Centre Acadien, Université Sainte-Anne

Cape Saint Mary’s Tuna fishing history – Around 1940, Captain Bennett Comeau began chartering his boat for sport fishing. That year, Mr Louis L. Comeau (“Tuna Louis”) reeled in a bluefin tuna of unknown weight. Although Cape Saint Mary got few headlines compared with tuna tournaments in Wedgeport and Halifax, statistics seem to prove that this area was deserving of much more attention. The records show that, from September 11 to October 2, 1959, seventy-five tunas were landed; from August 17 to September 4, 1960, thirty-eight tunas were landed.

Captains of fishing vessels and sports fishermen complained that, for a period of time after 1960, the number of tuna started to decline. The official opinion, however, was that they were schooling in different areas, away from where they had been originally sighted. This seemed to be happening everywhere, even along the eastern seaboard of the US. Could it be that their collective intelligence was leading them away, making them harder to find?

In the late 1960s, a prestigious tuna fishing tournament was started at Cape Saint Mary by David Jubis, Marcel Valotaire, Dr. Robert Belliveau, Dr. Julius Comeau, and other Clare residents. The largest tuna taken at the Cape by an angler was in September 1968. Caught by Juan Posado of the Mexican team, it weighed 860 pounds. The boat was captained by Melbourne Deveau.

In 1970, the Oland Cup was the prize to be awarded to the Canadian province winning the tuna match that year. The Nova Scotia team captain was Bruce S. C. Oland and Rear-Admiral H. A. Porter was Vice-Captain. The captain of the New Brunswick team was Arthur Irving. The Quebec team was captained by Dr. Norman J. Belliveau and included the captain of the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, Jean Belliveau.

A full schedule of activities was organized to complement the sport fishing competitions. Over four days, there were sporting events, interfaith services, buffet luncheons, informal dinners, dances, and a closing banquet where trophies were presented. Clare prospered economically as hotels, motels, restaurants thrived.

Topic: Sports and Leisure

Date: 1950

Reference: John Collier Collection Centre Acadien Shoto 35

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