Hello Cap!
My name is George Mitchell and I'm a traditional fisherman. I was born and raised on Deer Island, NB. Deer Island is a small fishing community located in Passamaquoddy Bay in the Bay of Fundy. I've been a fisherman all of my life and have experienced many ups and downs during my years on the water. My fishing heritage goes back as far I know, and also goes forward to my son, grandson, and even my first great-grandson (who's now almost 4). I fish lobster in the spring and fall, scallops in the winter, and herring during the summer months. Some years are great and others have been pretty lean. But I love every day that I spend on the water; it's a great life!
Unfortunately, the hard work is catching up with me and I'm beginning to realize that I won't be able to fish much longer. My back, hips and knees are giving out. I recently had two knee replacements and 5 bypasses to my heart. I'm also a little hard of hearing (thanks to the roar of the boat engines), but I'm still pretty good at spotting deer.
I've had the privilege of fishing with my son and grandson (and sometimes my granddaughter) for many years. I know that I won't be here forever to pass on my experiences and reflections on life and particularly of the traditional fisheries. My granddaughter is helping me put this website together so that I have something concrete to leave to my family and all else who are interested in making fishing a way of life. I'm starting with a focus on the herring-weir fishery. It's a fishery that can't be learned overnight or through a book; really the only way to learn to be a weir fisherman is by doing it with someone who knows how. That's my opinion anyway.
My hope is that this website will reflect my learning of the herring fishery over the last 70 years. Herring are definitely not guaranteed in the Pasamaquoddy Bay and therefore we need to start recognizing the things that threaten their future and do all that we can to manage this resource in a sustainable way for the generations to come!
Please explore this website and if you any questions, take a trip to Deer Island; I live just above the Stuart Town wharf in a yellow house.
Here is a picture me seining a weir with my 2 grandsons and my son. Doesn't get much better then this...a full seine and family!
