iMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) V {./ A % i/.A 1.0 I.I 1.25 ii^lllllM IIIIIM lis lltt 111112,2 t m. ■- IE ■18 1.4 ill 1.6 ■ VI V] m % # (^■m. ^"'^ Photographic Sciences Corporation Mi. m o ~ ^9) V <^ <^ o^ ^^ "^^^■%."^* '^^ ?3 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 &? c^?. \ o \ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical !VlicroreprodiJCiions / Institut canadien de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiqu^s The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilme le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a et^ possible de se procurer. 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Original copias in printad papar covars ara fllmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or illustratad impras- sion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. Ail othar original copias ara fllmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or illuatratad impras- sion, and ending on tha laat paga with a printad or illustratad imprassion. Tha laat racordad frama on aach microficha shall contain tha symbol —^-f moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (maaning "END"), whichavcr appliaa. iVIaps, platas, charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant reduction ratioa. Those too larga to 09 antiraly includad in ona axposura ara fllmad baginning in tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to rlz^t and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa required . 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Les canes, planchaa, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre fllmte A dee taux da reduction diff«rants. Lorsque le Jocumant est trop grand pour Atra reproduit en un seul cllchA. 11 ast film6 A partir da I'tingle sup^riaur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en baa, an prenant le nombre d'imagas nteessaire. Lea diagrammea suivants illustrant la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 r 6 I m ISoflths, A POEM. ^mfoayiand's llttional ftnthem, Seal pstojf 2N0. EO!irJON. AND OTHER iPOf MS. BY W. Si^aoBboroitati I *w>nf -mi t* i( "^ ■«*™p«r <*»»• ''"' ' •'' '"""^ ariFsaaiCi-gtgg cya*^; H <■>,«:.;?*■■• &t.; i i ^^^^ .^^iSBi, If --ffr'--^'^v'^ii.ia Jleuifo andlaDd Jlonths. ■ ,0 A POEM. < t NEWFOUNDLAND'S ^NATIONAL AN SEAL FISHERY, (2nd edition.) DEDICATED TO ■ ■ ■ ■ i ■■■■ •> • ,, . •, . , THE SOCIETY OF UNITED FISHERMEN, BY W. SWANSBOROUGH. PRICE TEN CENTS. G. S. MILLIGAN, JR., PRIMER, BOOKSELLER AND STATIONER, ST, John's, n.f, •;■ ■ • ' ■ K INTRODUCTION. My dear reader, when I think of the ably written books about Newfoundland, notably the voluminous and well re- ceived one by his Honor Judge Prowse which I have not yet bad the pleasure of seeing, I almost fear to place the humble productions of my pen in the hands of the public. Several of my friends here and in the Old Country have often expressed a desire to have copies of this and that piece of my poetry. It will have the rare distinction of being written with- out having to quote from the able works of previous authors. I have had to draw from memory and the close observation of the climate, habits, customs and avocations of the " Bone and Sinew " of this " Newfoundland of Ours," during a res- idence of 47 years, the greater part of which has been spent m the out-harbors and will show you how my spare hours have been spent in the long winter nights, after the trials and toils of teaching as a Poor Pedagogue ; and other lab- ours about land, to help to support my family on a small stipend. ^ Hoping it will be read with interest by some of the " Old Stagers " and some of the rising generation of my adopted country, especially many of those who have come under my tuition ; I have ventured to publish a selection of my poetry. As Newfoundland has the distinction of having a greater proportion of her population than any other country who belong to some Christian Church, I hope I may be pardoned for adding a few sacred pieces at the end of my humble work. ^ « Topsail, Aug. ist, 1896. W. S. tten books id well re- have not place the he public. jntry have and that tten with- is authors, bservation he "Bone ring a res- )een spent are hours the trials other lab- )n a small me of the on of my lave come selection having a ;r country [ may be id of my JANUARY. January, we welcome thee, For at thy coming ill are free ; On thy first day a feast we keep, And love through thy long nights to sleep. We look to have good woodpaths now. And frozen lakes, and roads o'er snow ; Now wood cats and nice painted sleighs Travel the main roads and bye-ways. The poor man loves his fire of logs, Some hauled by horses, some by dogs. The Fishermen and Farmers, too. Have at this season much to do : The one gets wood for boats and flake, The other wood new fence to make ; Another man gets wood to sell. Another making hoops, does well ; And if the cold is now severe We have a