Red Head Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador
Encyclopedia
Red Head Cove 48°7.85′N 52°53.6′W is a fishing village in Newfoundland and Labrador
located near the tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula
separating Trinity Bay
and Conception Bay
, in a steep valley north of Bay de Verde
. Red Head Cove is a fishing community. The cove provides very little shelter or level ground for building homes. To the north is a reddish color headland, which gives the community its name. Red Head Cove provides the closest access to the prime fishing grounds of Baccalieu Tickle.
fishery, however, Red Head Cove remained primarily an inshore fishing community.
In 1954, brothers Morris Quinlan and Patrick Quinlan bought the business of James F. O'Neill of Bay de Verde and established Quinlan Brothers Limited. In due course, they built a relatively small ‘fish plant’ on the waterfront
at Foreside. Even though fish
had been caught and sold in a variety of ways since early settlement, this was the first fresh codfish processing operation in Bay de Verde
. By the early 1960s, the salt cod industry had virtually come to an end and consequently, the ‘fish plant’ became the mainstay of the fishery in Bay de Verde. In time, along with cod, many other species were processed. After the cod moratorium of 1992 Quinlan Bros. turned their attention to the processing of snow crab and shrimp
. With their base of operation in Bay de Verde, they are now one of the largest producers of these products in Newfoundland and Labrador. Many residents of Red Head Cove obtained employment at this fish plant or on the long-liner fleet at that port.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
located near the tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula
Bay de Verde Peninsula
The Bay de Verde Peninsula is the largest peninsula that makes up part of the Avalon Peninsula, of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
separating Trinity Bay
Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador
Trinity Bay is a large bay on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.Major fishing communities include Trinity and Heart's Content.-Industry:...
and Conception Bay
Conception Bay
Conception Bay is a Canadian bay located on the northeast coast of the island of Newfoundland. The bay indents the Avalon Peninsula with the opening of the bay to the Atlantic Ocean at the northeast. It is bounded by Cape St. Francis in the south and Split Point near Bay de Verde in the north...
, in a steep valley north of Bay de Verde
Bay de Verde, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay de Verde is an incorporated town in Conception Bay on the northern tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The first recorded inhabitants at Bay de Verde arrived in 1662. Bay de Verde became an incorporated town in 1950.-Geography:Bay de Verde is the northern...
. Red Head Cove is a fishing community. The cove provides very little shelter or level ground for building homes. To the north is a reddish color headland, which gives the community its name. Red Head Cove provides the closest access to the prime fishing grounds of Baccalieu Tickle.
History
The settlement is mostly Roman Catholic. During the 1900s many of the nearby communities were increasing their involvement in the LabradorLabrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
fishery, however, Red Head Cove remained primarily an inshore fishing community.
In 1954, brothers Morris Quinlan and Patrick Quinlan bought the business of James F. O'Neill of Bay de Verde and established Quinlan Brothers Limited. In due course, they built a relatively small ‘fish plant’ on the waterfront
Shore
A shore or shoreline is the fringe of land at the edge of a large body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake. In Physical Oceanography a shore is the wider fringe that is geologically modified by the action of the body of water past and present, while the beach is at the edge of the shore,...
at Foreside. Even though fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
had been caught and sold in a variety of ways since early settlement, this was the first fresh codfish processing operation in Bay de Verde
Bay de Verde, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bay de Verde is an incorporated town in Conception Bay on the northern tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The first recorded inhabitants at Bay de Verde arrived in 1662. Bay de Verde became an incorporated town in 1950.-Geography:Bay de Verde is the northern...
. By the early 1960s, the salt cod industry had virtually come to an end and consequently, the ‘fish plant’ became the mainstay of the fishery in Bay de Verde. In time, along with cod, many other species were processed. After the cod moratorium of 1992 Quinlan Bros. turned their attention to the processing of snow crab and shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
. With their base of operation in Bay de Verde, they are now one of the largest producers of these products in Newfoundland and Labrador. Many residents of Red Head Cove obtained employment at this fish plant or on the long-liner fleet at that port.
Timeline
- 1817 – Local tradition has it that this year saw the arrival of the first year-round settler, Richard Hatch (or Hutch), who had visited the cove from TrinityTrinity, Newfoundland and LabradorTrinity is a small town located on Trinity Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador.The harbour at Trinity was first used by fishing ships around the 16th century. The Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real is said to have named this place because he arrived here on Trinity Sunday in 1501. It was settled by...
in the past. Family names of other early settlers who probably used the Cove as a summer station before settlement include: Hyde, Quinlan and Rice. - 1836 – Census reports two famililes at Red Head Cove with a total population of 14. These are the families of Hatch and Patrick Rice, who live on both sides of the Main River.
- 1845 – The population increases to 48.
- 1872 – A road is established between Red Head Cove, Bay de Verde and Old PerlicanOld Perlican, Newfoundland and LabradorOld Perlican is a fishing village on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Incorporated in 1971, it is one of the oldest fishing communities in Newfoundland, serving as the major fishing station in Trinity Bay for migratory fisherman from England in the 17th...
. - 1874 – The population increases to 89. Three of these were born in IrelandIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. - 1901 – The population is 174.
- 1935 – The population is 240.
- 1956 - The population is 195.
- 1980’s – The inshore fishery is still the largest employer in Red Head Cove, but some residents leave as a result of the declining fish and crab stocks.
- 1992 – Most of the services are provided to Red Head Cove by the larger surrounding communities, including Old Perlican Cottage Hospital and a central high school located at Bay de Verde
Towns and Communities nearby
- Bay de VerdeBay de Verde, Newfoundland and LabradorBay de Verde is an incorporated town in Conception Bay on the northern tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The first recorded inhabitants at Bay de Verde arrived in 1662. Bay de Verde became an incorporated town in 1950.-Geography:Bay de Verde is the northern...
- Grates CoveGrates Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorGrates Cove is the most northerly community on the Avalon Peninsula, located on the tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Called "the Grates" by John Guy as early as 1612, the origin of the name is unknown.-History:...
- Daniel's CoveDaniel's Cove, Newfoundland and LabradorDaniel's Cove is a resettled fishing village on the northwest tip of the Bay de Verde Peninsula nestled in a picturesque valley halfway between Grates Cove and Old Perlican.-History:...
- Old PerlicanOld Perlican, Newfoundland and LabradorOld Perlican is a fishing village on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Incorporated in 1971, it is one of the oldest fishing communities in Newfoundland, serving as the major fishing station in Trinity Bay for migratory fisherman from England in the 17th...
- Low PointLow Point, Newfoundland and LabradorLow Point an unincorporated town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada located on a spit of land overlooking a small bay called Bay de Verde Bight...
- Caplin CoveCaplin Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland and LabradorCaplin Cove is a small community on the north shore of Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is surrounded on the north by Low Point near the end of the Bay de Verde Peninsula, and on the south by Lower Island Cove...