbe r of men , vceen 

.1nO childr en on boar d tried to rice out the hurricane ; but at l e ngt h she dragged her 

anchor-s and vas driven a shore . 

\.lith gr-eat difficulty all on board were safeLy l a nded. 

Drenched \lith r -af n, blinded byt.he rnm,drif ts, 

sh1verinr. i n tho cut.tjne blasts they found 

lho·':l~.elvf}~ vith ut food or ahe Lt e r , t he near-eat, hut boln~ five af Io a dtst.ent. , Nf ght, 

ch ~ "' r) In an the 1Aflt of t.hem ve r-e drar.~e d e sbor-e , Their \01y hope lay I n endeavor -Ing

_ 2 _ 

on along the pathless vf Iderneae 1n search o!' shelter . \/ho can picture the horrors 

of that 8\1fu l ni Rht of suffering . When t he morning sun shone out , nineteen vceen and 

chil dren lay dead on the shore . 

One group of children wer-e f ound clasped i n each 

ot her ' fI ar ms , sunk 1n t he mud to thei r kn ee s, for-een , all dead t During the darkness 

and co nfu s i on of landing , four young children wer-e se parated 1)00/;'1 t heir parents who ~ 

soup;ht f o r them I n vain and a t l en gth gave them up for l ost . A boy of fourteen year 8 

of age encountered these poo r little one s; and l earning their deplorable plight, he 

resolv ed to do ·...hat he cou l d to seve l ':eir lives . MR.1d.ng the sh1v~rlng chil dren lie 

~o~n, H cke d 1n each other ' B arma , he Bet to vor-k r e sol ut ely collecting moss and piling 

it on t he m, laying after layer till at l en gt h the purcing cofd va e ?ar tially excluded . 

Then having f ort una t e ly discovered 9. fra gmen t of a sa il, he spr-ea d i t ove r a l l . Rolling 

stone s on t he extremities t o r etain it in pkace , By hard t oil he co l lected more moss , 

and increased t he rude covering , until t he poo r lit tle suffers cea se d t o cry with the 

bitter co ld , an d sank into slumber . Trough all t he dreary hours of that a wful night 

this heroic boy r emained by these children, guer-dmg them froo the blasts, and speaking 

t o them when they avoke , ver-da of cheer and hc -e , He might have take n r e fu ge in the 

hut s , but he vcuId no t l eave h i s he lpless charge. At l engt h daylight appeared end then 

he t urned his tottering steps t.ova rds the hut s , t o l ook for Bid . When half way he 

met the parents of the mi s sing children c'.lmine: out t o se ar-ch f or their dead bodie s . 

"e told them where they were t o be f ound ; and on lifting the cov ering of moss their 

heArt s throbbed j oyf ully to find thei r childr en a l ive end r efreshe d \li th sleep . But 

A la s~ on t he lIay back they f oun d the n obl e boy ; vho had sa ved thei r children's live s 

6t the ex pense of his ovn , lying dead t Nature v a s exhauated efter the fa tir,ues and 

exposur-e of the n~ght , and unable to r each the friendly shelter, he sank end expired . 

Our hearts have thrilled ove r the tale of the gallant Sydney, vho lIOOn pa r ched 

with t ho death thirt st , gave the cup of vat.er to t.he woun ded so ldier :lay i ng : Ilt hy 

need if; p'reater than mi.ne'" , History hR.~ r;lorified t he name s of t .hoae who have sacr 

i fi ced thp.ir liv e s on the a ltar of patr iotism, or who r i sked a nd l o st life in 011 

eV1&ti ng the \l OP.S, or saving tho lives of other s . Wit h moistened eye r> ve r e ad of the

- 3 - 

British sol d i e r vhc thrust the de spatch \li t h which he vee ent.r- Ls ted inlo his vound , 

l est it shou l d fa ll i n l o t he hand of the ene my, and then 18.y down t o die . Our pulses 

have t hrobbe d over the story of t he boy 'Who 

"Stood on the burning de ck 

Whence a l l but he ha d fled , 

and through t he flalla s wer-e curling round him, r e fu sed t o m

- 4 - 

men who seldom ve pt.', With a l ove stronge r t han death the poor mother had et.r-Lpped herself 

of her clot hing, wrapped it r ound her babe , and then clasping it t o her bosom 

so a s to shelter it from t he bla st she sank 1 i nto dea t h-stupor. In the morning the uncons 

cious babe l ooked up smiling dnt.o the feces of t he survi vor s , from its sh elter on 

t he dea d mother's bo som. 

Oh, mighty pover- of 10 ;e, that throbs often more strongly 

in the bosom of t 'le humhI eat - t hose whom ve i n pride an d scorn pass by with c ont e mpt-, 

pr ompting to deeds of se lf-sacrif i ce that shon vhat. depths of tenderness s l umber un 

suspected in human hear t s, and proving to what he i ghts humanity may r i se. 

How poor 

does many a deed that has been sung bry poet, appear, when c ontra st e d wi th the acts 

of this name l ess f i sher-boy" en d poor l ovi ng mother-I Dead hoyt Dead ecther-I Hov your 

deeds of Love bri ght en t 1 s scene of horrors, ca rrying our. thoughts up to that I nfinite 

Love vho gave HlmAelf for our poo r l ost humanity; r ebukinn our co ld se lfishness , an d 

saying: to a l l go end do something to he lp and coefor-t your sufferine br -other-s! 0 d ark 

myst ery of so r-r-ow pain and deat.hl I " presence of su ch examples of a l ove breathed 

into the s ould of man f rom the Divine sources of Love, we ca n better be lieve, ncbvf.t.h-, 

st endfng the da rk cha in of 

sorrow that encircles our race, t hat the universe i s r ocked 

i n t he arms of Everlasting Love ; and t hat 

Every cloud that 

spreads above 

And veileth l ove, itself i s l ove". 

M. H. 

(Surely amongst the corrtem -orer-y accounts of the great ga le of 1867 (9th Oct.ober-) 

must be recorded the name of the her oi c l a d of 14, vho liberally ga~e his O\lI1 , t o save 

the life of others. The youth of the l ad, h l ~ hd r-h purpose , inge nuity, sense of duty, 

selfle ssness, c oura ge and devotion merit a hir.h pLece in Nevf'ound Iend t s & 11 of Fame . 

Ne....I ound Lende r-s will vft.h one accor-d ee Iut.e t ho brave unknovn , 

Who va s 'tbnt, ge ntle 

mother? A mother ' s l ove - hOIoI sweet the name ], The story told by Dr . Harvey merits 

a »r'oed nent, p'ls ce in t he schoo'Ie of thi:o;, eye , end of other Ianda s}

ap t . Th o-tes Fi tzpatrick, Placentia) 

Coaf:t of this I sland curing b/o T:l.onths_ of this sumner (1 91 6) , I ag ree wit h you a s to 

the necensft y of dfscussdng the raat.t er- i n hope s t ha t ~o":l6thing be sai~ that vou kd 

induc e greater- security f ro:l\ such awfu l 

calamit i es. 

lrot sdnce 1901, when the st.ecaer s "Inydine", "Gr ieve " , " A ci ~ ", "Lu sd'tern.a' and " 

l De1J:Ulrs " on t he r e s pe c t i ve dates , J ~mura y 2nd , H.:ty 16th, Jun e 1 5t h , J..u...rrust 2nd e nd 

Au..., au st :nd , eiC' 5 0 many ships go to de struction in a give n time . 

In thr,t yea r 1901, 8 dfscussd on took place in the l ocal pr e s s on lI',tr c cks lond 

t hei r cau ses" , vhfch, I believe , dnducee Capt. Richard '../hite, Inspe ct or of Li ght - 

Eo use , t o a fter va rds i s sue hif> Famous cha r t of vre ck e shovfng t he poa f.t don and givil".g 

a br ief descr dptdon to the ehfps - 83 in number 

- l ost between :t. P.ary' s Bay end 

Bay Dul l s for the pa et. 20 ye ars. 

Thi s chart e f't.e r vards f ound 

its \Jay int o t he office of many shfpovn er s and 

under vr-Ltere , end e Lsc in t he ch ar-t r oo:ns of many sh f ps , ....udch certe.inly had a 

deter-r-f ng effect, and surely i nduced many ma at ers - efnce running on the some co aat-, 

to be mor e cauti ous . 

With many ot.her-n I took part in the dd sc ussdons fir, above ment.L oned , when I ventured 

t o make the a sser -tdon that overconfidence on the part of east e r-a , dgnorance of coast.aI 

end ocean cur r ents, and l o:>t, but not I e a st , ne glect in us ing t.he s lead , are the 

chi ef causes of so many wre c ks on t hf s coast. 

I am now, a fter 15 yea rs furt her exoer-Le nce , s t~nd ~n?, by t.hf s e a-e r t.Lcn, and 61_ 

t hough it may be dif ferent fo r me t o s~ tisfy you on the poi nt, t he mat.te r- be i ng eo CO"lplicat 

t'd a nd unc cr-t.ef n , I am c onv i nced 'the t I :n!iy do 50'. 

Regording the first part of osdd 

e sser-tccn vfa , " cv er-cc onf'I de nce on t he per-t, of 

eact.ers'" , I may f",FiY _ end at t he time ensver- the ort.crepeat.ed c ue at t on - why s-o fa v 

~ h :" p !' l:) ~t by rre ....f ound.Lan d mast.era on thf s c ca st.? thet t he proportion of ,,:hips Iont, 

on t.h ' 5 coact, v i t h a lle-""foundland 1')r f n cba r-ge , is . f!·'u~ l to t.ho c cn r f donce t hat, a f oreir,n 

-"'

_ 2 _ 

east.er-c bas in hit: nhip bdnz cor-vec t Iy placed on that t heo ret i ca l 

line dr aw on the 

chart he 1 s u efng, whilst runnine 1n thick ve a t ber- a long the coast , 1n coaparLson t o 

t hat which R 10c 01 mest.er \Jill feel in a similar i ns ta nce . 

In other wor ds , l oca l masters ore ...ell 8 \J8Te that , a s I sedd on a crevdoue oc ca s ion 

in t he pr e s s , "n o shipmaster should feel certain of his position for any length of time 

i n thick 'Weathe r e nyv he re be twe en Cabot Strait !'! and Flemish cep'", ""h11s1 t he f or e i gn 

master seems either not t o be possessed of this kn ov'l edge or 

ca r e l e s s of the fact. 

t s t o the second par t 

of the e es er-t.Lon above written , vh" ,- "Ignorance of coastal 

and ocean currents" , a much gree-ter- problem is presented . 

This, to t'ly mind , is 8 very imoorlant feature 1n t .he cause of shfpvrecks on t his 

coast, and one that i s very difficult of solution . 

Just a bou t 

two years a go the :"meric:m Government had a 8M -, specdeHy fitted to 

i nve stigation tides er ound the Ls Land , 

This Investig~tion ve nt, on in the most scientific oa nner for three or more ye ars , 

but, I , at l ea st , heve yet to Lear -n that i t pr-oduced the. desired effect : - The prevention 

of dd.east .er- to ships through the effect of tides upon t he m. Hawver "everything has 

a cau se't" , wre cks beine no exception to t he r ul e, and 

I am no,", firm i n t he belief that 

considering the Lar -ge nuaber- , f ships vhfch pa ssed Cape St. Mery ' 5 l e s t July, in 8. f alse 

position, t he cau se for such i s much further eway t han generally t hought . 

I em told, that during l a s t mont h , apar -t fro:n those that vere vre cked , many other 

ships ....ere seen in St . Mary's Bay on the r oad to the"Regular Graveyard" , and i t 

was 

O:lly a lift in the fo~ t ha t saved 'thea f r-om de s tr-uctdon , 

This undoubtedly ir.lplies t ha t 

some unu sual and unkn cvn i nf l uence took'these ships 

t o the N • E. of t hei r proper course , end the maf n que s td ona in this conne ction are : 

1st, 'd}lRt influence i s this? 2nd , "''her e does it. originate , and jrd , ....hy is it felt 

only at certain t dmes , 

Curren t s ar e undou bt.ed Ly the ens ....er- to t he fir:::t quest.Lon , hut 

.... 

vhe ....her thr.y ere ocean or coa st.e I currents fell, if eny , see m to .knov , 

As to the s-eco nd end third cue at.Lons , viz: W h(~ re does it orip,inbt e to ne vby it 

i t': fe lt. onl y at ccrtc1n time s , t.he nor-to Lee r -ned navfgetor-n end est.r-onoeer s only a r -e ex -

- J - 

pect-ed t o be c epabfe of ana....erin g . However , i t 1A a r-emar-keb'Ie coincidence , that i n 

t he coa s t , and tha ~ the :>Gm8 ye ars t he most violent and numerous hur-rdcene s 'WOre ex 

perienced 1n the Gulf of Nexd c o , 

Add t o this t he f a ct that July , 1916, Sell mor-e ships runnin g on a fa lte posi 

t i on and wre ck ed. 1n St . Hary' 5 Bay than t ha t of 1901 or 1906, llhilst an t he 5t h Jul y 

l ast, the Mexi co Gulf Coa st experienced the most t.£Trific hur-r-Ic ane in 20 years . 

" Shipping I llustrated" says : "J ul y 5th, the daaege sust ained \lill r e ac h ebcu t 

seve n million s . Dock s , pier s end wharves ...ere demolished, she ds a nd r oofs t or n of f , 

rond ve nse La 'Were ve shed l eo pres 

inland by the U S mile vind " hnd a gai n i n the same 

paragraph it says: "The cver-f'Lov of cater fr:r.:a ~obllc Bay rose f i ve fe et ovet: t he 

high vater- mark set by the 1906 hurricane" . 

This , I ima gine , should be food f or reflection for t hose ....ho pre l ooking e t, t his 

catter from. a sc i entific poi nt of vie ...., and anyhow, if ex per-Ience hasn' t deaonst.r-ated, 

r ea s on ce r tainly dictated that a 125 mile ..i nd with c or-re spondf ng at e c spher dc pr e esur-e , 

S.I) . of u s , end nor mal ve a t.her- condf.tdons

- 4 - 

has run not l e s s than 45 miles in shoaler water than s he s h o u l d 

be we re she in ~ her proper position, thus proving that a 'f e w casts 

of the l e ad whilst coming over t h a t g round would certainly awaken 

the master to a s ens e of his dangerous and mistaken position, which 

wou l d mo r e than l i k e l y result i n s a v i n g his ss b Lp , c argo and possibly 

his whole s h i p ' 5 c ompany, h ad he escaped to St . Mary I s Cays on t h e 

way 

a101;19. 

Writing of "Da ng e r s 

to navigation in the vicinity of Cape 

Race in 1908, the Sh i ppi n g I l lustrated, New York, which letter was 

reprod uced in the "Trade REv i e w Commerci al Annual" , I referred t o 

Cape ST. Mar y' s Cays in t he following wo r d s : · 1 now assert that 

the s h i p s wrecked between Cape En glish a n d Cape Pine we r e lucky 

in a certain sense " . 

The distance from Cape English to the Eatern He ad of St . Shott s 

(the r egu l a r s hip ' s g r a veyar d ) i s b ut 1 1 mi les . I n this a p ac e 

since 1 881, 27 ships were l ost, 2 2 of which wer steamers a l l j b o u n d 

east 

a round Cape Race. 

No J o u b t everyone of t h o s e s teamers h a d a false p osition 

in which many of t h e m - b arely escaped the Cays coming e a s t , From 

Cape St. Ma ry ' s Cays t o St. Shot ts t he cours e i s S. E . los E , and t h e 

distan ce 26 mile s . 

If a s h ip goi ng eas t passes, say five mile s to -tih e S . \'1. o ff 

Cape St . Mary ' s Cays, and maek s a good S . R ~ E course , she wi l l 

surel y run cle ar, b u t if the s hip i s f ar e noug h t o the N. E . of her 

proper cou rse to r u n ashore at S t . S hot ts s teer ing a S E " E c ours e , 

she most s t r ike t h e Ca ys, whe n , a fter a brief s t r uggle in t he bre akers 

all i s l ost, and no a les are t old, unle s s t h e weather i s very smo o t h .

.... 

- 5 - 

The old f 1e herrnen of t.oday vho restored t o f'Lshfng around the C8Y~ of t, n tell of 

seeing a ship':; eha i n s t retche d across the m, an d hov f requen t ly, bra s s buttons ver-e 

hauled u p on fi sh hooks , a l l of vhfch i s ~ s t r iki ng r eminder of death an d de struction 

through t he vent, of a ~imp le aid to naviga t 1on .. 

The " Si mple a i d to navigation" I meant , va e 8 Gasligh t Whistling Buoy about :2 

miles U. N. 'W . frOB t he Bay s , whi ch I feel certain 'Would hue s av e d numerous ships , 

car goe s and cr-ev e during the pa st, 50 years especially. The absence of such "aid· 1s 

'ol1thau t d oubt a s tandi ng dfsgr -ece to past and pr esen t M& r i ne Depart ments, and right 

here l et me assert , thr.t if a diver - Mr . John Taylor f or i nstance - would cruise 

around the Cay s off Cape St . M3ry ' ~ and Lembt s Roc k, 22 a f Ies N 1/2 N from Cape Pine , 

vith on l y five fRtholl1s of vat.er- ove r i t, he v cu Id most l1'k

- 6 - 

Bri ~toe Cove, 1n the nieht, ....ith a S . W. wind and f oe : c oming on morning the wind 

in c r e ~ fl e d to a gat e \lith sn ow shower s . He Hved at Shoe Cove , near- Cane B.allard , ilt 

thif: t.tae , Th ere were thirty one passengers and crew on the ahdp , The nearest 

peo ple to the wre ck ver-e t he r esiden t$ of I on g Beach, t hree miles 5 \13y. 

Shoe Cove 

vas tvel ve miles dfatant, e nd when the : news of the wreck first 

reached him and his 

fri end s t hey vera on their \.lay t o Cape Race vfth t he Keogh s of Cuplin Bay , to land 

a \thist le .. The Keoghs ) ha d put "-i nt o Shoe Cove c that, night out of t he storm: t he7 

vere in a cod-se i ne skiff and t .he crew r-efused t o go ;my further.. Mr.. Murphy and his 

t wo brothers volunteered t o go 'Jith the skipper, and when they go t to Cape Race , thEy 

saw boats out picking up wrecka ge , flour , pork, butter, etc. The y .hurried home, got 

t hei r o..n bo at, an d went out to the sc ene of the vreek next dey; By that time there 

ver e hundreds of boa ts t here from Tr e p"':::sey, Port uga l Cove lind bther nel,rby places . 

H e vent. over a c U f f 100 f eet high by means of II r ope , and in t his W8y his brothers 

and other s were eb'le t o haul up .Ii. l arge quant i ty of aoke Jeat.her , The ship was broken 

up by thi s time , and the gr-uas om vor-k of hauling up thre e human bodies wa s aLeo & 0 0 

cr.'Iplished . Al l t he bod ies were nud e , Nin e other bodf e a ve r-e f'cun d and hauled up by 

ot her fi sh erm en , and &11 were bur-r-fed on the t .op of t he cliff. 

The S . S .. "Ge or ge Cromwell" \l8 S lost B few days previ ous and not one vas s aved 

from e i t he r of the .ships, vhrcb be longed to the same LiM ..

...

(By I ate Rev . Dr . Richnrd Hoyley) 

Far 

f rom th; voi ce , thy vf sdon and the sve H 

Of they br-eed br ea et., vhose ctlky fOiitD vas sa p 

To my young U f e - I long once acre to chrell 

Anefor they flo",1, 

to nest .Ie i n thy lap; 

Fond mot her cce en k Lorn, I fod n 'Would sing 

They beaut y , 

bounty and ne ne I e s e bf dss 

That once \las mine, ....he n those did ' flt o'er me flinp. 

The mant-Le of t hey vave , en d t hri l l 

me with they Kif:s. 

Away , where lifele s s l ak es t heir r-Lpp te e tju-ov , 

0 ' er shor e s e s smooth and so f t and bme e s they, 

sdcke n O'er 

Ob, but 

this mi ne of t hey maj esti c now, 

to bre ath t hy breath end drink t he y spr-ey k 

Or fro:n eoee ba stion r ock 'tha t, stems thy might 

On bold J..tlantic ecaet , t o gs ee 

in price 

Upon thy gloCl!'l, t hey ever -changing light , 

And bat he my ve r y sou l 

vf .thfn t hy , . boun di n g tide l 

For I am of t he Sea -Ki ng r nce that st ee red 

In days l ong eyrie I'r-on Scenddvendan fjoods , 

And dauntless r ound t he northern i sle s cereened , 

One hand on he lm or brece , one on t he i r svcrde j 

Thy- Bor-ge ycle ped wer e t hey i n Olaf f 's trdn 

For t hey ce re st.r-ong and et.e r n as granite rock , 

And Bour-ke s i n Gaul, de Burgos in Old Spa in 

They made t he Weflt e r n shores quake to their 

oatt le ehcck k 

~~k.-~1 

.......:, ~ ~~~ ~~, 

H.P.$i....,..L, VOL .:z, J!,97, 

.J-i: .J--L-:,... .

st.ence , cer-vfng e s a sfdeI f.ght on t.bf.s ProhibHion -r-ob'lem, 

anc es of t he vdne In dust.t-y of the ....or-Id , Nevt'oundIand t s port vi ne i s the finest known 

to men . Of coo r-se , ....e do no t produce the wine : 'We r d-en it. The land of fOG and ice 

codfish does not admi t of the grape being gr-ovn s but $I sc arcely l e s s i mpor t ant factor 

exists here - our c l:1mate poseesses some pe cu Id er- qua lity which ripen s and matures t he 

r ev vintage e s this ca nnot be e c corapl f ebed enyvhere else i n the vor Id . There is e. 

Ia r ge t.r-a de bet.wee n Portug a l ag reed to admit O'..T f ish ~ n t o her mar-ke t.e on t he " n oetf 

,-v or e d" nntion terms i n c onef.der-at c on of Newfoundland r e duc i ng by one hn Lf her pr e sent 

cust oms impo r t dut y on port win e . 

The stor y of Nev f'oun d'land!spor t t.hr-ocg h a pr ocess of evolution effec t ed 2000 

af I e a fr-om where it WG S begun . The crude bever-age i s' brought acr-ose the Atlantic 

fr om t he sun ny slope s of Iber fa t o be mellowed on the bl eck coast of Terre Nova . For 

over two centur ies For t ugal ha s be en one of the best cu stomers I'or- our- codf'L sh , a 

flee t of sailing vessels carryi ng sh ipments of cod t here the whol e yea r r ound . In 

r et ur ning t hey brought among other t hings casks of por -t,.wi rtB f or thei r owners . Fora 

l ong time t he im" or t ,",V B smaLl , 8S the bever-age ve s mer ely for Loca L c onsunpt .Lon ybut 

by end by i t wa c di s cover ed that the wi ne f rom Por-tugaL efter rema i ning s ome time here, 

i mpr oved f n qualit y and

_ 2 _ 

Then ce it va s ex -orted to the Eur-ope an continent, a nd 1n time to t he American colonies, 

'thr-oug h after the Revo l ut ionary' Wa r 

the t.r e.de I n it vf th the Coited St", l es va s done 

by NC\lfoundh.nd direct, ....hich va s a Leo t be c c re vfth Can ad a , for in both ca se s 8 

good l y cliental, vith cuktdv-Led 

l ades, had bec ome inithted to the mer-f t.e of the 

vi nt .e.ge and learned to e ppr e cf a t .e ita exc eL'lent, qUlilities . 

At l eng t h on~ firm absorbed se vere I minor concerns and took the control of this 

port v lne trace virtually into its ovh hands . It i s evident, therefore , t hat our 

en ce st.or-s knew how t o form trusts, coabdne s and mer ge s, as ....e12 as t he men of the 

present day. The firm annoinced a different from that of so me modern trusts: , t he i r 

I dea \l as to improve the quailt of the product end t o set 8 st.enda rd of excellence 

vbdch shou .Id be ident i fied \lith their na me. They im?orted the vine in large que nt d.tde s , 

built great at or -age vaults, 

carried out extensive ex periments a s to the best method 

of t r ea t ing the wine, lind ge ne r-cLky ...ent into t he bu si ness on s c i e ntif i c principles, 

unt il they brought their system to such pe r f e ct i rm that their vine acqu ired a high and 

id.de s pr-ead repututdcn, vhd ch it retains t o this day. A hundred yep,rs 6p,O this particular 

port wa s a fllvorite t.Lop.Ie in the London clubs . 'When the vf ne hi-s been properly b.Iended 

i n great vooden vats, it is dr-avn off into casks to be s hipped to Ne....foundland for 

rd pentng , On being landed lit St. John's, ....here the Lar-ge vfne vaults er-e , cdr- is 

i1cmitted day endndght, summer nnd vtnter , This is all that is necesaar-y j no other process 

is r equired • The effect of the cliJ:n.i.te is marvellou s in ripening lind mellowing the 

vfn c and el1ruinlil.t1ng a l l t he injurious ingredients. Ten year-s are required to r i pe n 

the be s t vine, but some of it is used after a briefer period . The best quality is 

USUlil.llyexported to EngLind, and 1s alw2Ys in demand in t he high class clubs. 

