Jeff’s Blog

Delicious harpooned BROADBILL ~ SWORDFISH ~ begins becoming keenly popular, especially in San Diego. Approximately 32,000 lbs. were taken in 1926, 120,000 in 1927, and over 273,000 in 1928 (with 127,000 lbs. being landed in San Diego in August alone – ed.). PA Mr. JOAQUIM PEDRO (father of Mrs. BERNICE PEDRO HOLLERBACH) was one of the first and most successful swordfishermen in San Diego. — Other Press releases include: “By October of 1928, the fishing press reports that, “Within the last few weeks expert swordfish harpooners from the East Coast have been arriving in Southern California. These men are almost ALL PORTUGUESE of long experience out of New Bedford and Boston (Massachusetts).”

“A new swordfishing boat, named the “SAN PEDRO” was launched at San Diego at General Marine Works at 2235 Harbor St. (Mgr. Charles D. Boynton). The ‘San Pedro’ is 55’ long, with a 13’ beam, and has a 70 h.p. Atlas Imperial engine. The owners are (PA) Mr. DOMINGOS NUNES. and JOAQUIM PEDRO.* Capt. Nunes was the former owner of the ‘Western S’, which has been the *TOP SWORDFISH BOAT* for a number of years. Mr. Nunes is the PIONEER swordfisherman of San Diego. Each year he has led the entire swordfish fleet and is, of course, one of the outstanding swordfishermen.
The ‘San Pedro’ is built along yacht lines, with a concave stern, and 70 h.p. Her capacity with full ice is 40 tons. She is a very beautiful boat.” – (*Source: April 1930 – West Coast Fisheries magazine – Pg. 27)

*Editorial Note: Sadly, Mr. Domingos Nunes (born February 14, 1877 in Pico, Azores, and who resided at 3028 Hugo St. in Point Loma, San Diego with his wife Maria Rosellia Machado/Mitchell & their daughter Ethel; a child born in Gloucester, MA – ed.) would die in San Diego, CA on April 25, 1930 at just age 52. Domingos & Maria are buried at Holy Cross Cemetery – Saint Paul, Lot 48.

“SWORD FISHING IS IMPORTANT INDUSTRY HERE – With the 1931 commercial BROADBILL SWORDFISHING season soon to begin, it is interesting to note, says Capt. Oakley J. Hall, local Associated Oil distributor, that SAN DIEGO leads the ports of the Pacific in fares of the ‘pork chops of the seas’ delivered to local markets and distributed to many parts of the country. Since the beginning of this industry, which has grown to be a major San Diego fishing activity here during the 7-month season… ~ Broadbill swordfishing is a comparatively new industry on the Pacific coast, the fish itself sometimes weighing more than 350 lbs.! CAPT. DOMINGOS NUNES in his 35′ boat “WESTERN S.” began it in 1925. The old pioneer died last year following the trial run of hs new 55′ swordfishing craft, the “San Pedro”. From a total catch of a few fish harpooned during the following years, the industry took a tremendous forward step in 1929 when CAPT. TONY MELLO, in his 40′ “pulpit”-equipped (i.e. a 30′ plank that extends over the bow that allows the harpooner better access to surprise and harpoon the fish – ed.) boat, “SUCESO”, accounted for more than *500* fish himself, and thus became the outstanding Pacific coast *CHAMPION OF ALL TIME*! CAPT. MANUEL NUNES (no relation – ed.) of the ‘BOM JESUS’ was high man during the 1930 season, when a sharp falling-off of the catch outside San Diego harbor was noted. The ‘Bom Jesus’ brought about 300 fish to local markets…”

(*Source: San Diego Union & DAILY BEE – Sunday, May 3, 1931 – Pg. 44 ~~~ Another article from the EVENING TRIBUNE of Thursday, January 15, 1931 – Pg. 16 also includes pics of the boat and crew; also mention of Joaquim Pedro as co-owner is sourced via: San Diego UNION – April 21, 1930 – Pg. 14)

