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much during the period ofmy study and is captured in Ilcmlan MoWs illustration (Figure
4).
"Skill"" was learned traditionall) from generation to gencration through
observation and imitation. It was reinforced through songs. stories. practical jokes and
practice. practice. practicc. As stated in Chaptcr I. economy and tcchnology are the
dominant factors in migration. which then folio" certain pauems for the distance and the
type ofpeople mo\·ing. Seldom.. indeed. in the history of labour has the reserve army of
skilled or unskilled \\orkers been given preferential treatment. This is as true in 2009 as it
wus in the time ofmy father's trips to the Labrador and evcn ofm) own on the northern
end of my trip when the vessel was overcrowded. llowever. ewfoundland migrant
fishermen and families were unlike perpetual migrants for one main reason; they moved
as a pan of living. not as a means of living. Because of the folklore being constantly
brought home to the community and shared on Ihe voyage down. newcomers were
prepared for the initiation into the rites ofpassage that made the transition from outsider
to insider. You can read about the Labrador fishery. even lake u cruise on the Labrador
Sen. but unless yOll have spcnt time living the life, youlmvc 110t been "on the Labrador,"
as have the people whose experienccs I have recorded here in parI.
Fin:II Comment's
This is by no means a finished projcct. The experienec of living in the community
for sixteen ycars and following the fishcry for three wecks opened my cyes to the
richness ofthe matcrial but left me with more questions than ans\\crs. Thc majority of
narratives in MUNFLA comes from Conception Ba), the capital ofthe stationer fishery as
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