March 25, 1882
Dissolution of Partnership
The partnership hithero existing between William Butt, Jr., and Levi Frost was dissolved, by mutual consent, on the First day of January, 1882.
William Butt,
Levi Frost.
_____________________
September 9, 1882
Random Notes – Some of your readers will probably be interested by a few jottings about the district of Random.
The Fishery – Very few men are at home in the summer: nearly all go to Labrador. At one point in South West Arm, I only found one man, out of 20 belonging to the harbor, at home. Only 20 men or thereabouts are at home in Smith’s Sound: 100 or upwards are on the Labrador. Their catch is from 2 to 6 quintals only. In South West Arm the 15 men fishing at home have 9 to 10 quintals a man.
All the traps are about Fox Harbor, Gooseberry Cove, Butter Cove, and Hearts Ease: 4 traps from South West Arm, and 2 from North West Arm, as well as 2 or 3 belonging to these harbors, have been fishing here this summer. They have only done middling: none. I believe, much, if at all, over 100 quintals.
I was surprised to find so many vessels going to the Labrador from such small harbors. In South West Arm alone, I am told, all 27 craft, of from 35 to 80 tons; besides 6 smaller ones. Northern Bight itself has 7 vessels.
The Mills seem to be mostly owned by the men themselves, and no doubt contribute largely to the general prosperity of the settlers here; for poverty there is none. The people live in comparative comfort, compared with many others – those at the bottom of the Bay – many of whom are half-starving during most of the winter. The mills each earn L109 to L200 a year, and in most cases are worked by the owner and his family; and that, of course, only spring and fall, or perhaps one of these seasons only. In Smith’s Sound there are 10 mills; in South West Arm 9; in North West Arm 15; the latter mostly being in operation all the summer – the men doing nothing scarcely with the fishery.
The Roads are extending – though but slowly I am informed. And no wonder, for the pernicious fashion prevails here, as in some other districts, of allowing the road grant to be looked upon as a pauper grant, or rather as a bonus given by the Government to every man: all expect their share or part; and if they don’t get it the Road Board or Commissioner will hear of it. The men, of course, are not settled home till late; and so often road work does not begin before the snow comes. Fancy a man possessed, say, of a couple of schooners, and perhaps a mill or two even – whose average earnings with boats, mills etc, come to L1000 yearly – looking for his part of the road money just the same as a poor half-starving pauper would. If any man is away when the work is going on, he expects his money to be kept back for him till he comes home. The roads about Smith’s Sound and that from Heart’s Ease to Little Harbour (which is 5 miles long – about the longest in the district) are frightfully hilly – as a woman observed, “they are critical seemly.”
Lad drowned at Northern Bight. A poor boy, Alexander Green, aged 8, was drowned here on Wednesday the 9th August, and his body has not been recovered. He was jigging with an old man in a “cranky” boat; and as they were putting up the sail to go home a squall of wind struck them, and the boat capsized. The man was saved by holding on to the bottom till rescued.
The Quarry – “The Wilton Grove Slate Quarry, Smith’s Sound” does not seem to be employing many men just now – only 5 or 6, I believe. There seems to be some expectation of a larger body getting to work soon. I was informed that the slate is of excellent quality, and in quantity immense. The Welshmen working there are capital singers. Rocky Brook school-room often gets the benefit of their musical talents, at the Church’s services. – Com.
_____________________
Transcribed by Wanda Garrett, Lester Green, and Brandon Seward, September 2014. Updated October 2022
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.