“In the beginning of California’s tuna fishing industry, ALBERT POWERS HALFHILL is often credited with being the first canner of white meat albacore tuna in California, if not America. Beginning with test batches processed at his CALIFORNIA FISH CO. at Long Beach, CA in 1903, and followed by formal marketing of it in 1906. Now (1930 – ed.), two sons of the late founder; Harry J. Halfhill (President) and his brother Charles P. Halfhill (Secretary) are carrying on that tradition; even if the albacore have decided to barely show themselves in the waters off the west coast of the America’s this year (and 1931, AND the previous FIVE years of the albacore take were “down” too!, although increased trade in Mexican lobsters [ex. HARRY MADRUGA & Capt. Louis Camillo] & swordfish helped many fishermen to “get through” – ed.). To “remedy” this “no albacore” situation, the Halfhill brothers have begun to IMPORT foreign albacore from JAPAN (some 400 tons already, with fully 50% of that processed just by Halfhill’s, & much more in following years) to can HERE in the United States. – This tariff-free importation of cheaper foreign tuna, welcomed as windfall profits for the canneries (but a bain to U.S. fishermen, and immediately controversial), this will continue for nearly 30 MORE YEARS, consistently undercutting the American tuna industry & causing a very long cycle of domestic & foreign political wrangling, etc. – ed.).

(*Source: West Coast Fisheries Magazine – May 1931 – Pg. 19-20)

**Editorial Note: Actually, the HALFHILL BROTHERS, Albert, Charles, and Harry, first started importing Japanese albacore into their California cannery in 1915. After selling their majority interest in the SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FISH CO., they formed the HALFHILL TUNA PACKING COMPANY in mid-January 1915, which acquired a 22,500-square foot parcel at the third channel of nearby Long Beach Harbor for $8,7503.  The CALIFORNIA FISH COMPANY, co-owned by Albert P. Halfhill, was the pioneer albacore tuna cannery.

“A FISHING BANK FOUND – A Portuguese from the La Playa fishing village, across the bay (from downtown San Diego – ed.), has been for some time trying to find a fishing bank, as the fleet has been in hard luck lately. Tuesday, he came upon a large bank a long distance out that yielded him 600 lbs. of WHITE FISH and ROCK COD. Yesterday he went out again prepared to ride the bank and settle its location so that others may find it. He says it is the LARGEST YET FOUND; and is covered with fish.”

(*Source: San Diego Weekly Union newspaper – Thursday, January 22, 1891 – Pg. 2)

*Editorial Note: Unsolicited suggestion and PERSONAL VOW! – From this day forward, I (Jeffrey L. Madruga) Do hereby both suggest & promise I will always be available to raise a toast and drink a salute each JANUARY 20th, in honor of this first ‘known’ (yet unnamed) local San Diego Portuguese fisherman who both found a newly profitable fishing bank to sustain the La Playa Beach fishing colony; AND then shared said information with same.”

