Capelin is Gold.
The annual Capelin roll, Cape Bonavista Newfoundland Canada.
(click image to enlarge)
The frenzy will last along these beaches for about 2 days as millions of capelin roll in with the surf where the females spawn and the males fertilize the eggs before they too die.
There are certain dates in one’s life that leave a lasting impression. We remember in finite detail the events leading to the implantation.
Such was the case on July 2, 1992 when The Honourable John Crosbie stood on a soapbox in Newfoundland and announced: “It’s not my fault. I didn’t take the fish out of the God damn water.” Give Crosbie his due, whether wise or not, he faced the music and stood before a lynch mob after his neck.
I was in Harbour Breton shooting an assignment that required a concentration on landscape imagery from the area. Serendipity prevailed and I found myself on a stage (wharf) chatting with Norman Day, an inshore fisherman working his trawl tub. When Crosbie’s announcement came over the radio from inside the store (fish shed), Mr. Day stood up and walked away from his work muttering “Well boys, oh boys, oh boys. She’s done!”
Like many others living in Newfoundland at that time, I don’t believe we had any idea of the long-term consequences the fishery moratorium would have on the very economic and social fabric of this eastern-most province. Many thought a two year break was all that was required; 15 years later statistics show that nearly 40,000 people lost their livelihoods.
The collapse of the cod fishery is multi-faceted but science supports the notion that over-fishing is the major culprit. Newfoundland can trace its northern cod fishery back to the 16th century, with an average of 300,000 tonnes annually landed until the 1960’s. By 1968, due to improved technology and the introduction of the factory freezer-trawler, landings peaked at 800,000 tonnes. Then came the declines. Last year, in 2006, with a limited and restricted fishery, a mere 2700 tonnes were landed.
Unfortunately for Mr. Day, and the thousands of inshore traditional fisherman, they were not the cause of the decline. Yet they have suffered the results of the offshore barons.
It is now 15 years later, almost to the day, and I am enjoying a relaxing afternoon laying in a lush and fragrant grassy meadow watching clouds drift by while the gulls screech on the beach below and humpback whales are feeding offshore. It is the annual capelin roll along the gravel beaches of Cape Bonavista, and this translates to a ballet of gatherers - be they the gulls gorging on the floundering, spawning, and dying smelt-like fish or the rubber boot clad two-legged collector harvesting for larder or garden.
Whereas cod may be the currency of Newfoundland, capelin is gold.
The frenzy will last along these beaches for about 2 days as millions of capelin roll in with the surf where the females spawn and the males fertilize the eggs before they too die. Throughout June and July the scene will repeat itself around the island of Newfoundland.
A couple of elderly folks came along and joined in a chat about the uncharacteristically beautiful weather before partaking in the honoured tradition of learning where I was from and if they might know my “crowd.” It was a most enjoyable and idyllic setting - one that I have become accustomed to and never tire of.
Of course, the conversation turned to the fishery. I was intrigued to learn that the annual capelin roll, or “scull” used to last upards of a week before the 1950’s. This comment left me with more questions than I was getting answers, but primarily “Why has a one-time week-long capelin roll now diminished to just a couple of days?”
For the sake of all things good in Newfoundland, we somehow have to secure the ways and means to find balance in harvesting natural resources. Perhaps the answer lies with us, the consummer. Only when we are prepared to pay a premium for product that is harvested in a sustainable fashion will we be able to eliminate the impact of the large-scale producer such as factory freezer trawlers.
Sign me up, as I am afraid of losing these idylic afternoons of chatting with, and making photographs of fisherfolk.
© Dale Wilson
August 7th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Great article, Dale, and a beautiful photo. Thanks.
October 4th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Dale,
That’s a fine shot. Thanks for posting it, with extra appreciation for the serendipity.
It’s the pose that makes it, of course. You must have taken a few shots. It made me recall the kind of perfect moment in body language that I had seen in a few of Van Gogh’s drawings. I say that very cautiously and a bit ruefully, since I feel there are so many very big differences between painting/drawing and photography that comparisons are usually facile and often downright wrong-headed. But I did think of the Van Gogh’s. I’m not just saying that to make up for the digs I’ve made (or might make) at your expense elsewhere on this blog.
So I went to the web to try to find the drawings I remembered, and here’s three examples:
http://www.vggallery.com/drawings/p_1269.htm
http://www.vggallery.com/graphicworks/p_1656.htm
http://www.vggallery.com/drawings/p_0830.htm
Looking for them led me to the site, which was a golden find - it has ALL of Van Gogh’s works, which is pretty neat if you like the guy’s work. (Who doesn’t?) Hence, thanks for the serendipity.
Janis
October 4th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for the note, Janis.
I am not so sure about the comparison to Van Gogh, however. Aaagh, what the hell; I’ll survive the inflated ego.
It does remind me of a funny story however. I was doing a speaking engagement at the NAC in Ottawa a few years back. I arrived at the auditorium several hours early to do sound checks, check lighting, projectors and so on.
Unbeknownst to me, there was a Pablo Picasso exhibit in the main gallery. With about 45-minutes to spare, one of the staff whisked me through the gallery with a very quick and professional explanation of the works. To say that was a thrill would be an understatement.
Back to the auditorium.
I was introduced and made my opening remark something along the lines of: Thank you for those kind comments, but I really think you went too far by bringing Picasso in as the opening act.
Anyone who knows me knows that I joke around alot - sometimes too much, obviously!
What does concern me, Janis, I feel like I am being set-up?
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September 6th, 2010 at 9:58 am
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