Migratory Fishery of Labrador
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador had three main types of fishery in the 19th century: sealing, migratory and inshore fishery. By 1620, whaling was no longer possible in Labrador, and the fishery became the main resource of the territory. The Newfoundland Act 1698, which was designed to promote the migratory fishery, lead to land grant disputes throughout Labrador.[1]
Sealing was a type of fishery that involved getting a berth or "ticket" on a ship that traveled to ice floes near Newfoundland and Labrador. Teams would then be sent out onto the ice to kill seals. This used to be done with a tool called a gaff hook but is now performed with a large club. There was escalating controversy about the industry in the 1970s, leading to the industry being banned. It was legalized recently for population control. Although it is not the staple it once was, the industry is still quite profitable.