“STREET RIOTS IN HONOLULU – The PORTUGUESE in an ANGRY & TROUBLESOME MOOD – President Dole Has a Narrow Escape from Personal Violence, The Mob Finally Dispersed – Indications of a Conspiracy Looking to the Restoration of the Hawaiian ex-Queen (Lili’uokalani) – “There is a feeling of unrest and uncertainty in this city at present, which arose from the recent Portuguese demonstration to the Legislature, and which has been aggravated by occurrence since that time, the principal one of which was a regular PORTUGUESE RIOT on Sunday evening last.
On the corner of Punchbowl & Emma Streets a drunken ex-Policeman took away a bicycle from a Portuguese boy, and his cries brought a lot of Portuguese women to his assistance. This portion of the city marks the commencement of the Portuguese quarter, while a few doors below, on Emma St., is the residence of President Dole. A fight ensued in which the drunken former policeman was roughly handled by a number of Portuguese. He was, however, arrested by one of the mounted Police Patrol who was attracted to the scene by the disturbance, and taken to the station-house.
In the meantime the crowd of Portuguese had been swelled to two or three hundred, and two or three Police had arrived on the scene. The Portuguese began abusing the policemen and calling them all manner of vile names. President Dole (i.e. Sanford B. Dole, who in January of 1893 had led a coup over the native Hawaiian monarchy and pressed the U.S. government to [illegally!] annex the islands) heard the disturbance and came out to the street, where he warned a number of excited Portuguese to go home, but they paid no attention to him.
A Police lieutenant came up at this juncture and asked the President for orders. He was told to ‘clear the streets and arrest any who opposed the order.’ By this time 7 or 8 police were on hand, including 2 or 3 of the mounted patrol. These then charged into the mob, picking out two or three of the supposed ‘ringleaders’ and attempted to arrest them. The mob resisted, and as fast as one was arrested, the mob would rescue him. The Portuguese fought with sticks and stones and finally commenced to pulling off the pickets from neighboring fences.
The Police, except the lieutenant, were armed only with clubs, but they did good execution with them. A passing wagon was seized by the police and they made a stand around it, seizing a rioter and throwing him in as they got a chance. Meanwhile, the mounted police continued riding their horses through the mob and endeavoring to separate them.
The mob by this time had got in front of President Dole’s house and was rapidly increasing in size. The President went among the rioters and urged them to disperse, but they paid no attention to him; although they offered him no personal violence.
In the meantime the facts had been telephoned to the Police Station, and Captain Scott soon arrived, at the head of a dozen heavily armed police, coming up Emma St. in a patrol wagon at full gallop; arriving just in time to prevent loss of life.
The police lieutenant was surrounded by rioters on all sides and drew his pistol to protect himself. The mob yelled that he would not shoot, but he fired one shot into the ground. At the sound of the shot and the sight of rifles in the patrol wagon, the mob dodged round the corner and disappeared.
When the melee was over the police took stock of what they had in the wagon and found 9 rioters, two of whom had to be sent to the hospital at once. The others were taken to the Police Station where they were at once bailed out by leading Portuguese at $100 cash each (*equivalent to $3,153 each/$22,070 TL today – ed.). The police escaped without any serious injuries.
Since that occurance there has been much ill-feeling between the police and the Portuguese, which so far has only found vent in occasional volleys of stones thrown at policemen from behind fences.
The result of all this has been to create a feeling of impending trouble with the Portuguese, and this is increased by the inactivity of the legislative Committees on the Portuguese petitions. The Legislature is inclined to treat the recent demonstration as a bulldozing proposition and be apt to eventually consign the petition to the waste basket.
In the meantime no one seems to really know what the Portuguese are up to? Readers of THE CALL will remember that in these letters a prediction was made that the restoration fo the ex-Queen (Lili’uokalani) was what was secretly aimed at, and from information gained by your correspondent since that time he is more than ever convinced that that is what is really intended by some of the members of the Portuguese society.
I am in a position to know that certain Portuguese have made treasonable utterances, and that these have been reported to the Government, which, so far, has made no move beyond watching the suspects very closely. How the Portuguese expect to effect the restoration is unknown, for they have no arms or financial backing, but that they have some deep-laid scheme afoot is self-evident. They have absolutely refused to work on ANY of the plantations, even at the increased rate of $18 per month (equivalent to 59¢ [and after a “raise”] today – ed.) now offered. The Government, confident in it’s strength, is taking things very easily , but at the same time is fully awake to the situation.”

(*Source: The San Francisco Call newspaper – April 20, 1896 – (Honolulu, Hawaii, April 10, 1896)

(*Editorial Note: Although in 1897 a successful Petition against the annexation of Hawaii via the Hawaiian Patriotic League was made, it fell short of the 2/3 majority required, and became moot after the 1898 Spanish American War “required” the strategic mid-Pacific fueling station/naval base became imperative to the United States, and Congress officially annexed the Hawaiian Islands on July 12, 1898).

“PORTUGUESE IN NEW YORK CITY – “The other day John Gubbins, a Portuguese, was held for trial by Justice Grady at the Yorkville Police court under the charge of stabbing a Policeman. There is nothing strange or peculiar about the arrest of a man charged with stabbing or attempting to stab a policeman, but the oddity connected with Gubbins is the fact that he is a PORTUGUESE.
How many PORTUGUESE do you think there are among the 2,000,000 inhabitants of New York City? Just 76! There are 76 of them, and it is said in Police circles to be a fact that Gubbins is the first Portuguese ever under arrest in this city. This would be a very creditable showing if there were more than 76 of them. As it is, the only wonder is that there are so few! In the whole United States there are 16,000 Portuguese. Nine-thousand, eight-hundred and fifty-nine (9,859) turned up in the last U.S. Census in CALIFORNIA, some 3,051 in Massachusetts, just 333 in Rhode Island, and 76 as residents of New York City.
The Portuguese are a maritime people, most numerous in such seaport cities as San Francisco, Boston, Providence, New Orleans and New Bedford, but curiously enough almost unknown in New York; the greatest center of commerce in the western hemisphere.
Emigrants from the lands of Camoes and the Braganza’s are famous as sailors and navigators, and their descendants are scattered in many lands, notably in Hawaii, where the Portuguese population is considerable, and in the East Indies, where the Portuguese colonies are numerous. New York City is a cosmopolitan city. Men of every race and nationality are to be found here. The total immigration to the United States through Ellis island from January 1, 1893 to December 15, 1893 was 233,597, and toward this total Portugal contributed the almost infinitesimal total of just 79 persons! The PORTUGUESE are, generally speaking; THRIFTY, HARDY, INDUSTRIOUS, and MATTER OF FACT. They have little of the sentiment of their Spanish neighbors. They are LAW ABIDING and UNDEMONSTRATIVE, and Gubbins appears to be a rare backslider, stimulated perhaps to deeds of unruly violence by New Jersey whisky or Medford rum (both poor substitutes for the fine wines of the Oporto district of Portugal, shipped from Lisbon and famous the world over).” – (*Source: LOS ANGELES HERALD newspaper – January 16, 1894)

