THE COD AND COD-FISHERY 301 



kind whatever existed along this same area, and now only 

 two small lighthouses on dark, wintry nights serve to guide 

 these fisherfolk along more than one thousand miles of coast. 

 This fact becomes more significant when one remembers 

 that most of the craft are, as has been stated, obliged to 

 run along the reefs and islands, and are not able to keep to 

 the open sea and run home " on the outside." The average 

 mariner would consider that at least a good chart of the 

 journey on which the vessels were bound was a prime es- 

 sential, without which no one would be likely to venture. 

 But regretfully we must add that no such thing exists. 

 The present survey is so imperfect that in many places only 

 dotted outlines indicate the actual shore-line, while many 

 shoals and hidden dangers are either inaccurately placed 

 or not marked at all. 



Fortunately, the tides of the southern part of Labrador 

 are, as far as navigation goes, practically unimportant, 

 though they are often, and more especially with northwest 

 to northeast winds, too strong for the big nets. 



The rise and fall of the tide is about six feet as far as 

 Cape Harrigan. But as Cape Chidley is neared, the tides 

 grow stronger and rise higher, till in Hudson Strait they 

 rise thirty-five to forty feet, and run six to eight knots an 

 hour. Boiling whirlpools and eddies seethe in the current 

 of Gray Straits, and navigation in a schooner is, even at 

 best, both difficult and dangerous. 



In view of all the dangers, one must feel proud of this 

 crowd of emigrant fisherfolk, proud of their physical 

 courage, their self-reliant resourcefulness, of that big heart 

 which makes them willing to " venture out" early each 

 summer. 



