oastal environments provided rich feeding grounds, and it was here that aboriginal peoples found much of their sustenance during the year. The cold Labrador current, combined with the warm Gulf Stream, created a plentiful source of food for fishing peoples.

It is only through historical accounts and oral traditions, however, that we can truly appreciate the vast extent and diversity of marine life available to aboriginal peoples. Most peoples used their knowledge of seasonal cycles to target particular species at strategic locations. Smaller fish species such as herring and capelin were usually trapped or netted; larger species such as salmon and striped bass were speared. Shellfish were collected seasonally - primarily during the spring to mid-summer period - but were available year-round.