T* 



THE TRUCK SYSTEM 77 



that it is alone the cause of so many of its younger 

 and more energetic men leaving the country as soon 

 as they can see their way to do so for no race 

 loves its country with more patriotic affection than 

 do Newfoundlanders. 



Up to the end of the eighteenth century no one was 

 allowed to remain in Newfoundland after the fishing 

 season, each captain of a fishing vessel being held re- 

 sponsible, under heavy penalty, to bring back all his 

 crew to England ; while if any one did desert and 

 remain behind to be near the fishing grounds, and 

 to reap the harvest of the sea for his own benefit, 

 his stage, and even house and goods, might be ap- 

 propriated by the first fishing captain out next year. 

 This made it only possible for fishermen to go out 

 when some merchant capitalist would finance the 

 voyage, who, in return, repaid himself out of the 

 fish caught. 



Now many vessels were sent out, and though the 

 catch of fish by any individual vessel was uncer- 

 tain for fish set into one place one year and an- 

 other the next the whole catch would generally 

 repay the merchant amply. But as in some cases 

 all vessels of one merchant might do badly, a large 

 price was charged on goods advanced as a further 

 security for the merchant, that in any case he 

 might be quite sure to recoup himself for his out- 

 lay. And lastly, though there might be no immedi- 

 ate return in fish or cash, yet the fishermen at 

 once began to accumulate a large nominal debt ; 



