Construction crews are starting work on the Chance Harbour wharf just a few kilometres west of Saint John. Fishermen in the community fought for a year to get the wharf rebuilt.

Just a few days ago, trucks began rolling down to the Chance Harbour wharf with loads of huge stones.

Steven Thompson, a local fisherman, says he has been working with other fishermen to get the wharf rebuilt ever since a storm toppled half of it into the sea.

Thompson says with massive cuts to the Fisheries Department, there was some doubt the job would ever be done. "All the local fishermen are extremely happy to see a start to construction," he says.

Thompson says he expects the work will be completed in May of 2000, but that may mean lobster boats may have to work around the construction crews for part of the spring season.

"Relations between the contractors and the fishermen seem pretty good so far and everyone's getting along well," he says. "I think we can work around each other no problem at all."

But just a few kilometres down the road, the people of Maces Bay are still in limbo over their wharf. They are hoping to match Thompson's success.

Bev Mawhinney, a fisherman in Maces Bay, says Monday's gale could have meant a repeat of Chance Harbour.

"We need armour stone at the back of the wharf to break the sea before we can continue fixing the wharf on the inside," he says. "If we don't we're virtually out of business right here if we don't have something done soon."

Fishermen from Maces Bay met with the local MP last week to try to make sure the tiny community keeps its wharf.