“WATERFRONT – 8 Clippers, 2 Reefers Put UP FORSALE– Eight San Diego tuna clippers and two refrigerating motorships, the ‘WESTGATE’ and ‘PUERTO DEL SOL’, all purchased from their San Diego owners by Mr. César Vallerino of Lima, Peru back in August of 1961, are for sale. All vessels formerly were managed by NATIONAL MARINE TERMINALS. The tuna clippers are the ‘BARBARA K.’, ‘JUDY S.’, ‘SUN SPLENDOR’, ‘LUCY ELENA’, ‘MARY JO’, ‘SEA GIANT’, the ‘TALISMAN’, and ‘CAROL S.’. Southern California canneries are reported negotiating for purchase of the two ‘reefers’ (i.e. refrigerated motorships – ed.) and tuna clippers, in addition to two refrigerating plants owned by Mr. Vallerino at PAITA and PUERTO COLORADO, PERU.
For several years the ‘Westgate’ and ‘Puerto del Sol’ were engaged in bringing frozen tuna here (to San Diego) from Peru for the ‘WESTGATE-CALIFORNIA’ Cannery here. Both were taken off the run last year and have been engaged in transporting frozen fish from PERU to American canneries in Puerto Rico and fish meal to New Orleans and other Gulf ports. ‘Westgate-California’ Cannery has been receiving its fish from South America chiefly on fishing craft managed by ‘NATIONAL MARINE’.
The latter company first started operations in South American waters 9 years ago (circa 1955 – ed.) when the company purchased the fleet of ‘SUN PACIFIC, INC.’. It also acquired the refrigerating motorship ‘SPICEWOOD’ and the ‘Puerto Colorado’ reefer plant. The ‘Spicewood’ was replaced by the ‘Puerto del Sol’. Mr. Vallerino is reported to be disposing of all his fishing interests in Panama and South America. They included large fish meal plants in addition to the fishing boats and reefer plants.” —
*Editorial Note: This may (?) have something to do with the military coup d’tat that removed President Manuel Prado y Ugarteche from power? Much more information is needed to verify this though.
(*Source: San Diego Union & DAILY BEE newspaper – Thursday, March 5, 1964 – Pg. 40)