healthy atmosphere. S. FEBRUARY. February is cold and rough, Sometimes sleigh paths are good enough ; When so, our city folks drive out For health, and to see friends about. Our Winter is so long, that we Get weary of its scenery. But hope is active, all now chat Of sealing fleets, and seals, and " fat." The money got for oil and skins Returns in clothes and othet things; For food and clothes and wares muJt be Imported to the colony • From the United Kingdom or From other nations, near or far. We just begin to make things here— Stoves, leather, homespun, bread and beer. bhip building is a native art, We've timber suited to each part ; Why import ships I cannot tell. Which we can build at home so well. MARCH. March comes — a busy seaso;i here — Our sealing fleet sets sail each year Upon the first, steamships too, go Each with t>vo hundred men or so ; They labour hard through cold and wet, But in a week their trip may get. When they come in and seals have sold Some men have forty pounds in gold.* Sometimes the ships are tempest tossed, And sometimes men and ships are lost ; The frost is sometimes so severe That men get bitten, foot and ear. And blinding snow-storms sometimes come, We fear to venture far from home. Some years this month may milder be Than April or February. If snow paths to the woods hold on Men find there's something to be done. A sudden thaw will come some day And take the snow path all away. And now the sun has " crossed the line " We sometimes get some warm sunshine. This was the case when only sailing vessels prosecuted the seal fishery, when the poem was written. APRIL. April is come— 'tis winter still- Some days are warm, and others chill ; Good trips of seals come in each week, The ships now out in vain will seek * To get good trips ; their .spring is lost, i hey may just pay the outfit cost. Now coasting craft begin to ply, As some out-ports need food supply Our Legislature should grant more To open roads from shore to shore Good tracks of land, back from the sea More free from stones we often see. The sun now melts some snow away I)eep drifts still block each road and way Novl. men are paid the roads to clear Huge icebergs off our coast appear, ' Spring goods from foreign ports arrive, Good trips of seals make trade to thrive Now carts and cariiages may run. And lambs and babes enjoy the sun MAY. May comes, some snov/ may yet be seen About fences, and hills between , Easterly winds, which flitter brings, And silver trees, and other things. Some years May opens very fine. And cheers us with its warm sunshine. Fencing goes on, stage building too, Each season brings us vork to do. Potato planting now goes on, And other farming work's begun ; The hunt for seals is over now, And men return to fish and plough. When much farming has to be dc t?, The fishery is late begun. The man who went sealing in spring. And made little or nothing. Must in debt to the merchant go For food and fishing gear also. Then all these goods are charged so high. He scarce can pay it by and by ; But if he's wise he'll careful be. To keep from debt and poverty. The fishing servants are shipped now, God prospers them, and spee(J the plough. -4: . 8 Iff! JUNE. June, thou art pleasant, for in thee The vernal sun decks grass and tree ; , The buds which only showed in May Now puts forth leaves and blossoms gay ; That litde fish the caplin lands To leave its spawn among the sands ; But selfish man, so prone to waste, Along the bench with net does haste, And heap by heap these fish does lay, ' Till farmers haul them all away. Each family som.e barrels cure, And of the rest they make manure. Farmers sow oats and turnips now. And heal potatoes with the plough. Somo thousands go to Labrador, To fish along that barren shore, Here shoals of cod pursue the bait. And seines and hooks their coming wait. Men who in winter slept all night. Now rise to fish before 'tis light. ' Our crops are growing, good-bye June ! For thee we'll sing some grateful tune, JULY. July* is hot, and crops grow fnst, Some hay is made about the last. Now fish is scarce about our shore, We wish for news from Labrador ; Fish may upon the bottom lie. But won't eat bait, in vain we try ; They're glutted, that is fat with bait. Till they will eat our men must wait Or look for bait that they will eat. They're dainty, and would like a treat. The fish called " squid," its visit pays, And hundreds may be jigged some days. With these as bait much is caught, If men are active as they ought. The summer heat makes labour hard. But for its blessings, praise the Lord. I 10 III \rii AUGUST. Now August come, we make our hay And merchant's send new fish away. ^°lP'<'"i<= parties may be seen, Seekmg the shade and meadows green r.s pleasant out i„ boat to go, On the calm sea to have a row. Jathmg ,s good, and pleasant now. And sw,mmu.g for those who kno4 how W treats for Sunday-schools we give And folks go out of town to live. " I '•^•"f '^^n «an