St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-22
i'd in winter haul sledges hundreds Of

and in winter haul sledges hundreds OF
miles.
The population consists OF fishermen.
principally NewfOundlauders, French Cana
dams, Moravian Missionaries and Indians
Mr.. Tuttle, in giving an account
of bis explorations in that region,
says that the number of inhabitant.
varies with the season. Duriug the fishing
season there are generally scattered along
the coast some twenty thousand people. hut
in winter the population dwindles To one
fourth of that number. All these people
yield willing obedience TO the laws Of New.
foundland.
After the close of the fishing season.
among those who remain during the
winter there is much suffering and want,
and the people nearly starve, especially
when fishing has proved 4 failure. The
climate is severe but healthy, and there IS
little sickness among the people, but such
as is produced by exposure, lack Of proper
food and violation of the simplest sanitary
rules.
The fishing stations are very numerous,
and are scattered along a great stretch OF
coast. The natives seem to lead happy
life and in many respects are better OF than
the white people. They are experts in hunt
ing and trapping. They bring the results Of
their hunting and trapping to the coast ard
at the stations exchange their furs, skins,
and so on, for pork, -four, tea, molasses,
powder, shot, etc. They are pleutifully sup
piled with food from the aesh of the deer,
seal and small game that abounds on the
coast and in the interior.
Mr. futile says there is nothing in the
natural appearance Of the country and the
people to impress one fayorably. The few
houses scattered here and there, occupied by
the whites, are usually neat and clean. but
wear the appearance OF extr enc isolation.
The fishing season is one of great hard
ship and there is much exposure to cold and
considerable danger.
IN July last the steamer Neptune sailed
from Halifax, and on the 26th was at Blanc
Sablon, which marks the BOUNDARY line be-
tween the Dominion aud Labrador. After
wards there was long and stormy voyage
skirting the coast OF this wild country.
Rather graphically Mr. futile describes the
uncomfortable If not hazardous voyage on
turbulent sea, from which an extract must
suffice.
lcebergs may be met on the Labrador coast
in great numbers, almost any day. except in the
winter season. At times we counted as many as
twenty or thirty from the Neptune's quarter
deck. They were OF various sizes, and OF many
shapes, aud, rejecting the strong light OF the
sun, presented a most picturesque scene.
An iceberg looks like a small mountain OF gyp-
sum. or, IL you please, a well-f0rned elevation OF
white marble; or better still, IL looks like just
what It is, huge pile OF solid ice.
But one steaning along the Labrador will lot
only be entertained by cebergs, and the strange,
wild character Of the bold, rocky coast, but by
the windstorm as well. II yoa have never been
in a Labrador wind-storm, then VOC have never
been there at all II is always blowing furiously
Clearing Belle Isle. steamed out into the
North Atlantic. The wind-we knew II would
freshened into strong gale, and the western
sky became picture OF wildness. Clouds were
being driven rapidly with the upper currents.
and, as they parted passed over the face Of the
setting sun, and min sed their dark shadows
with its dazzling rays, the deep shades aud
bright colors with which the horizon was painted
rendered the scene intensely thrilling.