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hospitals, inclusive of the three in Newfoundland, not one is 250 yards from the high water mark.
Eskimo, Indians, natives are in an entirely different category. They must have winter houses, and these must be in, or near, woods. Distance from high water no longer matters, for good transportation is afforded by sledges over the snow and ice—the bare ground is no longer their method of transportation, —also, they may need houses, near their wood cutting work, or their fur paths.
PERSONAL OPINION ON THE DISTANCES FROM HIGH WATER NEEDED IN LABRADOR FOR FISHERY PURPOSES.
For spreading fish to dry, for buildings, for boats, and other storage, judging by experience, not more than 250 yards is needed, or is likely to be used if available.
For cutting timber for firewood, spars and frames for buildings and stages, the distance in a country like Labrador would vary very much, if it were possible in summer to get it out. Thus, north of Hebron no timber exists till the valley of the Georges river is reached,—say 50 miles, while in Lewis' bay and southern bays it still comes to the landwash at the heads of bays.
It would never, in my opinion, pay to hold up a fishing schooner to get spars from our Labrador forests in summer. I have known vessels dismasted many times, but I never knew this attempted. The only way is to buy spars from natives, or ship spars in by mail steamer from south. Our trees make miserable spars anyhow, being too full of knots.
As there has existed in Newfoundland a reserved limit of three miles above high water for the purposes of the fishery, it is fair to suppose that that as a general average is not excessive. Labrador timber is not so plentiful or near the water, and if timber cut by settlers of the Labrador for sale in summer, but cut during winter, is to be all cut on the reserve, then I am sure five miles from high tide mark is not excessive.
PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT LAKE MELVILLE.
I do not think cod fishing in Lake Melville is, has been, or ever will likely be, a rational undertaking.
I do not think that any sensible skipper would go above Rigolet for cod fish. He might go to Caravalla for Rock Cods.
I know of no fishing industries possible in Lake Melville except trout, salmon and seals. It is possible that, as it has paid traders to go into Lake Melville in summer to buy salt trout, and salmon, and seal skins, caught in spring by winter settlers, it might again pay fish merchants to buy fresh salmon, trout, and seal skins for export, chilled, iced, or in some way preserved fresh. But I am convinced it would never be feasible to make a fishing schooner from south pay, fishing herself in Lake Melville. It might pay a vessel loading, say at Indian harbour, to complete a cargo, by buying salmon in Lake Melville. There is much timber in and around the head of the lake. The lake is tidal, and the water rises as far as the Grand Lake on North West river, and the
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Musk Rat falls on the Grand river ; it certainly rises at Mud Lake, where Mr. Dickie's lumber mill was.
I have not considered rod fishing in the many splendid rivers in this bay—that, of course, can never be industrial fishing.
LIMITS OF SCHOONERS FROM NEWFOUNDLAND, OR ELSEWHERE ENGAGED IN FISHING IN HAMILTON INLET.
I have seen schooners from the south fishing in this inlet as far as Turners bight, Ticoralak and Double Mare. I have seen a native's schooner and a Canadian schooner trading in Lake Melville, and I have seen Newfoundland and other schooners in Rigolet, and I think in Mullioch, and certainly in Back bay.
I have never seen or heard of any genuine summer cod, or any other, fishing carried on in Hamilton inlet about Eskimo Island in the entrance to Lake Melville, that is, above the Narrows.
DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN FISHERIES CARRIED ON BY SCHOONERS COMING ANNUALLY, AND RESIDENTS OF LABRADOR.
Natives living on the coast can fish for salmon and trout in estuaries and inlets, and do so, and make it pay, while schooners from south cannot, as :
(1) It is difficult for a schooner to get north in time for the beginning of the salmon fishery.
(2) It is impossible to catch enough salmon and trout in one place to pay a schooner to come north especially for salmon and trout, and pay and feed her crew, and meet expenses.
(3) The salmon and trout fishery can only possibly, therefore, be considered, from the point of view of a southern schooner, as a preliminary to cod fishing.
(4) The season for trout and salmon passing–in is too short to make it worth while to fit out for it, and a fishing schooner coming north for cod cannot afford room, time, and expense to add estuary fishing for salmon and trout to her outfit and to her crowded space. The fact is that it is not done.
(5) The best comment on this is that in thirty–two years, I have never known it done, and if it has ever been done, it was experimental and never repeated. The experiment in a steamer from England in Sandwich Bay was a ruinous one, and never repeated.
OTHER INDUSTRIES BESIDES FISHERIES CARRIED ON IN LABRADOR.
The greatest industry in Labrador, after the fisheries, is the fur industry. It is safe to say that the whole of Labrador is at times covered by our trappers.
The men from Forteau, West St. Modeste and Red bay in the Straits of Belle Isle meet not only the men from Lewis' bay, but even men from Sand–
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wich bay. I have known the furriers from Paradise, in Sandwich bay, meet the men from St. Augustine and the men from the North West River of Hamilton Inlet have covered the country to a hundred miles inside the Grand falls—that is, 350 miles above the mouth of the rivers. It is their custom to go up the rivers in August with supplies, and caching them in tilts, return home, refit out, and, starting in September, remain in the country till after New Year's day. These furs are mostly brought out for sale at the posts of Northwest River, or to John Groves of Goose bay, and are mostly paid for in trade ; but cash is now also given.
