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    Let us not forget, however, that Gobineau was representing his country and its commercial interests. He was not going to paint too disagreeable a picture of the French fishing stations. Despite his evocation of the conditions of such quarters, he adds:

    Experience however does seem to prove that no harm results from such conditions and that the fishing crews enjoy the most flourishing health. Always in the open air, always active, the men have no time to be bored, their blood circulates briskly, and they are not prone to colds which, contrary to what one might expect, are quite rare in the area. While they are always more or less wet, they are none the worse for it. There are blessings in every profession.

    Perhaps one should not be surprised at such a point of view, coming as it does from the author of an Essay on the Inequality of Human Races. Gobineau continues with his description of the island;

    The shore was covered, in a manner as little gratifying to one's sight as to one's sense of smell, with a layer of bloody cod remains; the shingle covered with heads and guts as abundantly as other places are with marine plants thrown up by the sea. A few steps further on, the near vertical cliff face rises up. The establishment proper is on top of it. A stairway made of planks has been constructed, as straight as a ladder, to the right of which are wooden rails; up and down these are hauled, by means of a capstan placed on top of the hill, all the burdens needing to be moved.