"Distant Fishplant"

 My brother-in-law and I paddle around Canso for most of a day. In the distance of Canso Harbour you can see an old fishplant being demolished. I worked in every part of that fishplant in my youth, it was my inspiration to leave and a decision today I somewhat regret but I wasn't a fisherman like my brothers. I always looked to the ocean to see when the fishing draggers were coming in as we knew that the plant would be in full swing now I look to the plant that gave so much to Canso's economy and like many in the Atlantic provinces has succumbed to dwindling fish stocks. Though the life blood was sucked slowly out of the town it still refuses to let go of its heritage and lobster and crab are the mainstay these days. Lucrative though it is to a few there are many more who wish the days of old and fish a plenty for everyone were still to be had.

"Canso Town"

 Canso Town or "Kansuk" as it was formerly called by the early Mic Mac Indian is a peninsula that juts out into Chedbucto Bay in Northeastern Nova Scotia. It was incorporated in 1605 and is the most easterly location on the North American continent and it's weather is very similar to that here in St. John's NL. The kayaking in this area is spectacular and the many bays and Islands sheltered from the strong north easterlies. On my visit the waters were flat the whole time a far cry from those in NL.

"Grassy Island"

 Grassy Island in Canso Nova Scotia is significant historically. It is one of the oldest fishing settlements in Nova Scotia, around 1605. The English and the French battled over these waters for fishing rights right up to the early 1800's. The English then burned the fortress to the ground on the way to pummel Louisburg in Cape Breton. There was said to be a hundred and some score taverns on the island during it's existence at different times throughout ownership by the English and the French. There is a picture in the museum drawn from back then of a fisherman using a bucket with a rope attached to fish the cod out of the local waters. We may never see those days again but crab and lobster are abundant today.

I participated in an archeology dig for two summers on Grassy Island and learned allot about Canso's history and its' early peoples. Merchants and fisherman by trade inhabiting our early waters. One can learn lots from artifacts and there were many. From shoe buckles, musket balls, cannon balls, burnt tavern glass to the finest dining ware of the day were all unearthed. I use to like snorkeling the waters during breaks to find pieces of earthenware and such thrown in the little bay as waste some 300-400 years ago.

"Canso, Nova Scotia"

 
This is where it all began for me. I know vquite a bit of the coast line in this area. It sure is beautiful to paddle in. There are tons of Islands to explore and sheltered coves. Lots of lobster and other shellfish too. Catching fish on a kayak outing is not too hard. There are currents to play in and use to your advantage especially on the flood and ebb tides.

"Ringing In The New Year", Chedbucto Bay,NS

I was determined to ring in the new year on this Chedbucto Bay Bell Bouy. Green, starboard, right....correct?