Newfoundland Cod Fishermen in the 1930s
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- The Prisoners of the Sea
Archival film from BroadbandTV, of Newfoundland fishermen plying the cod-rich, yet dangerous Newfoundland waters. Circa 1930s.
The hardy people on the island of Newfoundland have battled the elements, the ocean and its North Atlantic isolation to make a living, ever since the first European pioneers settled its rocky shores centuries ago.
*Christopher Columbus landed on continental America in 1492
John Cabot landed on the island of Newfoundland in 1497*
Upon his return to England, Cabot reported that the Newfoundland waters were so plentiful with fish that nets were not needed, but could be dipped up merely with baskets.
^ Now that was an abundance of fish.
This well preserved 1930s black and white film of the deep sea cod fishery on the banks off Newfoundland leave nothing to doubt, regarding not only the quantity of fish out there at that time, but also the daily dangers that the fishermen faced to eke out a meager existence.
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EDIT:
February 28/2009:
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EDIT # 2:
March 01/2009:
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March 02/2009:
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EDIT # 4:
March 03/2009:
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March 07/2009:
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I am Portuguese and we are proud of our White Fleet that fished with this method for more than 100 years in the Grand Banks of the Newfoundland. We have reports of fishing in there since 1506 and regular campaigns started in 1835. The peak was around 1960, since then our fleet started to decrease and fishermen were converted to new methods of fishing.
Great piece of history here, thanks for sharing
And thank you Luis :-)
When I was a child living in St. John's 1968 and 1969, I recall vividly going down to the St. John's waterfront many times and admiring the many White Fleet cod ships from Portugal that had come ashore...probably to be in safe harbour to avoid a huge upcoming storm out on the Grand Banks, maybe to refill with food and water and salt and fuel supplies to head back out to fish again for another month. Or maybe to stock up with enough supplies to carry them through to get back to Portugal at the end of the fishing season.
I can still see those ships in my mind, lining the docks and sometimes 2 ships were tied together broadside. There were so many.
I recall on another occasion of the friendly crew letting the person with me & myself to go on board for a little tour of their particular ship.
I also recall another time I went down to look at the ships and apparently a small fire had taken place on one of them out at sea, but not enough damage that the ship was unable to make it back to shore. By the time I got to the docks, the crew had already shovelled from the interior of the ship the ashes of the burnt items. A huge pile. I clearly remember the smell of that still smoldering ash pile to this day. I even remember the many cracked and broken (liquor) bottles mixed amongst that burnt rubble. The smell still lingers with me. (Maybe the fire had taken place in the kitchen area where the fishermen had been killing time by playing cards and smoking cigarettes and having a few drinks. I dunno the exact cause of that fire)
Memories of the White Fleet from Portugal last a lifetime for this Newfoundlander.
@@MisterCanning wow thanks for sharing those memories!
I've imagine myself in your place by your words. As I said it's a piece of history of our countries and those memories, boats, pictures, histories, cannot be lost and we had very hard times back on those days.
The Portuguese roots are very tight to cod and to your home country. Cod is the Portuguese best friend. For my Cristhmas supper tomorow I am (and the majority of the Portuguese) preparing salty cod for the main meal.
If you have time, please check our museum details dedicated to the portuguese cod fisherman museumaritimo.cm-ilhavo.pt/ select English. Also we have Facebook pages related to saving the white fleet boats. Stay in touch mate and merry Christmas
Salt cod, Luis? Awesome...I wouldn't mind a nice chunk of it for myself right now lol. I'll check out that site. Have a super Christmas Weekend.
Yeap it was the way we preserved it back on those days, when we had to store it in the ship hold for the 8 month journey. We still love to eat it like that. I've never tried fresh cod in my life! Cheers
Loved this video so much - heartbreaking. My great-great grandfather died in these waters, cod fishing. He has a plaque in his honour at the Grand Banks Fishermans memorial.
The White Fleet was much loved in Newfoundland. Thank you for sharing this video and the heroism of our Newfoundland men.
Heartandsouloftisha, you came from a long line of very hard-working people. That is definitely something to be proud of.
Thank you for your visit :-)
An excellent commentary you put there, CSIS25. As you know ... The times they are achangin' ... and none moreso than that witnessed over the past 50 years.
You have a good night :-)
Crazy that they had RUclips in the 1930s
Amazing upload , I could never imagine living under these conditions . Thanks to our ancestors our Simple life is possible. Major kudos. I love my life today ,it's fellas like these that made it all possible.
