Halifax Public Libraries

Herring Cove, located just outside of Halifax Harbour, was a small coastal village that relied heavily on the fisheries and sailing vessels for their livelihood. Fishermen and their families were concerned with how Confederation might impact fishing boundaries, trade agreements or transportation rules.

At Confederation the federal government was given authority over the fisheries, creating a new regulatory authority within the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Competition with the United States over fishing grounds led to the new Treaty of Washington in 1871, a short-lived free access and free trade agreement. Fishermen continued to adjust to the ever changing rules, fishing grounds regulations, and licenses.

Date: 1908

Reference: Halifax Public Libraries Postcard Collection Halifax Central Library HPL-PC-0245

For more information, please contact the Local History Room at the Halifax Central Library.