Soa e of 

the se, indeed, and the cr-ack British regiments, send to the Colony their cvn private 

suppl e s s of vfne to be ripe ned, purchasing the fresh pr-oduct, fro:n reputable Portugese 

dealer s and shipping it to firms in Nevrocnd'land ,

1\ GHEA'l' . S EAL I NG CAP'l'A I N 

The f ollowi ng biograph y of o ne of our o l d Viki ngs , b o r n more 

than one hund r e d ye a r s ago , will be i n t ere s t ing to o ur readers . Amongst 

the very o l d "awod Le r s " o u t o f the o u tharbors Henry And rews , William. 

Whalen , Di l ly Rabbits , J ohn Hurphy , Richard Btitt t o ok very hig h 

places , Bill Wha l en of Frog Ha rsh , - Brigus , wa s special ly s uccessfuL 

When He n ry Supple o rganized the s t r ike for fre e bert hs, he came t o 

Brigu·s t o persua d e Whalen I 5 men not t o sai l , but the y would not fol low 

his a d vice ; s o , like a l l a g i tators , he t ried to use f orce •• The 

s k i ppe r g ave the order t o c ast off the h awser. S upple got a round 

the man a n d s topped him.. Again Whelan gave the order, with the same 

resu l t . Af ter waiting f or a mi n ute Skipper Bi l l t o ok up a l ong seal i ng 

g u n , a nd t aking a i m a t the crowd i nterf ering with his me n , called 

o u t , "Cast o f f t h e hawser o r I I I I shoot ye " } As he wa s known to be 

a determined man and a dead l y s hot , t h e crowd fle d and the h a ws er was 

c a s t o ff . Whalen wa s the only ma n out of Brigus th~t made a good 

trip that year - t he dela ys c a u s e d by t he s t r ike ruined t he voyage . 

The subjoin e d hfstory o f his lif e was g ive n t o a friend by Capt. 

And rews a year before h e died. I t f ell i nto the p o s s e s sion of Councillor 

Hu l lal y , whos e wife i s a grand-daughter o f Capt. Andrew s : 

"I was born a t Pot:t-de-grave in the y e ar 1 80 6 . My mother was 

marr ied twice. Her f i rst husba nd wa s Ca pt. Ba r nes , the first Capt a in 

o f three who s a i led from S t . John' s i n the year 1776. I first we nt to 

s e a a t 1 2 years o f age i n t h e s chooner "Go od I nte nt" , 60 t o n s , And rews 

mast e r , in t he y e ar 1818, and killed my first seal o n a S u nday , a nd 

got n o bre akfast f or doing so on the Lord I S Day. The next ye!lr 1 81 9, 

I went i n her again as a b oy , and was an apprent ice unt i l I was 20 

yea r s o l d . In t h e year 1 824, I t o o k charge o f , t he Scht , "chence e , 

I b e i n g 18 years o f age . A man by the name o f Mee han wa s the owner . 

She was b u i l t a t 'l'r ini t y and wa s very o ld , b u t I t o o k he r for a com- 

H .F S~ VDL .:Z,4-I/, 

.it ~ (}>-L':'

- 2 - 

mencemen t to t r y my luc k. I l ost her o n the 1 4th March 1 8 25, wi t h 

1400 seals o n board. I a nd my crew we r e on the b a ck of t he ice for 

two days a nd o ne n i ght i n our boats , whe n we we r e picked u p b y a 

man n a med Blundon and b rought t o S t . .rohn vs , 

I t h e n agreed wi t h Scott & Gaden , merchants . 'I'heir premises 

was a t Riverhead. They did a l a r ge b usiness. I shipped i n t he schooner 

"Fanny " , a nd went to Labrado r a nd g o t a full l e ad o f g reen fish , a nd 

landed it a t Pe t t y Ha rbor to get it made. Next Sp r i ng , 1827, I we n t 

t o 'l'rinity, and went to the ice in the s c hoone r "Friends", and succeede d 

in g e tting 2 ,300 seals . 

The n e x t year , 1 829, I s h i pped for scal i ng master a n d als o t o 

coast ing master for the summe r season to Me s srs. Ga r land. I d id not 

go seal ing , b u t I spent the summer i n coasting t o Donavista and Trinity 

Ba y s , a nd l ate in the season to S t . John 's . 

The nex t year , 1 830, I we nt t o the i c e in a b rig , ca1:led the 

"Beaver " , b uil t a t New Harbor b y John Newhook , 1 50 t ons burthen; I 

broug h t in 8 , 000 seals. 

Th e next Spring , 1 831, I brought in 3 ,90 0 seals , a nd n e xt summer 

I t o ok charge of Mr . Ga r land 's yacht. 

Next Sp r i n g I went in the "Be aver", 1 832, and b rou gh t in 4 , 800 

seals , and in the summer I went in the yacht again . 

In The winter of 18 33 , Mr . Ga rland h ad a schooner built i n Trinity 

cal led the "Dart" . asked f or h e r as in t h e summer time I could go 

in her f orei g n vo y a ge s, but wa s refused; but after a while I s ucceeded 

a n d went to t he seal fishery. The winter was so har d that we had t o 

c u t the vesselout of Trinity Harbor. I arrived the las t of March , 

a n d t h e s h o r e men had to cut t he vessel i n again to the owner ' 5 whar f .

- 3 - 

From I lJ33 t o 1 8 39. six years i n s uccession , I went to t h e i ce 

in the "Dart", and brought in 5 ,000 seals e ach S p r i n g . I t hen wa nted 

a ve s s el f or mysel f , and Hr . Ga r l a nd r e fu s ed to 9 1 ve one , a nd in the 

Fal l of 1839 . I went t o Me s srs. Brook i ng r. Co . with a load of fish 

a nd l a n d e d i t, after wh i c h Hr . 'robin of Tovin a n d Bl and , c ame to see 

me and wante d to kn ow what I intended to do n e xt ye ar (1840) , a nd 

wha t ~ was d oing with a l l the money I was e arning. I told him I h ad 

n o mon ey , b u t if I h ad been treated we l l and got squarely d ealt with 

would h ave enough to buy a vessel of my own. 

He at once s aid h e would give me one , and I innocently ask e d 

h i m if he wa s in earnest. He said he was , and t old me to qo-xup to 

his wharf , and look at a ve sse l that wa s lying there , c alled the "Emily 

To b i n " , and s ee if s h e would suit me . I went up, but I d id not like 

her , for the r e a s on she wa s t o o smal L I explained matters to him 

when I saw him , and he s a i d he would give me o n e big- enough , which 

wa s t he l a r ge brig cal led the "Jane" 160 tons n ew me asurement . I took 

her and made my a g r e e me n t a n d s a i led t h e firs t of Harch for the Seal 

fishe r y , a n d brough in 7, 7 00 sea l s . 

The next Spring , 1 8 41, I went to the ice a g a i n in the same v e ssel, 

a n d brought in 400 0 seals , and she was sold , and Mr. Tobin got a new 

o ne built , called the Se l a h Hutton, about 130 tons. He had her built 

to go for eign voyages, a s well as f or the ice. I we nt t he first voyage 

i n her to t h e seal fi s hery i n 1 84 2 , and got 4 0 0 0 seals o n t he f ront 

o f the Island; c ame to St. John's, landed, and sailed in April for 

t he back of the I sland, and did not g e t b ack to St. J ohn' s until the 

mi ddle o f J une. when I f ound tha t Tobin & Brand had f aile d the v e ssel 

was my own, and I l a i d her up, a n d did nothing the a umme r , That Fall 

I went to Trinity , a nd in the Sp r i n g of 1 843 , I s ailed fro m Le ster , 

Garl a n d ' s premises again; I h ad a full l o ad of 5000 s e a ls . I the n

- 4 - 

cleane d the vessel up and wnt across to Lishon eith fish in bulk, 

a nd brought back a load of salt. 

I then bought a vessel called the "Dloomer Lass" and went to the 

i c e in 1844 and brought in 7000 seals. 'l.'he same s p r i n g I s ent the 

"Selah Hutton" to the ice on my own account. She d i d not d o much, 

s o I sold her . 

The next year, 1845 , I s ailed to the ice in the "Bloomer Lass", 

a nd arrived with 8000 seals in Narch; sailed again in April and brought 

i n 8 0 0 0 seals. I laid up the vessel all that summer and went to the 

f ish e r y . The next Spring I bought a new vessel called the "Pearless" 

a brig rig. 'l'hat was in teh year 1846, and brought in a full load 

o f 9,900 seals. I sent the "Bloomer" the same Spring, but she done 

not.h Lnq , I sold her for 1000. The Spring of 1847 I sailed the 

Pea r l e s s , and brought in 6, 000 seals, and the summer of 1848 I sent 

t he "Peerless" to Newyork witb a load of coal, and she was l o s t . 

t hen bought a new brig called the"Brothers". I fitted her out and 

wen t to the eea Lr-f Laher y in the Spring of 1849 , from Brooking & co, , 

a nd got caught in the ice and was lost among thousands of seals. My 

men , 

the morning she was lost, hauled 700 seals before breakfast. 

t h e n came to the conclusion I would give up going to sea snd live at 

home 

on the farm. 

I am now 87 years old. My interest is good, also my sight; but 

I have lost the use of my legs . 

Although I brought in 112,000 seals, valued $2 each $224,000 ; 

and now,if my legs were good, I would make a "holy show" of the best 

s e a l i n g steamer captains going to the sealfishery.

l\ HUNDRED Y EA RS AGO 

\JOLUMf 2 .

- 2 - 

people . I n Torbay , Portugal Cove , Petty Harbor , Pouch Cove , end 

Bclleisle there were on l y 1 86 5 people . There were 23 ,000 seals taken 

the previous Spr ing by St. J ohn ' 5 crews, and 6 1 ,000 i n a l l Conception 

Ba y , were 6 8 v e s s els sai led to t h e i ce with 1,2 2 7 me n . Th e r e we r e 

five vessel s o utof Tr i n i t y with 76 me n , who b r ought i n 8,538 seals . 

In Fe rryland, 4 , 700 seals were t a k e n , and 20 , 108 we r e l a nd e d i n 

Bo nav~sta Bay , mostly hauled b y l a nd s men. The salmon f ishery was 

a great industry i n t h o s e d a ys, and t h e price was as high a s 80 shi 1- 

l i n g s a tierce. In 1 81 5, a f ter the most s trenuous o pposition on the 

part of the busin e s s p e ople to t he i d e a o f taxation o f s i xpence a 

gal lon , $ 11 ,888 wa s col lec ted i n duty on rum. To read t h e arguments 

set up by t h e citizens of S t . John ls of this day against the intention 

of gutting a t a x o f s ixpence a gallon o n rum , o ne wi l l find a f und 

o f p i q uan t amussemen t and f ood f o r r e fle cti on. 10,349 was col lected 

on rum f-rom the We s t Indie s, a nd 1,5 39 o n the same article from 

o ther c oun t r ies . The total duty i ncluding a f e w hundred pound s o n 

molasses and c o f f e e amo unted to 16 ,954 . There was a lso a small 

duty o n s ugar . Pe titions were sent t o t h e Home Government whe n i t 

was p roposed t o t ax rum s ixpence a gal lon , saying that t h e tra d e o f 

Ne wfou nd l and would be ruined a nd t h e peop le would no t b e able to s tand 

it . The salar ies paid t o t h e p ub lic officials 5,080. The Go vernor 

received 800 ; Chief Justice 10 00; seven sur rogate j udges 60 

each , bu t t h e y had a good many s ide line s, and we re n e ver i n wa n t o f 

a bag or a b arrel. The J udge of the Ad miralty wa s pai d 500 , while 

the Clerk o f the Supreme Co u r t h a d t o be sat isfied wi t h 70. Th e Sher i f f 

evidently had a pull, or may be t hat h e was cal led upon t o h a n g s~ 

many people d uring his t e rm of office , t hat 252 wa s considered a

- 3 - 

fai r salar y for him. In t he s ~mmer of 1814

- 4 - 

oven o n the s ide. The onl y coal used wa s b rough t fro m Newcastle 

Engl and , in t he rnox cherr t s ' s h i ps . On l y the rich c ould a f f o r d to 

b uy it. Nine-tenths o f t h e r e sidents i n the word s o f the o l d s ong 

"wen t i n the wo ods with t heir dogs and t e ckeLt ne e " , and cut their 

s p r uce , fir, and b irch f rom e ight to t wclbe inch e s in t he butt , in 

the v.icinity of Long Ponel , Bu nd y ' s Po n d a n d a mile north of Military 

Road . Th e man who went in beyond Na gle's lIi11 o r the present site 

o f the Ropewalk , wa s r e g arded as a h ero of t h e Nansen t ype . a n d a l l 

h is f r iends and neighb ors crowde d i nto h i s house i n the n igh t to hear 

o f his wo n derful trip , while s i t t i n g in f r o n t o f the big bla zing fire 

tha t eat up his wh o le d ay I 5 work in a f ew hours . 1'h e people L'i,vnig 

c ast of Bu rst Hear t Hi l l used to cut thei r winter's wo od along Fores t 

Road , where the Llewellyn Ground s a n d the Ce meterie s a r e t oday, a nd 

bot h s ides o f Quidi Vidi Lake were we l l wo oded with, fir and birch . 

Forest Ro ad retains , to this d ay , the n a me g i v e n to it in the firs t 

year s of the ninete enth cent ury. A pict u re of Water S t reet in t h o se 

d ays would b e wo r tih its weight in gol d t o t h e nat ive a n t i qua r i a n . 

Mos t of the hous e s were o f wood , a n d the street wa s so narrow down 

about the present Seaman 's Institute (George V) , that people could 

a lmost t ouch h ands from the windows upstairs. In the East a n d West 

Ends - f r o n Hutching' s S t ree t up, and f rom Ki ng I 5 wharf d own to the 

ext reme e nd of Ma g gotty Co ve - t h e s t reet wa s c overed with flakes . 

As on e walked a l o ng to go t.o Signal Hill, what fel l down through 

the flake b oughs a nd lon gers on to t he head a nd s hou lder s of the ped 

est r ians , gave ris e t o the name Haggotty Cove . It is true there were 

a g o od ma ny l arge a n d i mp r oving s t ruct u res : a long the water-front-merc 

hant s I s tores f or d y goods and provisions , s t o res for fish a n d o i l 

Lo t h seal a n d codo d I , Whe n the big f i re came a f e w years a f ter , i t

- 5 - 

is easy to imagine how quickly the whole of HatcrStrect was 

laid in 

a s h e s . Hilitary Hoad was a mere foot-path used by the soldiers going 

from Fort William to Fort Townshend. On t h e site where the Roman 

Catholic Cathedral s tands , the mi litary of the latter fort had their 

wood yard , and one of t hcprincipal argwnents put up agai nst Bishop 

Flemi .ng whe n he was struggling to get agrant of the l an d was that 

"the mi litary would have no place to stock their wood" . As to other 

i n ventions of civilization there were no sewing machines , no banks , 

and only one newspaper . 

which was presented specially for the Governor 

and a few officials - the Royal Gazette. The phonograph, telephone, 

automobile . submarine and aeroplane were on l y hinted at i n dreams or 

on t he pages o f the Arabian Nights . The t own did not extend norther l y 

beyond New Gower Street in t he East and beyond the ridge of Carter 's 

lIill and narter's Hi l l in the West. Looking back at; ' the p rimat ure 

s t a t e of society in St . John ' 5 in 1815 , and the ever-threatening and 

intermittant spel l of hard and hungry times, we, today , o ught to feel 

thankful to Divine Providence that we are living in t he midst of plenty, 

a nd . that though our codfishery is no greater than i t was then, t hat 

we a re e n joying a l l t he b l essings and requirements o f a happy commun i ty.

-: PERFECT 

UISCIPLINE ON 1'lIE ICE-FLOES 

(II . F . S ho r t i s - Historiographer) 

He have heard a great deal of the bravery , fortitude and subordination 

of the respective European and American armies during the 

various campaigns which they ahve fought in different parts of the 

world ; 

but these soldiers havee.Er-om youth been drilled into this subordination 

. 

They have d r i l l -masters whose d uties it is to qualify 

them for their for t une avocat ion , and with i ndu c e me nts , unde r various 

ways , t o f ace t he i ne v i t able. Bu t wi t h the Newfoun d land sealer of 

the old days , the y h a d n o person t o teach them t o b rave the hardsh ips 

o f the i ce-flo e s - it came to t he m natu ral l y . It is only whe n c aught 

i n a corner t hat t h e i r heroism and h a r d i h o od i s d isplayed. I n t h e 

f irst c o mi n g o f t h e Scotch steamers , in the sixties of the past century , 

the ships woul d a lways bring out t h i r t y o r for ty sharp-shooters; but 

while t he s e men could "draw a bead" on an o ld o r young hood o r harp, 

they were not a t home on the ice , a n d invariably found we t jackets 

in t r ying to get fro m pan to pan . In such instances , the hardy Newfoundl 

a n ders would "copy" on t h e heads of the Scotchmen, secure good 

foot ing o n the o thers side , and then haul t h e m out and help t hem o n 

board s h i p . Wi t ness t h e e xperience of J o h n n c c a r chy , a man Capt. 

Adams said wa s wo r t h a dozen ord inary hands : One t i me J o h n wandere d 

away i n sear ch o f seals - he wa s master watch - and was e ver f ore most 

on the pan . After a t rave l of many miles , he retu rned t owa r d s the 

S . S . "ARctic"; b ut feeling h ungry he sat down on a l a r g e prinnacle 

to eat some b read and seal's heart - when , band" . And a b u -1.let went 

by only a few inches f rom his head. He darted behind the pinnacle; 

but if he made the least movement t o peer a r o u nd the ice , bang : and 

the thud of a bullet wa s near his ear . His feelings can be better 

i ma g i n e d t h a n described. At l a s t he took off his canvas jumper , guern 

aey f rock a nd placing t hem on h i s f aqq , moved them above the pinnacle. 

~~,./},-- :iL rf '-~ oJ. H . F. S hor l-,s YOL. Z > -'711, 

~ -Jk ~

z 

- 2 - 

Af t.e r a short t i me a voice wa s heard hai ling t o c ome o ut t h at it was 

a l l right. 'Phe o wne r of t he voi c e wa s a sharpshooter , who took John 

fo1cCarthy a nd his f u r c a p for a n o ld seal. "Dur ing my forty years 

a t the fishery " , said J ohn, "'l'hat was the narrowest escape I e ve r 

had . Bu t t he idea of t a k i ng me for an old sea l :;'. 

But to come to t he discipline d ispl ayed by Newfou nd landers . 

Many years ago , t he f emc ua Capt . Az ariah Hunde n of Brigus wa s at the 

seal fishery in the brigantine "Atlanta". Seals were f airly plent ifu l 

bu t s cat ter e d .. After haivng placed the dIfferent watche s (about 30 

men under a "mater Watch") in their r e s pe ctive position s, Capt Hunden 

said to Curtis and his men, "Now, boys, work a round here, but o n the 

peri l o f your live s dono t change your positi ons, no mat ter how the 

wea ther may coroe , I have t o goNor t h East to see if eny imp r ovement 

in sea ls , but I will r e tur n f o r you before night fall '"• . 

Curtis and h i s men went to work planning seals , and were doi ng 

wel l ; Suddenly t he wi nd shi f ted , a b linding snow s torm wi th keen f rost 

came o n , a nd the men h ad to hu ddle t ogethe r, ke ep walk i ng, beat t heir 

hands to ke e p t he mselve s warm, Ni ght wa s com i ng o n , an d their p r o s 

pects were be c oming mor e g l oo my a nd t errible eac h moment.. At least 

one o r two of the crew began to murmur and say : that the ywould not 

r e ma in there to .be frozen to death, thitt the y would g o in sear c h of 

the vessel . 

"For God' s sake , boys" , s aid Curtis, " remai n where we are . Did 

not the Ca ptain tel l u s he woul d r eturn f or us by nigh t f all"? 

Stil l dissati s f a ction increa s ed, and the c r e w were i no pen manus. 

Still Curtis held out , e n t reated , c o mma nd e d t he d issat isfied one t o 

t rus t to t he c a p t a i n - that he wou l d come for t he m. Every hope wa s 

given up by all e xc ept Cur tis, an d a l l hands were preparing for the 

next worl d . Pra yers f i rst he a r d a t the mother 's kn e e were wa fte d

.. 

- 3 - 

a loft Ly we a k voices, wh e n suddenly t h e creaking of b locks , commands 

g iven out in quick succession "to s tarboard. c sew i~ t je r pua r , etc. 

we re heard, and t h r oug h a rift i n the b l inding unow-is t.o rm appeared 

the b o ws of the Atlant a ; and the f irst man to appear wa s Capt . Az Munden 

who tur n i ng t o t he c r ew o n board ship , exclaimed , "A l l r i ght , boys , 

here they are safe and sou nd . Let t he cook get everything r e a d y to 

make a l l hands comfor table , and we shal l tic o n to t his ice-b e r g till 

mozn Ln q , 

All . was there not something almost s upernatural in the faith 

o f t h a t man , Cu r t is? By his u n s h a ke n confidence in the skill of his 

commander , he saved the l i ve s o f his thirty men . Wha t a l e s s o n i t 

teaches: Think i t over. Co u ld any but a Newfoundlander be the hero 

of such a n 

act? 

'r his i s b ut one of the many. i nstances of the hardihood , daring 

and f ull c onfid e n ce i n their Ca p t a i n displayed by the scalers of the 

o l d shcool •

-------------- --

THE " SPRING OF THE WADHAHS" 

I 

think ' t wa s t he Spr i ng of t he \.lad hams, 

We were out in a ship called the Dsn, 

Mauri ce crotty wa s one of our seamen, 

A comical , qu ee r , funny man. 

- 0 - 

He'd sing :"longs and t e l l stori e~ f or eve r , 

And lie f! he woul d sp f n by t he sc or e ; 

And whe n Maurice would kick up a ditty, 

All ha nds in t he ga l l ey would r oar. 

- 0 - 

It va s his first Spr i ng out 

i ce-hun t i ng, 

llot a r ope i n the shi p di d he knov j 

He didn I t kno w the f i r st t hing a bou t her, 

Not.. even t o lace up a t ow. 

- 0 - 

The captain carae on deck one fine morni ng , 

Say s he , "Maurice , your t rick at the wheeln; 

He shivered 11ke a bag 

of l ive Y.ittens, 

He shiver ed from 

mizzi n t o keel. 

- 0 - 

The Captain vent, int o t he ca bin, 

To have a quit e nap and 

a saoke j 

And he r-uehed out 

on de ck in a hurry, 

And r f e r ce , 

like a tiger , he spoke I 

- 0 - 

" What cour-se are yo stl'!ering, . yo bood y , 

You jll.ckal'lS, 

you blundering goos e"? 

~

. 

- 2 - 

"If she keeps on her course , ai r n , flay s Haurlce 

nUe '11 strike on the back of Reneve'", 

- 0 - 

"What course are yer :st eer i ng" ? 

cr-Ied the Captain 

(The ve s se l being do'IJD on her efde}, 

"Ohl" says }I.-urice, nif the S'Jell doeent t, trip her, 

We' 11 strike on the back of K11brlc1e" • 

- 0- 

I Leaned e ter- thft rai l one fine morning, 

And I 

eav poor Mliilurice f lill In, 

And I reached out a gaff to haul him out , 

For the "'. t er \/8 S up to his chin. 

- 0 -

S'1'. J OHN'S IN 'l'HE F I F'l'IES 

A hal f a century: 1\ l ong period o f t i me. Let '.. 

this t own. In 1 8 50 the inhabited 

t h e 

heads of Long' s 

Nor th o f the s e poi nts f e w 

person s r e sided . a nd t he g rou nds we r e kn own a s the Ba rre ns. In 

Armst r o n g ' s Meadow (now Honkst own ) • on the Parade ground s and west 

in Brien I s field . during the season, plover and curlew were s ho t by 

spor tsme n . There wre but three houses on the land fro m Para de t o 

Cook St. , now so thickly inhabi t ed, a nd a lon g what i s n ow Lel1archant 

Road , a n d that section, t he r evas abou t the same number. Th ese were 

farme r 's h ome s , a c cessib l e b y a country pat h. In parts of the t own 

were crowd e d pla c e s, like t ara hen 's t own, t h e Cribbie s, Dogst own and 

Haggot t y Cove , with l ane s and alle y-wa y s f rom s i x to t e n f e et wdd e 

running thro ugh t h e m. There were 1,5 00 peop le livin g i n Tarahen s t own , 

mostl y in t wo-stor y h o us e s, tw o f a mi l i e s in e ach , a n d t his pla ce only 

covered t h e g r o und betwe e n the Congregationa l Church a nd Queen ' s Road 

on one s ide a nd t h e Rectory a l ong Gowe r (then New Ro ad) , t o where 

r'itzger a ld the b utcher n ow resides . How t h e people Iived may r easonably 

b e ask e d , but the y did live and were a f ine stalwa rt peopl e . 

The men from thos e loc alitie s were abou t the best a t e Leb e r t he s e a l 

or codf isher y . 'l'h ough there were no moder n convenienc e s , t hey were 

a heal thy , s t rong a nd active people a nd p ractical l y fre e f r o m dise a s e. 

