White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-12-09
LABRADOR BECKONS
SUMMER YACHTSMEN
Also Being Discussed as
Source of Wood Pulp.

Washington.-"Lab since the
definition of its boundary with Can
ada, is being discussed as possible
summer haven for yachtsmen and a
source of wood pulp" says bulletin
from the Washington headquarters of
the National Geographic society.
although the southern end of Labra-
dor is in the latitude Of London and
the northern tip opposite Leningrad,
no warm ocean current washes its
shores to produce the temperate eli
mate of northern Europe. Cold win
ter winds sweep from the Arctic
across q rocky and sparsely inhabited
coast, though explorers say the short
summers are delightful.
"The entire region at present has
only about 5000 population, about 500
less than forty years ago. North of
the settlement of Hopedale, half way
up the coast from Newfoundland, the
country is peopled mainly by Eskimos.
who have been largely Christianized
and live in neat wooden houses, sup
porting themselves by seal and cod
fisheries. In the interior scattered
Indians and half-breeds hunt the fox,
marten, bear, wolverine and other fur
bearing animals which haunt ever
green woods stretching as far north
as the Arctic boundary of forestation.
Rich In Lumber and Water Power.
"This fir belt covers large areas of
the interior of Labrador in all but the
extreme northern part, but only
touches the rocky coast at the he;~ls
Of long narrow bays and the mouths
of rivers. AS future source of paper
pulp this hitherto little regarded re-
gion is Of immense value, and already
few mills have been established and
concessions granted. Pulp forests are
Another asset is unlimited water
power Of the numerous coastal rivers.
white settlements are mainly on
the southeastern coast of Labrador.
Here sparse but sturdy population
of Scotch and Scandinavian extrac-
ton, together with a few French Ca
nadians, carry on cod and whale fish
cries. The number of white inhabi-
tants is quadrupled during the sum-
mer months by Observation-Disclosures who
come north for cod fishing, the prin-
cipal industry. OF late years the
whale, seal and cod have all de-
creased in numbers in Labrador wa
tiers. This is thought to be one reason
for the steadily decreasing population
of the coast. Another factor is that
contact with diseases of civilization
has proved fatal to whole communi-
ties of Eskimos and Indians. Mis-
sionaries are making heroic efforts to
save the remainder Of the native races
from extinction by teaching them to
adapt their mode of living to
changed conditions, and these good
offices have met with considerable
success.
Scenery Rivals Norway.
"One effort to compensate for the
diminishing number Of sea animals
has been the Introduction into Labra-
dor of the reindeer, which has for
centuries been the main support of
the Lapps of northern Scandinavia
and which has been successfully
raised in Alaska. This attempt is
said to have proved successful and
promises one solution of the food prob
lem If the development of pulp and
milling industries is extended. An
other alternating condition is that
work in mills already established has
helped lift the workers from entire
dependence on the fuctuating for
tunes of fishing and hunting.
"Wireless stations are bringing
larger settlements into closer contact
with the outside world. 1t is predict
ed that when this means Of communi-
cation has been extended and coasts
are better charted and lighthouses
built that Labrador with it's rocky in
let's and bracing climate will become,
like Norway, a rendezvous for sum-
mer yachtsmen. During the short
northern summer Labrador is pictured
as land of supreme beauty. Rocky
headlands run far into the sea. Deep
fiords cut the Uncovered hills of the
Interior, where subarctic vegetation
flourlshes, and salmon streams invite
the fisherman. Grand falls, on the
Hamilton river, is nearly three times
as high as Niagara"