THE PEOPLE OF THE COAST 171 
in the Arctics and subarctic regions finds a solution. The 
drifting ice, whether as pan or resistless berg, is almost 
prohibitive of submarine cables. The immense bays, with 
their endless indraughts, make land wires out of the 
question. . 
With commendable zeal, and with great success, the 
Canadians have succeeded in running a wire all the way 
from Quebec along the north shore of the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence to the Straits. Unfortunately the line ends 
at Chateau, twenty-eight miles from Battle Harbour, 
where the terminal Marconi station is situated. 
In winter, residence in Labrador is specially discouraged 
by lack of communication, and the permanent population, 
except around the newly established mills, is decreasing 
steadily. The existing arrangement of one or, at most, 
two mails carried by dogs is not sufficient to meet the needs 
of a population of English-speaking people during a whole 
winter. 
Labrador could easily carry a large and healthy popula- 
tion if the artificial conditions were improved. The resi- 
dents on the shore from Red Bay to Quebec show no desire 
to leave it; yet even for them very little is done to en- 
courage them to remain. The same applies to the whole 
north coast of Newfoundland. A telegraph line or a chain 
of wireless stations is badly needed. Such rudimentary 
adjuncts of modern civilization will no doubt shortly be 
afforded them. 
Exclusive of a school grant of $2000, the total appropria- 
tions for Labrador are under $30,000 per annum. Twenty 
thousand dollars of this is for the summer mail steamer 
and the Marconi stations; $2000 is for collecting revenue 
