The
Bluenose was a schooner designed by William J. Roue to be both a
champion racer and commercial fishing vessel, and was launched at
Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, in 1921. It won the International Fisherman's
Trophy five times as the fastest working vessel and landed the largest
catch ever at its homeport of Lunenberg.
The
writer, Thomas Chandler Haliburton (1796-1865), started calling Nova
Scotians bluenoses. The ship's successes in the 19th century
reflected the pride of this sea-faring province, making the
Bluenose its most beloved symbol. In 1929, the schooner's
achievements were commemorated on a stamp.
The Post
Office was the first government agency to honour the Bluenose,
but another image of the ship on the Canadian dime is more renowned.
Designed by the famed Canadian sculptor Emmanuel Hahn, the
Bluenose has appeared on this coin since 1937. Despite its
successes, the Bluenose's fate was tragic. Sold in 1942, it
sailed out of Canadian waters to carry cargo in the Caribbean until it
sank off Haiti four years later. An exact replica, Bluenose II,
was launched in 1964 and was a star attraction at Expo 67.
Andrew Horrall