170 LABRADOR 



she still loses time. Day and night, when possible, she 

 travels, but the scarcity of lights, the miserable survey, 

 and the absence of artificial assistance to enter harbours, 

 leave no question that she has far more work than she can 

 accomplish. 



The passenger traffic alone is far more than she is able 

 properly to undertake. The improved conditions of the 

 fishery enable fishermen to get cash to pay for passages 

 home by steamer so as to save time in the autumn. Thus, 

 so many travel that even the available floor space is at 

 times all too small for those crowding aboard. On some 

 trips the gangway has had to be kept up to prevent more 

 passengers coming aboard. For care, courage, courtesy, 

 and efforts to please, the crew of the Labrador mail vessel 

 cannot be beaten; but they cannot create space. The 

 irregularities thus caused and the uncertainty as to the 

 time of her arrival are also a great source of loss of time 

 and money. Moreover, considering the importance of the 

 fishery to the country, one mail per fortnight is not nearly 

 enough. 



Five Marconi stations have been placed on the coast, 

 and these are of very great value. They cover two hun- 

 dred miles of coast, but do not yet connect with New- 

 foundland, and only very indirectly with anywhere. When 

 the Canadian station on Belle Isle is working, then Labra- 

 dor can talk with the outside world via Canada. But none 

 of these stations is opened except in the summer months. 

 The government proposes soon to extend and complete this 

 line of communication, which will then be of infinite value 

 to Labrador, its trade, its people, and its visitors. 



In the wireless system, the problem of communication 



