Haulin' Rope & Gaff: Songs and Poetry in the History of the Newfoundland Seal Fishery

Men and boys of Newfoundland''s north East Coast always looked forward to the coming of March. It was sealing or swilin'' time. Seal meat would give some reprieve to 'the long and hungry month of March by which time the family food store was very low. At this time of the year, sealing provided the only opportunity to obtain fresh meat and the pelts brought long awaited cash. Shannon Ryan was bo and bred in Riverhead, Harbor Grace, the one time home of the great sealing industry. He attended...