Jeff’s Blog

“TUNABOAT SINKS, ALL SAFE OFF COSTA RICA – The San Diego tuna clipper ‘UNITED VICTORY’ sank off Costa Rica last Wednesday, and all of the crew members were saved, it was learned here yesterday. The vessel was the 52^nd San Diego-based tunaboat to be lost in 6 years.

Mrs. JOHN G. REBELO of 3325 Hugo St., wife of the clipper’s first and only Captain since it was built at Long Beach, CA in 1944, said her husband telephoned yesterday that the vessel had sunk. The ‘United Victory’, one of the largest vessels of the fleet, was owned by Mr. Arthur De Fever, San Diego marine surveyor. It was the second clipper to sink this year. The ‘SUN RAY’ sank off the coast of Chili on February 20^th.

Mrs. Rebelo said her husband told her only that a leak flooded the engine room about 25 miles off Cape Velas, Costa Rica, in the Pacific Ocean; and that the entire crew went ashore at Puntarenas in the boat’s motor launch. She said he told here he and the other crew members would try to leave San Jose, Costa Rica by airliner later in the day. The ‘United Victory’ sailed from San Diego for the Central American fishing banks last August 10^th, fishing for the StarKist cannery at Terminal Island (San Pedro, CA).

Crew members included: Capt. JOHN G. REBELO, Mr. Theodore Paderewski of 3386 Monroe Ave., the Chief Engineer; Mr. Francis F. Williams of 1010 16^th St., the Navigator; Mr. Arturo H. Granados, of 605 13^th St., the Cook; Mr. EDWIN D. SILVA of 1940 V. Ave. in National City; Mr. Amadeu Santos of 3315 Canon St.; Mr. Telmo Padilla of 3852 Boston Ave.; Mr. FRANCISCO L. FINETE of 3329 Lowell St.; Mr. AUGUST DaSILVA JR. of 2912 Addison (now Avenida de Portugal – ed.) St.; Mr. LUIS LUZ RODRIGUES of 2920 Byron St.; Mr. Antonio Rodrigues (PA? – ed.) of 1156 First Ave., Chula Vista; and Mr. Manuel Pinel of 2548 Newton St.. The ‘United Victory’ was valued at $500,000 (equivalent to $5,317,600 today – ed.) and displaced 250 tons.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Saturday,September 5, 1959 – Pg. 13)

“BOAT PROCEEDS BUY WAR BONDS – Boatswain JOE M. MEDINA, U.S. Navy Reserve, of San Diego has presented Uncle Sam with a dual-purpose $10,000 CHRISTMAS PRESENT on Saturday; his fleet of four tunaboats, which he has been operating in the San Diego area for 18 years, and were taken over by the U.S. Navy for war work. Yesterday, Mr. Medina converted the cash into 10 additional powerful blows at the axis – $1,000 war bonds, x10 (i.e. $10,000 – equivalent to $190,240 today – ed.) ‘Christmas means very much to me and this is the best way I can preserve it,’ Medina smiled, fingering the bonds. A resident of San Diego for 22 years, Medina joined the Navy on August 20^th. He resides at 760 Armada Place on Point Loma.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Friday, December 25, 1942 – Pg. 16)

*Editorial/Biographical Notes: Mr. JOSE MACHADO MEDINA (father of Lucille) was born December 10, 1905 in the village of Ribeiras, island of Pico, Azores, Portugal, and immigrated into the United States via Boston, Massachusetts on April 2, 1920 aboard the “Britannia” on the way to Providence, R.I. He was eventually Naturalized on June 27, 1927 in San Diego Superior Court. In 1934, Jose M. Medina Sr. and his brother commissioned two new tuna boats to be built by the Campbell Machine Company. The keel timbers were the largest timbers that the Benson Lumber Mill had ever sawn at that time. One was 112’ long and the other 118’ long. Benson Lumber had the logs “floated” down from the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, the trip taking about a month. The capacity for the larger ship was about 250 tons of iced fish, powered by diesel engines. ~ Jose was credited as being the first local fisherman to explore the fishing grounds off the Marquesas Islands near Tahiti in 1935, and by 1939 he was part owner and vice-president of the Fisherman’s Tuna Packing Company. ~ While the tuna fishing industry kept growing, so did the tuna fleet. Jose Medina and his co-investors commissioned the ‘QUEEN MARY’ to be built by the Campbell Machine Co. in 1941. The cost was $190,000. His daughter Evelyn Medina (who would become a Festa “Head Cook” as an adult – ed.) ‘sponsored’ the craft, by smashing a bottle of champagne across the bow. The ‘Queen Mary’ was the largest tuna fishing vessel for many years at 147’ long with a beam of 30’, and had a capacity of 400 tons of fish. The diesel engines could supply enough energy to light a small town. In later years, Jose Jr. inherited the ship and it was (oh, the irony!? – ed.) used for biological research to find ways to save the declining dolphin population.

