

CHAPTER II 



TRAVELLED ROUTES TO LABRADOR 

 BY W. T. GRENFELL 



THE northeast coast of Labrador can be reached at pres- 

 ent only via Newfoundland. A passenger steamer runs 

 from each side of the island to Labrador. These steamers 

 belong to the Reid- Newfoundland Company, and receive a 

 subsidy to carry the mails. They are both smart, stout 

 boats, and are in the hands of such old experienced pilot 

 captains that in spite of the badly charted coast, the ice- 

 bergs, and the absence of most of the aids to navigation in 

 the more beaten tracks, no danger beyond what is inci- 

 dental to every sea trip need be anticipated. There has 

 never yet been a life lost from accident on these mail boats 

 visiting the Labrador coast. 



The tourist must choose whether he wishes to go by the 

 west or east coast of Newfoundland. The east coast boat 

 runs once a fortnight. She calls at many points along the 

 east coast of Labrador as far as Nain, in lat. 56, and also 

 at several points on the east coast of Newfoundland. The 

 west coast boat makes weekly trips, starting from Bay of 

 Islands. She touches at ports on the island, crosses the 

 Strait, and visits the southern shore of Labrador, from 

 Bonne Esperance to Battle Harbour, at the entrance to the 

 Strait of Belle Isle. Here she connects with the east coast 



37 