The 1st U.S. FISHERY SURVEY of the WEST COAST of the UNITED STATES is completed.

Initially, on Point Loma’s BALLAST POINT near the shore Whaling Stations, the CHINESE Fishing Folk lived, but are repeatedly pushed northward, first to La Playa, then finally to downtown San Diego. Several horrendously racist “Anti-Yellow” Laws were enacted to thwart their previously successful coastal fishing business, most specifically the SCOTT ACT and the awful CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT of 1882 (sadly lobbied for as a permanent ban by none other than a California Congressman named Mr. WILLIAM ROSECRANS, the very namesake of Point Loma’s former “Main St.“!). – *Circa 1892 the amount of fish caught and PICKLED for EXPORT and fresh fish caught for local markets are about equal, 50% each, with exports going mostly to the Chinese population of the “Sandwich” or Hawaiian Islands.

“Chinese junks were formerly much used by the Chinese fishermen of San Diego County. In 1888 thirteen (13) junks of various sizes were engaged in fishing. Year by year the Chinese have been withdrawing from the business, deeming it too hazardous on account of the danger of seizure by the Mexican Government for ‘illegal fishing‘, and the possibility of not being permitted to re-enter the United States. The junk fishermen, sailing under no flag, have been obliged to PAY ALIEN PORT CHARGES, which materially reduced the profits of their business. In a few cases the junks have been sold to American fishermen, the numbers by which they were known to the Customs officials being supplanted by names. The junks used in SAN DIEGO COUNTY declined from 13 in 1888, to just 6 in 1889, to just 1 in 1893.” – (*Source: Pacific Coast Fisheries, pg 188-’89)

*Meanwhile (Pg 189) – “A small camp of PORTUGUESE fishermen is found in LA PLAYA, on the side of the bay opposite SAN DIEGO. These fishermen man their boats singly; and cure all of their catch, most of which is pickled for the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) trade. Of the quantity pickled, about 75% are ALBACORE, one-eighth (12.5%) BONITO, and one-eighth (12.5%) YELLOW-TAIL TUNA (i.e. 87.5% tuna fish – ed.). The entire catch is taken by trolling. When fishing each boat used four 15-fathom lines, each provided with a single hook. Just above the hook is a decoy bait that is fastened consisting of a piece of bone sometimes cut to resemble a small fish; but in most cases simply a narrow fragment without a definite shape. — The lines are fished from the sides of the vessels, being rigged on poles in a manner similar to that employed in the MACKEREL FISHERY of the ATLANTIC COAST many years ago.”

“… the PACKARD (Brothers ALPHONSE & PRINCE, born 1815 in Chilmark, MA to PA parents?) CO. have captured two more whales…, one believed to be the LARGEST devil fish (aka grey whale – ed.) ever heard of on this coast, and that one of the Captains estimated that the whale would yield about 100 barrels of oil.”

*Note: Twin brothers PRINCE WILLIAM & ALPHEUS PACKARD arrived on the shores of LA PLAYA (a bayside community on San Diego’s Point Loma) in 1857 with the plan to establish a shore-based whaling station. Born to a PORTUGUESE father & English mother…” (*EDITORIAL NOTE: Although the Packard brothers are credited with having the FIRST whaling station in San Diego, in 1858, it’s also true that [so far] *I* have been UNABLE TO VERIFY the published detail that they were of any PORTUGUESE ancestry [pending] – ed. = Jeff L. Madruga, – **Although some others, notably Professor & author Mr. Don May, disagrees with me; but [so far]…, offer no documentation as “proof“.)