There are no timber companies now functioning. The Grand River Company functioned on Grand River for a few years. An English Company cut pit props on several rivers at the head of the bay, and intends to continue according to their Manager, Mr. Robinson, who told me so this summer (1924). I regret to say that many of the lumber companies who have taken up grants have been apparently bogus affairs.
I have no doubt whatever, in my mind, that successful lumber affairs can be carried out in Labrador, but indefinite grants, and no enforcements of the law, compelling holders of areas to operate, have held up the development and are still holding it up.
With regard to minerals, three gold companies have been granted concessions at various times since my knowledge of the coast. One at Hebron to a Mr. Strong. One at Porcupine, another at Stag bay. All were I firmly believe first class swindles. I have visited each district.
One iron deposit was granted to a genuine company at Rowsell's harbor, north of Ramah. Mr. Whitney worked it, through Capt. Bartlett. I visited it and saw the iron deposits. I believe they are valuable. I understood that only the isolation, with no wireless, roads, rails, etc., and with the difficulty of the ice alone, caused this mine to be shut down. The out crop is plainly visible from the vessels lying in the bay.
There are other minerals, and I am absolutely convinced, when the country is developed that the iron deposits, graphite, and possibly mica, aluminium and, possibly, gold will be worked.
We have been much interested in the development of small industries that may help to develop the country, and I have ventured to refer to these here. Weaving, basket making from native grass, embroidery especially on skin, hooked–pattern mat making, wood–carving, and clever bead and feather work, ivory carving, and toy making are among these lesser, but vastly important, industries. For it is these that carry to the homes of the poor and busy families the opportunity to earn, and to all the opportunity to fill remuneratively hours of enforced idleness, impossible otherwise to avoid in a climate like that of Labrador. We sold for these people last year about $10,000 worth of this produce,—which enables many to pay small fees to hospitals, schools, religious and other developments, otherwise quite impossible, and which help to put these on a rational and permanent and right basis ; besides putting in their reach essentials of healthy living, for lack of which they now suffer with deficiency diseases. With regard to agriculture,
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none has been developed, since Lord Strathcona's time. There is no reason whatever why all necessary vitamine–bearing vegetables should not be grown on the coast. We have just brought in a trained farmerette.
Domestication of Animals : A fox farm started at Muddy Bay, in Sandwich bay, has been closed. Personally, I am so convinced that it could still be made as remunerative in Labrador as in Piastre Bay, Prince Edward Island, or in Massachussets, that I have purchased the farm. I have attended the Congress of black fox and blue fox breeders in the United States, and I found they were of my opinion. The laws concerning fur–bearing animals work most uneconomically and unfairly at present, no consideration of the very wide extent of latitude, and consequent different conditions, having been allowed for.
With regard to the Domestication of Deer : My own experiment, carried on without enough backing, with no skilled management after I was obliged to allow the Lapps to return, has undoubtedly prejudiced opinion on the matter. The experiment of the Canadian government in the Peace River district, and with my small herd at Baie de Rochers, failed for want of skilled and interested management. I am so sure that Labrador can produce deer as readily as Alaska, that I have now helped to start a new herd, under an American manager, who have now received protection from the Newfoundland Government and a suitable land grant, around Hamilton Inlet.
I have ventured, sir, to include these facts in answer to your questions, because personally I believe Labrador to be very much a white man's land. It produces men of virile physique, of simple wants, and I know, as well as I know anything, that in the days to come Labrador can, and will, become as valuable to Canada as Alaska has become to America, and as the coast on the West of Canada, that has been lost to Canada by lack of faith and foresight, might surely have been. Only fear of wearying out your patience prevents my dilating further on this theme.
INDUSTRIES CARRIED ON AWAY FROM THE COAST LINE IN LABRADOR.
As I have already stated there are no buildings anywhere in Labrador between Blanc Sablon and Cape Chidley, except a few trappers huts, that are more than 250 yards from tidal water. I have made many trips into the country from various places. There is no Hudson bay station now anywhere in Labrador away from the coast—there was one, before I reached the coast, on Lake Petitsikapaw, I am told.
AREA OVER WHICH, AS JUSTICE–OF–THE–PEACE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND, I HAVE EXERCISED JURISDICTION.
I have tried cases in practically every village in the Straits, in Battle Harbour, and all along the coast as far as Port Burwell itself, where I tried a case many years ago, and removed a Labrador settler's family, named Rich, as a result.
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I have tried a case as far inland as Muddy lake on the Grand River, below the Musk Rat falls. Sir William MacGregor, Governor of Newfoundland was present at one, at least, of the cases I tried there. I have tried cases at Cartwright, at Nain, at Davis Inlet, and on board the S.S. Strathcona many times and in practically every district where settlers reside.
I have the honour to remain
Very sincerely yours
WILFRED T. GRENFELL
M.D., J.P.
In the Privy Council.
IN THE MATTER of the BOUNDARY between the Dominion of CANADA and the Colony of Newfoundland in the Labrador Peninsula.
BETWEEN
THE DOMINION OF CANADA
and
THE COLONY OF NEWFOUNDLAND.
THIS is the EXHIBIT marked “ A ” referred to in the Affidavit of WILFRED THOMASON GRENFELL, sworn in this matter this 15th day of October, 1924.
Before me,
(Sgd.) W. JONES,
A Commissioner for Oaths.
[1927lab]
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