Jose and Mary Medina purchased the Dog House Cafe at 1925 Bacon Street (now the Arizona Cafe – ed.) in 1941, and a year later in 1942, they owned the Pacific Shores Cafe at 4929 Newport Avenue (“Opening Day” happened to be December 7, 1941 [!], so it was World War II the next day; yet the Pacific Shores Bar is still in operation at that location, 83 years later – ed.). Jose even petitioned to have a dancing license for cabaret style entertainment. ~ *After Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy commandeered Jose’s fleet of four tuna boats. The largest boat, the ‘Queen Mary’, was sent to carry the cargo of the other boats and return the goods to San Diego. It took two years for Jose Medina and his partners to be compensated. Despite that delay, a newspaper article states that not only did Jose participate in the post Pearl Harbor efforts, he also made an extra effort to purchase war bonds (see above – ed.). ~ In 1946, Jose was a spokesman who met with then U.S. Senator William F. Knowland, to discuss the fishing industry, markets, taxes and labor. They toured the fishing fleet and talked about ways to enhance the fishing industry. The result was that San Diego was recognized as the leader in commercial fishing, and that the cool deep waters of the Pacific were the place to concentrate future fishing endeavors. A year later Jose represented the fishing industry in negotiations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to the betterment of environmental issues. ~ Ashore, Jose had two other businesses that were very successful, in 1949, he and his partner owned the Medina & Monise Liquor Store at 760 2nd Avenue. In 1952, they owned Medina & Monise, Inc., Marine Surveyors at the Broadway Pier. It is interesting to note that Jose Jr. later owned the Medina Marine Insurance Agency, also on the Broadway Pier. ~ Professionally, Jose “Joe” Machado Medina owned at least five tuna fishing vessels, his fleet including the; ‘SAN JOAQUIN’, ‘OLYMPIA’, ‘PATRIA’, ‘CABRILLO’, and the ‘QUEEN MARY’. He died on July 5, 1961 in San Diego, California, and is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery.

“THE FISH INDUSTRY – A Profitable Business for Men Without Capital – ‘There need be no idle men about the streets of San Diego if they can only be made to realize the money to be made in fishing and then go at it,’ said Mr. GEORGE MAGLY of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company yesterday. ‘It is the only business,’ he continued, ‘in Southern California paying a good profit which requires little or no capital. From $50 to $75 (equivalent to $1,722 and $2,584 today – ed.) with which to purchase a boat and tackle is all that is required. Take that LA PLAYA (PA! – ed.) Colony as an illustration. There are about 15 men, heads of families, engaged in the business and their total profits for the season will average from $1,000 to $1,200 per man (equivalent to $34,448 and $41,338 today – ed.). Now here are some figures showing the growth of the industry, and represents shipments by our steamers.’

Months	1889	1890	1891	1892
January	2,100	25,290	26,410	13,310
February	18,710	16,050	12,670	19,940
March	48,620	60,780	64,660	66,600
April	23,210	27,460	44,660	51,900
May	57,240	18,580	43,160	—–
June	45,430	23,180	26,100	—–
July	26,820	47,810	26,200	—–
August	41,520	73,980	79,910	—–
September	26,830	49,590	65,970	—–
October	39,470	43,630	28,250	—–
November	40,420	29,300	17,460	—–
December	21,540	51,190	36,300	—–
TOTAL	392,000	466,840	471,750	—–

You can readily see how this season is starting out. The first four month’s catch of this year is 3,350 pounds over that of the first four months of last year, 12,170 pounds more than the same time in 1890, and 59,020 pounds more than the same period in 1889. Now these figures represent mainly the catch of the La Playa colony, and some from Roseville. The market for dried and pickled fish from these waters is constantly increasing, and there is not the slightest danger of glutting the market. Other companies are shipping fish, both fresh and cured, all over the coast, and cannot begin to supply the demand. The catch nets the fisherman about 3 cents per pound, and it is a very poor day when one cannot catch 100 pounds of fish. I know of no more profitable business, without capital, and it is a constant source of surprise to me why more men are not engaged in it.” –

(*Source: San Diego WEEKLY UNION newspaper – Thursday, May 5, 1892 – Pg. 8)

*Editorial Note: May God forever bless Mr. George Magley (another spelling – ed.) for his essential aide in noting and recording the shipping numbers for the PA fishermen of La Playa and Roseville, many of whom were illiterate in their own language, much less English, and who likely would not have understood so quickly exactly how profitable their newly formed enterprise was, and could be, with increased shipping to a much broader market. Thank You George!!!

