You did not wear grey mitts in a fishing boat. It you dropped a comb you had to step on it before you could pick it up. You could not enter by one door and leave by another. You did not stir your tea with a knife, as they said this would stir up strife. If a black cat crossed in front of you in the road, this could mean bad luck. To this day, I never pick up a comb before stepping on it first.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation on and off the Island was sometimes quite a problem. The worst was the late fall or early spring when ice was “making” and was not heavy enough to walk on. In those cases two or three older men would haul a dory by horse and sleigh to whatever side of the Island had the open water. They‘d row to either Georgetown or Annandale, depending on where the open water was. The kids would look after the horse and sleigh, and keep watch, to be there to meet them when they came back. In the fall and summer when they were able to use small boats, we would meet them with horse and cart.

We’d go to the shore, sometimes at night and listen for the sound of the boat engine if we could not see it. All boat engines then were 5 horsepower and made quite a noise. If we could not see the boat or hear the engine, we were taught to put our ear on the sand, and sure enough, you could hear the engine a long piece away. As small kids it was hard for us to get the horse hitched up. Sometimes we would stand lobster traps under the shafts of the cart and back the horse in, because we weren’t strong enough to hold the shafts up while the cart chain was being placed over the horse’s back. Then we’d pull the traps out and be on our way.

When the ice was strong enough for the horses to travel on, it would be “bushed.” That called for cutting a hole in the ice and putting a tree in it, usually a fir. The trees would be placed about 50 yards apart and would mark the trail for when it was dark or if there was a snow storm. My father sometimes had the job of bushing the ice, and for this he would be paid $5.00 from the Government. I guess even back then it would depend on what side of politics you were on whether you got the job or not. It was well known on the Island that the Kings and the Aliens voted Liberal.

I remember a number of close calls crossing the ice and bar and |

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