WHEATLEY

OMSTED FISHERIES

 

By Robert Olmsted

 

 

Driving south through Wheatley on Erie St., you will arrive at Lake Erie. Here you will find the Omstead Foods Ltd., situated along the government harbour at the mouth of Muddy Creek. For several decades, the Omsteads held a dominant position in the commercial fisheries industry on the Great Lakes. They also grew to become one of Canada's largest food processors.

 

It was at the mouth of this creek in 1911 that Everett Omstead established a pound net fishery. Pound net fishing was popular along the north shore of Lake Erie at the start of this century. Stakes were driven into the bottom of the lake with a pile driver at the beginning of the season, and lines and nets were suspended from them. The fish caught were of high quality as they were kept alive in the 'pound' of the net until the net was emptied and the fish were placed on ice. Pound nets were used from 1911 to about 1950's. In the 1950's the stakes were becoming harder to get and costly, as they were shipped from British Columbia.

 

Trap nets replaced the old pound nets for several years—mostly catching smelt. When smelt became a nuisance to the fishermen in the 1950's, a new method, "trawling" was used. New depth sounders and new style of trawls were used, resulting in large catches of smelt. Technology developed by Omsteads for processing the tiny fish, and the development of foreign markets made a new and profitable industry on Lake Erie.

 

Gill nets went introduced in the 1930's. They replaced pound nets then when herring and pickerel became the main catch. Gill nets are still used by the fishermen.

 

In 1942, Everett Omstead passed away, leaving his oldest sons, Leonard and Duane to run the business. Five other brothers joined the business: Rex, Gordon, Norman, Bob. and Arleigh, each managing his department, and all contributing their skills and reinvesting their earnings into this growing enterprise. Filleting, freezing and packing fish for the supermarket trade in both Canada and the United States was eventually done.

 

A major setback came in 1948 when the plant burned. This was taken in stride as a new, larger plant was built to replace it.

 

In 1950, the "Everett H", a fifty-four foot fishing tug was built. It remained in the Omstead fleet for thirty-six years. In 1953, the "Edith F." and the "Evelina" were built, followed by the "Ellandee" in 1956. Later, other seventy- and eighty-footers joined the fleet: "Kimmy Sue", "Brian D.", "Donna F.", the "R & G", and the "Leo D' Or". The last to join the fleet was the "Omsteader".

 

Processing and marketing vegetable products became a successful venture. Omstead brand onion rings eventually replaced fish in total volume handled, dominating the Canadian market.

 

Omstead Foods Ltd, was sold to John Labatt on October 30, 1984. The Omstead family continued the management of the business as part of the condition of the sale. Recently, H. J. Heinz Co. purchased the business from Labatts.

 

Duane Omstead passed away in 1978. His six remaining brothers are now enjoying retirement. Several of their children are now involved, in the running of the company.