East Coast Fishery Exhibit at the Museum of Industry

A national exhibit revealing the fascinating history of Canada's East Coast fishery is on display at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton until May 13.

The exhibit, Lifelines: Canada's East Coast Fishery, features the largest, most detailed exhibition on fisheries ever designed by Canadian museums. The six components of the exhibit were produced by the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Quebec in collaboration with the Newfoundland Museum, the New Brunswick Museum, the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Each component was designed to complement the others and each covers a different aspect of the East Coast fishery. The Museum of Industry will host five of the six components and is the exhibit's only venue in Nova Scotia.

Lifelines gives visitors an overview of one of the oldest industries in Canada, from pre-contact aboriginal fishing to the current problems of depleted stocks.

"This exhibition makes us realize what a delicate balance exists among humans, nature and technology," said Peter Rider, exhibition co-ordinator, curator and Atlantic provinces historian at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. "History teaches us that marine resources are fragile and that we have to ask ourselves what measures we can take to preserve them."

Following is a brief description of the five components exhibited at the Museum of Industry.

• Cross-Currents: 500 Generations of Aboriginal Fishing in Atlantic Canada; produced by the Canadian Museum of Civilization. This exhibit traces the evolving story of changing landscape, fishing technologies and human interaction from 11,000 years ago to present day.

• The Cod Rush: The European Fishermen, 1497-1763; produced by the Canadian Museum of Civilization. From 1500-1800, the waters off Newfoundland teemed with cod, attracting millions of European fishermen.

• Lobster Tale: The Material World; produced by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation. Lobster, the mainstay of the Prince Edward Island fishery, survived its early boom days to become one of the most sustainable fisheries in Atlantic Canada.

• Possessions: The Material World of Newfoundland Fishing Families; produced by the Newfoundland Museum. In scattered coastal communities, families had to learn many skills to provide themselves with the goods they needed.

• The Lure of the River: Sport Fishing in New Brunswick; produced by the New Brunswick Museum. Following its emergence in the 1840's, sport fishing grew through tourist promotion and an improved infrastructure.

The exhibit is accompanied by school programs targeting junior high students. A teacher's guide is available for teachers who book a tour.

The exhibit was first displayed at the Canadian Museum of Civilization from April 2001 to February 2002. The exhibits produced by the Atlantic museums were made possible in part through grants from the museums assistance program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.