Blue Rocks in Winter

Winter is hanging on here in Nova Scotia.

We get a warm-ish day, of + 8 degrees, followed by a day of snow and freezing conditions. This week we will have a high of 0 and a low of – 12.

I usually take my photos of Blue Rocks in the summer, but thought I’d show you how it looks just now.

The little fish houses sit amongst the blocks of ice.

And the sea moves like a bowl of thick porrage.

The lobstermen work when they can, in the open sea, and in the bays.

In the summer we launch our kayak from this little bay.

From the beach or down the ramps.

I think we’re ready for a melt and some warmer weather.

I’m looking forward to another hot, hot summer, like last year.

Lunenburg Fish

One of the sights of Lunenburg is the metal sculptures attached to the electric poles along the streets of the town.

Like this shark.

The  Fish Project was commissioned by the Town of Lunenburg in 2002. The plan was to replace the flower baskets decorating the town utility poles with something low maintenance.

This idea developed and the the town now has a very enjoyable public art exhibition.

As well as the shark, I think every species of fish must be represented – cod, mackerel, plaice, ling, squid, flounder, monkfish, herring, mussels, lobster, even swordfish.

Boats went out off Cape Breton to fish for these swordfish. I met one old local man who was the cook, at 10 years old, on a fishing boat that went after the swordfish!

The tuna fish was a very important fish for Nova Scotia. Huge tuna were caught just off the coast.

I have scanned some photos from  ‘A Pictorial History of the Aspotogan Peninsula’ to show the size and volume of tuna caught off these shores.

These photos were lent by Ned Norwood of Hubbard’s Heritage Society and were taken about 1947.

The 44 hand-painted aluminum sculptures were designed and painted by Laura Fisher.

Lobster Fishing Season at Lunenburg

Before the lobster season, the lobster traps are stacked on wharfs, in sheds or beside houses, ready for the next lobster harvest.

Yesterday was the first day of the lobster fishing season here at Lunenburg. The lobster men were off at sunrise, out to claim the best spots for their traps and the wharfs were cleared of lobster pots.

Today, the boats were back out for their  first pull.

Some fishermen have little fish stores that sit out on the rocks, like the ones at Blue Rocks.

When the lobsters are landed, they go off to various shops, restaurants and processing plants.

I think we’ll be having fresh lobster soon.