CHAPTER XLII. 



Episode : Cod-Fishing in Labrador. 



" Although I had seen, as I thought, abundance of fish along 

 the coasts of the Floridas, the numbers which I found in 

 Labrador quite astonished me. Should your surprise while 

 reading the following statements be as great as mine was while 

 observing the facts related, you will conclude, as I have often 

 done, that Nature's means for providing small animals for the 

 use of large ones, and vice versa, are as ample as is the grandeur 

 of that world which she has so curiously constructed. The coast 

 of Labrador is visited by European as well as American fisher- 

 men, all of whom are, I believe, entitled to claim portions of 

 fishing ground, assigned to each nation by mutual understanding. 

 For the present, however, I shall confine my observations to 

 those who chiefly engage iri this -department of our commerce. 

 Eastport in Maine sends out every year a goodly fleet of 

 schooners and ' pick-axes ' to Labrador, to procure cod, mackerel, 

 halibut, and sometimes herring, the latter being caught in the 

 intermediate space. The vessels from that port, and others in 

 Maine and Massachusetts, sail as soon as the warmth of spring 

 has freed the guK of ice, that is from the beginning of May to 

 that of June. 



" A vessel of one hundred tons or so is provided with a crew of 

 twelve men, who are equally expert as sailors and fishers, and 

 for every couple of these hardy tars a Hampton boat is provided, 

 which is lashed on the deck or hung in stays. Their provision 

 is simple, but of good quality, and it is very seldom any spirits 

 are allowed ; beef, pork, and biscuit, with water, being all they 

 take with them. The men are supplied with warm clothing, 



