Shirley (Harris) Bennett 1938-1998, Liason and contact for North Lake Tuna Charters Inc., Member of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna, Member of the Board of Directors of the International Gamefish Association and organizer and driving force behind many international deep-sea fishing competitions, resided here.
Dr. Everett Fraser was born here in 1879. He was a Teacher and later a Lawyer. After graduating from Harvard University, he became a Professor of Law at George Washington University. Two of his studnts were John Foster Dulles and J. Edgar Hoover. He later became Professor and Dean of Law at the University of Minnesota. Later he was named Professor of Law at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. In 1957, a Minnesota lake was named for Dr. Fraser. He died in 1971.
Ezra D. Fraser was born in 1864. He resided in the Boston States for a period of time and became an accomplished photographer. He returned here in 1896 and operated a farm and an extensive general store. He died here in 1938.
G. Wesley Fraser 1920-1993, fisherman, was a pioneer in the Sport Tuna fishing industry resided here.
From the December 1986 Atlantic Advocate, written by Martin Flewwelling - "A midnight drive to North Lake, P.E.I. is going all the way. Wesley Fraser, grandfather of the P.E.I. tuna fishery, lives there. "I knew I wanted to be a fisherman since I knew right from wrong," said Wes. "My dad would say to stay home and work on the farm, but I'd say, no siree, I'm going fishing."
Between 1947 and 1980, Wesley spent most of his time fishing for lobster and ground fish. Years before he had heard a friend describe the bluefin as, "It ain't no share. That damn thin's got a queer face on it."
His experiences with the bluefin tuna began in 1939. As he crossed the lake in a punt, two tuna pushed in by a storm upset his boat and Wesley almost drowned.
In 1967, on the right hunch, Wesley put his boat into the gulf and brought home a bluefin tuna. From that day on, he has worked to promote the sport fishing of tuna as one of P.E.I.'s best tourist attractions.
In 1980, ill health forced Wesley to sell his boat. Retirement wasn't exciting, but he has managed to reconcile his life and, with good fortune, has remained in touch with the fishery. The fish caught and the tales told are his domain. I'm sure he'd agree that the next time you are on the Island, you, too, should go all the way. All the way to North Lake, P.E.I.
J. Frederick "Fred" Fraser was born here in 1870. He was a Businessman, Member of the Legislative Assembly, and Provincial Secretary and Treasurer in the province of Nova Scotia. He held directorships in several companies and corporations. He died in Halifax in 1942.
Capt. Ken Fraser, Fisherman and Amateur Hockey Coach who caught the largest Bluefin Tuna on record by rod & reel, resided here at the time of this event. In the fall of 1979, he hooked with road and reel onto a giant bluefin tuna, when landed weighed 1,496 pounds, setting a world record. Although fishing out of his home port of North Lake, the fish was landed at Auld's Cove, N.S. This catch was the subject of a
Sports Illustrated article and is still listed in the
Guinness Book of World Records. A story about this event may be found
here.
Merrill Davis Muttart was born in Summerside in 1903. He was a descendant of the Sampson Rose family that settled here. He was a Building Contractor and Philanthropist. He was very successful during the building boom which occurred in Edmonton, Alberta around the Second World War. As a result, the Gladys and Merrill Muttart Foundation was established in 1953 to assist with projects designed to help alleviate human problems in Canada. Support has also been given to capita projects such as the Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton and a music hall at the University of Calgary, also in Alberta. The Canadian Diabetes Association also benefits annually. He died at Edmonton in 1970.
Copyright