(*Sources: San Diego UNION newspaper – January 2, 1869 – Whaling in SD – and;
https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/1986/april/dog-holes-bomb-lances-devil-fish/

Brothers GEORGE & WILLIAM HUME from Maine, along with a tinsmith friend ANDREW HAPGOOD, set up the first fish (salmon) cannery on the WEST COAST of the United States, aboard an old scow in the Sacramento River. Fish were cooked in open pots and cans were cut out by hand with tin snips, and soldered (nearly half of their first year’s production of 4,000 cans burst open, but they managed to last). In succeeding years the salmon industry moved north along the coast and SARDINES, among other fish (like tuna), became more important in California, especially SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

*Editorial Note: Some might find it odd that “SALMON” might be mentioned or included in this otherwise mostly “tuna-centric” Timeline, but please *NOTE* the HUME family involved here, for later, one Mr. R. H. HUME would come to San Diego circa 1906 and would “lay-out”, conjole, and otherwise fully “attempt” to start up and control *nearly* everything in the San Diego tuna fishing industry that *DID* happen later between 1911 and 1951, at least. A failed “Visionary“, but a Visionary nonetheless; he (IMHO) deserves mention and attention for, if nothing else, a cautionary tale of vision exceeding reach.

“OPERATIONS EXTENDED TO ECUADOR – The ever-increasing range of San Diego’s tuna fleet operation has been extended with the departure of the 115’ yellowfin tuna clipper ‘PATRIA’ under Capt. JOE MEDINA, for fishing banks in the vicinity of the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of ECUADOR, nearly 3,500 miles from Point Loma (San Diego, CA). The vessel, which was once rammed by an oil tanker in Mexican waters, carries a crew of 12. — A few years ago, tuna vessels of the SAN DIEGO FLEET ventured only a few miles from Point Loma (San Diego, CA), but as the long-fin tuna, the albacore, disappeared suddenly, journeys were lengthened to the fishing grounds of the upper coast of BAJA CALIFORNIA (Mexico). Soon, larger boats were built and the trips were lengthened to approximately 1,500 miles southward. — This trip of the ‘Patria’ is expected to STRENGTHEN THE CREDIT of San Diego fishermen at west Mexican coast ports. — *Arrangements have been made whereby the ‘Patria’ can REFUEL AT MANZANILLO, MEXICO; nearly 1,600 miles from here (San Diego, CA). — If the ‘Patria’ carries out the plans for discovering additional yellowfin tuna schools in and near the region of the Galapagos Islands, Capt. Medina, in calling at Manzanillo for refueling of Diesel oil, will inaugurate a procedure that may become a REGULAR FEATURE of San Diego’s fishing fleet’s long voyages during the later part of this and the following seasons, according to local fishermen. — *Note: The ‘Patria’ originally was known as the ‘Mariner’ and was formerly owned by JOSE & MATTHEW MONISE. It has been rebuilt and equipped for long voyages down the lower coast since it was rammed and towed back to San Diego 18 months ago.” (*Source: April 1930 The West Coast Fisheries magazine – Pg. 29)

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*To UNDERSCORE the above opinion regarding the ‘Patria’ voyage in making logistical fueling arrangements at Manzanillo, Mexico; and *ALSO* the clear hand-in-glove arrangements between various cannery companies & Captains ramping up production for LONG-RANGE tuna fishing.

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“CAMPBELL BUILDS 3 – Trio of New Tuna Clippers Now Under Construction – The Campbell Machine Co. at San Diego is working at top speed in the building of three new tuna clippers, all well over 100’ in length, and plans call for the launching of ALL of them in May. — For J. JOSE & COMPANY Campbell’s are building a boat of 115’ in length by 25’ across the beam, which will be powered with an Atlas Imperial 350 h.p. Diesel engine. The total cost of this new vessel will be approx. $77,000 (equivalent to $1,296,969 today – ed.). When completed, she will fish for the WESTGATE SEA PRODUCTS CO.. Jose is the present owner of the tuna boat ‘Lisboa’. — MANUEL & ANTHONY MONISE are having built a vessel of similar dimensions, which will be powered with a 350 h.p. Union Diesel engine, to go into the service of the CALIFORNIA PACKING CORP. The cost will be about $78,000 (equivalent to $1,313,800 today – ed.). — The largest of the three boats is the 120’ craft being built for MANUEL SILVA and associates. The vessel will be practically a duplicate of the ‘Navigator’. She will be powered by a 400 h.p. Union Diesel engine, and will cost $94,000 (equivalent to $1,583,300 today – ed.). Silva will fish for the COHN-HOPKINS, INC. cannery. ~~~ (*Source: ALSO the April 1930 edition of The West Coast Fisheries magazine – Pg. 29)