Cape Breton's Magazine

his way back. And they decided, they coaxed him, and he decided he would buy this business. Which he did. It was just a small store at that time. And he walked back to Loch Lomond and told his mother that he had decided he would settle in Ga? barus, 28 miles away. And Father many times told us his mother cried for about a week--he was going so far away from home. So Father got his supplies from Halifax by vessel. So that's fine. And he started in business. The store he occupied was right on the beach, about 20 feet from the salt water. And of course, it was just a build? ing at that time. There wasn't any wharf, there wasn't any pier or anything. So he built a large store just across the road, and then he had a wharf built, and he got interested in sailing schooners. And in due time"he owned 8 sailing schooners. And Father bought all the fish, dried fish, that the fishermen caught. And at that time there were about 80 fishing boats in Gabarus. They were all manned by oar, three men to a boat. There were three sets of oars. And then in each house there would usually be two men from the country, and of course, the man who owned the boat. (Were they in a fish shack?) Oh no, no, no. They were homes. And each fisherman would have two men living in his home, fisher? men- -you know, during the week. They were all sent home Saturday afternoon and came back Sunday evening. And there'd usually be one or two country girls who would help the woman of the house take care of drying the fish. And then in the fall of the year, my father bought all that fish, and it would be sent away to the West Indies and different places in ships. The younger (men)--as they got older, in? stead of going fishing, the natives of the Gabarus district--they went on the vessels. We had 18 vessels in Gabarus. My father had 8. But there were 18 sailing vessels out of Gabarus. And they were all manned by Gabarus people. The captain, and per? haps he'd have his eldest son for mate. There'd be a few fellows from the country. So, instead of going fishing, those people went sailing. Perhaps they'd go to New? foundland, perhaps they'd go to Halifax, or go to the United States. They'd be carrying fish, coal, and lumber. At that time there were farms in the coun? try. And Father bought butter and eggs and all sorts of vegetables, cowhides, sheep? skin. Then in the fall of the year, the cattle would be slaughtered. And you'd get parts of the beef and pork and lamb or mut? ton- -and butter, tons and tons of butter. Then the people in the village all came to our store and got their supplies. Every? thing. Everything they ate came from our store. Now, we had to have enough supplies in by the second week in December to do un? til March, until the navigation opened a- gain. So that meant you had heavy stock. (Would your father buy lumber as well?) Oh yes, he bought everything. Wool, feathers-- anything that they had to sell. And down at Gull Cove--that was a great, place for wild ducks • And they'd bring pounds and pounds and pounds of feathers. We'd ship CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Mairy Birowrfs FHed Chicken. 1079 Kings Road, Sydney River Mary Brown has the best l's in town. IT'S YOUR UNIVERSITY TOO! Children learn the finer points of a baseball swing ... grandmothers learn to stepdance and housewives research their family history in the Archives of the Beaton Institute. All kinds of people enjoy concerts and plays in our Playhouse or withdraw books from our library. Famous paintings are exhibited in our Art Gallery and teachers make use of the Teachers' Resource Centre. Of course you can also study for a diploma or a degree here but you don't have to have one just to take advantage of our resources. For more information on activities, programs and services offered by University College of Cape Breton, contact the Public Relations Office, 539-5300. University College of Cape Breton, P.O. Box 5300, Sydney, N.S. B1P 6L2 (902) 539-5300, EXT 146