apital, and we had to loan them sufficient to
obtain the first cargo. A young fisherman was chosen as secretary, and
the store worked well from the beginning. That was in 1905. He is
still secretary, and to-day in 1918 the five-dollar shares are worth
one hundred and four dollars each, by the simple process of
accumulation of profits. The loan has been repaid years ago. Not a
barrow load of fish leaves the harbour except through the cooperative
store. Due to it, the people have been able to tide over a series of
bad fisheries; and every family is free of debt.

[Illustration: THE FIRST COOPERATIVE STORE]

At the time of the formation one most significant fact was that every
shareholder insisted that his name must not be registered, for fear
some one might find out that he owned cash. They were even opposed to
a label on the building to signify that it was a store. However, I
chalked all over its face "Red Bay Cooperative Store."

The whole effort met with very severe criticism, not to say hostility,
at the hands of the smaller traders, but the larger merchants were
most generous in their attitude, and though doubtful of the
possibility of realizing a cash basis, were without exception
favourable to the attempt. This store has been an unqualified success,
only limited in its blessings by its lack of larger capital. It has
enabled its members to live independently, free of debt and without
want; while similar villages, both south and east and west, have been
gradually deleted by the people being forced to leave through
inability to meet their needs.

During my first winter at St. Anthony, the young minister of the
little church on more than one occasion happened to be visiting on his
rounds in the very house where we were staying on ours, and the
subject of cooperation was frequently discussed over the evening pipe
with the friends in the place. He had himself been trading, and had so
disliked the methods that he had retired. He would certainly help us
to organize a store on the Newfoundland side of the Straits.

At last the day arrived for the initial meeting. We gave notice
everywhere. The chosen rendezvous was in a village fourteen miles
north. The evening before, however, the minister sent word that he
could not be present, as he had to go to a place twenty miles to the
northwest to hold service. Knowing for how much his opinion counted in
the minds of some of the people, this was a heavy blow, especially as