Arn? Narn!: Faces and Voices of Atlantic Inshore Fishers

Les Harding is the author of Exploring the Avalon, Historic St.
John’s: The City of Legends, The Voyages of Lesser Men: Thumbnail
Sketches in Canadian Exploration and The Journeys of Remarkable Women:
Their Travels on the Canadian Frontier.

“Arn? Narn!” (“Are there any? None!”) are Newfoundland
expressions that succinctly sum up the current state of the East Coast
cod fishery.

The compiler of this book wanted to find out first-hand the impact of
the cod moratorium on Maritimers. He traveled to Petty Harbour,
Newfoundland; Louisbourg, Nova Scotia; Nova Scotia’s North Shore; New
Brunswick; and southeastern Prince Edward Island. In each location he
interviewed a cross-section of people who are dependent on the Atlantic
inshore fishery—36 in all. Three questions were asked: “What caused
the cod crises?” “How has it affected you?” “What changes would
you recommend?” The responses were set down just as they were
received. A striking pen-and-ink sketch accompanies each interviewee’s
comments.

Included in the book is a chapter on the history of the groundfish
industry and an explanation of relevant terminology and acronyms.