Credit: Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives, Decks Awash 1969.
A house is towed behind a boat to another community; a common scene during resettlement.

By the spring of 1955, there were only 26 families left on Bragg's island. Could they get help in moving, Mr. Belbin wanted to know? And how could this be done at the least cost? Mr. Belbin thought it would be a good idea to build a large raft out of logs and oil drums. On this, people could float their houses to the mainland. This became a common way to move houses. When many people hear the word "resettlement" today, they see a picture of a house on the water, on its way to a new place.

Mr. Belbin also thought other kinds of help might be needed. It would only be possible to move houses across the bay in the spring and summer. This was the very time when people would be working in the fishery. They would lose fishing time during the move. The fishermen might need public relief while they were moving. Some homes might need repairs because they were not in good enough shape to move. They might break apart on the trip.