CHAPTER XIV 



ON SEALS AND SEALERS 



Thes.s. Sir Donald. 



1 



hair seal, lo- 

 cally "swile," 

 affords to the New- 

 foundland fisherman 

 almost the only means 

 of work in winter 

 which will help him 

 to eke out the meagre 

 living provided by 

 his Labrador voy- 

 ages. True, there is 

 a home frozen-her- 

 ring trade, but it is 

 limited to the west 

 coast; and also the 

 new railway employs 

 a certain number of 

 men as long as the 



inclemencies of winter allow work to proceed. But 

 it is to the spring sealing, or " going to the ice," as 

 they call it, that most look for the extra few dollars to 

 help fill the children's mouths. Not long ago every 



'57 



