Alexanders

• Format: Manuscript
• Language: English
• Published: 1959
• Subjects: English language > Dialects > Newfoundland and Labrador; Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/elrcdne/id/4050

alexander n In the old days there was a plant found on the French Shore which went under the name of "Alexander." .It was considered to have great medicinal value when boiled. (over) IN THE OLD DAYS there was a plant found on the French Shore of which went under the name of "Alexancer". Presum- ably it is still to be found there for it was plentiful. It was considered to have great medi- cale value when boiled,and eaten, having excellent proper- ties as a blood-purifying agent. THE NEWFOUNDLAND ves- sels going to the Labrador each year often put into French Shore ports for many reasons. There was always one group of people who went ashore to pick a quan- tity of "Alexander." It was a very bitter herb and one had to acquire a taste for it. USUALLY the men who went to get this herb wer the "cut- throats." They got this name from their job of cutting the throat of the fish at splitting time. There's a harbour on the Labrador Coast that immort- alizes their occupation and skill - Cuttthroat. This group was distinct from the "splitters" and "headers." There were other groups assigned to other duties, "rinders," "woodcutters," and "watermen." WHEN THE CUTTHROATS came back with the plant they went looking for they would be regaled with a pork and "stog- ger" dinner with boiled "Alex- anders" as a tidbit. The women got this ready while the men wer ashore. The flour barrels were railed to produce the "stoggers," and when the boats' crews returned with the "Alex- ander," it was speedily prepared and boiled. It was said the "stoggers," a kind of duff, were wonderfully made, and as hard to cut as a cannonball. PRINTED ITEM DNE-cit G.M. Story October 1959 Used I Used I Not used Checked by Cathy Wiseman on Tue 29 Jul 2014; Reverse of card at A_13192; Card marked DNE-cit, but not used.