“People don’t realize how much work there is for lobster fishermen to get ready for the season,” said Rolene Leverington, manager of Waterview Machine Works Ltd. on Hawthorn.
She leads the way between coils of rope and boxes full of dozens of different trap components including cleats, door hooks, trap handles, and swivels.
Before the season starts, fishermen carefully examine each of their 375 traps to see what must be replaced. It’s places like this where they’ll find what they need.
Around the corner boots line the shelves. Moon boots were the traditional choice, but others like Muck boots and Cofra are taking their place. “They’re so light and really warm. The top is made from neoprene and they’re really light. The fishermen really like that,” said Leverington.
One unusual item that fishermen have been asking for is scales, which may mean more will be selling their lobster directly to consumers.
A preference for certain colours in bait bags, ropes and buoys is also something that Leverington has noticed.
Some like blue, some orange, some red or yellow. They colour coordinate their ropes. I never knew that lobster fishermen were so stylish,” she said.
Liferafts are also required to be serviced every couple of years. The business had 14 scheduled for mid-November.
Down the street at I.M.P Group Limited, manager Bill Goodwin says the number one item they sell before lobster fishing season is rope. “We buy it from all over the world. Our main supplier is Portugal,” he said. “There’s also a huge plant in Cape Breton – Polysteel – that we buy a lot from.
Goodwin says LFA 33 and 34 fishermen use larger diameter ropes (9/16” and ½”) than their counterparts because they fish trawls - 20 to 25 traps on a string, with eight or ten fathoms between traps, in 60 to 100 fathoms of water.
New Brunswick fishermen fish two traps on 5/16” rope. The second biggest expense is inflatable balloons (buoys) to mark gear for easy pick up.
Every year, the purchase of a percentage of new traps is a necessity. For newcomers to the industry, it may require a second mortgage.
I.M.P Group Limited build and sell traps in a facility next to the store on Hawthorn Street. “I had a couple of new fellas get into it this year and buy a whole new fleet, 425 new traps at an average cost of $110 a piece,” said Goodwin.
Electronics are also a temptation for fishermen to update annually. “They have automatic plotters and pilots, there’s no limit to what electronics can do that they never did before” said Goodwin.
Other supplies include different styles of oil clothes and life-saving equipment like flotation vests comfortable enough to wear while working. The vests (starting at around $210) inflate automatically if the wearer falls in water.
Gloves are a relatively inexpensive item that Goodwin moves a lot of. The basic woolen lobster mitten has evolved into PVC. A popular model is the 481 – a tight-fitting insulated vinyl glove that isn’t clumsy and allows easy pick up of lobsters and tying of rope.
The business stocks between 20 and 30 styles and will sell 4,000 to 5,000 pairs over the season. Fishermen go through several pairs weekly.
Survival suits, in the range of $700, also move at lobster fishing time. With each boat carrying four to five fishermen, responsible captains purchase one for each. Although not required by law, Goodwin thinks they should be.
Lobster fishing season is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30 in Lobster Fishing Areas 33 and 34 with close to 1700 boats setting out.