There was n o sanitary system , t h e n, so t h e r e were some o u tbreaks of 

fevers . but no dipth e r i a, and excepting in 1 8 54 , wh e n the c holer a got 

in here , and wa s allowed bo t a ke a hold , no epidemic f e ve r caused 

much trouble . "1'h i s f reedom f rom disease must be wo nd e r e d at , when 

it is t old that t h e garbage a nd h ous e r e f u s e l a y i n piles i n b a ck yards 

or in the open spaces from Oc tober till ttay each y e a r. and i f t h e farmers

- 2 - 

and t h e r u nning s treams gave t he water supply. The Wes t End had 

car rol l 's Well, Apple-tre e Well, a n d t he n anking Ke t t le o r wi th 

Mu l l i n s I Ri v e r a n d li1\.terford River t o fall back on wh en the we l l r an 

d ry. The East End had Be l l Shute, Garret ts ' we Lj , Garri son Hi ll Wel l , 

Bragt s Well a n d Re nnie' s River t o d e pend on . Town lighting the r e wa s 

none. Police men t her were seven - a l l told . Water Street , or the 

l ower path.;. a s it wa s t hen calle d, wa s a lively place, a nd Spring a n d 

Fall, the amo u n t of trad e d one wa s e normous. But it wa s only at 

thos e times any bu siness wa s done . During the summe r mon t hs , somet i mes , 

as man y as fifty Spanish ve ssels woufd be in por t awaiti ng cargoes 

o f fi s h - and the dollars t o pay for it would b e brought in liheelbarrows 

to the Bank ,f6r s afe keeping. Th e r e were several vats , and s t eam 

and ma c h i ne ry do all in extrac t i ng the o i l and o ther p roducts o f the 

seal , with more a d v a ntag e ot t h e merchant a nd comfor t t o the people. 

The seal -sk i nners fifty y e ars ago we r e just as exper t as they a re n ow, 

b u t whether t hos e of tod ay will b e s uper seded b y the ing enuity of the 

machi nist has yet t o b e proven - a d e v i ce for skinning seals being now 

e rected o n one o f t he me rcan t i le p remises • 

. NOTE : On 12 uec ; , Marconi s uccessf u l l y acc omplished wirele s s t elegraphy 

bet ween Signal Hi l l and I reland , by get t i ng the dots and dashes 

1901 -

ALL S'l' . JOHN I S UNDEH AR BS 

THREE DAYS THAT TRIED HEN 1 S SOULS 

VOLVME 2 . £1 .27 {(j1) 

Let every man who 

scorns to live 

The slave of foreign foe, 

His musket when dawn doth break, 

And. up the hill-side go; 

Bold Richery, who I s 

May try t o enter soon, 

One boy and man are all 

off the coast, 

we can 

To guard each merchant I s room. 

September I S second s un arose 

And l o o k e d in o t e r- the town 

He saw the s ides of Signal Hi ll 

Te n t -dotted to the crown; 

Her guns and butteries bristling firece 

By tw ice two thousand manned , 

Whose l o o k s said "Veat.h we 'd rather get", 

'I'han 

let one Frenchman land. 

Septe~er the first 1796, was a day that tried men I s souls i n 

S t . John 's , when early in the morning, a signal was made from the Hil l 

that the f leet of Admiral Richery was seen to t he soutward uearing 

down on the port . The man on the Block House made out with his g lass 

sev e n sail of t h e line, two frigate and four other small vessels or 

war. 

The signal of a larm given atthe Hil l was tak.en up by a l l the 

Forts , and in a few minutes the while town was i n a state of commotion . 

An attack of the French on SL John I s had been expected all the summer 

a n d Gov. Wallace with the Royal newfoundland Regiment were not idle 

i n r egard to making preparations to resist the enemy. The barracks 

at Fort 'i'ow shend and Fort Hilliam were not l a r a g e 

enough to contain 

the large number of volunteers, so that early in June it was ordered 

t h at the g arrison s h o u l d yo under canvas for a few months while the

- 2 - 

Signal Hi l l c o mple t e d . A camp was a c c o r d i n g l y formed on the Parade 

Ground with a small park artil lery of which the t r o up s took possession 

abo u t t h e middle of June . 'I'h e i mpro v e d defences of the Narrows being 

f i n ished, experiments we r e trie d with h e ate d s hot b e f ore Governor 

h'al lace , which gave g reat sat isfact ion . A l ara g e platform of wo o d 

on vt.h e South Point, c alled the Duke o f York' s b attery, a n d on this 

were mo u nted e igh t 24 pound er g un s, f o ur 1 8 p ounder oarrona ders and 

two 10 i nch mo r tars. The work on the c on structio n of the Block Ho use 

was s o f o rwar d as t o admit o f s i x guns being moun ted _on t he second 

f loo r . 

Meantime 

during July a nd Au gust. t he Re giment d a ily p rac t i ced 

dri l l a nd g u nnery on the ner r ens , and b y t h e end of the s ummer had 

been brought up to the s tat us of a well-drille d and dis ciplined a rm y I 

corps . 'l'h e were a f ine set of men , particular ly t h e c o mpany of volunteer 

a r til ler y , who we r e selected f r o m t h e flower of t h e inhabitants 

o f S t . J o h nt s. As t o t h e r e st of t h e popul ation , t h ey ver e l oyal 

to a man and r e ady t o co-oper a te wi th the Governor and t he J:'\i l i tary 

in a ny helpful work t hat t h ey cou l d perform . Pla n s were s o well 

organ ized by the end o f August, a nd t h e p e ople, e s pecial l y the voluntee 

rs , were so enthusiastic that a wish s e emed to b e ins pired t hat 

s o me t h i n g might h a p pen to t e st t h e fidelity of the while, 5 0 that 

e a r l y o n t h e morning o f September the first, when t h e e nemy 1 5 fle et 

wa s sighted , t he hearts of a l l b ound e d wi th joyous a n t icipat ion . 

Gover n o r Wal lace at onc e p roc laimed ma r tial l a w and i ssued an order 

t hat all t h e me n in t h e t o wn f it f or service to muster in front of 

t he camp on the Ba rrens. Soon a mo t cly cro wd assemb led , including 

merchan ts , captains of v e s s els, a nd t h e crews , p lanters a nd fi shennen. 

S t . J o hn' s h a d never secn, a nd p rohabl y never wi l l s e c agai n , s u c h 

a day of e xci tement . The men we re q uickl y enrol led, and t old off to

- 3 - 

t he forts and batteries , and two officers were given i n s truc t i o n s 

tha t t h e y were not t o be dismissed til l the Governor I s p leasure .....a s 

known. 

Me antime the enemy 's s h i ps stood off a nd on ne a r Ca pe Spear a ll 

that d ay. Very few citiz ens s lep t that night. Th e camps a t the 

Ba r r e n s were s truck after s un-down , and carried t o Signal Hi l l d urin g 

the n ight . 'l'he fences of t h e gardens tha t barred the shortest a nd 

eas i e s t route from Maggot ty Cove Bridge to Signal Hi l l we r e o r de r e d 

to be t a ken d own, and t hey were never afterwards e rected , whic h gives 

u s the presen t r oute to t he Hill u p b y Li nd ber g's b rewer y . This wa s 

done Ln -.ox d e r t o render more e a s y the tran s p ort of guns a nd ammunition , 

s t o r e s and provisions , as we l l as the camp equipage . wnen t h e d a y 

dawne d t he t e nts were a l l pitched on t h e s ummi t o f the Hil l .. from 

t h e Duk e of York 's Ba t tery t o Coc uold' s head , and over the So u t h S i de 

and a t Fort Amhe rs t . 

A un i que device t o keep t h e enemy f rom e n t e r ing t h e h a r bor was 

not f orgotten , v i z- t he chain across t he Na rrows. As s oon as d a y brok e 

an d there was light enough t o work , the r aisin g o f t h e chain was 

begun . A gang o f seamen and fi s h e rmen was detai led for the j ob , a nd 

by f o u r O ' c l ock i n the a fternoon a l l wa s completed . Thre e sch o on e rs 

were placed i n the Na x xows , at equal d istance from each o ther , o p p osit e 

Ch ain Rock . Each one g rappled t h e chain with its anchor , whereupon 

t he great capstan , erected for the purpose o n t h e South Side of t h e 

Na r r ows to s top the e nemy . Heavi ng a l l t o gether the e y r ais e d it t o 

the s u rface of the water. 'l'he thre e schooners were l eft there , t o 

he doomed t o whatever would h a p pen . Otherwise the chain cou ld n o t 

be kept up and do effect ual work. They were fi l led with combustibles , 

and intended to he used a s fire-ships as soon as the enemy came in 

cont a c t with the chain. '1'he Governor 's flug ship and frigate - t h e

- 4 - 

only war ships in port - were p laced a t convenient distance f rom t he 

o bs t r u c t i o n in t h e mou th o f t h e harbor , t o g ive Admiral Ri chery ' 5 

vessels a warm r ece ptio n shou ld t h ey b reak through the defence o f t h e 

chain . At 5 pm the s ignal o n the Block House said; "The e nemy is 

com i ng in". 'l'h e n ews was quickly k nown a t a l l the Forts a nd Batterie s , 

and every man wa s ordered to stand in his plac e . The flag-ships s t o od 

i n closer o n her talk t han at any time , and c ame n e ar e nough to get 

a v iew wi t h t h e glass o f a l l the t hre e schooners b locking the Narr ows. 

Prob abl y t h e myster y o f tho s e ves s els h ad mos t to d o with Rich e r y 

maki n g his decisio n not to attempt t o come in. At any rate . s hor t l y 

be f o r e s unset , the whole f leet s t ood o ff to sea . Night p a s s ed witho 

u t any action l Four t h o u s and me n of the city s lep t , or tried to slee p, 

that night o n Sign a l Hill a nd the Forts, exp ecting to be called at 

a ny mome n t . Th e sen t i nel s a n d guards we re doubt ed, and n o precuation 

was omi t ted . Gov . wajLace s p e nt t h e night at Fort l'lilliam, and h ad 

mess e n g e r s c omi n g and going bet we en t h e For t and Signa l lIill e very 

hal f 

hour. 

Next morning , the 3r d, the wind h ad fre s tened from the 5 . S . W. 

and increas ed as the s u n rose. Th e e n emy f o rm e d a line off Cape Spe ar, 

a nd s t o o d in for the Narrows , when ever yb ody who s a w them believed 

that it wa s n ow beyond doubt their i n tent i on to e f fec t a l a nd i ng. 

'I'hey kept o n till their v a n ship wa s near the ext reme r ange of Fort 

Amhe r s t , b e aring N.E. Havi ng o pene d the I"arrows t o her gla s s e s, a n d 

got another good view o f t h e v e s s els obstructing t he passage , sud denly 

s he a nd a l l o f t h e m p u t a bout a nd passed o f f t o sea , and the next n ew s 

h e ard of t h e m, wa s tilt they h a d l and ed on the 7th , a t Day Du l ls , dro v e 

the inhavitants to the wo o d s , a nd burnt d own the s t ages , s t o res and 

f Lakes , a nd ma ny o f the d welling houses. 

St. J o hn' s never passed a more t rying period . Ex cept for the

- 5 - 

women and children , t h e t own wa s deserted , and onl y "an o l d man and 

a small boy " wa s allowed on each merchant I 5 wharf , vessel o r fishing 

room .

VO\..UME 2. '-n,/ 56) 

CHANT I ES OUR F ATHERS SUNG 

The coming of s teamships about 1 8 40 ; sounded the death knell 

of the sai lors I c han ty s o ng . Th e fi r st s tcumer tha t ever came thr o ugh 

the Na r rows was IIHS "Spitfire" on November 5t h , 184 0, which broug h t 

here from Ha lifax a detachment o fmen from t he Royal Veteran Companies. 

During her s tay of f ive days l arg e nu mbers of c i t izens g rat ified 

their curio s i t y b y g oing o n board a nd i n s pecting the v e ssel . She 

was lost i n 1 84 2, Oc tober 6th , o n a voyage from J a mi cia to De l ise . 

The second steamer t o appear i n newfoundland was theJ o h n ncndam , 

August 4th, 1 8 42. Tak. i ng o n board a party o f l a d i e s a nd gent lemen 

of t h e c i ty t h e captain had f ore most decked with a double set of 

flags fro m r a il to t o pma st a nd pro c e e d e d t o Conception and Trinity : 

Bays t o l et t he people see this new wonder of t h e sea. F rom Portu g al 

Cove she r a n across t o Brigus , t h e n c e to POr t -dc-Grave , Ca r b o n e ar, 

Harbor Gra c e , and through Baccal ieu Tickle on t o Trinity , wh e re she 

anchored a nd remained f or seve ral hours . 

'rhe fir s t Hoyal Mail s teame r emp loyed in the ser v ice betwe e n 

Ha l ifax and Hew foundland wa s the No r th 1\mer i can Capt . Ri char d f.1eaghe r . 

She a r r i ved i n S t . J ohn I s the first time, on April 2 2nd, 1 844, ma king 

the voyag e in sixt y hours . 

He anwhile, the world over, p a s s enger s teamers a nd freight steamers 

were incre a sin g y e ar b y y e ar, a n d t h e r o mance and ide alism of o c e angoing 

sai l i ng ve s s els, like the f a mous Black Bal l liners, were g r aduall 

y dimi nis h i ng, t o t h e deep r e gret a n d disgust of the old time 

sailors , wh o saw t h a t t h e ir r e i g n wo uld soon be o ver and their o c cup - 

ation , lik e Othello's , be gone inde e d . The days of r e e f ing t o p s ails 

in so many seconds and stripping h e r down t o a gantline we r e doomed 

to go n e ve r to return . Steam came in rapidly , replacing sai l i n 

the fifties and sixties . The sailors who sang chanties became f e we r,

- 2 - 

way as t o kill the mere thought of a s on g in the hearts of the 

c h an t y me n . 

In t h e sailing ve s s els the old custom was kept up in a defiant 

a n d half saddened manner, like the Lay of the Last 11instrel: There 

a note h f abandon a nd desparat ion r unning through every song , 

as much as to say: "if we are doomed to go we' l l die with flying 

c o l o r s " . 

Reviewing t h i s t ime one is surprised at t h e f act that every 

one of t h e favorit e chant i es reache cbur own Newfoundland sailors 

and fishermen as soon after they became popular amongst the English 

and American sailors . There were, we know, a g reat many Newfoundl 

anders i n t he American Navy and also in t h e wars of 1 81 2 a nd 1861 - 4 , 

Nany no doubt r eturned after the wars we r e over and were able t o 

pas s the chanties on to our seamen. Sometimes t h e wo r-da we r e a ltered 

o r corrupted to suit l o c al requirments, b ut the music n e v e r varied 

f r o m t h e original Parodies were also sometimes made o n popular chanties . 

Ou r Newfoundland sailors and fishermen amde as good u s e of t he 

Chan t i e s and found them as hel pful in their wo rk as ever did t he 

deep - s e a men wh o made voyages i n t h e East I n d i an, or crossed f rom 

the Mercey to the Hudson in the Black Ba l l 

liner or the " r.Lver po oj 

Pac k e t . Oh Lord , l e t her go" . The l a t t e r was one of the most popular 

songs i n the fifties. 'l'he Gloucester Ba nk fishermen stil l sing 

i t, and kipling has quoted it i n his "Ca p t a i n Courageous". When 

a boy I have heard it sung by a sea l i n g crew grtting an "Ic e - h u n t e r" 

und er way: 

"'I'here is a crack packet, a packet of f ame, 

She b elongs to Greenspond and t h e Al ma l s her name , 

Sh e i s bound to the Noc.r t d , where strong wind do b low, 

llound a wa y to the Funks in the Alma we ' ll go.

- 3 - 

Th e time f o r sailing i s now drawing n i gh,- 

Farewell t o t he maidens , we wis h em good bye, 

Farewell t o our g i rls we a l l l o ve so dear , 

Bound away in the Al ma to the Norr' d we ' l l steer . 

Now the dre a dn ought i s l e aving our old Newfound land , 

And neve r was ve s sel so ve ry well n amed; 

Her canva s a l l spre ad, but the wind i s t oo slow, 

Sh e l a Bi l ley 's crack packet , oh , Lord l et her g o . 

A f avorite c h anty for s l o w warping wa s "The Female Smugg ler ", 

an d it had great vogue i n the s ixt ies . w. B. \'1hall, a Br i tish master 

ma r i n e r , who colle cted most of t h e old Engl ish c h anti e s and p ub l ished 

them with t he music , a f ew yea rs ago , makes s pecial men tion o f thi s 

s o n g a s a favorite a mon g s t English sai l ors. He g i ves the words 

in the first verse the y wo u ld be pronounced by a n old-time sailor 

whe n s i ngi ng it. 'l'h e word s and music were t o o precio u s t o l et s l i p 

a wa y glib l y a nd easil y; t h e s inger wanted t o t a k e out of the song 

a l l that wa s i t it: 

.. 0 come , list a - wh i d l e and y ou aood n s h a l l he ar, 

By the r odling sea l i v e d a maiden fair- 

Her f a-ather fodlowed the s um-mugl i ng trad e 

Like a wa r dlike hero , 

Like a wardlik e her o t hat never wa s o ff-er- a i d ". 

In o rder t o get t he valu e o f t heis song one s hou ld h e ar the 

music a n d the n it would be u ndersto od how the s i nger rolled t h e 

preci o us word s a rouJad his mouth i n order to get the full p leasu r e 

o u t of t h e m. The t he me waa one that del igh ted the mi nd of a s ailor, 

v iz , a y o ung woma n i n seaman ' s d isguise t a k ing charge o f a s h ip with 

pist o l s and uaggers i n her bel t and going ~orth o ne the h i g h seas 

s mu g g l i ng and d efy ing a l l t h e ships , includ ing t h e p i rates , with

- 4 - 

whom she fought and seized their ship and cargo. '1'h e verse that 

desc r i be d t h e return of " Yo u n g Jane" and her to England was 

o ne t hat was dwelt up o n with particular zest by the singer . Here 

i t is : 

"Now t hey kil led t hos e pirates a nd t o o k t heir s t e re , 

And soon zet .ur-ned to old England I 5 shore, 

\Vith a keg o f brandy she marched a long 

Did t hi s female smuggler , 

Did this female smuggler t h a t never wa s afraid". 

The g reat favorite chanty for heaving u p the a nchor was Sally 

Brown . Capt . Marryatt, who made a voyage to Amer ica "i n a p acket 

ship i n t h e t hirtie s a lludes to t h i s song. It was sung a l lover 

the English s peaking world in t h e 

sixties, and our Newfoundland 

s eame n found the song very handy on Loard ship a nd a lso o n l a nd. 

As the Americans say , "there is not much i nit" , b ut t h o u g h t h e wo rds 

are few and t he sentiment vulgar , the old refrain h a s lightene d many 

l a bors. Here are the first and l a s t verses: 

"Oh , Sal ly Brown is a bright rnulatta , 

Way , aye, - rol l and go : 

She drinks rum and chews t o b a c c a, 

Bet your money on Sal ly n r o v n , 

"Oh I Sal ly live s on the o ld plantation , 

Heave - aye - r oll and go: 

A member of the wild goose nation , 

De t your money on Sal ly Drown " . 

Our Newfoundland fathers used this song to good effect when 

hauling the winter wood for the priest and the parson. Whe n half 

a dozen slides, l o a d e d with wood , r e ached t he outskirts of the 

vi l lage , a ll the wood wa s put on one large s Li.de , and some fifty 

men h euLcd it triumphantly to teh c l ergyman I s hous e by means of 

two r opes , one on each bow of the s lide . It was u sed with great

- 5 - 

s uccess in its e f fec t in lighte n i n g l a b or when t h e s tone was hau led 

for t h e d i fferen t cathedrals i n S t . John ' 5 . 

'l'h c s weetes t sailors I chanty of a l l , i s , I imagine , "Good-b ye 

Fare y o u well n • It was s u ng i n getting up t he anchor , and had i t s 

ori g i n back in t he days when the capstan wa s u s e d. when the windla s s 

came in i t wa s retained a nd t h e measu re a d apte d t o i t. 'I'here are 

ronny va r i ants of t he vers e s , b u t the music i s f i xed f orever. Lab - 

radar men and i c e -hu nters get t i ng out o f the harbor h ardly e ver 

"bore away" without delighting t he people o n s hore with the e n t i c ing 

and d r e amy mus d c o f t h i s song: 

"Our ship i n t he r i ver is r e a d y f o r sea, 

Good-bye , f are y ou well, 

Go od-by e , f a r e you we ll, 

Oh l Fo nd f are we ll , y o ung girl , to t h ee, 

Hurrah, my b oya , we ' rc outward b ound-. 

\l e 're o utwa r d bound f or Live r pool t own, 

Go od -bye, fare you well , 

Good- bye , fare you well , 

Full away j i b and make her spin r o un d 

Hurra h., my b o y s , we I r e outwa r d bound. 

Ano t h e r s we e t c h a nty tht i s a c lose riv a l t o t h e l a s t me n t i o ned 

for t h e first plac e in the r e p o r t o i r e of our Newf oun d land s e ame n 

was , "Bound f o r the Rio Gra n de" , There i s a sou t her n so f t ness and 

s u gg e s t i o n o f calm water a nd moo n l ight in t he l ilt o f it that the 

o t her does not possess . Bany of t h e wo r d s , however , a rc t o o ni l g ar 

f or pol i te cars . It wa a -va common t hing t o hear t his song s u ng by 

c r e ws get t ing u nd e r way a long the wa ter - f ront of St . J o hn ' s harbor 

forty years ago: 

Oh , say were y ou ever in Ri o Grande , 

Oil , you Rio: 

It ' s the r e t h a t t he rive r r oll s down golden strand , 

And we I r c hound for the Rio Grande..

- 6 - 

And 

Away you Rio, 

Oh , you Rio : 

Sing f a r e you we l l, 

By b o n nie brown girl 

We ' re b o u nd for t he Rio Grande. 

The verses we re a l tered and parodied t o s u i t t h e i d e a s of t h e 

sai l o r s of e a c h coun t r y , 50 that it i s hard t o say what we re t he 

origi nal o ne s . The New Engaild men mus t h ave the fourt h ve r s e that 

i s now in l'lhall' 5 co l 1~c t io n , v i z : 

We 'll s e l l our sal t cod f o r l a s sus and rum, 

Oh , you Hio : 

And get b a c k again e re 'l'h a nk s g i ving i s c o me , 

Fo r we ' r e bound for t he Rio Grande . 

The Newfoundland variant i n the second verse was u s e d genual l y 

in nonavista Bay i n t h e sixties , as fol lows: 

"Well c all at the Funks and fill her with eggs , 

Oh, you Rio : 

Then the skipper will b roach one of thos e l i t t l e k e gs, 

For we ' r e bond f o r the Rio Grande . 

Amongst t h e f i s h e r men , I t h i n k the f avorite a umme r- chan t y i n 

rowing i n b oat-s k i f f s a nd c o d - s e ine skiffs wa s "S ailing in t h e Lo w- 

lands " . Our people are a l wa ys att racted by a pathetic s tory and 

the sad d e ath of the cabin b o y wh o r iske d a l l t o p lease h is captain 

e n l i s t e d a lways the sympathy of t h e fi shermen. Bes id~s t h e a i r 

is soo t h i n g and p laintive and r e c o nc i l e s the s i nger t o his own l et, 

no ma t t e r h ow hard it may be . 'l'he c a p t ain promised h i s cabi n b o y 

that he would give him h i s daughter in marriage i f he would sing 

t .ne Sp a n i s h Galley as they sai led along t h e Low lands . 'I'he b o y t o o k 

an a n g u r i n h is mouth , swam t o t he S p a nish s h ip , bore d t wo hole s

- 7 - 

a nd s u nk her, but when he s wam back t h e c a ptain r e f u s e d t o t a k e him 

on boar d in order t o avoid fillfilling his pro mi s e, a n d the poor boy 

died as tihecmen finally t ook him into the l o n y b oat. It i s easy 

to im agi ne how t he s e n t imen t o f t his song appealed t o t he sail o rs 

and fishermen of the o l d days as they warped the ship along in the 

wake of an ice berg or went round with the c aptstan: 

"Oh, I h a ve a shi p of my own c ountery, 

She goe s b y the n ame of the Golden Vanit e e, 

I fear s he I 11 b e t a ke n by the Spanish gala-lee 

As s he s ails a long the Lowla n ds, low: 

Lowla nds, Lowlands . 

As she sai ls a long t he Lowla nds, l ow:" 

Th e c abin b o y swam to the lon g -bo ats s i de , 

Saying "me s s mates take me in f o r 1 1 m going with the tide; 

Th ey too k the p oor b oy in , a nd I twas on · the deck he died, 

As they sai led a long the Lowlands, low: 

Lowla nds, Lo Wlands, 

As they sai led a long the Lowla n ds, low:" 

Another o ld f a v o r ite u s ed as a hau l i ng song was "Ac r o s s the 

We ster n Oc ran " . It ....as c ompose d in t h e l ate f ortie s when ': t h e big 

wave of e migrat i o n followed .c h e f a mine in Ireland . It wa s a very 

taking air, and a l l kinds , of p arodie s were made to fit the music: 

"Oh, time s haxd and wa ge s l ow, 

Ame l i ar wh ar y ou b ound to- 

The Ro cky Houn tai ns i s my h o me , 

Ac r o a e the Western Ocean '", 

" To Liverp ool I 'll tak e my tri p 

AIllel iar whar you b ound to- 

I 'll join the Ya nk e e p acket s h ip , 

To cross the we s e e r n Ocean '", 

A parody ve r s e that wa s cur r ent amo ngs t t h e fishermen a nd s eamen 

of Bo navi s ta Ba y in the latc s i xtie s wa s :

- 8 - 

"Uncle liill Tiller died l a s t 

Fall, 

Yo u ng 

maiden whar you bound to- 

We jigger t h r e e days and never got one , 

Across the Western Ocean". 

