SQUARE ISLAND HARBOR. I41 



ing into her deep little harbor, where she anchored in 

 thirteen fathoms, some of us landed, and what a scene 

 lay before us ! On every square rod of flat rock on the 

 steep sides of the harbor was a Newfoundlander's " tilt" 

 or summer house. The sides made of logs or plank, the 

 roof of turf, a square chimney of wood and mud, the 

 four corner-posts projecting above. They were scattered 

 about on the rocks like bee-hives, under the shelter of 

 the cliffs on a low promontory, while the landing-places 

 or " stages" were supported on long poles. 



In the miniature garden-lots some of the children 

 were turning the sod with rude spades, others were 

 bringing soil from the naked rocks about into protected 

 .places where they were to attempt the cultivation of a 

 few turnips and cabbages. On the shores of the harbor 

 was a narrow margin of grass enriched by the drippings 

 of years from the fish-flakes which, supported on stakes 

 like those on the Maine coast, ran down in parallel rows 

 to near the water's edge, where were ground-flakes, or 

 floors of poles lying on the ground. The sides of the tilt 

 were here and there ornamented with a sealskin tacked 

 against the wall. The houses of the "long-shore-men;" 

 or those of the permanent residents, were clapboarded 

 and a little better looking than the tilts. It was warm 

 and truly delightful ashore, the wind coming from over 

 the hills and mosses ; the thermometer was 70° F., and 

 we learned that for two days it had been unusually 

 warm and pleasant. 



The insects formed an assemblage which in northern 

 New England would be regarded as a mixture of April 

 and early June forms, Corethra and Tanapus, two gnats, 

 which in New England are April forms, mingled with 



