their parbuckle for the Labrador cruise. The "merchant," usually the owner of the schooner, supplies a "planter" with provisions, the latter hires the crew, paying them $100 to $120 a season. If the men fish on shares they may earn more, but they risk earning much less. Those who live on the schooners during the summer are "floaters," the men who hire out to no one, but provision themselves and fish from the shore in dories are "landsmen."
The farm country behind Brigus, Clarke's Beach, Bay Roberts and Spaniard's Bay combines with the prospects of sparkling bays to make indescribable pictures. The wagon-roads are good if one prefers to drive north from Brigus (where there is an immaculate inn) to neighbour towns. Harbour Grace is second to St. John's in point of inhabitants, but "second by a long way," having only about an eighth of the capital's population of 32,000. The docks of Harbour Grace were in use over 300 years ago. A Marine Railway has been constructed within recent years which makes it possible to raise and repair ships without their cargo being unloaded.
Twice a week a Reid steamerlet leaves Carbonear for a tour of Conception and Trinity Bays. The course which lies north to Bay de Verde and the bird-haunted Bacalieu Islands, rounds into the magnificent bay to the west after a call at Catalina. The town of Trinity (76 m.)
