STAGES

I received a few messages from people who wondered what people are doing here these days in order to survive. I didn't mean to give the impression that Newfoundland and Labrador is "poor" because of the loss of the cod fishery. This year we have a projected surplus of nearly a billion dollars because of revenues from the oil industry. Of course we still have a provincial debt of nearly 11 billion dollars. Our present government is planning to pay most of the surplus on the debt.

Others have wondered what "stages" are and what they are used for. The first photo this morning shows a fishing stage that has many lobster pots stored on it. Fishermen used to land their catch and clean the fish they caught on these stages. I have seen nets drying on stages around the province. When I was a young boy, I remember large barrels of cod liver oil on the stages as well.

The second shows a shed or "store". these buildings were used to store nets and other fishing gear. Fishermen used them to repair nets, build lobster pots, etc. It looks like a good wind will knock this shed to the ground. Another stage is visible in the background.