Lobster!

Dumping Day: November 29, 2011

Since I am doing my internship in a location where the main industry is fishing and lobstering, the other interns and I have been taking advantage of this and participating in as much as we can! 

Lobstering boats ready to depart

Our first lobstering event was Dumping Day. What is Dumping Day, you ask? It is the first day of lobster season when all the lobster fishermen head out on their boats at 6:00am and dump their lobster pots for the first time that season. On November 29th, we three got up crazy early for a Tuesday and were at the Cape Forchu lighthouse for 5:00am. There was a breakfast of bread pudding (incredible), muffins, coffee, and hot chocolate available for donation inside the lighthouse. There were gobs of people waiting outside to see the lobster boats approach the lighthouse. Then, at 6:00am, the horn blew and all the boats increased speed and headed out to sea to applause, cheers, and a message illuminating the rocks on the shore: "Have a safe and prosperous season". It was really great to experience such community spirit and camaraderie! Definitely worth getting up so early - and we were back to the residence in enough time to allow an hours nap before heading to work.

Eating lobster that was caught earlier that day

The next lobster inspired event happened just last night. Tina and I were invited over to our friend's parents home (who live in Pubnico, NS - about a 35 minute drive from Yarmouth) for a fresh lobster feast! Our friend's dad is a lobster fisherman and brought in the lobster from sea just hours before! It was by far the freshest and most tasty lobster I have ever tasted! I was even given a lesson on how to shell the lobster like a pro! 

It was an amazing evening filled with good food and great company! It also put me into the Christmas spirit so I am even more excited to fly home to Calgary for Christmas!