FISH 193 



was still decorated with flakes, and even to-day flakes still 

 lend their peculiar poetry and fragrance to Quidi Vidi and the 

 smaller out-ports. Cod-fish, alive or dead, wet or dry, have 

 exercised an all-pervading influence over the destiny of 

 Newfoundland. 



Until lately 1 cod-fish were never caught in winter, but the which only 



whole ' unsown harvest of the sea ' was reaped and gathered occu Py 



f summer, 



m between May and October. If, then, all Newfoundlanders and there- 



were codders, why should not they learn a lesson from , 



J ly suggested 



cod, and absent themselves from an island where they were an annual 



not wanted for six months in the year ? This was the un- P assm s an(l 



repassing 

 answerable question which was asked again and again by of the 



advocates of the old English policy, which encouraged 

 a fishing-fleet_tp_ply' between Newfoundland and 



every year. Again, if residents never did anything seriously 

 excepffish for cod, were they not like fish out of water in 

 winter ? Might they not become idlers, drinkers, or paupers ? 

 At all events, they would be happier and better employed in 

 England. This view was at the bottom of the old policy 

 which discouraged residents. The political ideal of keeping A 

 England provided -with hosts of men and ocean sailors, and / 

 with wooden walls, like those which repelled the Spanish S 

 Armada, only reinforced a position which was after all J 

 founded upon a study of man and cod. 



But common sense replied to these arguments of common but also 

 sense by arguments which were conclusive as far as they went, SC 



although they did not go far. caretakers; 



Ever since Cabot and his successors caught cod by letting neverthe- 

 down hampers from their decks into the sea, all cod, including 



those that were caught on the high seas, were caught in rowing- little more 

 boats. It would be the height of absurdity to bring the samfiV^, * 

 boats from England or to build new boats in Newfoundland^ 

 each year, but boats could not be left in the island without somej 

 one to mind and mend them. Ever since the time of Guy 

 1 Post, p. 213 



VOL. V. PT. IV Q 



