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such as the passagc down and the actual fishing scason itself. The cmic importance ofthe
cvenls Ihemselves is reinforced by the seasonal relurn 10 the samc setting to fish yearly.
"me reminiscences build up a picture of life in Colliers and life on thc Labrador.
The stories ofthe Labrador are lold in small.scttings usually among family members and
visiting members ofthe group. IntCfV;ewing Ihe people was similar 10 a family galhering
\\ here most ofthe informants remembered some points but others could add little bits
long forgoncn or not known by another pany. "1emorics arc often rek.indled by the deaths
oflhc panicipants and by the continual panicipation ofsomc families. the Coles and the
Whelans. in the fishery.
An example may be seen in the following narrative. It illustrates how the
La radar had a major innuence on some families in Colliers. My grandmother had been
conceivcd out of wedlock on the Labrador in a relationship with a married man. Only two
ofhcr five daughlcrs (my mother. C.O. and aunt, N.S.) knew aboul it and they had heard
the story from othcr people. In my aunt's case, it was told to hcr by her brother-in-law, a
l3elllsland man who had heard it from a man living in the Ridge .. rca orColliers.
C,D.: Mom was born in 1873. The next year her mother wenlto the
Labrador und she never came back. Got married in the year (to somcone
from) Brent's Cove. He was down on the Labrador.
They came up afier.l-lerselfand her daughter and poor Mom went down
the harbour (to visit with them) Maude was hcr rmme, her sister. She
didn't want nonc ofthe family to know. Pcople told me. She was married
then.
N.S.: Do you think I should telljmy daughtcr! Bride? Angela didn't know
or Clara (Nell's sisters).
C.O.: Gen Oinn told me.
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