THE TRUCK SYSTEM 8 1 



an average 100 fish go to the quintal, that is, each 

 man must catch 30,000 fish. Each quintal is worth 

 in St. Johns from 2^ to 3 dollars, so that 275 dollars 

 is a good season, less 30 dollars for salt 245 dollars, 

 or about 50. It must be remembered many will 

 only average 20 quintals some years, or 50 dollars, 

 not 50. The average catch per head for "bank" 

 fishermen last year was 474 quintals. How often a 

 man will be dependent, therefore, on charity for a 

 supply of food for himself and his family during the 

 winter becomes apparent. 



Often the winter's diet that can be laid in is 

 all too small for the needs of the family; and' be- 

 fore the breaking up of the ice once more allows 

 cod-fishing to commence, and the planters to return 

 from Newfoundland, the poor Livyeres are reduced 

 to living on " the landwash." " A short feast and 

 a long famine " is a coast epigram. 



Clothing is perhaps most difficult to find money 

 for, and is apt to become so scanty that the settler, 

 for lack of proper protection from the weather, 

 cannot prosecute his fishing or hunting, especially 

 where the temperature falls to 50, or even more, 

 below zero. I met one poor fellow who years before 

 had missed his way home at night and had had to 

 sleep out in the open. He had lost both feet from 

 frost-bite. One can realize the need for woollen 

 clothing. When near Winnipeg, in North Manitoba, 

 I saw a young Englishman, who had been caught 

 out in a blizzard, and had lost both hands and both 



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