And at the sealfishery a f ew years l a t e r , t his improvesat ion 

was f amilia r amongst t he men o f the Frozen Pa ns, t o t he tune "Ac r o s s 

the Western Ocean" : 

Oh, Billy Kane is t h e devil for fat, 

Hang on to ' er boys , hang on to' e r : 

And he ' ll strike the patch Lefore I its dark, 

liang on toler boys , hang on to'er:" 

Simply setting the verses of these old songs down here'an dead 

type can gaive t h e mader- no t r ue idea of t heir meri t , and seei ng , 

to h im , and un me an i ng jumble o f words, often wi t h no connection, ' 

he may wonder that such "nonsense" could be perpetuated and printed . 

If he had them sung once by a dozen of the chanty men in good humor 

on a ship getting under way , warping her out , there wo uld be no 

criticism. 

"Reuben Ranzo" used to heard along the water f ront of St . J o hn' s 

up to t e t ime "Ambro s e Shea 's gang went a wa y" . \V'hall says that the 

original Rnazo, whose right n a me was Lo rinzo was a Portugeese sailor 

from t h e Azores wh o served on board a Bedford whale r in t h e for ties . 

The song details the hard time tht Reuben had because he could 

not do his duty. The mate gave him nine and thirty lashes wh e n the 

captain intervened and- 

"'I'h e captain being a good man 

lIe t o o k. him to the cabin 

Ranzok. Loys , Ran zo I 

whe re he gave him wine and water 

Ruegc Kissed the captain ' sdaughter 

Ran:z:o , boys , Rnnzo ,

- 9 - 

L:ve rything we nt smooth a fter t hat . and nanao wa s t aught nav 

i gati on t o fit him for his s tation , and \0,'8 5 made c hief ma te o f the 

wh a ler . 

Th e war between United S t ates a n d n e x Lco in 1 8 47, when San ta 

Ann a wa s d efe a t ed by Ge nl. Tayllr of the U;..S . Ar my, g ave ris e to 

a very popul ar chanty song that r eached Newfou ndland , a nd wa s heard 

a l l o ver t h e I s l a n d in t he e a r l y f i fti e s . 

"Oh, Ge n e r a l Taylor gai ned the d ay , 

Hurrah , San t a Anna: 

He gai ned t he d ay a t Mont cra y 

All a rou nd the plains o f Hex i co" . 

"Mexico whe r e t ho gol d does g row , 

Hu r r ah, Santa Ann a : 

Ther e 's p lenty o f gol d , I am t old , 

Al l around the plai ns of t-texico" . 

This c h a n t y wa s a p r i me f avorit e wi th sea men sai l i n g out o f 

St . J o hn's i n t he s i x t ies , a nd t o hear a d o zen voice s blending in 

the r efr a in wa s a ple asure t aht d rew hundre d s to linger 6 n the 

wa ter f ron t t o l i sten. Certa inly t h e r i s justificntion for t h e o ld 

sail ors r eferrin g t o these t i me s as t he g ood o l d d a ys. All the 

romance and c h arm of the h ave been sw a llowe d u p i n t h e black 

smoke o f t h e f unne ls a nd t h e shrieking o f the s tea m wh i stle s. 

I s h a l l c o nclud e t he l i s t of t h e chanty songs , common t o Newfound 

land by raen t.LonLnq , "Dlow the Han Down" , J o hnny Ook er" , "B low 

Yo wi nds in t he morning", "The Greenl and \ihalc .. a n d "\iork i n g on 

the Ra i l way" . 

'l'h e Gre e n s pon d sealers h a d a fine c h a nty to t h e music o f " Ac r oss 

the He stern Oc ean , alre a dy me ntio ned . It wa s kn own as "h ang on t o 

he r , boys . h ang on t o her" , and wa s a g reilt we rpdn q a nd hoisting 

c hil n t y . I often h e a r d it i n t h e days when Capt . Ke a n ' s f athe r wa s 

b r Lnq Ln q Lo ud a i n t he o l d barque "ua r bara" every Spr i ng.

- 1 0 - 

Alas , t h e chanty song is heard no more a long the water front 

in S t . J ohn t 5 o r the outports , even in vessels that a re dependent 

a ltoget her on c anv as. The e u i.j. cn , silen t wa y in which t h e men go 

abou t t heir work i s depressi ng t o one .....ho r e me mbe r s t he c ustoms 

of the olden time s, when sai l o rs wo u l d b u rst i nto song when get t i ng 

un der way or hauling into the d ock as blithly a n d natural ly a s the 

bir d on the tre e . Th e time s chang e i s l a mente d b y Beat r i ce Ba r ry 

in the New York Time s a s follows : 

Where is the chanty man of yore? 

(He a ve h o , we 're outwa rd b ound c I 

Where i s the chanty man of yore , 

So vers e d in son gs of d e e p-s e a l ore ? 

His time i s s wift ly p a s sing; 

(Th e wild wind roard) 

'l'h e chanty ma n i s p a s sing - 

He 'll sing n o more . 

Now man t h e capstan , sai lors a l l : 

(He ave h o , we-rc outwa rd bou n d I } 

Now ma n t h e c a pstan , s ailors a l l , 

For one more song t o geth e r, 

(n o w h e a ve and h au Lf ) 

I n fair o r stormy we ather 

He ' l l h e e d our call. 

Oh , s i n g u s sai l o r s "Nobile Ba y " , 

(Heave h o , we 're o u t wa rd b ound t .} 

Oh, s i ng u s s a ilors, "Mobile Bay " , 

Or wh Lako y Johnny ( he av e aw ay) 

And Sa l l y Brown" i s p r etty . 

So s i ng , boys , s i ng : 

All h an d s a deep sea d i t ty : 

Now l et her ring . 

whc r c i s t h e chan t y ma n t oda y? 

(nu a v c ho , wc 're o u tward b oun d L) 

Where i s the ctran t .y men t oda y ? 

Oh , l et some merchan t Seaman say , .

- 11 - 

The while we s ing t o gether 

(No w a l l h a n d s xound l ) 

In f air or s tormy we ather, 

(we vr e o u t ward bou nd l I

OUR HEROES AND NOTl\DLE EVENTS AT THE SEALFISIlERY 

(H. F . Shortis - Hi sto r i o gra p he r) 

There h a v e been so many articles wr itten on t h e seal fi s h e r y 

that y ou ma y wonder what ne w s tory I have t o t ell , b ut d o not b e 

uneasy , there will b e no trouble t o f ill a very l arge volume with 

what man y have forg otten, nor ever he a r d tel l of . 

At this season of the year , whe n o u r hardy sealers start for 

the frozen pans , it starts ever yone thin king, a nd one good s tory 

b r i n g s half a dozen o t h e r s t o memory on this wonderf tilly absor b i ng 

a nd a d vent u rous ind u s t r y . 

'I'here h a v e been man y prized brought in b y o u r h axdy men besides 

loads of seals , and I am go ing t o t ell a bou t s ome n otable on e s. 

About t h e year 1 8 68, Capt. J oh n Kennealy of t he schooner , A. 

T . Stone , 5 7 tons, was o n his way from Ha r bor Grace to the Gulf of 

St . La wren ce , t o p r o s e c ute the v oy age here. Off Cape Race t h e crew 

s i g h t e d a vessel i n t h e i c e, d r i f ting a im lessl y abou t , and , up on 

invest igat i on , the y f o und s he wa s abandoned. She wa s a n Eng l ish 

s c ho on e r , of abou t 1 3 0 t o n s , c alle d the Ca rol i ne Brown . She wa s 

loaded with r aisins, and was bound froml1alaga ( Sp ain) to Ne w York. 

Ther wa s nothing wrong a bou t the vessel , b u t the c rew , f e aring she 

wou ld be dri ven o n t h e r ock s by the i c e, h a d abando ned her in a hu rry. 

Capt . Ke nneal l y at onc e pla c e d a p r ize c rew in possession , and sai led 

he r to Harbor Gr a ce. 

I wa s a boy a t t h e t ime, a nd you can r e adily i ma gine t h e e x c i tement 

in t h e old t o wn when t h e n e ws we n t roun ~ . There wa s n o scarcity 

o f z ads Ln s i n Conception Day f o r t he n e x t t wo years , a nd fig gy d u ff 

wass t h e roder of the: day , from t he h i gh e st to t he l owe st. I can 

well remember Alexander Cl ift , t he auctioneer , sel ling those raisins

- 2 - 

pound . As everyone knows, the Ha lugCl raisins are the finest q ueLd ty 

to be had anywhere, a nd the Nine Crown raisi ns were as l a r ge 

as 

figs . I t was a curious find to bring in a splendid ve s sel with a 

f u l l l o a d of raisins in this way, a nd , although it i s now nearly 

f i f t y years ago , it is well remembered, a n d Capt. Kenneally , the 

ma s t e r , is s t i l l in t h e land of t h e l i Vi ng, a t Carbonear. The 

s c hoone r Caroline Brown wa s p u rchased uy the old f irm of Puntan & 

I1jnn , a nd wa s afterwards on many voyages t o f oreign p orts u nd e r 

the c omma nd o f Capt. Valentine Wibber. 

On Harc h 10th , 1876 , t h e orig Be l le , Layto n , masc e r , sai led 

from Harbor Grace with a cargo of c od f i s h, bound t o Plymouth , England. 

She was caught i n the Arctic i c e in Conception Bay, and , after a 

h ard time , her crew abandoned her in a perilous position . The brig 

"Co n f e de r a t e , Capt . Thos Green , h ad s a i l e d for the sea l fishery 

a f ew days before , and came across t he derelict Be lle , and , with 

a prize crew, t h e y brought her to St . John's. It was a famous hau l 

for the crew o f 

the sealing vessel. 

I n Apri l , 1 87 2 , t he barq . I mpuls e was wre c k e d a t octre Pit 

Cove, on the North Shore of Co n c e p t i on Ba y . She h a d a very val uable 

cargo o f Dry Goods f r om Liverp ool. That luc kly o ld steamer , t h e 

commadore , in charge of Capt. Az. Munden , had arrived f rom t h e seal 

f ish e r y a day or so b e f o r e , and at once proceeded to the scene of 

the wreck , and secured salvage equal to another trip of s eaLs i n 

a couple of days . 

About eighty ye ars ago the brig Dlack Holl , in command of Capt. 

Wi l l i am Pearcey, of llri

- 3 - 

Capt . Pearcey. It is it s h a me t a h t there is no record of this in 

our histories , 

but some day the historians will come across the 

o c c u r r e n c e in the Admiralty Records. I can vouch for the following 

facts , which make interesting r eading about this notable event. 

Capt. Pearcey was a pompous old chap that always wore one of 

those old-fashioned t all hats , a lthough h e found great difficulty 

to writo even his own name . You may be sure the hat was greasy 

e n o u gh after being at the sealfishery . The name of "Admiral" Pearcy 

is still ","ell remembered in Brigus, and this is how 

he received the 

title . 

It is of war fahsion for every sailor t o touch his cap 

to the officer in charge every time he passes him , and a l l this 

large crew , i n c l u d i n g the Admiral himself , were continually touching 

their caps to Capt. Pearcey , so that his own crew at l a s t called 

him the "Admiral" , 

and the name stuck to him for ever afterwards. 

Another notable event was when Capt. Frank Taylor , of Carbonear , 

brought the brig Providence in with a l o ad of seals , after his 

celebrated voyage to Portugal i n 1 83 4 . He fitted out from Carbonear 

, in J a n uary , with guns , ammunition a nd a c rew o f twenty two me n, 

and sailed with a l o a d of codfish, for Lisbon, Port ugal . He was 

captured off Brest (France) by a French war-ship wh i c h mistook the 

Providence for a Barbary pirate that he was searching for at the 

time . 'l'he Frenchmen thought for certain that they had the pirate , 

when they got this vessel with an extra l a r g e crew of men , each 

of whom had guns and ammunition on his possession . The British Consul 

managed t o s e c u r e their release , and notwithstanding this delay, 

Capt. 'raylor sold his fish to advantage and returning to Newfoundland 

h e met the s eals at the Funks, and brought his vessel into St. John 's 

with over 50 00 pelts . It was such a notable occurrence that the

- 4 - 

conunercial Society presented Capt. 'l'aylor with a silk Union J a c k 

in conunemoration of the even t . 

'i'h e r e i s n o more celebrated f a mily c on n ecte d wi t h the seal 

f ish e r y tha n the Nundens o f Brigus . Capt. Wm . Munden can r ightl y 

b e c alle d t he p i o n e e r of t his industr y . He wa s bor n i n llr i g us i n 

1776 , just on e h undred a nd forty years a go. Brigus h a d a l ways b e en 

famous f or its sea l i ng captains , a nd t his was t he man who taught 

t he m all their busi ness . In his l .i.ttle vessel, the Actiave, h e 

brought in 7 5,000, making t wo t rip s a lmost every Sp r ing , and on 

one o ccasion he sai l e d r i ght rou nd t h e I sland in sear c h of t he seals . 

In 1 81 9 h e built the first hund r e d-ton v e s sel t hat ever p r osec u ted 

the seal f ishery, and wa s equa l l y fortunate i n h e r. Th e p ict ure o f 

this o l d vessel i s the most histo r i c r e c ord we have, and i s r e p r oduced 

from a n old o i l p a inting . 

Th e f a mous s o n ¢ of t his pione er wa s Capt. Azar iah Hunden . Ha ny 

the happy d ay I s pent with t h e old Vikin g in my you t h , when I was 

sen t t o Brigus t o r elive Hr. Gardine r, the t elegraph oper a t o r t here, 

during h i s h o lidays . 

I h ave writ t e n s o ma ny a r ticles abou t this f a mo u s old Ca p tai n 

and others , d uri ng t h e p ast foryt years , that I think it unne c e s s ary 

to d well at any g rea t l ength u po n ·- t h e m. 

It i s we ll known to t hose i n my time of life that the Irish 

people wh o to r e side in this c oun t ry, a lways c alculated t h e ir 

ages and n ota ble e vents fro m so many years before o r a f ter the 

g r e a t rebe l lion o f 17 9 8, so it wa s t hat our own p eople cuLcuLa t.ed 

and settled impor tant d ispu tes , as to dates , as r e f e r r i n g to t hem 

a s having occurred so many y e ar p revious o r SUbsequent t o o ne of 

our historic Springs . For ins t a n ce, have had many o f the s e 

Springs , h and e d down from generation t o generation . and they were

- 5 - 

quite fami l iar t o t he who le o f u s u n t i l t he past q Uil r t e r o f a ccntury. 

I sha l l the most i mpo r t a n t Spri ngs , such as t he Spring 

of t he Sheets (wh e n the ice wa s in l a r ge sheets ) , the Frosty Spring 

(when hundreds of men were frostbitten) the Spring of the Cats 

(when very small seals we re bro ug h t in) . t h e Spring of t h e Growlers 

(huge lump s o f ice float ing a bout) , the Sp r ing of the Cobblers 

(where several vessels we re l o s t i n tho s e islands) , t he Spri n g of 

the Wadh ams , t he Gre en Bay Spr i ng (when l a r ge q uan t i tie s o f seals 

we re t a k e n t h e r e), the Spr ing of the Flowers (ve s s e l ~ l o s t), t he 

Spri ng seals were t a ken i n Conc e ption Ba y , t h e i'lllit e , Ba y Sp r i ng 

(the sea ls went u p in t h e Ba y ) and several others . 'l'he thr e e o r 

four fi r st namedSpri ngs occu r red in t h e f o rti e s and fiftie s of the 

past c entur y , in t he days of the pioneers of St. J o h n t s such as 

Captains Ned PUrcel l , John Ba r ron , the Ryans , Du f f , Ha lone o f To rbay , 

Gosse , Keefe , Halleran , Hou l ihan , J o r d an Pike , Fe e han a nd many 

o thers . During the Frosty Spring thousands of o u r sealers we re 

terr ibly fro s t bitte n , and man y o f t h e m we re maimed for l i f e . Th e 

fac t i s, our fis h e rmen a l wa y s h ad a qood a nd substa nti al r e ason for 

g i v i ng t he name s t o the Sp r i n g , j ust t he same a s t h e y had in g iving 

t he f a mi liar n ame s t o the v arious harbo r s a l ong t he Labrador coas t , 

as we l l a s our own . If we look them up ther i s a f amiliar rin g abo ut 

t he whole o f the m. Fo r instance Dumpling , Sp l i t t i ng Knife (p r o b a b l y 

some f isherman l ost his kni f e t h e r e ) Pu nch Bowl , Fanny 's Harbor 

(the schooner Fanny was t h e first v e s s el fi s hed t here) , Cu t - t h roat , 

Sn ug Ha rbor, Tub Harbor , Griff in's Ha rbor and so on. I mention 

these facts t o show t hat o u r f La h e rmen n ame d t he Spring , as well 

as t h e h a r bo r s, after ZOI,lE! ir.tportant event , to perpet uate t h e memory 

o f t he occasion , a nd , as it often happencQ" a f ter the name of 

the skipper wh o firs t f ished in the Lo c a Ld t y , Thus we have Hi s c oc k ' s

- 6 - 

Island , Ba r t let t 's I sla nd, Corbet t 's Harbo r , e tc , and I trust that 

ou r Nomenclature Soci e ty wi ll , in t heir wi s d o m, l e a ve the m alone , 

and not change them to n ame s a f ter peo p le or towns that h ave no 

conn e c t i o n eithe r with our country or ou r peopl e. 

In the 011.1 d a ys n e arly e ver y person of standing or we alth h a d 

a p e c u n i a r y interest in the sealfishery. Ve s s els were own ed , or 

par t l y owned, a nd fitted out by coopers, t ailors , c arpenters , etc, 

a nd I know of on e c a se in which a medical practitioner wa s the 

owne r of a spl endid brigantine, nam ed the Suir, which pros ecuted 

the seal f ishery f or s e veral years and wa s invariably succe s sful. 

Th i s wa s the c e l e brated Doctor William Sti r l i ng of lIarbor Gra c e , 

grandfat her of Mr. W. R. S t i r l i ng o f H. H. Custo ms, St. J ohn 's. 

'I'his f a mous d isci p le of I:::s col apius had also a y a c h t , s ome wh a t 

sma l ler than the one at pre sent own ed by the famous hoat-builder , 

Mr . Bob Sex t o n , in wh i c h he used t o visit his patients in t he 

o u t l y ing s ettle racnts , and colle ct f i sh a nd o i l from them in payme n t 

for his ser v i ces d uring the yea r . 

Another f amous Cornraande r' a n d me r c han t wa s Capt. Richa r d Henne 

b u r y , of Barcnc d , afterwards , UayRoberts , who started a poor boy , 

was appointed to the command of the top s ail schooner, Throsher , by 

HCBride' s e mp loy in St . J ohn I S, a nd beca me a most fortunate seal 

k i l l e r . He s ubsequent l y purcha s e d a nd comma nd ed hi s own mag n i f i cen t 

b r i gs , the Estelle a nd Anas t a t ia , a nd was very fortunate. 1'n fact 

he had in his own e mploy at the time of his dea t h , b esides the above 

n amed brig s , the .urigantine s Brighton, Alice H , a nd several other 

bessels. Ue carried o n prob ably the most prosperous and extensi v c 

business on the La bra d or, a t Ind i a n Tickle , a nd b r ough t dow n his 

own bla c k s mi t h s , boat-build ers, e t.c , ,

- 7 - 

Of course t he r e are hundreds of o ther no t able even ts that I 

cou ld give in addition to t h e hu ndr e d s I h a v e a lready g iven during 

the past forty years, but it f ew. t a ke from undoub t edly t h e best 

ke pt kiary in Newfou nd land, will p r ove o f interest t o my r e a d e r s . 

Th e t otal n u mber o f seals c a pture d a nd b rough t i n fro m t h e 

y e ar 1 804 t o 1915, a period of III y e ars, i s 3 4 , 3 4 9 ,598 - (thirty 

f o u r mi l lions , thre e hundre d and f o rty nine t hous a nd . £ive hundredl 

an d ninety e ight ). This d oe s n o t i n c l ude t h e seals c apture d b y 

l ands men. I am s o r r y I c annot get a t the value o f this e no r mous 

n umb er o f seals , but-the-value -. of t his enormous number of-se als , 

b u t t h e v alue o f t h e seals f or 1 8 30 wa s $9 46 ,680 ; f or 1831; $ 1 , 269 , 600; 

for 1839 $ 157 , 7 40; from 1 88 5 t o 1 8 92 (eight years) $4 ,997 ,100; from 

1 9 00 to 19 15 , $7 ,1 79 ,281.95. 

Th e f ollowing i s the catch o f seals for St . J ohn's for 30 y e ars: 

Avera g e per y e ar 

1 85 6 t o 1 8 6 0 1 , 51 5,770 303,154 

1 8 61 t o 1 8 6 5 680,984 137 ,996 

~8 6 6 to 1 870 9 81,79 5 1 9 6,359 

1 871 co 1 87 5 1,286,4 99 257,29 6 

1876 t o 1 880 1 ,341 ,810 28 6,3 2 2 

1 8 81 t o 1 8 8 5 1 ,106, 88 9 221,376 

TOTAL CATCH FOR 30 YEARS ••• • •••• 6, 9 2 2,547 

In the year 1 8 31 the r e were 1 6 5 0 seals brought into Plac entia, 

and in 1 8 34 a t $ 1 ,068 ,000. 

Th e year 1 833 wa s note d f or the l o s s of the s c hoone r Union, 

Capt . John De laney, with a picked crew of t ....ent y e ight men f r om 

Trin i t y . She wa s bui l t by o l d Char les Ne whook, o f New Harbor, Tr i n t y 

Day, f or J oh n D. Ga r land , merchant . The vessel c a p a e Lacd while 

undfer full sail. 'i'hc schooners Active and Avo n t o ok some of her

- 8 - 

seals , and t owe d her for tw o d ays, but had t o l e t her go . 

'l'HE TOT AL CA'l'CH FOR 'l'UIS SPRING WAS 651,370 seals . 

YEAR 1834 ~ TONS HEN 

St. .Jo hn' s .. ........ .... 12 5 ....... 11 , 0 20 2 ,9 10 

Concept i o n Day ........ 2 1 8 1 7 ,78 5 4 , 8 94 

'l'rin ,i t y ............. .. 19 1, 5 39 41 8 

Greenspon d ............ -..!2- ......... ~ ~ 

~ 3 1 ,31 6 8 , 486 

Stateme nt of the n i mber of seals brought i n by Capt . J o h n 

BAr t let t o f n rigus, f r om 1 8 39 t o 1 8 62, i n the s ailing v e s s e l s 14ary 

and Se l i na f or 2 3 y e ars: Total numbe r o f sea l s 69 ,521 ; v a lue 

$151 , 422 .58; we ight 28 ,841 ciot , 3 pts , 2 1 Lb s , 

18 46: The Sp ring of t he Great Fire. The first arrival was o n 

Apri l 18th t he Uash, Capt. J o hn Barron , ST . J ohn ' s, with 9 ,646 

prime young harps . St . J oh n' s outfit was 1 41 vessels , 4 ,476 men . 

'l'otal catch 265,961 . 

1 85 8: Capt . Tercnce Ha l leran sailed Ba rch Ls t; , in t h e Ar uth u r Le a r y 

and wa s first vessel o u t . An enormous l o a d o d! wood wa s hauled f o r 

the Ue rcy Conve nt o n t h e abo ve d ate . 1\ vessel cal l ed the Gre a t 

Wes tcr n , b uilt b y Micha e l Ke a rney , between Rogerson ' s a nd J . & W. 

Stewar t I s wa s l a un c h"e d t o d a y . I may h ere men t i o n t h a t 1 8 57 showed 

a l arg e incre a s e i n the sai l i ng fleet , n umberi ng n e arly 400 v e s s els, 

from 80 to 200 t o n s , with c rews n umberi ng 14 , 000 men c ' That y e ar 

the vessels b r o ug h t i n about 500 ,000 seals , wo r t h nearly a mi l l ion 

a nd three-quarter dol lars . 

For many years our l i t e r a r y men have done t h e i r utmost t o c o lle ct 

a n d p u b lish, for f uture reference, a l l matters of interst connected 

wi t h o u r g reat industyr - the sealfishc ry - but , of course , ma ny 

po r t LcuLa r -s were n o t avai lab le , as no care wa s t a k e n to p r e s erve

- 9 - 

the records. This is to be regretted e s the deeds of daring , 

heroism and adventure of our pioneers , if r e c o r d ed, wo uld r e a d 

like a r o manc e, and would be o f t he greatest possible i nterest 

to future generations. I f it were not for those writers , the 

p l uck , perseverance , hardihood and capability of our forebears 

would b e c o me a myth , like t h e a r g osie s in search of t h e Golden 

Fleece , o r t he r oma n t i c exper iences o f t he people of tho s e l and s 

of whic h Home r sung and Vi r g i l pour e d f orth h is meLod Loua s t rai ns. 

But f ortunately, we h a ve i n St. J ohn' s t oday a gentle man who i s 

in possession of t h e most volumino us , interesting, rel iable and 5 

scholar ly r e c o r d s of t his great i ndus t r y f or the past one hundre d 

years and over - records t hat a re invaluable for fut ure r efe r e nce. 

