18 FISHEEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 



iiew parsou, or jjerhaps he is called the 'skipper' of the church. The master of the house, what- 

 ever his occupation, is invariably 'the skipper,' and the mistress is 'the woman.' 'How's the 

 woman?' is the usual way in which a man is asked regarding the health of his wife. Gaining an 

 advantage over a man is called 'getting to windward of him.' 'Mr. Blank is a terrible knowin' 

 man ; tbere's no gettin' to windward of him.' Is a man prosperous, he is said to be making 'head- 

 way'; if the reverse, he is 'going to leeward.' To initiate any undertaking is described as 'getting 

 it und-er way'; and to live meanly and parsimoniously is to 'go very near the wind.' TLere is a 

 world of meaning in the Newfoundland proverb, ' the big fish eat the little ones.' Thus pithily and 

 with a sort of mournful cynicism do they at times describe their own forlorn condition at the end 

 of a fishing season, when, in payment of their debts, the whole proceeds of their toil go to the store 

 of the wealthy merchant, while they are half starving during winter. 



"Of profitless talk, it is said in reproof, 'words fill no nets.' A dull, plodding man, who suc- 

 ceeds in spite of deficiency by honest industry, is said to ' get on by dint of stupidity and hard 

 work' — a most expressive description. 



"Another peculiarity of the Newfoundland fishermen, derived from their sea-faring habits, is 

 an inordinate fondness for flags. Every merchant has his flag flying on his storehouse or wharf, 

 as though a state of active warfare existed, while at the principal harbors the approach of each 

 vessel is signaled by a flag, be it schooner, brig, brigantine, or ship. On Signal Hill, overlooking 

 Saint John's Harbor, three masts are erected, and at times, when a number of vessels are approach- , 

 ing the port, these, with their yards, look like a draper's shop, with the various flags stieaming in 

 the wind. Flags, however, are utilized in other ways. When any important personage has 'crossed 

 the bourne whence no traveler returns,' the flags are hoisted half-mast; but when a wedding takes 

 place, all the bunting in the place floats in the breeze. Big 'sealing guns' [used in shooting seals 

 on the ice], whose report is like that of small cannon, are brought out and fired continuously, and 

 evidently afford the greatest delight on these joyous occasions. In the ' outports,' as all places 

 but Saint John's are named, it is usual to catch the happy couple'in a net as they emerge from a 

 church — a symbolic net, perhaps— indicating that both are netted for life. In these 'outports,' too, 

 church bells are few and far between, and the time for each service is indicated by hoisting on a 

 pole a flag, on which is emblazoned the miter or the cross. Each school-house, too, has its flag- 

 staff, and when the flag is hoisted the urchins are seen coming along the paths, 'creeping like snails 

 unwillingly to school.' 



" Near the shores Newfoundland is rocky, the ground being everywhere covered with stones of 

 all sizes. The word 'stone,' however, is rarely used, the smallest pebble and the largest bowlder 

 being alike called a 'rock.' Boys invariably speak of ' firing rocks,' but never of throwing stones. 

 A servant was asked how she hadJjeen spending her time lately. Her reply, 'Why, I have been 

 heavin' rocks out of them raisins for the best part of an hour.' Thus ' stoning fruit,' is ' heavin ' 

 rocks' in Newfoundland. So abundant are the rocks in some places and so scanty the soil that 

 suitable ground for the burial of the dead cannot be found ; and amid huge bowlders the graves 

 are made by soil brought from a distance; or, where this is not possible, the cofQn is laid upon the 

 rock above ground and then walled in and covered. It is not very uncommon for graves to be dug 

 less in depth than the cofiQn. Of course this is true only in certain localities. 



" Among the primitive population of the ' outports' there is, among the Protestant portion, 

 a wonderful passion for choosing names taken from the Old Testament, and these at times the 

 oddest and most uncommon they can select. Israels, Eeubens, Daniels, Azariahs, and Isaiahs are 

 plentiful as 'rocks.' But it is rather startling to be introduced to Miss Lo Euhamah Tucker, or 

 Miss Lo-Ammi Squires, and to be told that the little flaxen-headed girl you are trying to make 



