The field trip to the fisheries museum was really enjoyable! I didn't really know what to expect upon going there. I was pleasantly suprised with the vast history in Nova Scotia, and especially Lunenburg! My great-grandfather was a ship builder so it was really fascinating to learn the history of the boats built and how they functioned out at sea. I thought that the model of the Atlantic coast was really neat and how we saw the 200 mile limit, as well as the extent of the continental shelf. I found it really interesting when Nancy, our tour guide mentioned that when her husband is out at sea, sometimes when the tides are low, they can get out and actually play a game of baseball.
My grandfather grew up as a fisherman, and I honestly didn't realize how difficult and dangerous of a job it was. I definitely attained a much greater respect for his work.
I asked Nancy what the general feeling was in Lunenberg in regards to bottom trawling was...she said that they are making great efforts to become more sustainable fishers, and they have developed a 2 tierd net, so when they are fishing haddock for example, there will be a barrier in one level, and the cod have a natural instinct to duck, therefore do not catch the cod.
The old way of fishing was intensely difficult, and really heoric, especially going out in the smaller boats, by themselves or with another mate. Hooking two miles of net by hand would be exhausting! I was also astounded that those small boats could hold up to 2000 lbs of fish at a time!!!
I didn't know much about the Bluenose Expeditions, but I do intend to do more research on that in another blog. ---Not to mention the massive size of that lobster crustacean...and the metamorphosism of Halibut! I have grown up working in a seafood restaurant and never knew that happened!!! It was really neat to see that the camoflauge themselves too!!!
Nancy's (our tour guide) last name is Knickle which seems to be a well known family in Lunenberg, from company's named after them, to many men in their family who lost their lives. I couldn't believe that 9 year olds or 13 year olds would be out working on these ships! What a different time it is today!!
Lunenberg was a beautiful town and is a great example of a self-sustaining coastal community! It is nice to see that not every place in the world has become inundated with commercialization....even if they do have a few tacky tourist shops!!!
My grandfather grew up as a fisherman, and I honestly didn't realize how difficult and dangerous of a job it was. I definitely attained a much greater respect for his work.
I asked Nancy what the general feeling was in Lunenberg in regards to bottom trawling was...she said that they are making great efforts to become more sustainable fishers, and they have developed a 2 tierd net, so when they are fishing haddock for example, there will be a barrier in one level, and the cod have a natural instinct to duck, therefore do not catch the cod.
The old way of fishing was intensely difficult, and really heoric, especially going out in the smaller boats, by themselves or with another mate. Hooking two miles of net by hand would be exhausting! I was also astounded that those small boats could hold up to 2000 lbs of fish at a time!!!
I didn't know much about the Bluenose Expeditions, but I do intend to do more research on that in another blog. ---Not to mention the massive size of that lobster crustacean...and the metamorphosism of Halibut! I have grown up working in a seafood restaurant and never knew that happened!!! It was really neat to see that the camoflauge themselves too!!!
Nancy's (our tour guide) last name is Knickle which seems to be a well known family in Lunenberg, from company's named after them, to many men in their family who lost their lives. I couldn't believe that 9 year olds or 13 year olds would be out working on these ships! What a different time it is today!!
Lunenberg was a beautiful town and is a great example of a self-sustaining coastal community! It is nice to see that not every place in the world has become inundated with commercialization....even if they do have a few tacky tourist shops!!!
1 comment:
Great post: I am so glad that you enjoyed the trip there. I hope you get a chance to go abck in the summer, although it is definitely more "touristy" in the summer months.
Cathy
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