Friday past was Setting Day on Prince Edward Island, the day when the lobster traps are set for the first part of the lobster season. In the island tradition, family and friends gather at day break around the wharf and along the shoreline to see the fishers off this first day. This year was different. People were encouraged to stay home because of Covid precautions.
The last several years, my husband and I have gone to the shoreline early in the morning at Cabot Beach and watched as the boats left Malpeque Harbour.
Setting Day 2019
The boats were low in the water, filled with as many traps as they could carry while families waved them on.
Boats loaded with lobster traps, Setting Day 2019
Boats returned to port to load up again to finish the job.
Setting Day this year was a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze so my husband and I, mid morning instead of day break, went to the beach on the north shore near Brander’s Pond. A walk on the beach was in order.
Fortunately, fishers in one fishing boat were busy setting their traps just off shore and we watched other boats in the distance.
We walked, had a leisurely picnic and watched the fishers hard at work.
Later, we visited New London and watched the boats move up the channel back to port.
We saw one headed out again with the last of its traps.
While we didn’t see the loaded boats leaving port encouraged by the crowd, we did enjoy Setting Day nonetheless. Lobster will be on the menu this week for sure.