Obituary as published in the Newfoundland Quarterly. October 1912, Vol 12(2), p.18.
The Late Hugh H. Fraser
written for "The Quarterly" by an Old Friend.
In the passing of HUGH H. FRASER his friends (and they are many) have sustained a loss not easily made good. Ever ready with advice and otherwise to help those less fortunate than himself. Sympathy for those in trouble or in pain was a trait of his kindly nature, and many a one has benefited thereby, without ever suspecting who the donor was. He was a sportsman in the true sense of the word, to whom the size of the bag mattered much less, than the outing spent near to Nature with dog and gun, or on the banks of one of our beautiful rivers camping near some little known fishing pool with a genial companion or two. Or again, around the camp fire at night entertaining his companions with his many experiences of former outings. His stock of such stories was pretty large, so he could draw from it at will. He was a fine shot and could throw a fly or land his fish with the best of his kind. Always a great advocate for Game and Fish Protection, his last act before he died was to save one of our best salmon rivers from the destructive hands of a Milling Company who wanted to log on its head waters, and so ruin the river as a breeding stream for the fish.
As an Amateur Photographer he had few if any equals, every one of his landscapes or seascapes showed the artist. His Fishing and Trouting pictures, with Dog and Gun, or Rod, were well balanced and freely arranged. His Photos of Wild Caribour in their native hills, taken when the snow was quite deep and the cold extreme, shows as nothing-else can, his pluck and determination to get what he set out for.
Many of those may be seen in Reid Newfoundland Company's Railway folders as well as in your own QUARTERLY. (Nfld. and many a foreign tourist and sportsman has been induced by them to pay Newfoundland a visit, and spend both time and money in this Sportsman's Paradise. His collection of Sporting, Landscape and Seasccape scenes fill many volumes which has never been published, but which should be, for the benefit of lovers of the photographic art.
His collection of Birds' Eggs and Postage Stamps are the best in the Island. The fact is he collect and preserved many articles of great interest to our own people as well as visiting tourists. He was a friend to everyone who needed one, and my only hope is that he is now in the happiest of happy hunting grounds.
Although Fraser's at 180 Water Street is no longer, we are pleased to offer for sale copies of Hugh Fraser's work from glass negatives that have remained in family posession since they were first taken at the turn of the century.
As stated in the above obituary, some of the photos have never been published. Over the next few months we will be preparing an on-line catalogue from which the prints can be ordered.
Meantime for your enjoyment we present the following examples, be sure to visit the photographic history of a fishing trip to Long Pond, St. John's.
Click on our mystery link and see if you can identify the places and faces presented on this page.
Victorian Children
Stephenville Station
Newfoundland Railway Promotion Photo
Holyrood Pond Ferry
A RUSTIC'S FISHING A FISH STORY FROM VICTORIAN NEWFOUNDLAND
