Liminal Spaces and the Ecomorphic Self in Alistair MacLeod’s Nova Scotian Narratives

"Liminal Spaces and the Ecomorphic Self in Alistair MacLeod’s Short Stories. Starting from the observation that Cape Breton Island, the distinctive setting of Alistair MacLeod’s fiction, is a “borderland” lying at the intersection of complementary elements (past – present, tradition – individuality, humans – environment), this paper proposes a general discussion of liminality in the author’s work as well as a close reading of two of his short stories, “The Road to Rankin’s Point” and “Island”, with the aim of highlighting how a relational, ecomorphic self-arises in the wake of symbolic encounters that lead to a reassessment of the subject’s position within their biological and cultural milieu. Keywords: Alistair MacLeod, Cape Breton, liminality, borderlands, ecomorphism. "

Download Full-text

Age and condition of deer killed by coyotes in Nova Scotia

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z03-189 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 81 (11) ◽

pp. 1894-1898 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Brent R Patterson ◽

François Messier

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Age Distribution ◽

Marrow Fat ◽

Hunting Season ◽

Cape Breton Island ◽

The Road ◽

Fat Reserves ◽

Cape Breton ◽

On The Road ◽

The Impact

Coyote (Canis latrans) predation is a major source of mortality for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in many areas of northeastern North America. However, if coyotes primarily remove deer that would have died of other causes in the absence of predation (compensatory mortality), the impact of predation would be minimal regardless of the number of deer removed. We examined the carcasses of 102 white-tailed deer consumed by coyotes during winter in southwestern Nova Scotia (Queens County) and on Cape Breton Island from 1992 to 1997. Sixty-nine deer were victims of predation, five died of other natural causes, two were killed in coyote snares, two were killed on the road, two were shot and not recovered during the autumn hunting season, and one was shot and abandoned in early winter. The causes of death of the remaining 21 deer could not be determined. Fawns were overrepresented in the sample of coyote-killed deer on Cape Breton Island, but the age distribution of deer killed by coyotes in Queens County did not differ significantly from that of local road-killed deer. Femur marrow fat reserves of deer killed by coyotes appeared to be as good as or better than those of road-killed deer in the vicinity of each study area. During winter, coyotes often killed deer in situations where deer were disadvantaged either by deep snow or by poor footing on frozen lakes. This may help explain the general lack of selection of weaker animals. Our data are consistent with the idea that mortality due to coyote predation was largely additive to mortality due to other factors. However, manipulative experiments are needed to verify this conclusion.

Download Full-text

Variation in the Incidence of Larval Nematodes in Atlantic Cod Fillets along the Southern Canadian Mainland

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f57-043 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 975-996 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

D. M. Scott ◽

W. R. Martin

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Cod ◽

Halichoerus Grypus ◽

Geographic Variations ◽

Cape Breton Island ◽

Cape Breton ◽

Phoca Groenlandica ◽

Seasonal Migrations ◽

Size Groups ◽

Geographic Differences ◽

Nova Scotian

The incidence of larval nematodes, Porrocaecum decipiens, in fillets from three size-groups (scrod, market and steak) of Atlantic cod, Gadus callarias, has been analyzed. The analysis was based on about 73,000 fillets from cod caught between 1946 and 1956 in about 20 areas off the southern Canadian mainland.Geographic variation in the percentage of fillets infected was found in all size-groups of cod. For market cod the incidence ranged from a low of 6% on the offshore Nova Scotian Banks to a high of 35 to 91% in the southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Intermediate values of 14% and 22% were observed respectively in the inshore fisheries of western Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. Similar patterns of geographic variation were present in scrod and steak cod. The main geographic differences in incidence were related to the distribution of the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), the harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) and the gray seal (Halichoerus grypus).Incidences of infection and the number of nematodes per fillet usually varied directly with the size of the cod. The number of nematodes per pound of fillet was usually inversely related to the size of cod. It was concluded that cod could become infected throughout life and that the highest rate of infection occurred in small cod.Local variations, as distinct from broad geographic variations, were observed in the areas of Lockeport, of Cape Breton Island and of the southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence. In these areas, the cod caught closest to shore were usually the most heavily infected.Seasonal variations in incidence occurred in the Cape Breton and Lockeport fisheries. The highest incidences occurred in the spring and fall in Cape Breton cod and in the summer in Lockeport cod. The variation in the Cape Breton fishery was attributed to seasonal migrations of the cod comprising the fishery. Increased use by fishermen of shallow inshore areas in the summer accounted for the higher summer incidences at Lockeport.Annual fluctuations in incidence were great in all areas. A trend of declining incidences was noted in the southwestern Gulf of St. Lawrence where the incidence dropped from 91% in 1946 to 35% in 1956. This decline was apparently related to extensive contemporary changes in the cod fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Download Full-text

Culinary tourism on Cape Breton Island

Canadian Food Studies / La Revue canadienne des études sur l alimentation ◽

10.15353/cfs-rcea.v6i2.333 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Erna MacLeod

Keyword(s):

Tourism Destination ◽

Cape Breton Island ◽

Culinary Tourism ◽

Economic Significance ◽

Cape Breton ◽

Local Stakeholders ◽

Resilient Communities ◽

World Class ◽

Ecological Relations ◽

Developed World

Cape Breton Island is a well-known North American tourism destination with long-standing attractions such as the Cabot Trail and more recently developed world-class offerings such as the Cabot Links Golf Course. Tourism contributes significantly to Cape Breton’s economy, particularly since the mid-20th century as traditional resource-based industries have declined. In the 21st century, culinary tourism has become increasingly important to expand the island’s tourism offerings and to provide “authentic” tourism experiences. This study examines local-food tourism in Cape Breton to illuminate its cultural and economic significance. I conducted interviews with food producers, restaurateurs, government representatives, and tourism executives. I also consulted websites and policy documents and compared local stakeholders’ experiences and perspectives with official tourism strategies. Promoting culinary tourism raises questions of power, autonomy, inclusion, and accountability. My study accentuates possibilities for aligning economic and ecological goals to create resilient communities, foster equitable social and ecological relations, and establish Cape Breton as a culinary tourism destination.

Download Full-text