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Lobster Cannery

In the early 1900's, Nevilles had a factory on St. Paul's Island at the Petrie's Cove on the North-West side of the Island. There was a brook running from Ethel Lake and the factory was located near this brook. This factory operated for three years.
Mr. Jack Corbett worked at this factory and he recalls several of the crew who worked at the factory. They were Donald and Charles MacDonald, Bay Road Valley, Jessie Brown, Dingwall, several of Josey Gwinn's Daughters, Pete MacLellan, Abbie Corbett, Dingwall. Mr. Corbett is now 91 years of age. His wages were $18.00 per month.

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Song written concerning a bit of a strike in the Loster Factory over lack of food
Circa 1903
St. Paul's Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

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Lobster strike poem continued
Circa 1903
St. Paul's Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

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A letter from Wilson Gwinn to Macdonald Bros. concerning settling up accounts
1 October 1924
St. Paul's Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

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The crew was taken out on a large vessel, The Argosy, a fishing vessel from Lunenburg. They went out the first of May and came in the middle of July. The boat carried supplies and coal in bags for fuel for the factory. They landed the supplies in Campbells Cove. Mr. John Campbell was governor of the Island at this time - 1904. The boss at the factory was George Hemingay of Halifax.
The lobsters were very large and plentiful. K.P. MacRae and Dodie Fitzgerald were high-line lobster fisherman that year. The fishermen received one and a half cents per pound for their lobsters.

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Receipt for 47 lbs of lobster from Macdonald Bros. Store sold to the St. Paul's Cannery
Circa 1920's
St. Paul's Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

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The lobsters were cooked until the legs pulled out easily, and then they were shelled and packed in pound cans. They were removed from the hot water and punched to allow the steam to escape and then resoldered again. The cans were polished by the women and packed in cases. They were picked up by a government boat and taken to Halifax. They were shipped from there to England which was the chief market. When the lobster season was over, Mr. Corbett and K.P. MacRae rowed back to Dingwall, a distance of 21 miles!

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Dory in Tittle
20th Century
North-East Light, St. Paul's Island, Canada


Credits:
John Morrison