Along the Labrador Coast / by Charles Wendell Townsend.

  • Townsend, Charles Wendell, 1859-1934.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Along the Labrador Coast / by Charles Wendell Townsend. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    man’s hair stand on end. Whenever the wind is favourable the fishermen put up a couple of masts with spritsails stained a picturesque brown or red, often using the boat-hook as a sprit, and glide over the waves with the great oar out behind for a rudder. Many a time I was reminded of a pictme of vikings as these great fishing-boats swept by in the stormy sea with their freight of hardy fishermen. The cod generally follow the caplin, but this is not always the case, for at Battle Harbour capHn were abimdant, yet “ fish ” were scarce. ‘ Caplin are small fish of about the size and appearance of smelts, and make most excellent bait for cod. They are easily caught in great numbers by lowering a net in which they are drawn up. While fresh they are delicious eating, but they are usually salted and dried, and they are commonly spread on the roofs of the tilts for this piirpose. It grieves the careful soul to see so many of these fish wasted, allowed to spoil in the drjdng, or caught and left in piles to rot, because the fisherman is too lazy to attend to such an ordinary article.