378 GLOSSARY 



Shares. Men are said to work on the shares when they have a pro- 

 portion of what they kill or make, in lieu of wages; their employer fur- 

 nishing craft. 



Shin. An instrument of wood, to take rinds off the trees. 



Shoal - net. A net to catch seals in. It is generally forty fathoms 

 long by two deep. The foot of it is brought to, on a shallop's old rode, 

 and the head, on two fishing-lines; with corks between. It is set in any 

 depth of water, not exceeding fifteen fathoms nor less than three, and 

 moored by a couple of killicks, fastened by eight or ten fathoms of rope 

 to the ends of the foot-rope, which by its weight keeps the foot of the net 

 close to the bottom of the water, and the corks make it stand perpen- 

 dicular. As the seals dive along near the bottom to fish, they strike into 

 the net and are entangled; for the net is placed, with one end towards 

 the shore, and the other right off. The Pryor-pole at the outer clew 

 (corner) and the bobber at the inner one, shew where the net is. The 

 sealers lay hold of either, and by their means bring the head of the net 

 to the boat; they then haul their boat along to the other end, and take 

 the seals out as they go. 



Shoals of Seals, or Fish. A number of seals or fish being in com- 

 pany, are called a shoal. I presume the term arose, from the breaking of 

 the water among them, appearing like the rippling of shoaly ground. ^ 



Shoot in a River. A place where the stream, being confined by rocks 

 which appear above water, is shot through the apertm-e with great force. 



Shore. A stout post placed on the side of a beam in a reclined posi- 

 tion, to prevent its giving way on that side. 



Shoremen. The people who are employed on shore, to head, split, and 

 salt the codfish. 



Shore up a Boat. When a boat is placed upon the blocks, and set 

 upright, several shores are placed on each side; to prevent its falling 

 either to one side or the other. 



Silver - fox. A black-fox, with white king-hairs dispersed on the back 

 of it. [A colour variety of the Labrador red fox, Vulpes rubiginosa bangsi.] 



Silver - thaw. When it rains and freezes at the same time. 



Slink. A salmon which has spawned, and has not yet recovered itself 

 by returning into the sea; till which time, it never will. [Salmo salar.] 



Slip. A snare for catching deer, bears, or other large animals. They 

 are made^ of various materials, aqcordingly as a man is provided. 



Slot. The foot-mark of deer. 



Spring Fish. A salmon which is in perfect season. [Salmo salar.] 



Spruce -Game. A bird of the grouse genus. [Hudsonian spruce 

 grouse, Canachites canadensis.] 



Spudgel. a small bucket fixed to the end of a pole, to throw the water 

 out of a boat, which has no pump. 



> The Century Dictionary says that shoal is the assibilated form of school, mean- 

 ing a company, a multitude. 