I r e f e r to Mr . J ame s L . Noonen , the genial secretary of our Reget ta 

Commi t t e e f o r so many years . I may say that i t i s t o h im that I 

am indebted f or some of the i terns i n t h i s a r ticle , for which I 

sincerel y than k him.

in this fishery venture. besides the large outlay necessary for the 

~V)~~ ~ f::-Iv...- · 1~3 q 1i.'::~c':, J I's-t ._~ -> , 

'f-fi'-l}~L '0 ~& fJAVLU!~ QA..('JU.:...

- 2 - 

local popu La t.Lon , 

On a n a verage year these l arg e bankers will secure a bou t one 

thousand q uintals eac h , the smal l c raft wi ll Secu re an ywhere f rom 

one hu ndred and fifty t o 

f i ve hundred quintals each, so that about 

one hundre d a nd f i fty t h o u s a n d q u int als to secured here every year. 

Va l u ing t he codfish a t seven dol lars (the minimum price paid fo r 

codfish), we see comsiclerably o v e r one million dol lars wo r th of 

codfish i s d r-awn from the sea i n t h i s l o c ali ty d u rng t he firs t t hre e 

mon ths of the year . When we r e c k o n the by-products , such as refined 

cod- l iver o i l and oil , t o ge t he r \-lith the ha libut caught at 

this t.Iroe , we safely p u t t h e value at one and one-half mi l l ion 

dollars . 

'1'his codfish is not a l l landed here , as a lmost a l l o f the s e 

schooners a re owned a long t he numerous ports o n our Souther n Coast, 

p r incipal l y a t Burin , Grand Ba nk and Delloram , and t his i s t h e 

f leet t h a t .. c a r r i e s on t h e fi s h e r y on t h e Grand Banks d uri ng the 

summer . So s uccess f u l h a v e the s e f i s h e rm en been i n r e c ent years 

that they h ave p urchased the very f i nest o f the Nova Scotian and 

Gloucester f leet , a nd , I say , without a n y f e a r of s uccess f u l cont 

t radietio n , that the r e i s not a f leet o f f ishing s c hooners equal 

t o the m on thi s s ide of the At lant i c . 

Several o f t he s e schooners a re p ropel led by gasol i ne moters , 

and many more a re l i kely t o f ollo w this example i n t he near f uture. 

Qui te a n u mbe r a re fitted with gasol ine motor power f or h o i sting 

anchors and sai ls. Nany of the small decked schooners , of t en to 

fifteen tons each, arc a lso f i ttin g up with motor auxi l iaries that 

are capable of driving them five miles an hour in calm weather . 

'1'his fleet of vessels need over t.wen tiy -ef Lve hundred men . 

\'/h a t 

s t r u c k me particularly was the youthful appearance of these men,

- 3 - 

the majority o f them were n ot o ver e igh t een t o tw enty-five ye ars 

of age . 

On e o f t h e great s igh ts at Rose Blanche , wh i ch is the principal 

har bor o f s hel ter f or t he se schooners , is o n a r r ival of the mai l 

boat fro m the East Co ast . 'l'h e wh a rve s in the vicinity of the Post 

Off i ce a r e crowd e d with dureys, a nd a l l the fis he rmen rush for 

their l etters , to get the latest new s from home . 

One evening , just at nightfal l , the s teame r Pros per a a r r i ve d 

with a l o t of freight for these b ankers. She anchored right off 

the h arbor , a s there were so many ve s s els it wa s out of the question, 

f o r Ca pt. Joe Ke a n to a t tempt to ge t i n , although we did see him 

work mi racles a t time s. Se ver a l of the s c hoone r captai ns got together 

, a nd , by an i n ge n i ous c ontriva n c e o f p a s s ing a line to the 

s tern of o ne v e s sel and t o t h e bow of a not her , they soon made a l a -e 

for t he Prospera, and , with t h e a id of h e r sear chl ight, s he s teamed 

s t raight u p t o t h e wharf , abou t Iaidnight , without t he l e ast h a rm 

t o any of tho s e vessels s wi ngi ng a t their a nchors . 

'l'h e fish a re a l l c aught with trawls , that i s , line s with from 

two to .four thous a nd h o o k s o n e a c h . These trawls are set from d oreys , 

rowed probably o n e mile on each s i de o f the schooner , as s he s a i ls 

a IJou t o n the fishing g rou nd s . Th e l arg est schoo ners car r y abo u t 

ten d orcys e ach , a nd the smal ler s kiffs o ne o r two. Th e risks that 

these fi s h e rmen run a rc t o o n umerous t o men t ion , but what the y a l l 

d read i s a sud den snow squal l when t hey a re busy set ting o r o verhau 

l ing t heir trawls . The heavy seas rise i n a f e w minu tes ; perhaps 

t h e dorey i s nearly l o a d e d wi th f i sh, and t h e owners wi l l hang on 

to i t t ill t h e l a s t moment; , l Th e captain of t h e s c h o o ner h a s h i s 

dorcys a mi l e o r more from him , and he c anno t sacrifice any of h i s 

men , and this i s the great abso r b i ng agitation of h i n mind . They

- 4 - 

\/111 give up fishinp; as 800n as t he veat.her- beccee s t hr-eat enf ng , I t may be only 

II s now flurry or a sho ver- of rain: but if t ha t dr-eaded snov f 811 ctoould come, it 

eeane t':" l os s of m81 .. Not all the riv alry of being "hie;b-liners" wl11 In fluence 

t he ca pt.adns , 

as they all feel deep down in their bear-ts that no boa st can equa l 

the captain ....ho says : eI never l os t 1iI man in 811 my years of f i shing" .. I t is in 

t his connection that I think scnet.hfng must b e done by our Government.. 

When t he ap pear- a settled, t he se sc boners r emain out over night, and it is not 

unc ommon t o see t he m r -emsfn out t wo or three nights . "Jhen the fish are em the 

Grounds, ev ery hau l of t he trilvla means money f or them , I t 1s c ons t ant work, and 

they 'Jill r e main out till they ore exhe uat.ed from Labor- and want 

of s l eep. 

Between Rose 

B I anc he and Chanil e l , i nclusive , t here are about six fa irly good 

harbors, 

but there are dange r-ous shoa l s off ev eryone of them , Rod it i s a vc rk of 

i r t \.lith the most skilful captain to know whi ch harbor he will run to in a sudden 

eaer-gen cy, 

There ahcu t d be a thorough up-to-date sj-etea of light house s , \lith pr -oper- and true 

l eading light s , a l so f or g- hor ns and a l ar m be Lks , t o sbov t he mariner t he cor r e ct passa 

ge i nto ea ch of t.be se ha rbors . At the present tilDe t her e ar e sever al light s , but, 

when our Legds 'la tors t hi nk of the short days and l ong nights ~ t t hi s seaso n , they 

shou ld not hesitat e f or one moment to Increa se the l1r,hthollse s ten fo l d . 

The n , a gain, the Government pr otective steamer "F i ona " or , 

per haps a more suitable 

eteamer-, should be employed in t hi s l ocalit y during t he f ishing se ason, t o r en der help 

or e sa f et.ance t o any fi sherme n i n distress _ You do not need t o be l ong on t he coa st 

or 

talking for ;lny length of time t o any of t he thoughtful men, vbo knov t he dange r-a 

end r ecogn1?e their in:abil1ty to aeet, a sudden ce Lf for help, 

to see that the fe ar 

of sene such ca la:aity i s continually on thei r radnd s , Whe n the weather threatens, tho 

ve s sel must run f or oae Co r these port!', at &11 hazards , She ca nnot dr i ve off to sea , 

f or she voukd get ~ ui c k ly i nto the Gulf Lce , \.lith vhfch she i s not fit to ccnt.end ,

- 5 - 

Wh en ve co ns ider the va lue of t his fishery to the c oun t r y , end its increasing 

and thriving possibilities, no one can obj e ct to anything that c ould be done t o mak e 

their c...,ling s a f e r than it ha s be en 1n the pa s t . 

During my r e cent visit to Ros e B I anc he , I sa w one of tpa mos t ins piring sights 

of about fifty of t .he se Lar -ge bankers, and lllany smal l one s, rushing f or shelter 

into th~ t harbor. It was a feir wind f or many, and they came along with ead.Le all 

se t , but , as they came to the ehoa Ls , and into the cro....ded harbor, where many had 

eIr-ea dy found anchor , it sho....ed the skill of t he se 

capt.adns to an e xtraordinary 

extent . We ce r-e all vatching one of the l argest of t he fle e l (the Susan Inkpen) , 

8S she c ame into por t . 

\Jhe r e \lould sh e f inc. an chor-a ge or fet through the fleet in 

the nar-row harbo:-? The capt ain sh o·..red the instinet of NeLeon vhen the surprised 

t he en emy f leet and von the battle of Aboukir Bay , Nelson sa ld : "Wher e a vessel 

Cion evf ng ilt an chor- there i s room for me to pRSS r ound", and th..t Is j ust vruot the 

Sus ..n inkpen did t o - ez-f 'ect don , 

I had a chance to meet s ome of the "hi~h liners" of our NevfoundIe nd f l eet, and 

III ace s ome csreful en -u dr-de e ho... it va 5 t hat so ma vere s o mueh more successful than 

other s . There are some places vher-e you ca n occasionally ge t a big haul of fish , 

but they tell me the "high liners" never mak e for these places . They are sat-, 

i sfied t o t a ke the r egul ar run of fish, and it 1s by the greatest vigilance , and 

constantly p6ckinp( up the small hau l s , that make t hem the morrt successful a t t he 

end of the se ason . 

I he ar-d of nev ve s se l s nov being built to eclipse 8nything heard of. 

One of these 

to cost ab ou t 'tv e Ive t housand dol l ars, \lill be bunched nex t month , and christened 

the Edi t h Cave-I I . 

Nov, I do not ...·ant to veer-y my r-eeder-a \lith eoee other interesting et.or-I ea that 

I beard , but I \not to s_y Ii fev verde ebcu t. the fi shin r~ gr-ounds , I had bee n vcr-klng 

vith fi shermen :1n this vicinity Fer- many yp.8r s , but I f ound nct.u a I f'act.s on the cpot, 

ve r-y diff prent f ran i den R th ~l t I hud f or med, and po!':si bly 1t may be t he nemv lJith s ome

- 6 - 

of my r eade r-e, I have a habit of lif;kinp, que nt dons , and i t is a vender- what sati 

sfactory an s .....ers end good r-ea sons y ou occe sf ona H y get . 

One of :I!Y most persistent que nt.f ons va e s "where do these fish come from? 1I1lo\l 

here Ls the be st so lution I r e ceived . 

To und e r stand this you must knew tha t codfish never live under t he i ce . 'i'hey r -e-, 

Fuse t o go under the Lce , and , i f they ar-e c aught in any corner by t he i ce, they 

ge t out of 'tba t co r ne r &.5 qu i ckly a s possible . A body of icc \.lill act j ust as a 

re nee does to cat t l e. 

These codfish ar-e i n dee p vat er , a nd c one r i ght up to the Bank t hat 

i s f onned at 

t he s hor e . t.t Cherc-e L this b ank that is f orme d at t he sho re. At Eherme L this bank 

exte nd s three :Diles f T OOl the shore : i t gradually vicens out t i l l it 1s about 20 

mile s f rom the shore a t Rose Blanche , and sixty mi les from the sh ore at Rose Blanche , 

and sixt y mi.Le s from t he sh ore p,t Bur-ge s , and extends r i ght a I o- g t he c oa st, t ill it 

meet s the St , Pe'tcr- t s B ank . "be depth of ve'tc r- on the bank ever -age s abou t one hun - 

dred t oone hundred end t.ve nt .y fatho-:il.s , erY six to seven hund red f e et . \r.'hen i t gets 

to t l-c edge of 

the bank , it goes dee? very quickly , an d at the n

- ., - 

Off th e Co po Bre t on c oa s t, you \li ll often ge t had doc k during vfnt.er-, ,jOlll~ti mes 

duri ng the susme r- haddock lind ling are t o be 

sec ur-ed on t he South Coast of Nevf cun d-, 

l and , but during the vfnter- fi ~hery at Ohe nne L and Rose B'Ianc he there I s not.hing 

but pur-e codfish to be had , J..bout the end of March , when t he ice moves out of the 

Gul f , or easterly vfnda dr-Ive annual :nigre.t1on and the bcnker-e roj.Io v thea, In 

8 da y or two ,yOU hear- of good fishing at Codroy, the next day at St ~ George's, an d 

1n a few days they ar e t o be found at Bonn e Bcy , wher-e the bunkers often ma ke good 

hauls . 

This TWl of fish c ontdnues u o to the St rt. i ts of Belle i s l e and the bankers 

ro 11o Ol it . The station fi she r men at Bonne Exper-ence and Br ad ore ar e waiting for 

thee, and they tell :ne vhen the fish a r i ve there , you can count to t he day when 

they wi l l appea r a t, Sablan a nd Red Bay . The fi shermen d onot believe that this run 

of fi sh goe s pa st, C3 ~e Charlen and Battl e Har -bor on the Labr-ador- coast , but they 

r emain t he re till t he cold we at her sets i n . Then whe n t he ice f or ms , they r eturn 

Sout h via St r aits of Be Ll.e Ls Le end out of t he Gul f into the deep vat.er- off Rose 

B'la n che and Channl e . It i s e n exceedfng'ly theory, and co uld n o doubt be co nfirmed 

by fi sh erm en a t Ca s -e and othe r places i n t he Gulf of St . Lawrence . 

The r e i s another thing \Jel l vo r-t.h not i n g , and ex p'la f ns the r e a son why one schoo ne r 

can be su ccessful , and another, vi t hin a mile of her, ge t nothing . The codfish 

do not move in a so lid body like an army . .Lhey mf gr-ete .1us t like waves, and these 

waves , ar -ev-subdfve d into scbo o.Ls, Lhe f'Ls ber men will tell you lithe fi sh Ar e in 

s pots " , end he nce t he fishe ee n ' s l uck to meet vf th those echooke , 

In 'JI'iting thi s er ticle t here i s one con clusion t hat COIf:e 9 horae t o De very strong , 

and t.bat, is : there should be st.r-f ngerrt r e tul at.Lons on t l1is fi s hery ground at Ho se 

B'Ianche an d Channel during the three months of its c per-ctdon , Practically 'n i ne - 

tenths of this fi sh 1s ceu gb t, three nd Ies t o t\lenty mi l e s wide . This 1s a very 

small s pace for 300 or mor e ve sseLs t o be f1!:h ~n g . Every ba nke r will tel l yo u t hat 

on the Or-end Bankn , whi ch extend for hundr e d s of mi.Les , tha t a fi ~h 1 n ;; ve s ee l, cannot 

r -em.d n for mor e t h"n a day or two ~ t tho se e e sco t., 9~ t ho gur -ry from tho f i sh c aught 

destroys a l l cha nce of Ret ting EOoC hau I a ; I t i s a gr-ea t. cO::l.j11a i n t amongst t he

_ 3 _ 

sma'Ll, skiff ovners that the l ar ge banker-a cutcb the most of their fish at the edge of 

the bank, and then split and clean it on the inside gr oun ds . I t m::,y be a diffi cult 

matter t o make l aws for outside the three-mile l.imit, but for the good of all coocorned 

there should be rules and r eg u.Iatdons governing the fishery at this most 

dmpor -t.arrt centre, and if the suggest ion that I hove often heard about the nec essity 

of 

the S . S . "Fiona" be ing t her e to assist any fishermen in distress vas curried out, 

the same steamer couId e a sily see that the r ules for fishing and 

protection of the 

ge ner a l 

gr-ounds was pr oper ly enforced • 

1t a ppear-s to me that careful investigation vauld pr ove t ha t 

the fishing banks 

off ChanneI and Rose Blanche must. have very producti ve feeding gr oun ds for the codfish. 

The se fe eding grounds a ppea r in spots, just a s they do for Cattl e on the land . This 

must 

b e the reason why the fish congregate in such cu an t.Lt de s in this locality, and 

not on the same banks t i any Lar-ge extent II f ew mi l es to the ea st, off Lapcd Ie a nd 

Bur-ge o , 

A codfish will eat almo st anythi ng , and 

is very partial to crabs, hoes eggs, mussels 

end such like she l l fish, but the great sour ce of food i s ene monea or sea-f'Iovers that 

~r ow like kelp at the bottom of the sea . The fishermen ' s name for t his f avorite food 

fo r the co dfish i s " che r -r-y Bait ", " Sea Apples" en d " Fee Retsil etc . I don't kno .... t he 

scie nt i fic name for"Cherry Bait ll , 

but wherever yiy find it in any qua nt.Lt.y you will 

find tho thick, pl ump fi sh of the best qu s n.Ht.y, "Ober-ry Bait" is very much l i ke a 

lem on in sire and colour and sba-e , with a red top to it. I t gr-ows attached to the 

bottom as sa mussel dOOR, but when detac hed see ms to be abl e to make a perceptible 

movement . 

My reason for mentioning these feeding gr ounds of t he codfdeh is to sbov the necest-ity 

of nreee rvd ng su ch sp ot-s .rr-on of'f'a L an d enrr y thr-ovn 

overboard by tb ought.Ies a 

benke r-s , t hat, putrify the grounds an d \Jill qui ckl y de stroy these ps st.ur-es of t he 

codfish for years t o c ome .

,J 

- 9 - 

One of the greatest pr obl ems i n Nevfoundkand is 8 sup ply of bs d t , and t hi s winter 

fir,hery is ·...holly dependent on a regular an d sufficient SUP:1ly J as n o thin~ can be 

done vft bout, it. I t Le something that I cannot. under-atend \lhy our I'Lshe rtaen are so 

f'hor t - s i ghted in no c o- coe r -aling 1n every 'Jay wi th any CCY.D ' anI or firm that thries to 

help them in this great essentdaL to their gr-eat, success . The fishermen Iook on 

bait S::l eoaetbdng t lml t hey g' t f or n ot h i ng , and wi l lspend i dle days, find perhaps 

weeks, ve Lt dn g for herri ng or sq ! d to c on t o htem r a t her t han put one dollar l nt o 

cold s torage pInnt., vher-e they could be certain of g&ttin.g a supply of t he cho icest 

end be s t bait at sbo r -tnotdce , just when the run of fi sh ....a s most plentifu l . I n Rose 

Blanche some of 

our fi sh e r men are at last waking u p t o t he r eal value of cold stor a ge 

for bait . I sa .... several shrewd contrivances, n ot ably that of Luke Chafe for keepdng 

fresh herring at t his season, but t-:essrs H arvey and Co , have one of t he finest 

up -to-date st.o r-age plants that 1 hove ever seen , They have E. supply of squid ba dt, 

there vhi ch aopear-s just as good 5S it vas when put in eighteen months ago . SOO6 

thing shcuId be done educate our fishermen on this aost, i mpor t an t policy, t o be dp 

t.hea t o be l? themselves . 

The cold st.o rage equdpraent.s are essential and &. move in the r i ght df rectdon , The 

time i s f ast cooing whe n smhl l u p- t.c-dete baLt. steamers 'ofith moder n f aoilities for 

preservdng fre sh bait wi l l be ne eded. They are operating no w in Nor way vith gr-eat. 

success by mutu al corapanfea of f i shing fir ms, asufsted by the Government . Sonet .hdng 

of this kind is ne ede d for t.hf e Loca Lf t .y in vxnter, and also f or Labrador- during t he 

Fall months; 

It. splendid source of balt that can be had at all seasons i n hewf oundland"i s mussels , 

and ve never hear of them be ing used . I n Conn e Igre Bay t her e are ausseI a vor-th 

t hou sand s of dolLrs -. hund reds of t.housunde _ to our bankers , if they only knev 1t. 

As 1 passed In a small boat orf Rose Blanche ve sa .... a great flir;h t of ducks on the 

va ter- near a smal l LaIend or sker-ry, about tl mile or 50 f'r-on us . 'r:e had a gun a bocr-d, 

but the t.Lme wa f; not opportune , and I sd esed the chance of a good nho t , 1 heard &f ter_ 

ver-da t ho t thi~ sker -r-y Wlj ~ ca lled Duck Ls I and an d ....as It I'avor dt e .p j.e ce for ducks ,

- 10 - 

whore they dr-Ive to the bottom a nd bring up raua se La , Ho .... t ho ducks ope n these munee.Ia 

I do not jnov , but they have their own vay , lind do it effectually. 

It Inay be that 

they car-r-y them high in the air an d dr-op them down on a r oc k and break them e I have 

r ead of others bir ds adoption this course . Here 15 a mussel ba nk r i ght to hand at 

Rose blanche that night 

be utilized to great, ad vantage by any f i sh erman u sing a 

long r ake . 

N 0 .... for a r ev cor-d s on the :narket i ng of codfish . The Opor to mar ke t ha s a lwa ys 

been the gr e at centr e for i l , and there ha s e Lvay a been a gr-ea t, rivalry a s to vhdcb 

of the competing firms will ge t the first cargo across . 

About s i x years ag o vhen the United St.at e s Government abolished the duly on 

sa lted codfish in bulk enter i ng t he Unite d States, t her e vc s a great r ush by the 

Gloucester mer chan t s to bu,y a l l the early fi sh they could ge t ay Channel and Ros e 

Blanche . It l ooked for 8 time a s if t his vhofe ropply vcuk d find a market there 

f or the raanuf'a cb ur-e of bone I e ss fi sh ( coo ) . 

I gi ve t he fo1~?vin g Cus t om House ret urns for Expor t s I'r-om Rose Blanche and 

Channel . 

Sa l t Bul k codfish shipped t o Gloucester en d ? ortland ; - 1911 , 8 car-goee j 

1912, 7 car-goe s j 1913, 9 car-goe s j 1911" 3 car-goe s j 1915 , 2 car' goes , 

This ye ar ( 1916) , there 1 s only one ve s sel l oading at Channel 

for Gloucester 

market , so that ....e can r e cogmee at once th'lt the United States cannot pau the price 

i n c orapet dtion ...,1th Opor to. 

This is a n int eresti ng fsct to bear in mind, vben ve se e the Gl ouc e ster pa pers 

say tha. t i t i s ab out til:le f or the Nevf' ound I and Government to "loo se n up" on ..t he bait 

que stion . It appears t o us tha t the bait bus i ness 1s C!'J1ndling f a st, lind t he fi sh 

packe r-s t here have ruined their t rade by the exo rbitant pr ices charged to t he 

consumer s , 

Sev e r-aL e nt.erpr-Lsdng bus i no s s men i n Channe l end Rose Blanche , su ch as J . W. 

t.etltin G , Wrn . 11 or-vood , Luke Chafe and ot hers ex -cr-t, all t he ea I mon and halibut they

_ 11 _ 

can Get In a I'r-e cb state , c.:orefully packed in ice or sncv , The r-e hev e been many 

attempts to market codfish in the sa me 'Jay , an d vhf Ie I be lieve the day will c cee 

when a c onsiderable Guantity of t his vf nter- fish viII find a mar ke t in R fre sh atate , 

st i l l it I s not by any means a paying bu sine s s yet. Neft ber- hav e we found the right 

vay to preserve our cod fish \lith its natural flav or, 

stil l , vhfLe U:e present pr i ces 

of ac Lt e d codfish c on t inue, ve have no r -ea son vhat.ever to feel downhearted . 

I 

have tried to confine myself as much as possibl e t o the codfishery, but there 

is much to say about other t hings at Rose Blanche , such as the granite quar r i e s , 

gol dmine , di amond hil l , fo x r-anche , codliver all f a ctorie s , a nd La ot , but not l ea st, 

our geni a l host Dr . t·le ek ~ , who wi t h his cha r mi ng wife mak e s every t r ilvel l er happy as 

the dily is l on g , and very often many hours during the eve nfng , 

In br inging this er-t.Lc'le to it close, l e t me say that vhen I s tood on the vht.te 

rock s of P..ose Blanche and vd eved th&.t m3gnlficen t f leet of ve ssels , and then mixed 

\li t h t he har-dy se dIcr- a vho pr-osecu t ed t he fishery i n zero vent.her- during r!rl.d- ....i nter , 

the like of which is not to be found in this hemisphe r e , 

I felt proud t o be il Ile\l_ 

foundl ander_ ¥.en vhc heve the gr i t for su ch bua dneas will find no obstacle that 

ca nn ot be surmounted in the future , and the d ay i s c oodng ....hen Newfoundl and \lill 

doub l e an d t reble its output of fi sh to su pply a hun gry wor ld wi th one of the most 

tempt i ng foods t hat Pr-ov f dence bas bestowed on hum

BIST01IC .;L RCNlJ.Cr.: 

VOL.U M E 2 

• F . Shortis - H Ls t.or fogr-e pher- ] 

I came u pon the f ollo'Wing 

manufic r ipt , which I sha ll nov pub lish f or the benef i t of my counta-ymen , How i t ca me 

i nt o ::tlY pcasesarcn I have not t he r emotest Id ea , but the interesting and pa t he t i c 

scenes r e cor de d in t he document, l ead me to believe that 

the circumstances described 

had taken place i n Por-tuge I Cove , nine miles f rom St. J ohn' s, I t i s many l ong years 

ago, probably ninety, ttwt this i nter e s t ing story V.l S written, and i t gives a faithful 

portr a i t ure of the UevI'cund.Land vilbge in t he l ong, l ong ag o . Very C13.ny cbangea 

h..vc teken p'Iece s i nce t he n , vhe n N evf'oundIand vas almost looked u pon as a terra 

i nc ogni t a , and varr utilized as a Ia ndd n g place for the adventures and expatriated 

individuals vho C3l:1e within the iron grasp of t he 1&\1, ...hen many of them had t.oeee k 

safety i n flieh t for political or other ndsd emeanc r s , I t may be that my venerable 

friend , Canon Sli1i.th, can man age to pr -ocur-e sene pArticulars of the events recorded 

beLo-... from the records of the Church i n Por -tuge I Cove . I t is t o be regretted that 

the name s of t he pa r t i es of this interesting r-omance of our early days are not given , 

but, it :::Oiy be , t lUt 8 traditional account of t he circumstances i s preserved enoag st, 

the o.Ider- por tion of the pcpu 'la t.Lon vof t~t thriving and a nc i e nt little vil l age . 

