Capstan Island
Capstan Island is a designated place in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Located along the Labrador Straits or Strait of Belle Isle, which is a major shipping/export route to oversea destinations, Capstan Island is a small community of 55 residents.[1] It is primarily known for its rich fishing grounds.[2]
Residents lived off the land and sea for primary food/income.[3] Cod fish, crab, scallop, escargot, lumpfish roe, herring and squid, Black duck, murre, pigeons, rabbits, spruced grouse, ptarmigan, caribou, moose, porcupine, beaver, bear were species hunted & fished by most families. Also the fur industry added additional income.
Capstan Island got its name from a capstan located on an island very near to the village.[2] A capstan is a sturdy wooden post and handle, mounted in a stabilizing frame, used to wind in a rope or cable to block seals in the bay. Around 1851 residents began sealing in this area.[4] A large capstan was placed on the small island just offshore and a seal net attached to it. When harp seals migrated along the shore in spring, the net 'box' trapped them. Capstan Island is located in the Labrador Straits region[5] on Route 510 (Trans-Labrador Highway), only 39 km from the Quebec/Labrador border.[4]
There are often icebergs directly across from the community;[5] visitors can go to the fishing wharf and get a view.
Geography
[edit]Capstan Island is in Labrador within Subdivision A of Division No. 10.[6]
Demographics
[edit]As a designated place in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Capstan Island recorded a population of 55 living in 30 of its 31 total private dwellings, a change of 34.1% from its 2016 population of 41. With a land area of 9.09 km2 (3.51 sq mi), it had a population density of 6.1/km2 (15.7/sq mi) in 2021.[1]
See also
[edit]- List of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador
- List of designated places in Newfoundland and Labrador
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table". Statistics Canada. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ a b "Capstan Island : Southern Labrador". www.southernlabrador.ca. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Saint John the Evangelist Cemetery - Jackson Cove, , Newfoundland & Labrador". www.interment.net. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b "Capstan Island : Labrador Coastal Drive". www.labradorcoastaldrive.com. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ a b Gatehouse, Dave (2024-04-28). "Iceberg Sighting in Labrador Straits on April 28, 2025 - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions, census subdivisions (municipalities) and designated places, 2016 and 2011 censuses – 100% data (Newfoundland and Labrador)". Statistics Canada. February 7, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
51°34′12″N 56°43′55″W / 51.570°N 56.732°W
 | This Labrador location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |