THE PHYSIOGRAPHY OF LABRADOR T5 
— temperature in the north even falling on rare occasions 
to 45-50° below zero F. Travelling is improved by the 
heavier falls of snow, which fill the dangerous hollows and 
smooth off the rough, rocky points. The Arctic ice blocks 
the coast and keeps the swell from breaking up the ice in 
the bays. The Strait of Belle Isle is choked. The hood 
and harp seals are working southwards in the sea off New- 
foundland and in the Gulf, to whelp on the loose floes around 
which they find the fish. Fox-trapping with hunting for 
marten or sables, minks, musquash, and other species is in 
full swing on the land. 
March. A splendid, bright, bracing, cold month. The 
reflection of the sun from the snow makes it imperative to 
protect the eyes with coloured spectacles, since a single 
day’s exposure will blind a man. The skin gets so tanned 
that the whites begin to resemble Indians in colour. The 
settler never loses the tawny colour. This constant sun 
bath, in spite of the low temperatures, has an excellent 
tonic effect on weakly people. The snow is now hard, and 
it is as easy to travel through thick woods as in the open. 
Much longer distances can be covered by the dogs in a day; 
they can be given their heads to choose their own paths. 
Furs are in their prime. The annual seal hunt from New- 
foundland takes place, and all along the southern seaboard 
the settlers are on the watch for baby seals on the ice. 
Some of the birds are breeding, e.g. the Canada jay. Settlers 
are cutting logs and hauling them out for summer fire-wood. 
Some traps are now taken up, as certain furs cease to be 
in prime condition. 
April. The bright, hot sun in the middle of the day 
begins to thaw the snow, which freezes hard again at night. 