I t vo l d not be easy to give R correct idea of 3 Newfound land fishing vill age 

1n t.ho se early day s of or history. Vi lbge t the wor-d ca lls u p v i sion s of qui et h,.'1r.1- 

l et s eabosoa ed 1n trees. \Ie see co ttage s , each \lith its little garden, f rom which 

float s u pwards e scent of ....a Ll.-f'Lover-s and st oc ks . The v ce en are vorkinf{ at their 

cpe ndoor-e , the children are rollin]: on t he gr ee n , or es dHng their boats i n the w1110wshade 

d pond , or s".Iing inl:: in the ol d el:n near t he church . The church i h elf is halfh 

ic (~ e n by t.vo or t hre e da rk ye ....-f.ree s , that throw their deep sh ad ov a over t he da i oi ed 

gr-aves ab out t.hem, an d t.ber-e i s a wind ing ve I k t ha t Ie ads to the very gete of the pretty 

pe e aona ge , The ol d manor house 1s ne ar, vttb ito noisy r ookery a nd its rich voods, fro;"! 

whor-e shad e s r Iov for th ,,'II day 51 st .rea m of merry song, Don n f"r ltw: yare yot stat-

_ 2 _ 

Fa r ot he r 1 s the sce ne presented by a so-cal led villa ge on the coast, of Ne .... 

f oundl:md . A f ew 10",,/ wooden houses, per-ched he r e and there, among r oc ks, \lit h a 

ru de plOth o ~ c camumcatdon bet ....ee n t hem: a smal l plain church, als o of vcod j and 

fl: buildi ng , generally of more pr e t ens i on , surmounted by R Cross, tho Homan Catholic 

Chape l - such are i t s component par-t.s , No flo....ers , no gardens , save he r e a nd ther e 

a pa t .ch of potatoe s ;: no par-sonage , for t he clergy:nan c one s frOOI a df.st.ance t o pe r 

r om divine servdce on a Sund ay . 

Tier a bove tier along t he coa st , su pported by fir poles fixed 1n the rock, are 

sba ge s on which the sa lted fi sh i s spr-ead to cry . The pe opl e talk -of n othing but 

sea Le and codfish , of ahuling and jigging . Al l this 1 s cheerful, but there 1s a 

sadne s s induced by t he 

sil ence of l'Q.ture in the sc enery of Newf'cund'Land that none 

t~ t have not felt i t can under-et.and , You m3y pau se again and ag a d.n, Q.S you wander 

aco ng the stun t ed v ocd and str ain your ear t o hear the vo ice of a bi r d , the hu m of 

an insect , inv aln .. Al l is lonely lind de ao ka t e j y ourse l f the only living br-ea thfng 

cre a'tur e as f ar as the sight can r-oach, Here and a str eam bo'.:ndi ng along its a long 

its r ocky" bed , or a et.r-ay ouaaL, vft.h its Door chirping , ms.y s t r i ve t o break t he 

me1&n choly aoe Ll , 

It \las on a varm and sunny day in sumne r- t .hat. I first visited t.he vl11a 'p;e about 

nine miles f'r-on "'hat ve s then my- home in Ne....f o..ndk an d , St .. Johh ' s , The r oad ( almost 

the only one the I sland co u'ld then boast) after skirting the shores of a fine lake , 

ente r ed a picturisque valley, 

the hills on either side r -fs dn g in rich and varied 

und u kat don e , clothed \lith dar-k - green f o118ge of 10\1 fir t r ee s , v ar-fed occasionally 

b- the \lhi te bkosscas of vfId oear- and cherry , or the young- l e ave s of birch and 

ba Lsa e -pop'lar , Here en d there a hu ~e mas s of rock shoved itself above the tree~ ; 

in one pl ace At one vas helmed on stone a s if by the hand of mlln, and in the crevices, 

sbrubu , reos ne s ...nd vd Id [Lover-s had found root sod vere han ging l1)tegarhnds round 

.Ii p,ig antic t.oa b , As ve neared the pJa ce of o-u- de stina t i on t he va lley vfden cd; t.bo 

one r-ange of hill~ et.r-ct.chmg on to the d ght,; thP other- t r '.m

- 3 - 

whouc r o c ky and p recipitous coas t; wc xc green u Lopes , to whic h a t.n Ln 

haze l ent un won t .ed b e aut.y , s t retched across the quiet waee rs • and 

far aw ay were t .he blue hills of the o pposite horn of the Lay . Dy 

t he road s Lde , a s rca d L s t team fro m one o f the h i lls danced a long 

i ts way , broken Ly many f alls, and tU mblin g head long a t last o v e r 

a t all r ock i n t o the ee a , There were fishing boet.s moving i n the 

Lay , and the littl e p acket Loat; v a s waiting , with l o o s e ne d s a i l s , 

for a p aaeenqer , I SUPFose . 

\1e spent 501.le tin~e in exploring o n foot eorae of the r-aqqed 

paths ma de Ly tile wat.c r-e c o u r uc s of Spring o n t:1C h i l l-sides , finding 

here a nd there p e t.ch e a of grass , and s cuet.Ln.e s even clover , and 

cet .ctrLn q , as t h e ros e ltiSlle:r , g l im pses o f s c e nery t h at a wa kened o ur 

admi r a c Lon , At l cngtit we amde our \o:ay t o t he v.LlLnq c and vinite d 

the Chuxc.i , - It ves a s t r e n qc fee l ing t h a t I h eard t h e fani l i a r 

wo rds of Ho ly Uri t s t.ann .e xe d for b y t h e children of that wild p La c e , 

He obtiai .ne d a h o l y day f or t h e poor little cre ature s , and mov e d 

on t o wa r ds t.h e c hurch . It a 10\0/, wo oden Luilding , a u i s p rop - 

o r t ionat e l y s mall t.o we z' il t t :1C end , 'l'iw Lu r:tillg g r oun d a bo u t; it 

\H1S on t h e 5 1 0 r-'c of a hill , 50 r o c ky and bare ti.l

- 4 - 

She wa s a mcmber of a most r e s p e c t a ble fami ly in t h e l'le st of 

England , and had ma r ried with t h e consent of h e r relat ions . Soon 

after he ma r r iage her iiuuband p roposed to vis it Amc r Lca , wher-c he 

VIas supposed t o pos sess con a i. d c r eb Le p r o p e r t .y• Full o f 110 sh e 

a c c o rap anLe d him, l e aving her horae am:' a l l t.h o Lonq-et.r-Led l ov e that 

b Lc s acd ther.. , to Eo Ll .cw .i tm wi.th a l l a woman ' 5 fo a r-Le s s trust . He 

gave s o me p l ausiLle r e a s o n f o r cal ling a t Newfo undLand on h i s WilY 

to t o the Contin ent o f Ame.ri.c a , a nd she arr ived here weer'y and ill 

a fter a t e ctio u s vo y a q e i n a smal l sai l ing v e s s el. Professing 

anxiety a bou t hcr h e a 1 t.h I ant:. a s s u r-Ln q her i l H u S a l. c o Lu t.e Ly neco s s a ry 

for the good of h Ls estates t.he t; he ahouLd pzocucd on his way immediately, 

he left her in lodgings and sailed for America. A few 

days afterwards messengers from England landed in St. John I s 

in search 

of the Frigitive husband, who was no more than a common swindler. 

Although deserted in a strange land, in which she was a stranger, 

yet, the poor young wife was not long friendless. Some benevolent 

persons offer her an asylum, and with them she found a home for some 

months. There was something inexpressibly touching ~n the gentle, 

uncomplaining patience with which, as I have been told, she bore 

the grief that had made her life dark to her. She never mentioned 

him who had so heartlessly deceived and deserted her. Surely she 

had loved him well to leave the country and kindred to follow him, 

and surely the grief that had the sharpest sting wa s :the knowledge 

of his unworthiness: Her trust was broken forever; and, as none 

could know the depth and sacredness of the love she once felt, so 

none could have part of the bitterness of her disappointment and 

sorrow. 

But, though her lips were silent, her pale cheek and failing 

frame bore witness to the ' t r o ub l e that was slowly comsuming her life.

- 5 - 

No word e ver c a me f r o m him , whom , perhaps , e ven yet , s he r e g r e t t e d . 

She did not say s he expected t o h ear, a nd yet s urel y her woman' s 

hear t must h a ve clu ng t o some f a i nt ho pe, that, a f ter a l l , he might 

not be as t h e y said, and that he would come or send , not leave her 

u t ter l y d e s olate t o d ie amongst s t rangers : Bu t time passed o n and 

b roug h t no change s a ve that s he grew weaker , and when, at l ast, the 

l on g winter was over I and t he s t r eams b urst gaily fro m their icy 

bonds , t he sorrowful s t ranger passed f rom ear th for e ver . 

Th e r emembranc e of a l l this cross ed m~ mind a s I s t oo d beside 

t he g rave , a nd trie d to t ear away the coar s e gra s s t .he t; had f orc e d 

i ts way bet ween the r aili ngs, h a l f hiding t he s tone s lab. She , 

who had been the d a rling o f a h a p py home, who h ad be en for a while 

a h a p p y wife - she, whose hear t sor row had broken yet, not e mbi t ter e d 

she, t he grateful , patient, sorrowfu l woman, l ay t he r e at my f eet: 

Of a l l t o who m she had be e n mos t dear , not one had s oothe d her hours 

of s o r row, not one h ad held her dying h e ad, not on e h ad look ed upon 

her g r a ve , and I, a very s t r ange s tood there alone, with t e ars in 

roy eyes and s ympathy in my he art, f o r g r ief had passed by f orever. 

In the me antime my c o mpani ons h ad l eft me , and , s udd e n l y waking 

from my med i tat ions , I hurried a f ter them to a ssma l l cottag e~ which 

we entered. Th ere was but one person the re , a very aged man, leaning 

o ver t he e xpiring embers of a wood fire. Th e wide chimney wa s the 

only passa ge through which the light e n t e r e d , but it was a matter of 

little c ons e que nc e to him, for he h a d long b een totally blind. He 

wa s ninety s i x ye a r s old, a nd had l e ft his native . Devo nshi r e at 

the age o f five an d tw e nty, a nd had lived for seventy years in the 

villa g e in whi c h we f ou nd him - no t in the same hous e, f or he must, 

I should think , have ou tlived many s uch fra il habi tations . The

- 6 - 

s cho o l ma s ter , who h ad acco mpanied us, lifted the old man' s r ed c ap 

an d his long flowing snowy hair fell ov er his s ho u l ders . One of 

o u r party wa s a little child, f air and gay, the petted darling of 

us all; and there wa s something very affecting in the contrast 

bet we e n the glow and beauty of her young life and the help~essness 

and poverty of that old man's age . Poor old man : My heart a ched 

for him, and the me r r y child grew silent and grave, and crept closer 

to her mother. 

But a slow step drew near, and an old woman e ncer ed the cottage, 

l aden with sticks. She took little notice of us, b u t mad e her way 

to the chimney corner, and, laying her hand on the old man I s knee, 

bent over the fire a nd heaped the sticks until there wa s a cheerful 

blaze. 1 The schoolmaster told us she was the old man' s wife, younger 

than himself by tw e n ty yea r s. The o l d man s aid; he was very old; 

he did not often hear anything of them.· Poor old man: 

We turned away, and the door closed upon t he poor old couple. 

Th e s unsh i ne could not enter their window-less dwelling; poverty 

and age were their daily companions, and yet there was something 

beautiful and s oothing in the r emembrance of t hat weak woman still 

fUlfilling her labor of love. All that was not dark in that hovel, 

for kindness an d affection had lived through time and change; and 

I thimked h eaven that such things could be. 

I remember little else of our e x c u r s i o n . There was a scrambling 

walk among the rocks, not the les s agreeable for being almost dangerous. 

Then we made a hasty sketch of one of the little cC?ves with which 

the shore s of the b ay a bo u nd , a nd then we all returned to the inn 

a nd made r e a dy f or our homeward drive. lingering yet again to gaze 

on the spar k l i ng waters - the only life -like thing in the landscape.

- 7 - 

About a ye ar l ater my f a the r agai n visi t ed t he old man I h a ve 

men tioned. The l o ng winter h ad trie d him severel y , and the h a nd 

o f d e ath wa s upon him. lIis mind t o o, s hared the general decay , r 

and he wandered i n his spee ch. In a f e w weeks the o ld fis he rman 

was carried to his gr ave. The l ife of nearly a c e ntury was o ver, 

l eaving no trace, save , perhaps, something of r egret in the he art 

of the old wife, who must s o on have followed him to the land of forgetfulnes 

s .. 

What a contrast today t o t he time of which I write ; I n the 

outports of Newfoundland t oday ther i s no such a misf o r t une a s pove 

r t y . Full and plenty reign every where. Steam and r ailway commu 

n i cat i o n i s kept going in all dire ctions .. New towns and great 

e nterpr ises h a ve been opened up, even in the very he art of our c ountry, 

a s witness Gr an d Falls and o t her g reat cent res. So ....ne thous ands of 

our people receive remunerative employme n t at Bell I sland. Even 

Labr ador i s within hourly touch o f ST. Joh n I s by the ble s sings of 

t he Marconi syste m, and two s teamers a re plying c ontinuou sly along 

that coast during the fishi ng season. And yet we are not u p t o 

the p r o g ressi v e i d e as and p rophet i c u t teranc es of that great prelate, 

Rt. Rev. Dr. Hullock•. He foretold about Bell Island, as well a s 

r ailway c o nvnunication and t ele g r aph c onnection bet ween Newfoundland 

and Ireland . Not alone are we buil ding up ours elve s, but we a re 

building up t he Empir e . Newfoundland can c ompare f avorably ~ith a n y 

othe r portion of the Empire in the number of her s ons , proportionately, 

who have e n l isted in t he Army and Navy, a nd went to the f iring line 

i n d e f e nc e of Ki ng and Co un t r y. Alre a dy her son s have prove d themsel 

ves hero e s. a nd ere l o ng many more will r ece ive due r e co gnition 

f o r their heroism a nd p a t r i o t ism from the hands of our beloved So vereign I 

as h ave a l ready Capt . J ame s Don ne l ly . Creen a nd ma ny o t hers . AT

- 8 - 

last Newfoundland is fully recognized by the people of the whole 

world, and this may be attributed, to a very great extent, to the 

daring, heroism and patriotism of her sons. As it was in the American 

Civil War, where danger was, there was to be found a Newfoundlander. 

And so it is today during the greatest war in history.

PIONEER PASSENGER " FREIG HT DOAT 

EVOLUTION OF THE COASTAL SERVICE 

(H. F. Shortis - Historiographer) 

Some time ag o , b y t he merest acc i den t , I came across an advert 

iseme n t publ ished in S t . J ohn's, on April 14th, 1 80 8, (one hundr e d 

and twelve years a g o ) a nd it is so unique t h a t I now give i t t o my 

reade r s for their benefit, or r ather their a musemen t . Here it i s: 

PACKET BOAT 

FOR flARBOR GRACE, CARBONEAR OR ANY OF THE OUT HARBORS 

Th e s ubsc r iber r e s pectfUlly informs the public t h at h e has 

provided a New Sk iff that rows s ix o a r s for the pu r pos e o f c onve ying 

passengers, etc , to any of the outharbors . 

Persons d e siring o f obtaining q uick pa s s a g e thithen may be 

a c c ommod a ted a t short notice by applyi ng to 

Apr i l 14th, 18 08 . 

Mi c hael Doo ly 

Resident o f Portugal Co ve. 

I am somewhat puz zled aa . t o how I shal l t ry and unravel the 

above advertise ment. In the first place it says that t he b oat wa s 

rowed by s i x oars , but not a werd is said abou t her carrying a ny 

canvas, s ay, -f o r e s a i l , ma i nsa i l and tw o jibs. Then agai n Mr . De e ly 

guar a ntees quick p a s s a g e s e t c, but h ow t hat c an pan out I fai l to 

see , al.though' i n New Skif f was proved with six oars. It may be that 

the oars we r e only u s e d whe n he a d winds were encountered, or the 

blue wate r s r i p ple d only slightly by the mor ning b reeze , whic h c aught 

t he s un ligh t and sparkled over t he wi d e e xpanse , o r , i n a dead calm; 

but, my word for i t , I have seen man y anti many a day when the Ne w 

Sk i f f d a r e d not show her prow between the Point of Feather a nd the 

I sland, much l e s s make every port o f c all between Portugal Cove n 

a nd the Ou t Harbors . The advertisement does not specify whe r e t he 

Tr-onser, pt.00... f....". ...... -+he.. fO r..a..-s of ij . F. Sh~....t , s .. VOL. 2. ~ 472 " (&''l), 

In the Pro\, i .....e'OlI An=...t-.,vl!:'S" s.t ·:::roh ..... ·S.

- 2 - 

l imit to the OUt Harbors , as now performed by t he s teamships Pr o s pe r s 

an d Portia, as well as several o ther steamers , a nd did Mr . Doo ley 

and his s i x s tal war ts o n their oars guarantee t o l a nd them i n any 

por tion o f t he I sla n d with his f a mous racer the New Skiff . 

EARLY CONCEPTION BAY SERVI CE 

Howe ver, I h ave a very hazy r ecollection of having hear d the 

old folks tell a bo u t Mr. Dooley h aving s o met h i n g to do with conveying 

freight and pass engers between S t . J ohn' s viz Portugal Cove a nd ports 

in Conception Ba y . I s ho u l d im agine t ht the New Skif f would not 

be patronized to a ny great extent, more e specially by pas s engers 

in the mouth of April a n d the Fall of the year, a n d a ny of the m who 

risked the run must o f ten h ave had wet j ackets. I h a ve no ide a o f 

what became of t h e New Sk i f f and Mr . Doo ley's s i x Mer ry men; but I 

wa s acquainted with his daughte r, who, for many years , wa s i n c harge 

o f Toussaints Hotel a t Ha rbor Grace . As far a s I c an Le a rn Mr . Doo ley 

and his New Sk i f f wer, a t least, official l y , the pion eers of t his 

branch of industry and e nterpri s e, a t 

l e ast, in Conc e ption Ba y, and 

I do not suppos e h e wa s subsidized by a Government grant. 

Thus it will be seen that fro m a s mal l beginning, viz, the guarantee 

of Mr . Dooley, of Portugal Cove , to provide s u i tab le acconunod a t i on 

a nd q ui c k p a s s age for passengers a nd freigh t , the Ne w Sk i f f b eing 

profetted by s ix oars , we h ave t o d a y , owing to t h e progr essive pol i c y 

of the great Liberal Chieftain, S i r w. V. Whiteway, a lmost daily 

cOJIlJlun i c a t i o n t hro ug h out the I s l and .

CIIAMPION SEAL- SKINNER 

I/OLUHE. '2 . ' P i 

Reference wa s mad e in the city papers r ecently in r ecording 

the death of a well-known seal-skinner (John Caul) that the d e c e ased 

h acld the record f or the best d ays work at the busine s s . We (Hr . 

Gr ace Stan dard) are not in a position t o decide the question of 

c h amp i on Seal-skinner , b u t Hr. J a mes Griffin of this town will 

doubtless prove h i s c laim t o the title . nr. Griffin about the Spring 

of 1 870, commencing a t 9 O'clock , skinned 36 seals at Me s s r s. J o h n 

Munn &. Co I 5 p remises ; l eft there, prepared his table , etc , a t Mr. 

Donnel l y 's , and at one O' c lock had 500 skinned f o r the four hours 

work. A c ouple of years previous to 1870 , his total for five week's 

work was 16, 000 seals, making $400 for his Spring ls work . These 

a r e the facts concerning Mr . Griffin' s record , and while he is a 

l i ttl e proud of his power and skill in using the skinner's knife , 

he is not by any means boasting of it or seeking to belittle the 

performance of a n y b rother -skinner. 

~ Jx;:- rf--~i H 

~c....J2 ~J

ARE TilE SEALS DECREASING? 

Th e fo l lowing l etter, f rom Capt. Fran k Ash o f Tri n i t y , one of 

our mos t experienced and s uccessful seal -kil lers and master mariners 

will be r e ad wit h intere st. Capt. Ash wa s master o f the S . S. Lion 

and other s teame r s, a s well as s ailing ve ssels , to the seal-fishery . 

His opinion given 48 ye ars a g o should s et us thi nking a bo u t o u r 

g rea t industy: 

Gr e e nock Aug . 9th, 1872 . 

Ou r fi rm g o t a new s teamer b uilding a t Ayr , 1 34 f t l ong, 14 f t 

deep , 25 f t. Beam. She ' l l b e ne arly as l a r ge as t he Lion, bu t t he 

fastest boat in Ne wfoundland . She i s for the No rthern mails , an d 

Di amond will h ave her, and for t he ice Ba i ne J o h nston' s "Bloodhound " 

wa s launched a few days ago, 166 f t . l ong, 18 ft. hold, 2 9 ft. be am, 

6 6 0 tons, 120 house p ower. J ob' s house got one l aid on the b locks , 

l arg e r s t i l l , to be r e ady f o r ne x t Sp r i ng , a nd Munn' s house got 

a l arge one built i n Abe r deen . " I wonder wha t do the merchants 

thi nks - it's a l l seals on t he c oast? Some o f t hem o f them will 

suffer befo r e this d ay f ive years , or I am not r i ght, "T hat fou r 

built on thi s s i de o f the water to go and l o ok for seals , a nd I 

expec t there will be a f ew more o n the western side. 

~'-'--~~ JL +~~ 1 

;tt:;- ~ e..-.J.- c:0~?

OUR . BEST BOWER 

- 1916 - 

Some men s eek diamond in the Rand, 

And s t ake their allan Affric clay; 

While other pant for Youken dust, 

~I I 

I 

Where men I 5 white bone s h a ve p i ned a wa y . 

For me, to s t a nd 

betwixt both climes, 

on; Terra Nova's rock-ribbed s h o r e ; 

It is enough to launch my barque, 

And 

mine where forebears mined before. 

So free of body; fre e of soul; 

A cringing s l a ve to no man I 5 nod, 

To work a mine that never £a115- 

My country's pride - the lordly cod. 

In the above verse of thepoet, the while philosophy a nd e con omy 

of our country crystalized. Industries may come, and "i n d u s t r i e s 

may go, but the ccdfishery g o e s on fore ver. There i s a d anger that 

too many people in Newfoundland may los e sight of this f act. When 

there are nomen in this Colony to c atch fish, the people will not 

subsist many years on all the o t h e r industrie s put together. The 

while commercial fabric is kept up by the fishery i s not a platitude , 

but a cold hard fact that defie s d e n ial. Every intelligent mind, 

then, amongst us that has since e nou gh to be cognizant of this f act, 

is on the wtch a t this time of the y e ar f or every bre ath of wind 

and change of weather that may favor the chanc e s of a good codfLs hery, 

We are no longer concerned with waht i s going o n at Bell Island, 

a t Gr and Falls , in t h e pit-prop a reas , a nd the saw mills . These 

industrie s are mere s ide line s f o r the Colony, and will t ake c a re 

of themselves. In a hundred yearstime , o r may b e les s, s ome ant i - 

q uar i a n , s tan d i ng o n their ruins, may b e ab le to writ e a history

- 2 - 

about them, and t ell of -the great a c t i v i t y 

that flourished there 

in the first half of the 20th century. But no man will get a cha n ce 

to write of a defunct codfishery in Newfoundland, as long a s the 

ways of Nature are as they are, and while grass i s green and wtee 

runs into the sea. While the firm land remains, and the ocean wa shi n g 

the rocks retains its savor, the codfish will be there to feet the 

people who live on the earth. 

There will be bad fisheries, but the 

codfish will be there a l l the same. It is only when there are no 

fishermen to catch it will there be no codfish for the people to 

eat. "'bat the wheat fields are to Canada, the codfishery will a l wa y s 

be to Newfoundland. Agriculture amongst us, when developed to its 

utmost, will, no doubt, ~e a great help, but it can never take the 

place of the codfishery as a commercial factor in the maintenance 

of the Colony. 

The Moral to be derived from this consideration is that we, 

a s a people, should focus our attention more keenly on the codfishery, 

and leave nothing undone in the way of creating public s e nt i men t 

that would lead to greater encouragement and fostering of the industry. 

