PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 111 
5. Scytaliscus nom. gen. noy. 
The name Scytalina given by us in 1880 to a genus of Congrogadoid 
fishes, is perhaps too near Scytalinus Erichson 1840, a genus of Coleop- 
tera. We may therefore substitute for it the name Scytaliscus. The type 
is Seytalina cerdale J. & G. 
NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF LABRADOR. 
By W. A. STEARNS. 
There has been much contention between the two great powers, 
France and England, as to who first discovered this great peninsula of 
Labrador. It was certainly visited by Sebastian Cabot in 1496; and 
more or less explored by the Portuguese Cortereal, who, it is supposed, 
named it. 
The popular tradition of the coast seems to be “that one Labrador, a 
Basque whaler, from the kingdom of Nevarre, in Spain, did penetrate 
through the Straits of Belle Isleas far as Labrador Bay, some time 
about the middle of the fifteenth century, and eventually the whole 
coast took its name from that coast and harbor.” 
There is very little doubt but that the coast here was visited by 
Norsemen as early as the tenth century. 
There exists strong proof, also, that the discovery of this coast was 
made known by Basque fishermen. . 
As early as 1509, a chart of the coast had been published and was in 
the possession of the French. 
In 1532, Jacques Cartier visited the coast with Basque fishermen for 
pilots. 
The first established colony in Labrador appears to be that at * Brest,” 
now Bradore, which was founded 1508, and soon contained 200 houses 
and 1,000 inhabitants, which number was trebled in the summer time 
or fishing season; but this colony did not survive over a century or a 
century and a half. 
At present, from Red Bay to Natashquan, a distance of over 400 
miles, there is scarcely a township containing more than thirty resident. 
families. 
The principal seal-fishing establishments are at La Tabatier, Dog 
Islands, Bradore, Long Point, and L’anse Loup. At these the average 
catch of eight stations, where hand nets are used, that are about 40 to 
75 fathoms long and 30 feet deep is 800 large and 50 to 100 small harp: 
and hood seal. The catch of Newfoundland and other steamers and 
vessels is 13,000 to 16,000 young “ white coats” on the ice in the spring. 
These figures are increased or diminished according to the season. 
I have visited nearly every station of importance from Mingan to Tri- 
angle Harbor, some miles north of Belle Isle, and every where found the 
people hard at work at their fishery in the summer time. 
