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Coles Gulch1950
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Cole's Gulch played a significant role in the economic well being of Elliston for nearly 200 years when inshore fishing was the way of life for this outport community.3
One hundred quintals of fish drying on Hubert Oldford's flakes at Coles Gulch1960
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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In the late 1800s to the early 1900s there were 8-10 crews fishing in Cole's gulch and stages and flakes lined both sides of the cove. It was said that these flakes were so close together that a person was able to step from one to the other.5
The Oldford's rowing into Coles Gulch1950
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Coming from Cole's Gulch with a bucket of coal1940
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The process of making fish started when the fish were landed at the stage head to be headed, gutted, split and cleaned. The final step in the process was to make the fish ready for drying by washing and salting the split cod. The fish was then moved to the flake where they were speard out to dry in the sun. This process usually took 4 days, if the weather cooperated. A sudden shower or "dwy" meant that everyone ran to stack and cover the drying fish.8
The Oldford's and George Tucker barking traps in Cole's Gulch1970
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The Oldford Family and George Tucker barking Traps in Cole's Gulch1970
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The Oldford's mending cod traps1960
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Hubert Oldford's fishing crew1960
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The Oldford's barking nets in Coles Gulch1960
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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The first to set up a premises in the cove were the members of the Cole family and the gulch was named for them. Other families to operate from Cole's Gulch included the White family and the Oldfords, who were among the first and last to make their living in Cole's Gulch.14
Fish stores and fish flakes at Coles Gulch in Elliston1960
Elliston, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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