THE PEOPLE OF THE COAST 167 



before leaving for Labrador, and will carry loads of lumber, 

 etc., to the capital. But this cannot be done by those who 

 desire to make two cargoes at the fishing-grounds or by 

 those who live in northern ports. Their vessels scarcely 

 get out of the winter ice early enough. 



In Canadian waters the trap berths are leased to the 

 same parties year after year by the government, who 

 charge so much per fathom for the " leading" net. There 

 is thus no great incentive to be down on that part of the 

 coast too early. 



On the part of the Labrador coast which is under New- 

 foundland jurisdiction, the first comer takes the best berths. 

 This led to such unnecessarily early starts, with the suffer- 

 ing involved and risks incurred from pushing down among 

 the floe-ice, that laws were made preventing berths being 

 claimed till a certain date, according to the latitude. 

 Any net set before that time is not only taken up, but 

 the owner is fined. Every year, however, numerous dis- 

 putes and quarrels arise from the eagerness to be sure of 

 the choice of places, and never a season passes without 

 some being brought to the travelling magistrate for settle- 

 ment. 



Some fishermen, without trying for more than one voy- 

 age, go direct to the spot of their choice, however long they 

 will have to wait. These men, though living on their 

 vessels, will always be found in the same places. Their 

 schooners at anchor might almost be marked on the chart. 

 These men, such as the Whites of Twillingate, the Milleys, 

 the Lansons, the Harbours, etc., are almost always success- 

 ful men. 



Most of the schooners, however, are obliged to wander 



