This study examines the criteria for efficient fisheries' management, and an efficient allocation of fisheries' labour in the Newfoundland inshore cod fishery. The first part of this thesis (fisheries' management) is an outline of H. Scott Gordon's theoretical model of the fisheries, which deals with the maximization of the social rent from a common property resource. An additional section has been included on the applicability of Gordon's model to the Newfoundland case. This was found necessary, because the organization of effort on the total Newfoundland cod stock, i.e. the inshore and the offshore sectors, present certain practical constraints on the feasibility of optimizing the social rent to this fishery. Indeed, the analysis of this section indicates that, for the present at least, it might be very difficult, administratively, to operate the inshore fishery according to Gordon's efficiency criterion. The second aspect of this study is the problem of low returns to fishermen in the inshore sector of the fishing industry. The theoretical framework used in this section is the staple-mobility theory approach, which maintains that the returns to labour and capital in declining areas need not decline below the returns in occupations of comparable skills, providing, both factors, capital and labour, are mobile. It is hypothesized, therefore, that the low returns to fisheries’ labour is a result of diminishing marginal returns in the fishing industry plus immobility of the fishermen. This necessitated a discussion of possible reasons for this immobility before any policy recommendation is offered. The arguments of high psychic costs, additional remuneration to fishermen from seasonal employment, and the general high unemployment rates in Newfoundland, are presented as likely barriers to mobility from the fishing industry. It is thought, however, that the latter problem, high unemployment rates throughout the rest of the economy, is the most plausible explanation of the immobility of the fisheries' labour force. That is to say, mobility has not been high, because the opportunity cost of this labour is not high. In order to correct this problem of surplus labour in the fishery, it is therefore necessary to improve the alternative employment situation for these men. To do this, some indication of the causes of high unemployment in Newfoundland must be provided. There are two possible explanations of this problem of unemployment. The first, an aggregate demand defficiency argument, is rejected on the grounds that stimulating demand in Newfoundland may not have any employment effects on the island because of import leakages. The second possibility, a structural imbalance, is more acceptable. Assuming a downward flexibility of wages, it is possible to have full employment in Newfoundland, therefore, it could be said that the unemployment problem is a result of a wage rigidity. However, given the present level of resources on the island, and the size of the labour force, it is possible that full employment would take place only at a general level of income considerably lower than Canadian standards. It is suggested therefore that the cause of the unemployment problem in Newfoundland is the result of a lack of mobility of the surplus labour in Newfoundland with respect to the higher income markets outside the province. There would seem to be two ways to correct this problem. (a) To provide incentives for the emigration of labour from Newfoundland, or (b) given sociological barriers to mobility, import suitable industry to the island. Both of these alternatives are briefly examined in the text. The final analytical section of this study deals with government policy for the fishery. The actions of the government can have considerable effects on the type of labour adjustment made between the fishery and other industries. The general conclusion of this thesis, i.e. labour mobility from the fishing industry, is in accordance with certain aspects of government fisheries' policy, but not with others. The government’s emphasis on training and transference of labour to the offshore fishery is acceptable, however it is thought that the subsidization programs for the inshore fishery are defeating the general aim of mobility from this sector. Such a policy is deemed unacceptable from the economic standpoint of an effective utilization of Newfoundland's fisheries' resources and labour. / Arts, Faculty of / Vancouver School of Economics / Graduate

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Two hundred years ago, a violent Christian extremist cult was excommunicated from their native Iceland. Now living in isolation on an island off the coast of Newfoundland, these Pilgrims defend their practice of child-marriage and widow burning as an integral part of worship. Sassa Jóhannsdottir is a 16-year-old member of the colony on the verge marrying a man--a virtual stranger--twice her age. Forced to watch the women of her community sacrifice their independence, happiness, and even their lives, Sassa seeks solace in relationships with her best friend Marta, her young ewe Fær, and the natural world. With Wifehood looming, Sassa must reckon with her faith, her societal role, and her alleged destiny.

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Thesis (M.A.)--University of New Brunswick, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Restricted until October 2003. Bibliography: leaves 93-98.

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Military jet over-flight activities pose a potential threat to staging waterfowl and pilots. The migration period is important for nutrient acquisition and courtship as these waterfowl enter the breeding season. Using a focal animal (continuous) technique for five-minute intervals, diurnal Time/Activity (TA) budgets for Canada Geese (Branta canadensis canadensis) (n=751), American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) (n=474) and Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) (n=1274) were compiled during 216 hours of behavioural observation. The study was conducted from 26 April to 27 May, 2002 at the outlet of Lac Fourmont, Labrador (52° 03' 30"N, 60° 31' 01" W), in an ashkui or area of open water in an otherwise frozen landscape, which is known historically as a place to hunt waterfowl. These staging grounds are within the 130 000 km2 Low-level Training Area (LLTA) of the Quebec-Labrador Peninsula. Generalized Linear Modeling (GLM) of ranked variables was used to analyze behaviour by: observer, sex, pair status, time of day, date, and each weather parameter. Male Common Goldeneye spent more time in courtship behaviours (2.7%) than females (1.1%) and they spent most of the daylight hours feeding (males 53.3% and females 54.5%), with little time resting (4.8% and 5.2%, respectively). In contrast, Black Ducks and Canada Geese spent relatively little time feeding (12.4% and 5% respectively) and most of their time sleeping (35% and 38% respectively) and locomotion (37.8% and 11% respectively). Ashkui are important to Common Goldeneyes for foraging, and to Canada Geese and Black Ducks for resting prior to the breeding season. / Ninety-one low-level jet over-flights occurred and sound levels (n=336 h) at the study site were measured. Effects of low-level jet over-flights were analyzed using GLM of ranked variables in order to analyze a number of variables simultaneously. All behavioural observations that occurred in the quarter hour periods up to 165 minutes after an over-flight were analyzed. Alert and courtship behaviours of Canada Geese increased after over-flights. Other behaviours were negatively affected to a lesser degree. Locomotor activities by Black Ducks increased significantly immediately following over-flights with a stronger movement response with increased noise. Increases in agonistic and comfort behaviours of Common Goldeneye were detected following over-flights with few other significant affects on their behaviour. / Key words. Anas rubripes, Branta canadensis, Bucephala clangula, disturbance, jet aircraft, Labrador, low-level flying, military activity, noise, spring staging, time-activity budgets, waterfowl