THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OF LABRADOR 75 



temperature in the north even falling on rare occasions 

 to 45-50 below zero F. Travelling is improved by the 

 heavier falls of snow, which fill the dangerous hollows and 

 smooth off the rough, rocky points. The Arctic ice blocks 

 the coast and keeps the swell from breaking up the ice in 

 the bays. The Strait of Belle Isle is choked. The hood 

 and harp seals are working southwards in the sea off New- 

 foundland and in the Gulf, to whelp on the loose floes around 

 which they find the fish. Fox-trapping with hunting for 

 marten or sables, minks, musquash, and other species is in 

 full swing on the land. 



March. A splendid, bright, bracing, cold month. The 

 reflection of the sun from the snow makes it imperative to 

 protect the eyes with coloured spectacles, since a single 

 day's exposure will blind a man. The skin gets so tanned 

 that the whites begin to resemble Indians in colour. The 

 settler never loses the tawny colour. This constant sun 

 bath, in spite of the low temperatures, has an excellent 

 tonic effect on weakly people. The snow is now hard, and 

 it is as easy to travel through thick woods as in the open. 

 Much longer distances can be covered by the dogs in a day ; 

 they can be given their heads to choose their own paths. 

 Furs are in their prime. The annual seal hunt from New- 

 foundland takes place, and all along the southern seaboard 

 the settlers are on the watch for baby seals on the ice. 

 Some of the birds are breeding, e.g. the Canada jay. Settlers 

 are cutting logs and hauling them out for summer fire-wood. 

 Some traps are now taken up, as certain furs cease to be 

 in prime condition. 



April. The bright, hot sun in the middle of the day 

 begins to thaw the snow, which freezes hard again at night. 



