86 THE LABRADOR PENINSULA. chap. xxvi. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE VOYAGE TO MINGAN. 



A Gulf FisLing Schooner — Berths — Heads and Points — 

 A bright Day in the Gulf — Beautiful Effects of Mirage in the 

 Estuary — "Whales — The Sulphur-bottomed Whale — The Gaspe 

 Whale Fisheiy — The White Whale — Vast Numbers of the White 

 Whale in the St. La-wrence — Esquimaux Mode of capturing 

 the "VMiite Whale — Sharks — Why the Captain was thankful for 

 Sharks — Pickled Sharks — Seaweed — Beauties of the Gulf — 

 Landing through the Surf in a Canoe — Long Point — New Fishing 

 Station — Settlements on the Coast — The Great Banks — Arrive 

 at Mingan. 



UK vessel was a topsail schooner of eiglity tons burden, 

 and her crew consisted of the captain, who hailed 

 ft'oni ISTew Carhsle, Bay of Chaleurs, three men, and a boy. 

 The cabin was just twelve feet square, having on each 

 side four sleeping-places, which in courtesy were termed 

 berths, but from their construction were far from being 

 conducive to repose. The captain pointed to these dens 

 with an air of pride at the extent of accommodation his 

 cabin afforded, saying emphatically, ' There, that berth 

 holds two ; so does that : if you find two too many in 

 them, one of you can sleep on the lockers, but I've 

 known two bigger men than any in your party sleep 

 hke rocks in them berths.' 



' How did they lie ? ' said I, after having taken pos- 

 session of one, and found that the sloping side of the 



