> I was born in a small fishing town in
> Newfoundland, Canada. When I was 16, I had
> this idea to put ads in newspapers in the
> larger cities and offer boat tours along the
> rugged coastline.


At 16 one feels compelled to listen to their parents advice. We don't realize that they are JUST people and their advice can be wrong. What's worse -- is listening to the advice of well meaning relatives who have never done what it is we seek to do. How could they possibly offer anything of value.


> So I gave up on the idea.

(he-he)

> Now that the fishing industry in
> newfoundland is practically nonexistant due
> to overfishing and strict government
> regulations, I bet there are a lot of people
> who aren't laughing.

> 100,000 boats sitting tied up to docks with
> payments as big as mortgages, and no income
> being earned...

> This would probably be an excellent time to
> get into the tourism business there... cheap
> boats, cheap real estate, rugged majestic
> coastline, incredibly nice people... Hmmm...


A fight between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland over offshore oil and gas reserves is coming to a climax. The two provinces can't agree where an underwater boundary line should be drawn on the Laurentian Basin. Surveys suggest the area could contain natural gas reserves three times the size of Nova Scotia's first Sable gas project and oil equal to Newfoundland's Hibernia project.

Upon completion of boundary negotiations between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Gulf and Mobil anticipate that their Canadian exploration permits will be converted to Exploration Licenses, allowing an expanded drilling program on the combined 8.6 million acres. Oil companies have been eager to drill in the Laurentian sub-basin for years, but exploration was put on hold until the boundary dispute was settled.

CBC in St. Johns reports on April 3, that a federal tribunal gave Newfoundland and Labrador the bulk of the disputed zone between the two provinces.

I think this will be bringing tons of new people to the area. Not only workers and surveyors, but tourists and other looks who are interested in the activity.

Even without this, there is a general interest in this type of thing anyway. Visitors to MacLellans Cottages in Nova Scotia are often looking for people to take them out in boats around the shoreline.

I don't think one needs to stop at just boat tours. I think this whole idea could be expanded upon. Let's look at an example:

August 31 - September 2, 2002 Tour Cape Breton's Highlands by Bicycle

Other sites I've visited offer a combination of fishing and camping trips in Montana where you camp on the banks on a three or four day fishing excursion. Cool! That would be so much fun. A guide goes out with a small party, of six or so people, and the participants pay about $400 each for the three or four day trip.

In Calgary on some of the "dude" ranches, they offer something similar on horseback. You know, you can pretend you're Billy Crystal in "City Slickers."

But if you had a boat trip around the shoreline combined with a hiking, fishing trip, or put together an assortment of packages, one might be able to do quite well with it.

Paul, I think there is a lot that could be done with your idea.

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan






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