6

Another type of boat built in Winterton was the trap skiff. This boat was built for the changing fishing technology in the early 1990s when cod traps became the preferred method of catching codfish from May to early August.

The trap skiff was larger and stronger than the punt and had greater stability which was needed to haul in the large cod traps. After around 1910 these boats were fitted with engines and from then on were also referred to as motorboats. At 20 to 30 feet, they were designed to use early gasoline, one-cylinder engines. They were used for fishing cod traps near-shore and baited trawls (long-lines) further offshore.

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Schooners, Baccalieu skiffs and Baccalieu bullies in the Winterton harbour.
1920
Winterton, Newfoundland

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In the summer many Winterton fishermen fished the waters around Baccalieu Island, located 20 miles or so northeast of Winterton. The boats used were Baccalieu skiffs and Baccalieu bullies. Generally skiffs were open boats whereas bullies were partially or completely decked. Some of the larger of these were like small schooners but the over-all hull design was very much the same as the larger trap skiffs.

Winterton was not known for the building of schooners though a small number were built there. Small schooners were used in Winterton to transport cured fish, fishing supplies, food staples and goods around the bay and to and from St John's. A small number of schooners over the years also fished at Labrador.

Sometimes when schooners and bullies were not in use their sails would be raised in the harbour to dry. Saturday would have been the only day when this would take place as the fishermen would spend the week days at Baccalieu Island and would come home on Friday night, unloading their catch the next day. Sunday was a day of rest. The fishermen would leave again for the fishing grounds after midnight on Sunday.

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Boat resembling a Baccalieu skiff
1920
Newfoundland

Credits:
photo courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador

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There are few known pictures of the Baccalieu skiff, which was not built after the 1920s. Descriptions suggest it resembled the boat shown in this picture.

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Diagram of a bully, based on a drawing from memory, by Alfred Green.
2002
Winterton Boat Building and Community Museum, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

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Baccalieu bullies were 30 to 40 feet long and were used in the cod fishery at Baccalieu Island. They were generally decked, broader than the skiff and very strong and sturdy and were powered by engines. After the Baccalieu fishery declined these boats were no longer built.

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Baccalieu bully boat
1933
Winterton, Newfoundland

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Presently, this is the only close-up photograph of a Baccalieu bully that the Winterton Boat Building and Community Museum has found.

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Building schooners
1931
Winterton, Newfoundland

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A small number of schooners were also built at Winterton. These were used mainly for the coastal transportation of goods and fish as well as fishing off the Labrador coast.

This particular boat was built for P. Janes of Hant's Harbour in 1931. It was 70 tons gross and was the last schooner built by Amos Piercey of Winterton, who was seventy years old at the time.

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The modern-day flat or speedboat.
2003
Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

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The most popular small boat design today is the speedboat or flat, which has a wider, straighter, flat-bottom hull with a larger upright counter to accommodate an outboard motor. While the basic hull is a variation of the early punts the speedboat is considered by many to be less seaworthy.

19

Longliners tied up at Winterton wharf
1960
Winterton, Newfoundland, Canada