Heading to Market

By the 1920’s, the indomitable fishing schooner had reached the apex of its development. Fore-and-rigged, the typical two-masted “Grand Banker” was primarily engaged in the salt-cod fishery. A fast and weatherly “saltbanker”, such as the” Independence”, would go out to the fishing grounds for cod. The fish were split and salted in bulk down the hold, until the schooner was full. The rugged dory fishermen of this period were the most respected men on the North Atlantic. Day after day, year after year, in oppressive fog, blinding snow squalls and savage storms, they toiled for hours at a time, on frigid and unforgiving seas. The two dory fishermen are looking at the seaworthy “Nova Scotiaman”. Independence, as she leaves the banks for market. The schooner may call in at a bait supply port nearer the coast of Nova Scotia to take on fresh bait before returning to the Gulf of St. Lawrence or to the Sable Island Banks to “top of the catch”.