Every fisherman, in my day, built his own stage and wharf and boat. It was beautiful in the spring to smell the odor of new fishing gear and tar.

Forteau, 1977. THEM DAYS Archives

The fisherman used to go in boat around three or four o'clock in the morning and at six the women would start their day. They would first go and search for some boughs to light a fire to get breakfast for the men for when they returned around nine o'clock. All Waterloo stoves then. Many nights I spent on the wharf splitting fish or sitting up keeping the kettle boiled for when my husband returned from the sea. Before I married I always head the fish but later, after I was married, I used to split the fish as my husband, Ray, was left-handed. In September the fishing season was ended and then we'd start drying the fish. Nobody paid any mind to hard work then because they knew nothing only work.

BESSIE FLYNN
FORTEAU, LABRADOR

THEM DAYS VOL. 2.4