166 LABRADOR 



are wise enough to know that life does not consist in the 

 abundance of things man possesses. The joy of life on 

 our coast comes of a peace of mind due to a real faith in 

 God's fatherhood and our sonship, and from every high 

 ideal realized on that premise. Without any theories it 

 is the simplest " simple life." There is no room in Labrador 

 for persons affected with the " dementia of owning things." 

 If ever by elimination of their faith or by the introduction 

 of the "habits of civilization" our people are deprived of 

 that faith, life on the coast would be little short of a purga- 

 tory to be endured. So strongly do our people feel on this 

 matter of keeping Sunday strictly for rest that one of our 

 laws runs that "no person shall, between the hours of 

 twelve o'clock on Saturday night, and twelve o'clock on 

 Sunday night, take or catch in any manner whatsoever, 

 any herring, caplin, squid, or any other bait fish, or set or 

 put out any contrivance whatsoever for taking them," 

 just such a law as prevailed one hundred years ago about 

 salmon-catching in Ireland. Oddly enough, the law does 

 not prevent catching the cod themselves, so we cannot 

 prevent the long lines being hauled by our cousins from 

 "civilization." When remonstrated with, however, they 

 have almost always shown enough good feeling to give way 

 to the wishes and customs of our people. 



The first of the fleet that leaves for Labrador sets out as 

 early as the end of April. Those from the outports have 

 still, owing to the unfortunate centralization of trade at 

 St. John's, to repair first almost to the very extreme south 

 of Newfoundland for supplies, and thence to leave for the 

 north again. The southern vessels that come out of the 

 winter ice early frequently find time to do some coasting 



1 



