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"going in collar," which marks the beginning ofthe process ofseparation from home,
family, and community life. The length oftime away from home in the fishery varied
from place to place and year to year. Depending on weather and ice conditions. the
fishery could begin in May and end in 10vember. with the average voyage lasting from
early June to late September. In the following section I will anempt to build a composite
account of"going in collar" and the voyage to Labrador from 1867 to 19-t7 as given in
archival and published accounts. and in my own fieldwork. To distinguish my field
research from other archival accounts. I ha\'e used abbreviations to replace names in
interviews other than mine.
Saunders gives a good account ofthe work necessary 10 maintain the schooners
for thc Labrador:
... quite a lot of work was involvcd in general repairs: sails to be made and scwn;
rigging to be replaced and repaired; geneml repairs to the hull such as rc·placing planks
or bulwark: painting and caulking. 84
This work would lasl from April to May. Then thc ships would be loaded with salt
!lnd general curgo.
In the mcantimc, stationers would be making their nrrangemcnts. Hussey gives a
similar account of preparations necessary for lhe stationers.
During the winter, at home, we would spin wool and knit milts for the men who
worked on thc fishing stage. We hooked mats to replace the ones that we took on
Ithel Labrador with us and help mcsh some ofthe twine for Pop. Pop would either
have repaired or made his two cod traps and barked them by boiling them in water
to whieh euteh and pitch had been added to preservc the ncuing. Late in May he
I-l aunders, pp. 127.128.
69