The duty in particular devolves up on are public men to look into 

the future more interestedly, and a d o pt any means that may suggest 

themselves as a help to increasing the c atch of fish, as well as the 

number of men, boats, and schooners engaged in its prosecution. The 

f i r s t duty that is apparent to even a casual observer is to preserve 

the limited quantity of green timber that is left in the Bays. The 

fires have done much to destroy our forests since the railway was 

b ui l t , but the pit-pro p s cutting of the past two y ears has done more, 

bec a us e by it the timber that was most available to the people near 

t he s e a - c oas t has been doubly destroyed. Not only was what has been 

t ake n away for pit-props removed forever, but thousands of small of

- 3 - 

growing trees that would eventually have made good timber h ave been 

cut "out of t he way · t o get a t t he l ara gcr s ticks suitabl e for Pitprops 

. This is t he t i mber that, u nder c onservative conditions . wou l d 

be the natural herita g e of the ne xt ge neration f or the u• e i n the 

f isher ies for room s t u f f , longers, flake s-be a ms, oar-pie a c e s , as 

well as firewood, not to s peak of material for the building o f b oats 

a nd houses • . A problem not l ess ser ious i s the po s sibility, for want 

of timber, of not being able to build s mall s cho oner.s in the c ountry 

to c arry on the Labrador fishery . Pe ople wi ll t ell you today that 

it is not easy to get timber for a 40-ton s choone r , even in Not re Dame 

Bay . Spars for schooners above this tonna ge i s out of t he q uest i o n , 

escep t in a very f ew untuched place s in White Bay and Gr een Bay. Let 

us then put a stop to pit-prop c u t t i ng , and t a ke ever y po s sible prec 

aution to prevent forest fires. The next r e midial movemen t s h o u l d 

be to encourage the p roper cure o f our c odfish b y s tandar dizing the 

i dfferent qualities, and pa y ing we l l f o r his trouble the man wh o t urns 

out well-cured fish. The talqual system i n b uyi ng puts a p remi um on 

carelessness and laziness. It s hou l d be a bo l ished by l aw.

REMINISCENCES OF 'I'HE SIXTIES I N OLD ST .. .JOHN' S 

There i s not a s i ngl e r e ader who h a s not he ard the "cant" word 

"Up s h u t ter s " .. When anything wa s consum ated, o r f i n a l l y e nded , t h i s 

was the "slog an" of our draper clerks in the s i x t i es . "Shutte r s u p" 

from the b oss me ant s uspen s i on fromse ling f or the d ay, a nd ever y - 

body to get busy covering up windows and d oors with g reat painte d 

boards, a nd barring and locking the same , as if a mob attack was 

threatened the premises within an hour , .Just fancy, if you can , o ne 

of our old winter f alls of snow, when a six-footer, walking down the 

one s i d e of Water Street, c o u l d not discern the tops of the houses 

acr oss the way, and further consider (again) if you can the ple a sing 

occupation, after on e of these falls of s now, with .fros t below zer o , 

the snow baked hard with ice on t.he sashes of the wi ndows , no e lec t r i c , 

no s i d e - wa l k cleaning, most i mpe r f e c t shop light, and fifty or sixty 

s h u t t e r s to be put up, eac h one i n its r espective place, bolted, 

barred, shaken and pronounced "safe", before one individual could 

leave the emp Lcy , Then the next mor n i ng "down s h utter s " each in its 

turn, and c arefully numb ered in the "shutter box", som ewhere aroun d 

in the neighborhood.. But this c l osing and locking and barring windows 

and doors did not suffice for the "rest easy", One me r c han t s a nd s h op - 

kee pers of that period clubbed together and paid a n i g h t watchman, 

whose duty it was to shake well a nd try and try again a nd pull the 

s h utte rs , both on doors a nd windows e ve r y hour of the night, and 

s hou t and the result a nd the hour at the top of their voice under 

the owners .windows, to relieve his f ears.. Oh, what a set of marauders 

mus t have been a round old St .. J ohn I s a t that time - or were they 

only in the ne i gh borho od of Wat er S t .. i tsel f? Poor Pa d d y Fitz gerald , 

watchman on one section o f the "sac red street", t old quaint s t o r ies 

o f his many ye ars on d u t y , a nd his s ten t u r ian vofce , "Twelve O'clock: 

Fine Night: a nd all 

-thO''''''- 

·Tr-a nSc;....;pf,·on 

+he. ~ov,nCiClI 

is well:, could be he ard in a l l parts o f the 

+he. p0r-rs of HF Sh o~+,s>"o'-.~ > '-+ 1:i1f 9'+ J 

An::....h; v e~, s.-. "3'Q ~~r"'\ 'S •

- 2 - 

city, though at the time hurricanes and rain storms were shaking and 

drenching the earth to almost an alarming extent. But Pat never 

thought of that. Force of habit, etc. 

Amateur theatricats were very prounced in those days, and now 

since I recall the actors to memory, I find the tailors in the 

ascendancy. The man i would be inclined to 91 ve first place to 

was Jim Cassidy, tailor, \'later Str. West. Cassidy was a splendidly 

built man , good in tragedy, and always given the leading character 

in the cast. John Murray, another tailorls son, excelled as a 

comedian, and played in many performances at the Fisherman I 5 Hall 

in the early sixties. At that period no female took any part in the 

performances - gentlemen always filled the bill. The late William 

Jordan (tailor 1s son again), I remember, starred as the fair Imogene 

in "alonzo the Brave", and in many other pieces Jordan did ample 

justice to the femine character. Hr. John 0 I Flaherty, now accountant 

at the Newfoundland Tobacco Co., took a splendid female character, 

as proven many times in his appearance in the beautiful drama, "The 

Lady of Lyons". Also was the late Thos. Hearn, of Hearn & Co, deceased, 

good as a female representative. 

Who amongst us ever saw poor Dick Raftus as Hagaroni in the 

"Brigands" will ever forget his earnestness and ability as an amateur? 

His last appearance in that character, I now remember, was in 1875, 

supported by a body of young men, known then as the Catholic Institute, 

of which poor Dick was a prominent memeber. I can mention the names 

uf nearly the while caste: Richard Raftus, Chas Meehan, Thos Green, 

of Shea's; Thos Murphy of Firth" Murphy, Joe Doutncy, clerk; Fred 

Burnham, Thos Fitzgibbon, draper; Wm. Hogan, lawyer, and one of two 

others, and, I think, W. Coonan of Duckworth Street. I remember Charly

- 3 - 

Heehan took. the part of the leading l ady, a nd his a c t i ng on that 

night wa s so g ood , and his get-up s o perfect f that the l ate Frank 

Winton I devoted a half column of the Chronicle to him next d ay, a nd 

deservedly s o . Th e performance took place in the Star Hall, a n d for 

three,. consecutive nights they play ed to full houses, and I believe 

up to this day - as I took a mi n o r part myself - that Ra f t u s a nd 

Me ehan were the Alpha and Omeg a of it a l l . 

Our Still surviving a n d much estee med friend, Inspector Sullivan, 

was a giant on the stage on the s t a ge , a nd his appearing on 

the programme, never f a iled to fill the seats. His a ppea r ance behind 

the fllDOtlights, I dis t i nct ly remember, was a l ways greete d with 

applause and enthusia sm. nis e r n e s t and ardent acting, in whatever 

character h e a p p e a r e d , gave force to the whole performance . The 

audience were never deceived in get tin g from John Su l l i v an what they 

e xpec t e d 

from him. 

There was a simplicity a b o u t our young men an d women of sixty 

years ago which is today, shall I s a y , obso l e te. I rememb er in 

every merchants shop on Water S t ree t , as well as other places of 

e mployment, tow or three would club together and hire or purchase 

a row-boat f or the sununer mo n t hs, an d i mmed i ately after t ea, accompanied 

by their girls as they called them p u l l up a nd down the harbor for 

hours and hours, a l wa ys.."wi t h s ome sor t of music on b o ard, a concertnna, 

a flute or a c ornet, an d t he s o u n d of musi c a n d s o ng so a l l u r i ng on 

the wter, tha t it wa s no wonderful thi n g to see crowds of older peopl e 

sitting on gump-heads of p i e rs , a n d wherever pile s of lumber could 

be found on wharve s, listening with a t tent ion . And certain o f tho s e 

b oats wuld a ppoint a mee t i n g on t he So uth S i de , a n d there land o n 

some mer c a n t i le wharf a n d d ance a n d e n joy the mselve s in that simpl e

- 4 - 

way, until their r eturn to their homes betwe en t en a nd c leven O' c l ock 

Of c ours e, a t that time, we had no s t reet c ars I no train s I n o gol f 

clubs , no 5 o'clock t e as, no bridge, no c i garettes . But a l l the same, 

we had our boy s and our g i r l s , our nature s, our fre edom an d our wills. 

I'll wager we got more out of l i f e through good he a lth , quiet and cont 

entment t han those 

of t oday with their hoarded d o l l a rs and gilded 

baubles. 

A great s our ce of e ve n i n g amu semen t . t oo, were the club dances . 

a vac an t house or a spac i ou s room would be hire d for the winter month· 

by pe rhaps half a dozen or mor e young me n , 

and there e very night a 

d ance f rom 8 t i ll 1 2 c ' clock wo u~.d take place, sixpence entrance , 

boy and girl , b u t everybody bring his par tner, with this aim o n ly 

in v iew: collect enough to pay e xpenses, fifte en shill:ings the total , 

five for theprosprietor, five for the constable on the door and five 

for the fiddler.. And when the t hirty head s would have arrived, and 

the fiddler s afe on his ped e s tal in a corner, no h appier or mo r e 

contented crowd could be f ound inside 

the Narrows of St.. John's than 

the gathering there assembled.. I distictly r emember a v e r y spacious 

s ail-loft , where a Mr. Armstrong a car r i e d on a most extensive sai 1 

making business .. The house proper stood on Duckworth S t .. just where 

th-=;: C. E. I room are now, near the Municipal Building. The entry o 

to to this sail-10ft was from the r ear - mahon I sLane, where a grea t 

fire occurred in Mahon 's Blockmaking s h o p in the fifties. Tgis sailloft 

had such hire and demand for club dances and theatrical perfoIJl; 

anc es that the p r oprietor , Arm s trong, f ound it more lucrative t h a n 

p ayingiwages a nd purcha sing the cequisite for trade, so he fitted i t 

up with stage and e n c l usu res , e t c , e t c , a n d it became the c entre of 

a t t r a c t i o n for all cla sse s for a l l kinds of amusemen t , partie s , performances, 

b a zaars, r affles, a nd card p a r t ies . At this time there

- 5 - 

were no halls to hir e, t he Mechanic s h ad their o wn Societ y , and 

e ver y night h a d their iron enj o yme n t in t hei r r'oo ms , 

In s peak i n g of the f e e of five s h i l l i n g s , always g i ve n to the 

pOlicemean, ne ce ssary on the doors of those amus e ment rooms, I must 

say a word or two about the "'get up" of this ear ly o f f ici a l . It i s ': :.... ..: 

a r egretable fact that none of our pho t o q r a pher s preserved a cut ," 

of the f igure of our po l i c e man of the fifties. I wish I could give 

an accurate description of the dres s o f those worthies, their s ole 

duty (apparently) was to follow children s l i d i ng on the hill-side 

a nd confiscate their s l e d s and pile t he m away in the Old Court Hou se, 

for ever and ever. For year I wa s under the impre s sion that these 

s l i des were sold, and Bobby t s pay e x tended out of t he proceeds, and 

this it was (like the courcatcher of today ) , which made the m s o jubilant 

when a capture would be made o f o ne or two slides in the run 

o f a winter's morning, but, such wa s no t t he c ase, a s I saw for 

mysel f , after becoming atta c he d to the Gener a l Post Offi ce forty y e ars 

a go . We were permitted s o me time s, wh en po or Coady was the custodian, 

to enter the police station for a brief smo ke , and there I saw, o n 

a loft made perhaps for such p i les cf ol d s l ides ( I r ecognized a halfdozen 

o r more of my own) pining away , one on t op of t he o t her , all, 

I pre sume, d e stroyed in the 8th, J uly f i re , 1892. Th e policeman of 

the f ifties wore a very tall beaver hat. Great S c ott ~ if we could 

only procure o ne of them nor f o r a cut in a Christma s Nwnber, o r to 

b e placed in the Mus eum. From the rim to the top wa s not less than 

two feet long, and it tapere d ve ry percept ab l y fro m the brim upwards . 

Th e l e af of the s o wide tht it was mea n t as a suns h a de in sununer , 

and for ke eping t he drift from their very i mportant vision in the winter 

But t oned right up und e r t he i r chin wa s s sti f f g laze - what s hal l I

- 6 - 

call it - a stiff glaze cutter, because if you carne steathily behind 

and before . So much were they feared that no one ever went near 

enough to count how many buttons were there . Hanging from some 

peculiar contrivance, on the r i gh t side of this coat, wa s a baton, 

so formidable and so heavy l ook i ng , that I have o ften wondered why 

it didn't l o p- s ide the we arer. Ui s trousers , - o h , well , no outsider 

ever "s aw the old poli c e man' s t rousers- but h i s bluche r s were there, 

hobnai led and roughened ( to permit him t o get over hills) t o such 

a degree , that it was a b lessing floor canvas was a most scarce cornmod 

i t y or it would be we l l performed . 

In t he ear ly fifties t he r e was a great deart h of water througho 

u t the c i t y - a spring we l l near one 's home wa s a luxury . Who 

amongst us remember the o l d p ump i n 0 I Dwyer' s Cove , whe r e yo u would 

have a t remain perhaps for hours for "Your turn N t o procure a buc ket 

f ull? lIa d you ever to take your t wo buck.ets and hoop and climb Carter's 

Hill, wait at the shute of alittle drain of water for hours, sitting 

on the grass . 

No one knew where the t i n y dripple came from, perhaps 

from Mundy 's Pond . Nobody asked them , nor did they care , they 

wanted the goods and the s hute s uppl ied i t. What t erritory did it 

pass t hrough before it e merged t hrough the s hute a t Ca rter 's Hi l l 

and Meador? Was it flI'om t h e same source that the smal l supply wa s 

obtained from in O'Dwyer's Cove? Whose land and neighborhood d i d it 

pass through before c o ns umed by the pUblic? 

Severage was an unknown 

quantity all through the city suchwas a spring; t here a re o ld , very 

old inhabitants who deny i t . But no matter when the "Iter came , from 

or through whatever it flowed , 

no p lague, no epidermic no fe l l -sickness 

visi ted ou r people b y i ts consumption. Diptheria , appendicites , Diabetes, 

t u be r c ul o s i s were u nkn own no uns in our school r o oms. I f a man 

or woman died from what we called de4l.ine, it would be the talk o f

- 7 - 

the city. No hereditary malady was known amongst us, two or three 

doctors supplied the city with both bmedicinc and attendance for 

twenty five shillings per annum . Hundreds paid the fee without sight 

of eibher doctor or med Lo.i.ne , The inhabitants were strong , healthy, 

robust , v i goro us and whilesome, and a dent ist doctor would certainly 

be a .p he no me no n , and as poor in their midst as that other doctorJ?) 

Neil l o f the funeral craze t hough not with the same pretensions . Dh 

yes , Old St. John 's wa s the happier if not the richer. Simplicity 

was the people's g reatness , and in their greatness they found contentment 

. Hen and wome n a t t h e il!je of 80, r ipe with allthe requirements 

that God and Nature gave them , selved, spun and read by the l i gh t 

of the one-penny dip , or b y the sconce on the wall. If one saw 

glasses on the eyes of a neighbor , it wo ul d be shown, but if one took 

his teeth from his breeches pocket - Great Heavens: he and his 

household wou ld be for ever pointed at as anathema.

------II

TilE WHALE FISIIERIES OF NEl'FOUNDLAND lJOI- UI'/ [ '2. .'1Sq-) 

-;::;- 

Newfoundland is a region of signal beauty - of rocky coasts and 

picturesque fishing villages nestling upon them; of limitless fir 

woods; of lovely little lakes and pretty rivers filled with fish; 

of fertile valleys rich in game ~ 

hills and valleys and vegetation flourishes. 

The countryside is rugged, the 

winters hard; but in summer it is a delightful spot. 

The notorious 

fogs that rise and hang, then, like a pall upon the Banks outside 

do not penetrate to the interior. Why then endure for d~S.'"8nd~ . 

/' \.H,H.t roi ~~~ 

days, enshrouding the surface of the water and the fac of the sho~):.~ 

" '.. "- 

and endangering the lives of men at sea, summer shunsh \,tt1-~ib6d~ t ,ne O(:r\ 

/0+';;.. 5192 J 

~ ~~:;;{,?~~~~~'D1 _,/ 

The village of Trinity lies in a sheltered nook on the e st-.COa£t' 

of Newfoundland, separated from the open Bay of Trinity by mighty 

masses of rock and surrounded by two deeply indented arms of the sea, 

which cut it away from an overhanging mountain at its beck, 

Trinity 

is a Whaling por-t;, One mild evening in June we climbed the mountain 

behind it and gazed out over the motionless, glassy sea that stretched 

around and beyond the village ~ After a time we spied the smoke of 

a steamer that was hidden from us by the peninsular lighthouse. "It 

is the Hump", said my compenLon , The Hump is a small stauchily built 

iron steamer of about one hundred tons, the king of boat used nowa-days 

in the while fishery; it is the Trinity whaler, and, if it 

had a catch, ~ould be returning at this hour. "Listen~ When she 

blows, we can tell what she has got M. 

There is an arrangement whereby the captain of a whaler returning 

to shore will indicate by blasts of his siren whistle about what his 

catc h has been t and below us in thehamlet we c ou l d see sturdy fishennen 

smoking at their garden gates and listening seaward ~ 

The vessel 

rounded the light house and we were more fortunate than the watchers 

below us, for from our perch we could make out the gigantic form of

- 2 - 

t he ma n nal alongsi de t h e b o a t, its g l istening wh i te paunch above 

the water I s edg e . We h ad n o need of the siren c a l l delivered t wi c e 

with a Lcnq-drewn screech. 

The me thod of whale catching in Newf o un d land w a~ er s t od ay i s 

very i nteresting and d e pends, pz-LncLpaLky , upon the t echnical dis 

covery made by a Norwegian captain, Sv e nd Fayn; who in 1 86 5 or 18 66, 

constructed a f ive-foot harpoon of over one hundred pounds weight, 

which he shot at short r ange from a cannon like g u n , mounted on a 

pivot at t h e bow of the boat. This ahrpoon ne arly buries itself in 

the body of the whale. A hollow iron cap filled with bla sting po wder 

i s s c r e we d to t he tip o f the harpoon, forming its point, an d a time 

fuse explode s the bomb i nside the body of the arrLmaLs 

A No rw e g i a n blacksmith in Trinity, wh o wa s straigh t e n i n g o ne 

of these implements, explained its whole construction most lucidly 

for me. It is of iron, abo u t t he l ength o f a man , a nd it i s a mad e 

of t hree parts, viz, a long handle, a pliable h e adpiece a t t a ched thereto, 

which contains four hooks, and a n iron scr e w tip, which is hollow 

a n d is fitted with p owder . At the b ack end of the s haf t or h andle 

i s a ring, a n d .to this a cable i s made fast, to follow the wake of 

the harpoon as it l eaves t h e gun . 

At the shoot i n g the f our movable hook s are b ound together with 

thin twine. As s oon as t he h arpoon is buried i n the body of the whale 

a n d 

the wahle attempts to e scape, the hooks a re wreched apart, burying 

their noses more d e e ply into the fle sh. The powder shatters the hollow 

iron tip and dri v e s the pieces i n to the body. The 'wh a l e i s very 

quickly killed, p a r t i c ular l y if the harpoon should happen to s t r ike 

near the head. 

Howeve r , in his dea th s t r ug gles , he o f ten bends the iron a t r ight 

a ng les . But if this i s a l l , a blacksmith can easily r e p a i r t he damages .

- 3 - 

The cannon used t o s hoot t he harpoon s t a nd s on a pecu l iar woo den 

bridge s o fixed in the bow that it can be t u r n e d by h a nd i n a n y dire 

c t ion ; it i s shot by a l i ght pressure of t he index f i nger o f t he 

o t her h and against t h e i r o n trigger. 

The whaling ve s s els are o t herwise q u i te ordinary, except per 

haps for the craw's nest, which is a big and well-protested basket 

on the forward mast in-which-iG---a_biq_and_well-prote sted-basket_on_ 

the-f.or-ward-mast in which the lookout man Eake s his place to spot 

the whale. Inste ad of hauling the wahle o n board when it is dead, 

most of these boats sec u r e it alongside a nd two it to s h o r e . The 

blubber or fat bene ath t he skin is a l mos t e noug h to ke ep it afloat, 

but a pipe is us ually i nser t e d in the abdome n a nd the siren wh i s t le 

blows a i r into it, to make floati ng d oubly s u re . The great sides 

of t he t ail are cut off, l eaving a stump be hind ; an d a r o und t his s t um."t 

is wound a .:chain, for use when s hor e i s r e a c hed. 

Over on the edge of an arm of the sea , beyond Tr i n i t y a re two 

groups of wite buildings clinging to the g reen mountai n s . In one 

group, whale bone is extracted fromeach catch; in the other, meat, 

f at a nd bones are disposed of. It t akes about twenty-four hours to 

dissect and apportion a whale of medium size on a double platform r: 

outside the buildings . 

In order to ho i st the wahle from the boat to t he lower platform, 

the chai n a bou t t he t ail s tump is a t tac hed to wov en wire pulleys, 

and the whole i s set in mo t i o n b y s team ; the t hick planks on wtiich 

the plat f o r m rests h ave be e n s a t urated with water, to f acilitate ope r 

a tions. Some ide a of the eno rmou s bulk and weight of t h e whale may 

b e g leane d fro m t he s tateme n t that the beans o f the platform a re often 

c u t in two by the chains, and t he c h a ins thems elve s, which a rc like 

tho s e us ed in r ailroad coach couplings, somet imes s nap as a frail

- 4 - 

cord migh t under l e s s pre ssure. 

With the whale l anded upon the platform, ope r a tions begin . A 

number of incisions a r c first mad on the c arcas s with a very s har p 

knife. tht has a blade a foot long a nd a hand le over a y ardlong. 

The blubber is taken off in strips, torn by an iron hook attached 

t:o them and worked by wire rope s . As e a c h strip i s deposited, it 

is cut up by other workmen a n d the parts dragged off by o ne 

armed with a hook. Th e s e parts a re wahed and thrown into a g r eat 

meat-cutting machine. The small shreds r e sulting are dropped into 

vats containing water and heated by s t e am . Fat e x h udes g rad u a l l y 

collecting on top of the water; a n d from this it is drawn off and 

strained ·through sieve s and filters. 'l'h e oil thus obtained is poured 

into casks and sealed. 

The whole whalebone i s cut from the up per j aw and-laid in o ne 

pice in water. There t h e carcass is heaved upo n a higher p l a t f o rm , 

where the great mass o f musc les a re removed, the rivs brok en with an ' 

axe, and the e n t r a i l s taken out. All t hese musc les ; bones and entrails 

are thrown into separate tubs within the buildings to b e boiled. 

Finally, only the ske l e t on remains. Beginning at the tip of the 

tail, workmen s e p a r a t e the vertebrae from the r e st and take the s k u l l 

to pieces. All the bones are l ater boiled in vats and the product 

exported as "bon e dust"'. Th e flesh i s c ooke d in a separ a t e s t r u c t u re , 

in..-a gigantic ma chi n e which r e volves over a slow fire. The flesh dries 

and comes forth a s a b rown powder, to b e p acked in sacks a nd s o l d as 

fertilize r . 

At the close of this series o f processe s upon the double platform, 

e very atom of b one , fle sh a nd muscle h as b e en r e moved a n d utilized. 

ONl y blood remains , and three great s t reams of wa t.er s oon e rad icate 

and sign o f this . When the wda d has b lown for an hour across t h e

- 5 - 

planks , they are as clean as t h e floor of a dance hall. Al l putrifying 

arue Lk s , and with them the d anger of putrific ation, are a vo i ded . 

Natura lly , the whale buildings h a ve a s t ron g a n d n one too savo ry 

ordor , but -but it is remarkably healthy, ye s: "the manager assu red 

us, naively. 

After the platforms have been cleansed , all bustle is confined 

t o the interiors of the g roups of buildings. Steam ascends from them, 

and men watch t he various boilings , sharpen t heir knives , bot t le oil 

and pack fertiliz e r . 

Mos t i mp o r t an t of all , they clean the whalebone . This usefu l 

and val uable stuff hangs in l o ng f l at s t r i p s from the pa l ate of the 

whale , three hundred and eighty or more o n either s ide of the upper 

jaw, instead of teeth .. The whalebone srves to strain out the small 

mollusks , crustaceans , an d fish, on which the whale f e eds . 1 The 

strips are parted with hand knives , s c raped and cleaned , and boiled 

for about twelve hours . They are then p l i able and elastic and can 

be c u t into narrow pieces preparatory to packing . 

During ou r stay in Trinity I t a s t e d wha le meat. I t is som ewhat 

toug h , but Newfoundland air i s conducive to hunger and we managed 

t o enjoy it; it is, of course, pretty greasy. But t he men who work 

u po n the whales o c cas i onal l y take home meat to their families, and 

the children of the poo r fisher .folk in the vicinity came often to 

beg for bits .. The v neree s heart is considered a delicacy, I am told.. 

I went on a wha l i ng boat while we s o j o u r ne d at Trinity and joined 

the exciteroent of the catch . It,.was a thrilling a dventure from s t a r t 

to finish .. We set out first that mo r n i ng a little afte r four O'clock.. 

