m v A HISTORY OF CANOE COVE

Factories, Mills _ and Other Businesses

ishing and farming were the main means of earning a living

but related businesses also had sprung up. Lobsters were plentiful, so plentiful that a man could go out in a small boat a short distance and take them in by the cartload, but the fishermen only got from a cent to three cents apiece for them. Several factories were built in the Cove. They were Dean’s, Farquharson’s, Henneberry’s and The Portland Packing Company. Farquhar MacRae also had a small cannery at his father’s shore but after a short time this ran into financial difficulties and he later went into business with Charles Earle in Charlottetown in a larger

operation that lasted many years.

The Portland Packing Company was located where the Lloyd lnman Memorial Park is now, and had the biggest impact on our Cove. It was a large operation for its time employing many local workers as well as ensuring that fishermen had a sure sale for their fish. It also processed meat. Here tribute must be paid to “Big Donald” MacKinnon who was a fair and honorable business man that very capably ran the factory for many years. One very important aspect of canning lobster is the sealing of the cans and Hugh Grant, brotherin-law of Mr. MacKinnon, did this for many years, followed by James (Jay) MacNevin. Many people worked at the'factory, but two other names mentioned to me were Colin MacPhail from Long Creek

and Artie Rogerson of the Cove.