 Despite the major wealth from the colony being derived from cod and seal, there were no lighthouses protecting ships off the coast until the 19th century, making these industries dangerous for merchants and crew and unpredictably hazardous for everyday travelers commuting to Newfoundland outports.As early as March 1831, there was a lighthouse structure manned by Oke on Harbour Grace Island, pre-dating the government funded structure that was erected in 1836 and that Oke manned when it was made operational on 20 November 1837.According to Molloy, "“A mechanic by trade, Robert Oke was an excellent choice for the isolated lighthouse situated on the rocky island that lay just off the entrance to Harbour Grace harbor.