The s e a s were so rough that huge wa ve broke over the nose of the vessel, 

wa shing fog , a nd into this we p l unged a nd were Lo s t; , Whales cannot 

be c aught in a fog, s o at l e ng t h we turned back t o shore .

- 6 - 

A second star t wa s made , later, when the s un had ris e n. It wa s 

beautifu l and b right on l and. but h e r e a nd t here over t he capes t hat 

s h u t in the h arbor a gray mist l i n ge r ed, and o ff toward t h e horizon t he 

fog s t i l l hung, wide and heavy , u p on the sea. 

But a: t ele g r a p h message had i n f ormed o ur captain that there wa s 

no fog to the nor t h , a nd a t ten we were ploughing a l o ng i n the mi ddle 

of the gray ma n t le , heading northward. Mighty masses of rock a nd 

the ghostly house s of a fishing village on the shore l o ome d up in the 

veil - a depressing .:::ight . By noon all that h ad e v a p o rat e d , and we 

were steaming through the brilliant s u n s h i ne , with t he low, hilly 

coast s pa r k l i n g on our l eft and an occasional i ceberg g l i ding d az z 

lingly by. 

So we sailed a l l d ay, a l ways t owa rds the North. We passed s i len t , 

motionless fis hing smac ks , like g reat b i r ds , hovering o ver the water 

and fields of o utsp r e a d net s _ At night we f ound a smal l o u t -of - the- wa y 

bay betwe en rocks, with a we e fishing vil lage hover ing upon its brink. 

A steam b oat wa s unheard of there. It brought-all t he villa ge to t he 

s hor e : 

I am not, likely to forget that evening and its b e auty. The sun 

sank between glowing red clouds over a wild river landscape b acked 

by solemn, towering mountains. It was a s omb re , im pre s s i ve sce ne marred 

by the stin ni~g gnat s that b u zzed about t he ship a nd the moths that 

be at their wing s a gainst the lighted wind ows of t he cabin in a n eff o r t 

n o t a l ways futile to get i n. From the hat c hway rose the hoarse voices 

of card-playing wha ler s . I sle pt little : 

But next morning whe n I came on d e c k, we were a lready fa r out to 

sea , This morning was c lear and l o vely , wn i tecaps danced upon the 

waters, and t he s ky wa s a z u r e and cloudle s s. The coast l ay be hind, 

a delicate blue s t r ip; ne arly wa s a s ingle s mal l La La nd , uninh abited,

- 7 - 

unwooded, a bar e roc k y s lab of shini n g r e d gol d anads t .one , This wa s 

a s pot f or whales. 

High up i n the crawl s ne st, a man wa s o n d u t y. - lie wa s giv i ng 

directions a s I stede the morning d e ck a n d t he s h i p changed its 

course. A whale may be detected py its spoutings when it i s still 

far distant. The body itself may be submerged, but the spo u t i ngs 

a r e discernible on any but an o c ean literally covered with whitecaps. 

The lookout h a s s p i e d a whale, and t h e c aptain began oiling 

the harpoon g un , the e ntir e crew s p r un g to a c tio n , and the c o ok a nd 

engineers c ame up the gangway. It was thrilling. 

Said the captain to me: It is a s perm whale". Th e u sual 

hahitat of this valuable specie s is near the Azores or Cape Verde 

I slands, in a warm clime, It i s a huge, toothe d beast, and t he ma l e 

sel d om strays winto the reg i o n of the ice berg, of which phenomena :: 

there \!ere two riding on t he hor izo n. 

This o ne had been r ecognized from the s hape of its spou t ings . 

Whi l e the spou t e r of the big-hea ded whale lie s o n the highe st part 

of the head, about a yard from the forward e nd , a nd the stream goe s 

up perpendicularly, the sperm-whale spouts from the extreme end of 

its high, massive, truncated head, and the s t ream s hoots out in pa,l;'t 

slantingly. 

At the first directions from the lookout man, nothing could be 

seen from the deck. But suddenly we could dis cern t he s pou t i n g , l ike 

a j et of s t e am f rom the fwmel of the engine, rising betwe en the 

waves . The whale d isappear e d as we ne are d it, a nd we s lowed down . 

In a minute it came to the s u r f a ce a q a Ln , spou t i ng vigorously. We 

g l i d e d towards it, t he c aptain ' s h and upon the c annon. 

But the gre a t beast s ubmerge d i mmediately, lea ving a s t reak o f 

oil u pon t he wa ters . Our boat s lipped over the s pot where it h ad

- 8 - 

been , and we stared to l e ft and r ight , wo n d e c Lnq where he wo uld come 

up n ow. 

At l e ng t h he ho ve i nto vie w just ahead of us, b reathing he avily , 

a nd the c annon thund ered. 

When t h e smo ke h ad cle ared from the d e ck, I could make o u t the 

monst e r whale wallowin g a t some d istance i n wa ve s d yed c rimson wit h 

his 1?lood. He had been fai r ly and f atally h i t , and h e did not try 

to dive d own out of s i gh t , a s wou nded whale s s o o f ten do . Inste ad, 

h e floundered abo u t with wild s t rokes , h is t ail fins , his h e ad and 

his bac k lifting the mselves ou t of t he water . At l ength he turne d 

completely over on his back, a nd we c ou l d note the wide-ope ne d j aws, 

particularly the curious small l ower on e with its f o r t y pow erful t e eth 

projecti ng out of t he s e a. 

He kept on spouting irregular streams that turned, a t l a st, to 

r ed. He wa s throwing out h is lif e I S b l eod . I t wa s the s ign a wa i ted 

b y the men, and obviate d the necess i ty of s hoot i ng anot h e r harpoon . 

Stil l his s t ruggles endured f or half a n hou r l o nger, a nd were 

s o s t r e n uo u s that the s teamer had to follow h is l e ad with t h e greates t 

care . As he grew more qui et, the y began to t i ghten the rope a nd to 

bri ng him nea rer the boat I s side. By the time he h a d r e ache d the r ail , 

he was quite gone . He wa s l a s he d t o the side , a nd we s tar ted on our 

way, again, dra gging him. 

We did not r e ach Trinity until the next a f ter n o on . As we neared 

the h arbor, o u r c aptain gave fou r blasts . o f his whistle. The fisherme 

n had never heard t h a t par t icu l ar signal , but they knew it was 

an e x t raor d i nary cat c h , a nd pe ople c a me .running to the whale wharf 

to see . 

OUr catch wa s eighteen yards l o ng and had a circumfer ence of eight

- 9 - 

yards , and it had to b e worked over f or several d ays bef o re it was 

cut up into its constituent parts. The migh t y h e ad wa s filled with 

its own par t i c u l a r blubber, a lmost l i qui d, lying i n o i l . From t his 

the v aluable s permaceti is ob t a ined . The blub b e r which c ove r s the 

whole body of the sperm-whale yields the high price d s perm oil of 

commerce. 

After the lo4lale had been dispos ed of, a nd the men had gone home, 

the captain grew reminiscent, and related some of his e xpe r i e nc e s 

back in the days before the harpoon gun was used, when the whale 

hunters harpooned their quarry in small boats, l owered from the 

schooner, Qr steamer. A s pe rm whale was as great a prize then as it 

now, he said, and a vision o f a fortune from amber g r is was e ven before 

the whaler. He was good e n o ugh t o r e alt e for me the exper ien c e t hat 

made him rich enough to buy a 

boat of his own. 

Back i n July, 1870", he began, "the Nary Hu l l , of wich I wa s 

first mate, sailed out a f t e r whales. Wtihin a f ew hours we "raiseda 

"pod" of big ones about five mi l es from the ship. The man in the 

crow's nest kept the ste ersman posted a s 

to the direction they were 

taking, and in the course of a couple of hours t hey came into plain 

view, bowling along two mi l e s ahead . All wa s e x c i temen t on board, 

but not an unnece ssary s o und 

was ma d e " • 

•At least the boats were lowered, a nd when the rac e wa s on, s uc h 

a contest was never s een except wh e n the various crew s of a s h ip we r e 

r acing to make the first strike. As mat e I commanded one of the 

boats , and whil e we sped a long, t h e oarsmen ble nding ever y muscle to 

the work, I f aste n e d my eyes u pon two g rea t whale s, a bull and a cow, 

Swim mi n g a little apa r t from t h e rest, for the b u l l wa s the large st 

I had ever s e en, a n d on occount o f my p osition. I f elt s u r e that I 

could readh him before the others. 1\s we approach them, they "sounded",

- 10 - 

But I 

followed their motion under the water, and just as they "brokelet 

my "iron" go. It found its mark and s enk deep into the vitals 

of the bull. For a moment he stopped in surprise, then suddenly "sounded" 

"Around and around in a 

great circle sped the whale, towing the 

boat after him at a speed I had never ez-avej.Led before. For more than 

an hour he kept up the pace, then stopped short. The boat shot ahead, 

but we meneqed to stop before we were on him. Then we pulled away 

and watched hiro. lie lay so still that I decided to get near enough 

to put a lance in him. Swiftly the rope was hauled in, and we crept 

up toward him as he lay motionless. We wire almost on hirp., when, 

without the slightest warning, he souned, the line fairly singing 

as he seemed to seek the very bottom of the ocean. 

We held on, however, 

until the whale. grew weary and at last I got ncar enough to 

sink, my lance into him. "Stern all-stern all", I shouted, and shot 

away just in tir.:e to escape the great tail as he went into his "flurry". 

A moment more and two streams of blood were spouted into the air - 

the leviathan was dead". 

"As we approached the immense "fish" to take him in tow I caught 

sight of a grayish mass floating near him. "Ambergris, I cried, and 

ambergris it was, a piece weighting fully ten pounds and worth about 

$6000: 

and knew that .our- prize was a sperm whale, measuring at least 90 feet; 

but we were destined to have still greater Luck , When the carcass 

was stripped and opened, we found in his interior a solid chunk of 

ambergris weighing exactly 75 pounds! We had made a fortune in a day, 

and the money I 

wealth" • 

got as my share was enough to 5 tart one on the road to

OUH ME RCANTILE HAR INE VOl-VI-If 2 ( 9 6) 

AN EXCITING RACE ACROSS 'I'lIE WES'l'ERN OCEAN 55 YEAH AGO 

( By 11. F . Shor tis - Historiographer ) 

Now that a Bil l f or t he Encouragement of Shipbuilding i n t h i s 

c o untry h a s been p laced o n t he Stat utes , thr ough the exertions of 

the e nterprising and practical membe r .fo r Harbor Grace , A. W. Piccott , 

Mini s ter of Marin e and Fi s herie s , it is i nteresting tol ook back over 

a period o f ha l ~ a cent u ry a nd r elate some of t he inc i d e nts in c o n - 

nection with our great f leet o f s ail ing ve s s els in t hos e days . 

k ne w some scores of vessels whi c h were engaged in the foreign t rade 

o f o u r c o untry i n those days. I knew some s c o r e s of vessels which 

were eng a ge d in the foreign tra deof our country in those days , which 

for speed , s t rength , beau ty of model and d urabil ity , could complete 

with a ny ve s s els cro s sing the Atlant ic. It is on ly necessary f o r 

me t o men tion t he Queen , Fleetwi ng (barque s); built b y Newhooks of 

New Harbor , Tri nit y Bay - for t he firms o f Ba rnes & Co. S t . J oh n t s 

a nd Mu nn '" Co . Hr . Grace ; a lso the Ta s so, Rathesay , mar ian Ri dley , 

Clutha, Ar a bella Tarbet , Gertrude s, I d a , Ha g g i e, Carsa i r ( b ui l t by 

Pittman, of New Pe r l i ean , Tr i n i t y Bay, for Mr . Richard Howle y, merchant 

S t . .rohnv s , fat her o f our l atei llustri ous pulate , Ar c hb i s hop 

Howley. a lso t he "aI m s e Crew, Claudia, etc , whi ch were b u i l t an d 

launche d by t he grea t Ke arney, Newh ooks, Pittmans , Woods a nd many 

o t her famous master-bu i lders . Thei r r e c o r d s f o r mak ing q uic k passages , 

t he i r q ualifications as sea boats a re s t i l l t o be found amongst t he 

r ecord s of t he Customs in t he fiftie s and sixties of thepast century, 

as well as p revious to t hat period. 

Those of u s who l i ve d i n t he sixties of t h e pa s t century have 

had t he privelegeof witne s sing our great 

f leet of sailing vessel s 

at its zenith. Not a lone were scores of our sailing vessels emp loyed 

in prosecuting the great industry o f t h e sealfishery r but our own 

--;;::anse-r'p+'on .f':"'~ +he- P"~. of H F Sho.-t.s V OL- Z, '-+'1~('1G,).> 

........; Act:.: ~ ~ . Jt .j-L. '~ ,

- 2 - 

fleet of f oreign goi ng vessel s c o u ld b e cou nted by t h e sco re a lso , 

and could hold their own with r egard t o 

sai l i n g qualities, s t rength 

and durability in the clas s o f workmanship, a s well a s the c a pabiliti es 

and seaman s hip o f the c re w s~ In f act, the Newfoundla nd seamen wo uld 

take precedence to a n y other nationality in the mer canti le ma r i ne 

of the United Staes or British ports. BEs i des their a g i l i t y and 

thorough knowledge of their avocation, the majority o f them c o u l d 

pair sails a s well the sailmaker hims elf, and, in e me r gen c y , c o u l d 

perform the work usually a l l o t t e d to carpente r s in s uch as manner 

to meet a l l requirements. It was no unusual occu r rence for s ome 

of the crews to rewain six or eight years with the one master in the 

same ship. 

I a f t e r look back to t hose d a ys with ple a sure, though n o t without 

regret that I did not take d own and pre s erve many o f those intere s ting 

adventures, deeds of daring and hair-bre adth esc a p e s 

as they were 

related to me by the weather-beaten mariners e v e r the time honored 

dog-irons in the glorious d ays of t he mu s t y past . It is true t hat 

for the past forty yea srs or so, I have e ndeavored to preserve man y 

of the narratives of those heroes 

of old, many of which have been 

handed down to me by tradition, And others that I h ave listened to 

with spel l - b o u n d attention , a s they were t old by t h e p a r tic ipa t o r s 

i n t he events, as we sat round the sparkling fire in the days of my 

youth. It wa s an estab l i s h e d custom for the master mariners, the 

me mbe rs of their f amilies and a f ew privileged friends to attend these 

g atherings, a n d the fund of information to be derived from such ins 

t r u c t.i ve discourse s would b e o f i n c a l c ulab le benef i t to historians 

gen e ral l y , did t h e y possess a c opy a t the pre s ent d ay. It wa s in 

such gatherings that was t o be h e ard and h anded d own the true and 

interesting history of our countr y; b u t , unfortunately, our hardy

- 3 - 

a nd dar i n g sea fari ng popu l a t ion of t h e pas t century t o ok t heir adventures, 

h ardships and escapes as ma t ters o f e ver y day l ife i n pursui t 

of their per i l o us avocat ions , a nd r elate d the m a round the k i t chen 

or parlor fire-pla c e s f o r the edi f i cat ion o f their audiences , who , 

un fortunately, t o o k no c a r e t o preserve the m in writi ng. Hen ce i t 

i s, that literary tramp s from the outside world came in amongst us, 

procure a s ma t t e r i ng of our past history, a nd man age to twist a nd turn 

it by their own phraseology in such a mannc r as to mak e it a burlesque 

or an insult to the people and the country . 

In the old d ays no matter what s u b jec t 

of convers ation was on 

the t apis, it would generally veer r ound to the sailing qualities 

of the s h i p s , the capabilities of the c aptains or t h e e xper i e nce and 

agility of the crews. 1 Perhaps nothing formed s u c h an im portant s ub 

j ect in the social circle as an oce an r ace betwe e n two or mo r e f amous 

f hips in our-...me r c a n t i l e ma r i ne , and t h e g rea test intere st was manifested 

by old and young, rich and poor, until the r esult was k.nown, 

and upon the r eturn to port the c aptain and crew of t he winning s h i p 

received quite an oration, wjich generally would up in a hot supper, 

supplemented by choice spirituous cordials, in which the health of 

the winning crew - the losers - the builder - the owners, and every 

other indiv.idual connected with e ven t was drunk amidst rounds of applause 

and great rhetorical effusions. It is just such an event that I am 

now a bo u t to r elate. Although the same interest i s not manufested i n 

our mercantile narine a s was some thirty or forty years a g o , yet, I 

find a very large portion of our pe ople t ake the g reatest delight 

i n l isten i ng t o and r e ading about tho s e events o f the l on g a go , whe n 

our g r e at fleet of vessels could c ompa re f avorably with that of a ny 

o t he r on this sid e of the Atlantic, and when o u r seafaring men o b t a ined 

a nd maintained the r eputation of being t he most c ompetent, h ardy a nd 

f earless mariners in the world.

. 

- 4 - 

On a beautiful evening in the s ummer of 1 8 61 , two dipper b rigs 

passed out the Narrows of St . Joh n ' 5 side by side , o i l l a den, o n a 

vo yag e a c ross the At lant i c. Bo th s h ips were a c lass now unknown, 

a nd were a s f i ne s pec iments of mar i ne a r c h i tect ure a s cou l d be found 

o n either s i de of the Atlantic. Th e Ba l c l uha , owne d by the firm o f 

Messrs J. & W. Stewart, of St. John t 5 , was a noted flyer, a n d h ad 

many a r e cord run to her credit. Th e o ther brig, the Mercury, wa s 

owned by t he firm of W. & H. Thomas, also of St. John's, and was not 

less successful than her noted r ival. Th e anchors were s oon c attedevery 

stitch of sail, from s k ysai ls down, spread t o the bre eze 

c o u r s e s given, a nd away for the Old Head of Kins ale in Old Ireland . 

As the long July evening closed in, the bold c o ast of our native l and 

a p pe a r e d a s a b a nk of C 1 0l.li~ S in the distant we st. At e i g h t bells the 

watches were set , and e ver y thi ng wa s going a l on g a s well as could be 

e xpec t e d on a shi p just after l e aving po r t . 

The ships were a lm ost s i de by s ide , g l idi ng through the wc ze x , 

which was smoot h , and by l og wexe run n ing seven knot s per hour. Th e 

mate I s watch o n theMercury went bel ow at 8 0'clo ck, a n d was c alled 

again at midnight. As my informant stated: "1 was in deck first 

having to r elieve the wheel, and never s h a l l 1 f orget the sight 1 

witnessed- • 

The wind had hauled round about W. S ~ W. fre s hened, and the Hercury 

was running abou t 9 knots t hrough t he s ea, which wa s one b l a ze o f 

phosphorescent splendou r and lumino s ity. The Ba l c l u t ha with every 

s ail still o n her wa s a little in advance, and l o ok ed a thing of 

be auty. The moon s h i n i ng on her snow white c anva s had a be autiful 

effec t , an d , a s s he r o s e a nd fe l l in t he sea, t en mi l l ions o f j ewels 

fla shed fro m under her bows , a lcng he r s ides and beneath her c ou n t er. 

He r c opper g leamed like b u r nished gold and he r wa ke wa s a revelat ion .

- 5 - 

The Hcrcury was in it e v i d e n t l y to s t a y , and was holding her own 

proudly , a n d not going to give u p t h e race wi t hou t a s t r o n g k i c k. 

The next d a y i t wa s a lmost calm, a nd t h e ships were in sight o f 

each other. Th u s day b y day p a s s ed. The cap tain of t h e Mercury 

left orders for a man to b e sen t alo ft to t he r oyal yard every 

morning to try a nd s igh t t he Balclutha. On the e leven t h d ay out 

the wind changed a n d blew lightly from t h e east wa r d . That night 

the crew of the Mercury lost s i gh t of the Balclutha. On the thirt 

e enth day, the ship wa s beating in to make Cape Cle ar, i n Ireland, 

ami d s t a large fleet of vessels of all nations b ound t o Engl i s h ports . 

Here wa s the s tat e l y Ea st Indiaman, the tea ship f rom China, t he 

Dutch galliot, the Mcllowne Clipper, t he Black Ba l l Liner, the l o gy 

We st Indiaman, wi th the bluf f b ows a nd he avy c ounte r s, a nd the tidy 

little Newfoundland brig - the Mercury of St . J ohn' s - l ast, but 

not least, when it came to a t est of s peed. 

When the migh t f ell it was dangerous s ailing, an d o r der s ",'ere 

given to talk shi+very two hours , a nd the c aptain h ad to be c are ful, 

a s the nights were now d ark and no moon visible, a nd hundreds of 

lights were pas sing and repas sing. All hands h ad to be on the qui vtve• 

One night, just a f t e r four bells, a light vas seen appr oachi ng on 

the opposite .neck , and t he c a ptain s houted t o the man at the helm. 

"Lu ff, my lad, and give him a ber t h· . Just a f ter , a b lack brig 

passed close abo a r d , and the capta i n o f t he Mer c u ry sang out, lO Is 

t hat you Ca pt. Hart"? · Aye , Aye · sai d Ca pt. Ha r t , "di d n ' t yo u get 

in yet"? ·No·, sai d Ca pt. Boyce, "d i d You"? 

The s h i ps d id not mee t again, but t he c aptain and crew were sat - 

isf ied with t h e resu l t of the r ace, as t h ey were t he victors, having 

passed the Ol d Head of Ki nsale fou r hours and e leven mi n utes a head 

o f the Balclutha , which wa s not b ad o n a seventeen h u nd red mile r a c e

- 6 - 

a c ross the 

At lan t ic. 

At one time ST . J ohn' 5 h a d t we nty one barques, and one f u l l 

r igged shi p (the Henni one) belon g i ng t o t h e g reat firm of Bowring 

Bros. The Flectwing, Emi ly , Midas , Prospers , Hi randa , Oberon, Olinda , 

Meteo r of St . John's an d t he Ro thesay and Queen o f Harbor Gra c e were 

the principal flyers. St i l l my old friend Magi strate Sq uarey o f 

Ch annel hol ds o u t tha t no thing a f l oad i n her day c ould o verh aul the 

barque Oue e n, which wa s under the command o f Ca pt. Bailey f or man y 

year s . He is certainly a n authority, as he was mate a nd sailed i n 

many of the most famous ships in our mercantile marine . but , I was 

always l ed to believe tha t t h e Ro t hesay , b u i l t by xeexney , wa s the 

greyh ound of the fleet. This wa s t h e opinion o f all t h e o ld captains 

and sai l ors that I c ame across . Bu t , of course , the Queen was reckoned 

on e of t h e s ma r tes t v e s s els o f o u r fleet . She wa s condemned i n Gi b 

r altar, a fater a long and successfu l c are e r i n t h e t rade of o u r 

country. 

Th e ,Cl i pp e r bri g s in S t . J ohn' s were t h e J ame s Stewa r t, Titania , 

Ba lcl u tha, Mer c ury , and t h e d an d y o f t h e l o t t he Seamew, belonging 

to R. Al sop &- Co. Th e c rews in those d a y s were l arger than a t presen t , II 

as no ves s el carried l e s s t h an eigh t h a n d s and some of the l arger 

bar q ues had fifte en, a l l t old. There were as many as eight or n ine 

h un d red men wh o manned the f o rei g n fleet, wh i c h is a sad con t rast 

to t he present day, when , probably not more than two hundred and fifty 

men sai l on foreign voyages . Many o f t h e fore-and-aft schooners n ow 

crossing t h e At lantic in all seasons do not car ry more than six men . II 

and I have known some of them to sail with four or five hands. 

I

- 7 - 

To s ome c au s e o r othe r o u r f o r eign f leet ha s been dwindling down 

a n d g rowing l e s s for the past fifteen or t wenty y e ars , a nd , as the 

ve s s els a re l ost, t h e y arc not r e pla c ed, a t l e ast, by the same quality 

of vessels as tho s e I h a ve men t ioned above . 

A f e w years ago , we had a f leet o f fifty v e s s els ; today we have 

no t mo r e t han t we nty f i ve. Sixty year s ago several ve s s els were 

built a t Cartwright, Labrador, an d it wa s in one o f the m, t he Notion 

t hat o u r l ate respected t own sman, Ch arle s El l is Esq, came to t his 

country from England. He often t old me she was a splendid vessel , 

we l l b u i l t and a fast sai ler. She wa s bri gan t i ne rigged. 

Mr. Pic cott, the membe r f o r Harbor Grace , and Minister o f Ha rine 

a nd Fishe r i e s d e s e r ve s t he t ha nk s of t he people in s teering t he Bi l l 

through the Assembl y , a nd I am cer tai n e very rig h t thin king person 

in this c ountry wi l l wish Hr. Coaker every s uccess in his ship-building 

e n t e rprise t hat t he company is abou t t o star t i n Ca talina. We cer 

t ainly have not o u r Kear neys , Newhooks , Pi t t mans , Stowe I s e tc , o f the 

long ago amongst us, whos e na me s shone so b ril l iant ly in bygone years , 

and t he ve s s els put o u t o f hand by them had no s uperiors on t he ocean 

b l ue; but we s til l h ave scores of master-b u i l ders , who onl y await the 

oppor t u ni ty t o e xer c ise t heir ski l l and natural talent to p u t o ut 

of h and models in mar i ne a r chitec t u re tha t wi l l even compare favorably 

with tho s e greyhounds of t he At lant i c which in f o rmer yea rs upheld 

the r ecords in the mercantile ma r ine o f Ne wf ou nd land .

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