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Tom Doyle was born in Colliers in 1908 and went to the Labrador for Ihe first
lime at lhe age of twelve. I-Ie went \\;th his father. I'ad Doylc. and uncle. Jim Doyle (my
grandfather). There were usually five men and a eook in the crew. The cook would
somctimcs be one ofhis sisters. Alice or Bess. or other girls. After his father died. he
went fishing on the Labrador for himself. and hired Bob O'Toolc's wife. Kit. as a cook..
lie went on the Labrador because ··thal·s \\here we spent our life time, my father
before me too. Wc went e\'cry year.- l He docs not recall his father telling any stories
about the Labrador. He only remembered that his father was going and that he wanted to
go also. Hc went down between the middle of May and lhe first ofJune. They would
usually leave from Conception Harbour. although somc ) cars thcy would Icavc from
Bngus on one ofJ.W. Hiscock's schooners or on thc Sleamcr Kyle. The men slept
wherever they could get in to rest.
Tom nlso went 10 the ice, hunting seals for fifteen summers. Ilc would return from
Ihe iee in Ihe latter part ofApril and get Ihe ground ready for planting and then go to
Lubmdor. There would be eight barrels ofseed set out for his mother to lend. She would
hire whomever she eould 10 cut the hay. His mother bad cows, a horse, and sheep to look
afler while Ihey were gone.
Tom's mother was a Skanes who lived nenr Ghaney's Bridge. They onen sold
POlatocs. Iambs and cattle 10 the Soulh Shore (now Conccption Bay Soulh) mcn before
Ihc butcher shop opencd in Colliers. The butchcrs in thc area were Tom Ghaney in
Colliers. Bob Kennedy in Conception Harbour and Morris Kennedy in Avondale.
101 1 'FLA 89-013. C8678.
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