The dirty 30s. A tough era. On the land and on the sea.
Thank you very much DixieRose, for stopping by to check out this very revealing piece of seafaring history and leaving such a nice remark..
Absolutely right on, Carol - > the fishermen faced many hazards including fog, wind and ice.
Thanks for stopping in :-)
Yes, I agree with you Bethulie - > kudos to fishermen everywhere.
Wonderful video! What was exacltly the name of the Priest who dedicated his life to the Newfoundlanders?
I’m from the French Shore, the place the French called Le Petit Nord. My grandfather was a boy when they were coming here, and I grew up with my grandfather’s stories of the French and how hard it was for them. When I tell Bretons where I’m from, they say “oh, that’s a hard place, people died over there.” And my home is “over there”, the.hard place they had to come to. My mother’s family were guardiens, the English that the French paid to take care of their stuff when they left in the Fall. Other members of my family took the French buildings apart for lumber to build their own houses. My father’s family stole their lumber, while my mother’s family tried to stop them.lol.
I have family history of fishing , my grandfather and my grate grandfather where fishermen. despite me being a city boy i have the up most total respect for what they did to keep there family alive. That where the hard days. They had to do just about every thing, mom tells me story's that make me so surprised, i'm 25 but man how far has the world come in the past 50 years is amassing
Good point about all things medical, Dolly.
Considering that the season on the water was 8 months long, you have raised an excellent fact.
Thanks for that :-)
Great video.
Great film, thanks for posting.
Mr. Canning - is this video owned by you? If not, could you tell me how to write to the owner? Thank you very much. - Bruce in Halifax, NS
Mr. Bishop, the old original 1930s COMPLETE footage came my way over a decade ago. If my memory serves me right, I didn't upload all of it, because way back then there was a cap to the amount of minutes a person could upload to RUclips. I don't recall all the specifics, other than to say the original archival film was in the Public Domain.
@@MisterCanning Thanks so much for this information and your fast reply. All best wishes!
The hardest but kindest ppl on earth !!
Fui pescador da pesca do bacalhau durante 10 anos naufraguei duas vezes no Lugre motor Dom Dinis e no navio motor Celeste Maria pesquei na Gronelândia e no Virgem Rokos desde 64 a 73 parabéns a todos os pescadores que trilharam esses mares para ganharem o sustento dos seus filhos amargurada mente me despeco
I myself fished off Greenland for 3 seasons, leaving here in Newfoundland in may & returning in sept or oct
Excellent video, I take my hat of to them...
This kind of life is unimaginable ! ......work or die and too often they did both !
Excellent.
Ive lost several of my friends to the sea. the wind and tide respect know man.
Loved it !
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friends, Dan.
The sea has stolen many a life.
LMAO @ Mister. Good video Junior
Thank you ... and what's in a name anyway ... Garge? :-)
As a Newfoundlander, who is Mr Canning please ? Thank you
RS. Canada
Well now, Richard. Interesting question. (BTW, a high school classmate of mine was Elizabeth Simms from Boyd's Cove)
I am:
ruclips.net/video/6kP-5m4cYDo/видео.html
yes i was thinking the same who he was, never heard of him. Kind of like Dr Grenfell story but he came to nl in the late 1800s
Cheers!
Something else.
check out matt damon in frame 4:28
Seems like an odd mix. Old stuff but I think the nationality of those pictured is in question.
45 km? Not a chance. At most they would go 3 km awake from the head boat
I suppose many people came here after seeing (or reading) “Captains Courageous “….
That was filmed in my hometown here in Newfoundland. Well, parts of it. My grandfather was an extra with his dory.
It was dangerous work.
Hi I’m looking into rowing a traditional dory built in Nova Scotia across the North Atlantic to the uk , I’m looking for support and funding for the boat build if anyone has any ideas that may help me I would love to here them. Thank you
I'll bet the the cook was a well respected man aboard among working nuts like these. Amen.
The "Sand" Banks of Newfoundland??
That's The "Grand" Banks of newfoundland, not sand banks
ace
Thanks, yes the times are changing really really fast. yes that is so true non more the the last 50 exact same thing mom said to me
Thanks hope you have a good night as well :)
Loves da smokes!
It’s not newfundlend... It’s newfoundLAND!
Commentary, one word, poor!
Great video