Tobacco & Atlantic Fishermen Culture

The post-war cod fishery was the economic engine of Atlantic Canada. Tens of thousands of men worked the Grand Banks, the Bay of Fundy, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. And they smoked. Heavily. Cigarettes were as essential as oilskins and rubber boots. The wheelhouse of every fishing vessel had an ashtray — usually a tin can or a cut-off plastic bottle.

• 🚬 The “deck smoke”: After hauling a trawl full of cod, fishermen would light up before cleaning the catch. The cigarette break was sacred.
• 🌊 Waterproof packs: Experienced fishermen kept their cigarettes in ziplock bags or in their breast pockets under oilskins — a wet pack was a tragedy.
• 💬 The “smokehouse” culture: Fishing shacks and net lofts were unofficial smoking lounges — men gathered to smoke, tell stories, and mend nets.
• 👑 Favorite brands: Export ‘A’ (the working man’s smoke), Player’s (everyday), and Du Maurier (for special occasions).

The 1992 cod moratorium was a devastating blow to Atlantic fishing communities. Tens of thousands of fishermen lost their livelihoods overnight. But even as boats sat idle in harbours, the smoking continued. Stress, uncertainty, and lost income — cigarettes were a coping mechanism.

• 😔 Stress smoking: Unemployment and financial strain led to increased smoking rates in coastal communities.
• 🔄 Diversification: As fishermen shifted to crab, lobster, and shrimp, the smoking culture followed. New fisheries, same cigarettes.
• 🚬 The wharf as social hub: Even when fishing stopped, men gathered on wharves to smoke and talk — a daily ritual that survived the moratorium.
• 📦 Native cigarettes emerge: The 1990s saw the rise of native brands, offering affordable alternatives to expensive commercial cigarettes.

Fishing vessels didn’t come with built-in ashtrays like cars or airplanes. Fishermen improvised. Every boat had its own solution — and each was a badge of identity.

• 🥫 The tin can classic: A cut-off soup or bean can, half-filled with salt water. The water prevented fires. Secured with wire or bungee cord.
• 🧴 The plastic bottle ashtray: Cut the bottom off a Gatorade bottle, fill with water, duct-tape to the dash.
• 🪣 The deck bucket: For boats with multiple smokers, a 5-gallon bucket served as the community ashtray.
• 💨 The flick method: Many fishermen simply flicked their butts overboard — a practice now banned due to marine pollution.

Atlantic fishermen are famously frugal — generations of living off the sea teach you to stretch every dollar. Native cigarettes have become the brand of choice for many fishing communities. The savings are dramatic: a fisherman smoking two packs per day saves $7,000–9,000 per year by switching to native brands.

• 💰 Cost savings: The #1 reason. With uncertain catches and rising fuel costs, every dollar counts.
• 📦 Bulk ordering: Fishermen buy by the case and split with buddies on the wharf. Cigstore.ca’s free shipping over $290 is easy for a group to hit.
• 🚢 Delivery to coastal communities: We ship to every harbour from Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Yarmouth.
• 👑 Popular brands: Playfare Full, Canadian Full, and DuMont Full are favorites — strong taste, consistent quality, affordable price.