"...for the Uplifting of the Fishermen"

On November 3,1908, the Fishermen's Protective Union (The FPU) was formed in this province after founder William Ford Coaker gave a two-hour speech in Herring Neck and signed up his first members.

Exactly 106 years to the day, McCurdy announced his retirement in St. John's after serving for over 21 years as President of a modern day fishermen's union, the FFAW.

Life, they say, is about cycles and patterns - a series of endings and beginnings; or is it, as the optimists like to advance, no endings, only beginnings?

Coaker was referred to as the Fishermen's Advocate and this is reflected even in the name he chose for his union with the word "protective" at its heart . The FPU dominated politics along the northeast coast of the island for a quarter-century. In fact, Coaker was eventually elected to the Legislature and in his maiden speech, he  stated  (a) revolution ...has been fought in Newfoundland. The fishermen, the toilers of Newfoundland, has made up his mind that he is going to be represented on the floor of this House."

In the end, the FPU ceased to be, but not before a ceaseless struggle of - as Smallwood termed it - "countless battles for the uplifting of the fishermen."

However McCurdy's tenure as Union president and advocate is judged will be for the history books.   As for Coaker, a sentiment offered by a supporter said it all.  "It didn't turn out to be a successful great ending, but he had the courage and the pluck to try, and that made him a hero in many people's eyes. "


In the Catholic faith, the patron saint of fishermen was St. Peter, a fisherman himself.  How did St. Peter die? - well, he was apparently "crucified with his head downwards"..  Perhaps that is why today McCurdy said his job was "not for the  faint of heart". Being the protector of fishermen through the centuries has never been an easy calling.  Coaker would no doubt agree.

The struggle for fishermen continues.  It has too - for they are at the very centre of our history, our here-and-now and our hereafter.  Our fishermen are the constant soul of our province, though various imposters knock at our door over time. Fishermen will always need advocates (like Coaker and McCurdy) for they are the tireless toilers that need protection against those with protection grand-fathered in, like the ol' fish merchants and current day versions.

The cycle continues this November as it did in November 1908. The endings, the beginnings ...

Incidently, Coaker was buried on November 4, 1938.  McCurdy's last day as FFAW President is November 17th, 2014.