The Cascapedia River Museum

version francais

Photo Gallery

Guides, Wardens, and Residents

The Cascapedia River has been a source of employment for residents of the surrounding communities for well over a century.

As early as the 1850s Mi’kmaq guides were hired to poll the fishermen up river to the various pools which promised the best chance to land one of the large spirited salmon that the river is famous for. Descendants of the original guides, Mi’kmaq, Scottish, Irish, and English carry on the tradition today. Many of the guides have spent a good part of their life working on the river and have acquired an expertise in understanding the river, the ability to read the water and the knowledge of the habits of the salmon.

Wardens played an important role in the protection of the species. In the early 1900s provincial regulation were enforced by officers hired by the government - the number of men was small and they had to cover a large territory. The job of supervision was left to the private clubs. In 1910 fifteen wardens were hired to patrol the Cascapedia Club waters. They would work from the month of May at the lower end of the river, protecting the salmon pools from poachers, until November when they would work the upper waters where the salmon spawned.

Today, the Cascapedia River continues employ many local residents. There are over fifty guides working for the Cascapedia Society and various camps, nineteen wardens, plus the staff at the camps who help to make the visiting fishermen’s time on the river an experience to be remembered.

Gallery

This picture was taken in late June 1939 and shows a fifteen-year old John “Buddy” Campbell holding Esmond Bradley Martin’s record breaking 53 pound salmon. As an adult, Bud was passionate about the conservation of salmon, the protection of the river for local employment, and for many years he managed Tracadie and Three Islands Camps.

Collins “Collie” Gedeon was one of the guides who helped Esmond Bradley Martin catch his giant 53 pound salmon on June 27, 1939. Collie was rumoured to have actually hooked the giant in 1939. In return for his help, Martin gave Collie the rod that he used that day. Collie would eventually go on to serve as the chief of the MicMac band for a number of years after retiring from guiding. He continued to correspond with Martin for many years after their historic day on the river.

Ida Campbell, the woman on the left, married Peter Cobley Campbell who inherited and ran the Campbell general store in Cascapedia for many years. During the Great Depression, Ida worked many hours in the store and helped see it stay in business. Peter Cobley and Ida Campbell had two sons and a daughter – Arthur Prentice, J.A. (Buddy), and Helen Campbell. The photograph is taken in front of the old Campbell Store (probably in the late 40s / early 50s).

Company Staff - Marjorie Willett (Mrs. Doug), Margaret Nadeau, Eva Duthie, and Therese Boudreau

Birdie (Duthie) Pidgeon and Emmeline (LeBuffe) Coull

Russell Campbell (1898-1978)

Clifford James Gilker, as a young boy. Clifford Gilker was from Dimock Creek within the Cascapedia-St-Jules community. He was born to Elsie and R. James Gilker on the 11th of October 1896. He enlisted for military service in January of 1917 and served during the First World War.

This picture of Richard Duthie was taken at his wedding. Richard Duthie worked as a guide on the river for many years and had the distinction to be one of Princess Louise’s guides while she fished on the Grand Cascapedia. There are rumours of a possible illicit romance between him and Princess Louise. At the very least he earned the favour of the Princess and he was later given employment and patronage by them to manage a ranch in Alberta (the province which was named for the Princess).

George Duthie

Both Bernadine Martin and Bobby Theriault work as Wardens on the river for the Society. They help ensure fishing regulations are kept and prevent poaching. Bernadine is Paul Martin’s daughter – Paul worked for more than 60 years on the river starting at the tender age of 13.

Elsie Gilker (Mrs. James M.) with her daughters, Iva & Olive. The photograph was likely taken early in the 1900s, likely before the First World War.

Alma (Robertson) Hardy was the youngest daughter in a very large family. She was Ida Robertson Campbell's younger sister and aunt to John Archibald (Buddy) Campbell.

Warren Gilker with his first fish. Warren Gilker, along with his friend Bubby Campbell, was instrumental in helping to update and reorganize salmon conservation laws on the river in the late 50s and early 60s. He also helped establish a long term management plan in 1978, a plan which included the formation of the Cascapedia Society. For many years Warren worked for the Engelhard family and managed their fishing camp.

Copyright 2012-2014 by the Cascapedia River Museum. Designed by Jessica Dell.