The Age Old Skills of a Port Morien Lobster Fisherman – The Construction of Lobster Traps, Buoys and Crates as Passed Down Through the Generations

This Data Lifeboat was created by Morien Archives on 10 September 2025.

Why are you making this particular Data Lifeboat?
The process of making lobster fishing gear by hand could very well become a lost art. Lobster fishermen on the east coast of Nova Scotia have been plying craft for centuries and there have been many changes in the vessels that they sailed as well as the equipment that they use. One example is the wire cages that fishermen use today that are a totally different design than the traditional trap. Today many lobster fishermen purchase their equipment from commercial manufacturers, so at some point the skills required to create their own could very well disappear.

What's important to you about these photos?
These photos show in great detail how local lobster fishermen historically created their own fishing gear. The skills displayed here by father and son Donald and David Ferguson were passed down to them through the generations. These photos will will be of significant historical value for many years to come.

What is it for?
This Data Lifeboat was built for personal, educational and archiving use.