144 LABRADOR 



and winter's fur hunt, they obtain food and clothing, to- 

 gether with a few " luxuries." Early in the summer they 

 leave their houses on the inlet for the outer coast, where 

 they engage in the cod-fishing, usually with nets and gear 

 provided by some Newfoundland fishing firm. As a rule, 

 the amount of fish caught does not pay for the advances 

 of provisions and clothing at the prices charged by the 

 merchants, so they get deeper and deeper in debt year by 

 year. At the close of the cod-fishery they return to their 

 houses on the inlet, stopping on the way at the Hudson's 

 Bay posts, where they receive other advances of provisions 

 and clothing to be charged against their coming winter's 

 hunt. Arriving home, they dig their potatoes and catch 

 and freeze trout, which swarm in the mouths of all the 

 streams at this season. As soon as sufficient snow falls, 

 they set their traps for marten, fox, otter, lynx, and other 

 fur-bearing animals. Each hunter has a "path" or line 

 of traps fifty miles or more in length. A single winter 

 visit to all the traps on the line may involve a week's 

 journey. Small " shacks" or shelters, where the hunters 

 may pass the night, are built at convenient distances along 

 the path. 



With the advent of spring, the skins get out of condition, 

 and the fur path is abandoned for the seal hunt. These 

 animals are killed by shooting them on the ice, where they 

 come up through cracks and holes to bask in the sun. 

 Later, when the ice leaves, they are caught in heavy nets. 

 By the time the seal hunt is over, the garden dug, and 

 potatoes planted, it is time to go to the outer coast for the 

 cod-fishery. 



This is the yearly round of the planter. It applies all 



