Prince Edward Island, Canada
 | Lobster Canneries Faced Problems |  |
 The economic stagnation accompanied by a blue gloom which settled over P.E.Island like a blanket of fog following Confederation was quite obvious before 1880, but now the grim realization of the serious blunder is only now beginning to make its painful entry into the minds and lives of all Islanders. Apparently there was less than 20 per cent in favor of Confederation. Naturally, the other 80 per cent were very disenchanted by the mind boggling events of the last few years, coupled with the nightmarish feeling of being trapped in a womb that might end up by having a miscarriage. Supposing the birth would be successful, the weird vision of being the runt of the litter, coupled with fact that we very likely would be extremely lucky if we got the small back tit and probably no milk, when we did. SWORD OVER HEADS To say the least this was not a very appetizing prospect for survival, the fear of being reduced to the status of beggars hung over our head like Damocles sword. The strong tide of public opinion created such confusion and turmoil, that many citizens wondered, will it ever come to pass that we would hope for the happy contented days before Confederation. Small wonder then that many citizens were planning to leave P.E.Island. But where to go? Boston maybe, transportation was easy to get, just book a passage aboard one of the many schooners that would be loading produce for the Boston market. \ Seemingly, some of the lobster packers were testing the Boston market for canned lobsters by shipping small lots, and they found the market there to more lucrative than the local P.E.I. market where canned lobster was being peddled for 15 cents per one pould flat can. Apparently the schooner captains brought back glowing reports for the future of the Boston market. In later years this market - still an infant - was killet by the slogan - No truck, no trade with the Yankees. That foregoing price was an example of the dismal prospects for a return to the better days before Confederation. Another example taken from the ledger of a lobster packer in 1880. High line fishermen for that year landed 18,600 lobsters (by count) the price to the fishermen that season was 90 cents per one hundred lobsters. On the same page in the same ledger the same man bought shoes, sox, shirt, tie, underwear, hat and suit, for $15.20. Wages in the cannery were 35 cents per 10 hour day, approximately, $9.10 per month. The obstacles, that the Cannery owner had to overcome, were many and varied, not the least of such obstacles, was the tin can. CONSTANT WORRY This one item was a constant worry, first to get the tin, considering the transportation problems of those days, then to store it in a clean dry place, dampness and rust through the long winter months were also a problem and worry. After the cans were made, in tinsmiths shop, they had to be hauled away and stored at the cannery. One average tinsmith shop with two or three helpers, could supply three or four canneries, by starting early in the fall and working all winter. One tinsmith shop in the Murray Harbour North area, was owned and operated by a certain Mr. Fred Higginbotham, who emigrated to Canada in 1870, having learned his trade in England. His shop was located on the Cambridge Road, Kings County. In 1864 there were ten tinsmiths on P.E.Island, possibly there would be twice that many in 1880. When the spring arrived, and the canneries opened for the coming lobster season, Mr. Higginbotham would go to one of the canneries and would be the overseer of the canning, all cans were sealed by hand. His wife would go along also, and cook for the fishermen and cannery crew. After traipsing through the snow all winter, hauling supplies to the cookhouse and cannery, plus many other winter chores, this man, plagueed by many unforeseen happenings, such as no guarantee of price, quantity of lobsters, persistent relentless adverse, weather, what demand for his product, if any, plus the almost hopeless task of trying to cope with the helpless feeling of sagging morale. However, time is a great healer and 10 years after Confederation these remarkable men, who somehow kept the pot boiling...through all the gloomy years, they now begin to sense a new awakening. The old saying, misery likes company, could never be more true than now. So in the next few years they have many new cannery neighbours. CANNERY OWNERS The following list of cannery owners was taken from the P.E.Island atlas...1880: Nail Pond, J.J. Arsenault, P. Richard and F. Larkin  Copyright Waldron H. Leard |