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community cconomy. Migration has been seen as a response to cconomic demands m and
thc economic aspects have had to the expression orthc fishery in the rolklife ofthe
community despite low earnings and frequcnt Ican ycans.
Considering that more than one quarter of thc year was spent prosecuting lhe
Labrador fishery. thc direct cash benefits were quite small and at some times. there were
no cash earnings after expenses were paid. Paddy (Fly) McGrath left the fishcr')' due to
the 10\\ wages. z ,", But. olher economic advantages were available through the fishel). as
secn in the story ofCaptain Man Whelan. \\here although the cre\\ earned onl)' 51.4.50
each for thc summer. they each secured two quintals of fish. "enough to keep a family
going all winter. zlS George Cole referred to getting a share oflhree quintals. raising cash
through thc salc ofone or two quintals and keeping onc for himsclf. z16 Women's wages
from cmplo)'ment, while low. funher contribUlcd to family income.
It should be considered that. during the time period in question. the community
economy was not extensivcly cash based. Subsistence fanning contributed to family
income by direct means of growing food, rathcr than thc eash purchase of foodstulTs.
Bakenpples and smoked salmon. along with the winter fish brought back from the
Labrador, increased the family's winter food stocks. Therefore. while direct cash income
incentive from the Labrador fishery may have been low. the incentive ofaugmenting feed
sources through the harvesting of fish and other resources was quite high, whether or not
21) Lee. p. 288-89.
,.. MUNFLA 86-013. C8693. Sec Chapter 5.
'" MUNFLA 86-013. C8700.
"" M FLA 86-013. C8689. Sec Chapter 3.
173