THE STORY OF LUNENBURG AND FISHING

Fishing has been carried on off the Coast of Nova
Scotia and Newfoundland for many hundred of years.
There is no doubt that the Norsemen, about the year
1000 A. D. did some fishing in these waters; and it is de-
finitely known that in 1498 John Cabot conducted some
extensive fishing.

During the 16th. Century, fishing on the Grand
Banks of Newfoundland, in particular, was very extensive.
During this period, there are records which show as many
as 800 ships engaged in the Fisheries in one year. It can
also be assumed that fishing was carried out at the same
period along the Nova Scotia Coast, the principle port
then being Canso. It is recorded that in 1607 one French
skipper had made 42 voyages to Canso.

During the 17th. century, stations were being set up
along the Nova Scotia coast for the curing of Fish. We
ean assume that there was also some fishing done in or
around the vicinity of Lunenburg, as there were definite
indications that a settlement had been established here
before he founding of the Town.

The first organized sett.ement of the Town of Lunen-
burg was in the year 1703. There were 1,453 people whe
embarked from Halifax to make a home at Lunenburg.
‘lihese people came from the Platinate of Bavaria, and
some from Switzerland and others from the French dis-
trict of Montbeliard. The fleet anchored off Lunenburg
June 7th. of the same year.

The early settlers who came to Lunenburg were an
inland people. The interesting fact is that, within a very
short time, they took advantage of their natural environ-
ment, the sea, and mastered if.

The fishing, as carried on in these early times, was
basieally the same as is done to-day, namely, curing the
Fish with Salt for the purpose of preserving it when en-
gaged in long trips. The methods, however, of handling
and processing have been improved to keep pace with
modern trends end requirements just as is true of al. our
products from the primary ‘ndustries.

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