Sleepy Cove awakened by herring

SLEPPY COVE /TWILLINGATE - It's not uncommon to see capelin rolling on the beach at Sleepy Cove, but herring?
During the last week of November, that's exactly what occurred at Twillingate North as large shoals of herring were up to the very edge of the beach, driven in by seals and whales. And it lasted for several days on end. The nearby cliffs at times were lined with residents and visitors, many with cameras, to record the incident that was so unusual.
"I've never seen the like in my lifetime," remarked one senior, and he was echoed by several others. One individual was overheard to suggest that it may even be a sign of things to come with a quote to the Biblical "signs and wonders" reference.
As residents watched, a humpback whale of some 35-40 feet in length would occasionally swim into the cove and herd the fish further in towards the beach, no doubt taking a nibble or two in the process. The whale stayed around all week as did some 25-30 seals that stayed off the cove for most of the time but would gradually move in towards the herring. On times, three or more seals would break off from the rest and swim in underwater to nose into the shoal of fish and take their catch. Each time, the herring would scurry even closer towards the shore so that watchers along the beach could easily catch them in their hands. Numerous sea gulls meanwhile were hovering and flying overhead ready to take their share of the spoils when it offered.
Whether it will become an annual event or remain a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle is difficult to conclude at this time, but certainly it was a crowd pleaser for that one week.