18 FISHERMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



new parson, or perhaps lie is called the 'skipper' of the church. The master of the house, what- 

 ever his occupation, is invariably 'the skipper,' and the mistress is 'the woman.' 'How's the 

 woman?' is the usual way in which a man is asked regarding the health of his wife. Gaining an 

 advantage over a man is called 'getting to windward of him.' 'Mr. Blank is a terrible knowin' 

 man; tbere's no gettiu' to windward of liim.' Is a man prosperous, he is said to be making 'head- 

 way'; if the reverse, he is 'going to leeward.' To initiate any undertaking is described as 'getting 

 it under way'; and to live meanly and parsimoniously is to 'go very near tbe wind.' Tbere is a 

 world of meaning in the Newfoundland proverb, ' the big fish eat the little ones.' Thus pithily and 

 with a sort of mournful cynicism do they at times describe their own forlorn condition at tbe end 

 of a fishing season, when, in payment of their debts, the whole proceeds of their toil go to tbe store 

 of the wealthy merchant, while they are half starving during winter. 



"Of profitless talk, it is said in reproof, 'words fill no nets.' A dull, plodding man, who suc- 

 ceeds in spite of deficiency by honest industry, is said to ' get on by dint of stupidity and hard 

 work' — a most expressive description. 



"Another peculiarity of the Newfoundland fishermen, derived from their sea-faring habits, is 

 an inordinate fondness for flags. Every merchant has his flag flying on his storehouse or wharf, 

 as though a state of active warfare existed, while at the principal harbors the approach of each 

 vessel is signaled by a flag, be it schooner, brig, brigantine, or ship. On Signal Hill, overlooking 

 Saint John's Harbor, three masts are erected, and at times, when a number of vessels are approach- 

 ing the port, these, -with their yards, look like a draper's shop, with the various flags streaming in 

 the wind. Flags, however, are utilized in other ways. When any important personage has 'crossed 

 the bourne whence no traveler returns,' the flags are hoisted half mast; but when a wedding takes 

 place, all the bunting in the place floats in the breeze. Big 'sealing guns' [used in shooting seals 

 on the ice], whose report is like that of small cannon, are brought out and fired continuously, and 

 evidently 7 afford the greatest delight on these joyous occasions. In the 'outports,' as ail places 

 but Saint John's are named, it is usual to catch the happy couple in a net as they emerge from a 

 church — a symbolic net, perhaps— indicating that both are netted for life. In these 'outports,' too, 

 church bells are few and far between, and the time for each service is indicated by hoisting on a 

 pole a flag, on which is emblazoned the miter or the cross. Each school-house, too, lias its flag- 

 staff, and when the flag is hoisted the urchins are seen coming along the paths, 'creeping like snails 

 unwillingly 7 to school.' 



" Near the shores Newfoundland is rocky, the ground being everywhere covered with stones of 

 all sizos. The word 'stone,' however, is rarely used, the smallest pebble and the largest bowlder 

 being alike called a 'rock.' Boys invariably speak of ' firing rocks,' but never of throwing stones. 

 A servant was asked how she had been spending her lime lately. Her reply, 'Why, I have been 

 heavin' rocks out of them raisins for the best pari of an hour.' Thus ' stoning fruit,' is 'heavin' 

 rocks' in Newfoundland. So abundant are the rocks in some places and so scanty the soil that 

 suitable ground for the burial of the dead cannot lie found ; and amid huge bowlders the graves 

 are made by soil brought from a distance; or, where this is not possible, the coffin is laid upon the 

 rock above ground and then walled in and covered. It is not very uncommon for graves t<> be dug 

 less in depth than the coffin. Of course this is true only in certain localities. 



" Among the primitive population of the 'outports' there is, among the Protestant portion, 

 a wonderful passion fur choosing names taken from the Old Testament, and these at times the 

 oddest and most uncommon they can select. Israels, Reubens, Daniels, Azariahs, and Isaiahs are 

 plentiful as ' rocks.' But it is rather startling to he introduced to Miss Lo Ruhainah Tucker, or 

 Miss Lo-Ammi Squires, and to he told that the little flaxen-headed girl you are trying to make 



