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and whcn I gcts homc - if I get home. you'l\ hcar from me'-' So anyway,
that Fall on the last boat come down my father had a barrel ofclothes
Idelivcred to him]. He had a Ictter from the man saying that his schooner
had sprung a leak and he had lost everything hc had. But there wasn't any
livcs lost. So the ewfoundland skipper thanked him and said that
between him. my father. and his mother that was \\hat saved his life and
his crew. ow thaCs the stol)' my falher was telling me, )'ou know. It was
a warning I suppose eh. you kno\\.261
Thus it was that a ewfoundland fishennan. by heeding the precognitivc
warnings ofhis mother and the Labrador man. exercised caution and made the trip safely
home. It should be noted here that the clothing was scarce on the Labrador and therefore
used as payment or for baner.
On the schooners that made lhe trip safely. the women would knit and the men
would tell stories and drink berT)·-hackie. 3 hot drink made from a gallon ofbcrrics and
sugar boiled in a kettle and straincd. 269 Upon safc arrival home, families and friends
would be reunited. the fish sold. accounts senled, the wintcr's diet (provisions)
purchased. and normal life resumed. The arrival back \V3S not without tradition:
IL was customary at Brigus for people who did not go to the Labrador to
shake hunds with us and welcome us home. We went through separation
from fricnds and relatives and neighbours and afier four mOllths we were
glad to be incorporated into thc schcmc of things onec morc. 270
Thlls thc L'lbrndor fishermen disbanded and regrollped in other groups lllltil the
following year whcn they would again make preparations to prosecute the Labrador
fishery.
26. MUNFLA 86-013, C8675.
269 MUNFLA. ms.. 79-400. p. 30. There is no mention made ofthis drink in Colliers but
the Colliers men did make moonshine.
27ft M FLA. ms.. 71-103. pg. 19. Tom Doyle mentioned that people would gather in
Conception Ilarbour to meet the boat.
164