Canada: QUEBEC: Cod Co-op

To the salty tang and fishy smell of tiny Grande Rivière (pop. 992) on Quebec's rugged Gaspé coast, something new had been added: an air of progress and prosperity. It showed in little things: new rubber boots on the fishermen; gay colored raincoats on their wives & children. Fat bank accounts told more.

Eight years ago Grande Rivière's fishermen were deep in debt. Their cod brought only $1.80 a draft (238 lbs.). Just to pay for nets, lines, hooks and other gear, a skipper and crew (three men) had to catch 400 drafts a season. The average catch was 500, which...

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