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Colliers (Figure 2) was chosen as a focus for the study ofthe Labrador fishery
because of its proximity to $1. John's, the traditional point oforigin for the Labrador run.
The location ofColliers in relation to me summer fishing st.ations on Cut Throat Island
gives the community a special status in me folk life ofme fishery. People from Colliers
were aboard the vessel for a longer period than were families from Carbonear and points
farther nonhwest and wesL 16 lbey would be settled into the routines ofthe journey even
before mosl other people boarded. Similarly. because the area they fished was in the
nonhem limits ofthe "stationers- fishery. Colliers's people would also be among the first
to board for the return passage. Thus, they had maximwn exposure to intergroup relations
going to and returning from the Labrador.
The people ofColliers fished primarily in the Smokey/Cut Throat/Indian Harbour
area (q. \'.. Figure 3). Although well-known among fishennen, it is not well documented
eanographically. For this reason, and because few of the names used by Colliers people
appear on Labrador maps, I asked my husband to draw a map and then asked Tom Doyle
to locate the various fishing stations and other topographical featurcs. The names ofthese
places had been givcnto mc by my father, Jim Doyle, before his dCllth. Doylc's Bawn
rcfcrs to thc location used by the Doyles when they hold surplus lish: room refers to
propeny owned by the fishermen. The earliest description ofa room al ul Throat
Jlarbour comes from Nicholas Smith's account ofpropcny he purchased from Matthew
Ryan in 1900.
16 Ryan.p.47.Map 3.
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