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today's use was Mr. Andrew Gallant from St. Eleanors, who later fished here.

Among the first men to fish lobsters here were, Judson Simpson who operated a lobster canning factory at Campbells Cape, Matthew Gamble, Fred Simmons and James MacLaurin who had a lobster factory at Mac Laurins' Cove. At one time three lobster canning factories were in operation at Campbells' or Red Cape, Belmont. One was owned and operated by Fred Simmons and John Lecky, another by Artie Leard and a third by Harry Wood. There was also a lobster cooking factory, operated by Gil DesRoche at Winchester's Cape. The last factory, owned by Mr. Wood, went out of business about I924.

in the early 1900's, lOO lobsters sold for $l.50, in contrast the l972 price was around $l.00

per pound.

OYSTERS

Malpeque Bay oysters, reputed to be the best oysters in the world, were once very plentiful off the shores of Belmont.

Hundreds of sailboats, bringing fishermen from surrounding districts and even as far away as Albertom used to come to Belmont to engage in oyster fishing. The oysters were graded and packed in barrels and

shipped to the U.S.A. where they found a ready market.

Among the many buyers was Will Fraser, who lived at the farm now owned by Claude Ramsay.

,At one time Isaac Winchester had a watchtower at Winchester's Cape, to watch the oyster fishing and to see that no poaching was done.

SVELTS

In later years smelt fishing was carried on to a great extent. Fishermen from Malpeque, lndian River, Travellers Rest, etc., as well as from Belmont and vicinity came to fish smelts on the Belmont side of Malpeque Bay.

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