Is a seal a fish?

February 2024

We’ve often heard that none less than the Pope, or a pope, or the Bishop, or a bishop, decreed that seals were fish – not meat – opening a food source for Newfoundland Catholics during Lent and for Good Friday during a hungry time of year. But is it true? The Church, and other entities, have reclassified various foodstuffs for various reasons, It’s still a month or so out from Good Friday (March 29); good time to ponder this question and perhaps organize another favourite option.

(Image: Seals on the Rocks, by Albert Bierstadt)

Non-Fiction

Making Album Rock

BY Matthew Hollett

You can find such surprising and funny things while digging through archives. The Pilote de Terre-Neuve, published in 1869, is full of dollhouse-like illustrations of Newfoundland’s coastline, complete with tiny ships and houses. I also came across a sea captain’s letter to his daughter, in which he describes “seven little gulls recently hatched” that he is attempting to raise.

Q & A Canada 150

Talking ‘bout our genre fiction

BY Ellen Curtis

BEAM DOWN into any community across Newfoundland and Labrador, and you’ll find storytellers.

Fiction Port Authority

Camels in the Newfoundland Desert

BY Susan Sinnott

MELVIN WAS OUT at his crab pots when the first boats came, their guns pointed right at him. Jesus. Pirates in Conception Bay? “Morning,” he says. “Looking for somebody?” “Canada,” says…