The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
DOGS THAT CATCH FISH
a HoLF-LIKD BREED USED BIZ THE
PEOPLE OF LABRADOR.

Trained to Jump From Boat and Secure the
Cod Fish Hauled Up by Their Masters.
Useful Also in Journeys Over the Snow
Their Ferocity, Intellige nce and Jealousy.
QUEBEC. Aug. 1s.-Dogs trained 70 catch hsh
among the features Of everyday life on tho
barren shores OF that distant pan Of Labrador
which belongs to Newfoundland. Tho valuable
cod fisheries along tho 100 miles Of Labrador's
coast yield about one-fltth OF Newtoundlands
total catch Of cod, and furnish employment, an-,
nually to thousands OF hardy fisher folk They
fish with lines from $50 to 200 tathoms long, two
men to a boat. and each man using two hand
lines The usual bait il capelin When FISH are
plentiful II takes a very short time 10 fill . boat
with cod. number Of the fishermen have train I'd
their dogs TO assist hem in catching fish
The rapidity with which the fishermen haul up
their long lines when they feel bite robs tho Ash
almost entirely Of lie and breath by tho time IL
reaches the surface Of the sea II comes 10 the top
completely exhausted as q salmon that ha Q
been played by an angler until he tail Il it'll
bis hand and so avoid the necessity OF gazing IL
II Is one thing, however, to bring heavy cod to
the surface Of the water and another 10 get into
the boat Cats and landing nets unknown %
these toers Of the sea II they can lit tho fish
into the boat blythe line all Is WE'LL but this Is often
where they fail II the fish is large and but lightly
hooked. as Is often the case, tho hook breaks
away from its mouth when tho attempt Is made 70
haul IL from the water The fsh. still quite mani.
mate In mannT appearance floats away from
the boat on the surface OF tho waves This Ia only
for a moment however The fishers trained dog,
often without q signal from his MASTER leaps over
the gunwale OF tho boat plung6s into tho sea,
swims after the floating fish and sclzes IL in his
mouth. Returning consciousness, hastened by
the new sensation Of being taken entirely from
the water and firmly gripped between tho laws Of
its captor, often produces lively struggles tho
part OF the fish, which add considerably TO the
difficulty the dog has In swimming back with his
burden TO the boat The dog rarely releases his
hold upon his wnggling captive until safe within
the boat
Sometimes these dogs have larger gamo than
Goldfish 10 struggle with in the water. Thoy arc
trained TO plunge into tho ioe-cold water In the
spring Of the year and TO act retrevers for their
masters when seal arc shot from the shore on the
surface OF the sea
The dogs employed by the fishermen OF Now
foundland and Labrador are by means tho
specimens OF canine magnifcenoe usually known
as Newfoundland dogs They moro nearly roI
senhle Eskimo dogs than anything else. and are
often quite wol6sh in both manner and appear
ance II In even believed by many people that the
blood OF the wild brutes Of the forest flows in their
veins. Al post near Hamilton Inlet not long ago
the door OF house in which an infant was sleeping
in a cradle had been left open for short time DUR
ing the temporary absence OF the other members
Of tho family. When the mother re-enterod tho
house she found only the bones Of her child.
Tho little ono had been completely devoured ~
dogs
The Labrador dogs arc ex ocssivcly quanelsome.
and, woltlfke. always attack the weaker. All
anxious 10 take part in the fray and scarcely
a season passes without the settlers losing two OF
three dogs during the summer from wounds re-
ceived In qusrrels among themselves Peace is
instantly restored even il twenty or moro arc en-
gagged in the ahray. by the sound or even sight,
Of the dreaded Eskimo whip used by the Labra-
dorians These people have seldom succeeded in
raising any other domesticated animal on tho
coast; cats, cows and pigs have all been destroyed
by the dogs. II ever a dog is brought up in tho
house, his doom is sealed At the first opportunity,
the Others will pounoe upon him in tho absence
OF his master and worry him to death. This Is tho
invariable fate OF any privileged dog tho coast
that is permitted TO enter his masters house and
TO receive the OF the different members OF
the family. Tho preference eKcites the deepest
jealousy in the breasts OF tho Labrador dogs, and
they patiently wait for an occasion TO avengo
themselves
In the winter these animals will drag a CONF
metique, or sleigh, fifty or sixty miles day over
the snow, They haul wood from the interior; carr
~ supplies TO the hunters in the forests far back
from the rocky and desolate coasts merrily draw
their masters from house to house. and with theH
wonderful noses pick out tho right path even In
the most pitilcss storm. II the traveller will only
trust to the agacity Of experienced leader. he
may wrap himself up In his bear and sealskn
robes and. ardless Of piercing winds and blind@
ing snowdrifts. these sagacious and faithful AMI
mails will draw him securely TO his own door or 10
the nearest post The Commeuque is about thirty
inches broad and ten or twelve feet long The run+
ners arc shod with whalebone which, by friction
over the snow, soon becomes beautifully polished
and looks like ivory. The commetque Is well hoor<
ed with sealskins over which bear or seal skins
nailed all round, with an opening for the trav@
eller 10 introduce his body. The harness is mado
OF seal skin; the foremost dog, called the guide,
is placed about thirty feet in advance the others
are ranged in pairs behind the guide Sometimes
three, sometimes four pairs OF dogs thus aN
tached TO one ommetique besides tho guide
The Eskimo dog OF pure breed, with his strong1
lybut frame, long white fur, pointed ears and
buhsy tail is capable OF enduring hunger TO a far
greater extent than the mix ed breed But tho lattef
beats him in long journeys, even when fed but
once a day. An Eskimo dog will travel for two
days without food; one OF tho mixed breed must
he led at the close OF the first day. he Is good fol-
little the next In winter their food often cons
sists chiefly OF dried capcln-the small. smelH
like fish used by the cod fishermen for bait An
expert driver can hit any part OF the leading dog
he chooses with the extremity Of his formidable
whip.