*Editorial Note: Tuna canning in California was on a smaller scale in 1921 than in any year since accurate records have been kept, even below the poor 1915 & 1916 packs. Various reasons were responsible for the adverse conditions (including cannery closures), the principle one being the CONTROVERSY OVER PRICES between fishermen and packers, and even among the fishermen themselves. Extended delays and unsatisfactory pricing disputes made more than a few fishing trips unprofitable, then (later) all of it made worse by increased fees from the Mexican government and labor issues, although San Diego was spared some hardship by a large run of fish in early August.
Meanwhile, the Southern California Fish Canners Assn. disbanded in October, and 8 canneries in San Pedro and 2 in San Diego did not operate during the 1921 season. WHY?! To try and best answer that I’ve included more reference articles here than usual, put in chronological order, and focusing mostly on the perspective of San Diego’s AMERICAN FISHERMEN’S PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION (the forerunner of the American Tunaboat Association, aka. A.T.A.) to help better illustrate the frustrations, uneven access, and yes…, perhaps TREACHERY at hand in the system as it existed in 1921…, and beyond. Some aspects seemingly continued for the duration of SAN DIEGO, California’s multi-generational run as the so-called “TUNA CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”…, and the roots of what made that end? ~ *It may also be worth noting the historic Cultural Timing of this summer season fishing trial, since it coincides with the summer whereby over 60 Portuguese-American men were also meeting and forming Point Loma’s first U.P.A S.E.S. (later U.P.S.E.S. – ed.) Brotherhood and making initial plans for erecting what would (in 1922) become our proud communities’ U.P.S.E.S. HALL and adjoining IMPERIO CAPELA (i.e. Chapel – now a nationally registered Historical Site – ed.).

****************************************

“1921 TUNA SEASON TO BE WORST IN HISTORY, OUTLOOK – Packers Have 20% of Last Year’s Pack on Hand; Low Prices Predicted – A prediction that the 1921 tuna and albacore season will be the worst (from the standpoint of the fishermen) that has been recorded in the history of the industry, was made yesterday by local canners. It is accepted as a foregone conclusion that a strike of tuna fishermen at all Southern California ports is inevitable. The novelty of the situation arises out of the fact that the canners, locally at least, do not care whether the fishermen strike or not. The canners already have suffered a substantial loss as a result of paying Japanese and other tuna fishermen $225 per ton for the ‘chicken of the sea’ last year, only to find that they could not dispose of the pack profitably because of the rapid drop in prices and a demoralized market. Members of the SAN DIEGO FISH CANNERS’ ASSOCIATION announced yesterday that the price they will submit this season for tuna and albacore delivered at the cannery wharves will be so low that the fishermen will not accept it.

SOLD AT FOUR CENTS

The attitude of the canners is (cont. Pg. 5) illustrated by the action taken at San Pedro a few days ago when a purse seine boat arrived with a cargo of tuna. The fishermen demanded 18 cents a pound for the catch. The canners retaliated by informing the fishermen they might as well ask $1 per pound. The fishermen held on to their catch as long as they dared, and then disposed of the fish for 4 CENTS per pound. They in turn retaliated by telling the canners they would never go out to the banks again for tuna until they were assured of a higher price. SAN DIEGO canners now have on hand approximately 20% of last year’s pack. They say they must put on the market tuna and other seafoods at a price consistent with the low prices now prevailing, and also to meet the stiff competition of foreign packers who are now flooding the eastern markets with their products.

WILL DISCUSS PRICE

The AMERICAN FISHERMEN’S PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION is scheduled to hold a conference this afternoon at the International Packing Co.’s plant (1445 S. Crosby St. – ed.) to discuss the price that will be asked of the canners for albacore and tuna. In view of the announced attitude of the packers, it is not believed the conference prices will meet with the approval of the members of the canner’s association. Despite the predicted strike of the tuna fishermen, canneries announced that the consumer is going to be able to purchase Chicken of the Sea and other seafood much more cheaply than for some time. *Demoralization of the tuna industry here will be felt more keenly by the JAPANESE fishermen than by the Americans, Italians, and Jugo-Slavs; as the Nipponese boats form the bulk of the fleet engaged in this industry. It is reported that last year several Japanese fishermen netted $15,000 (equivalent to $260,597 today – ed.) for less than four month’s work.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Saturday, May 7, 1921 – Pg. 1 & 5)

*******

(Newspaper AD) – NOTICE TO FISHERMEN

All fishermen interested in the price of Albacore for the season of 1921 are requested to be present at a meeting to be held Saturday, May 14, 1921 at 2:00 p.m. at the hall of the International Packing Corporation, foot of Crosby Street. – Signed: R. HAWLEY

Secretary: American Fishermen’s Protective Association

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Friday, May 13, 1921 – Pg. 5)

*******

“PACKERS, FISHERS FAIL TO REACH PRICE AGREEMENT – Conference Followed by Meeting of Fishermen; Both Sides Want Compromise – Tuna packers and fishermen, who held a conference at the plant of the International Packing Corporation yesterday afternoon to fix an equitable per-ton price that will be paid for tuna during the 1921 season, failed to reach an agreement.

A mass meeting of fishermen, in which virtually every fisherman’s association in Southern California was represented, was held at the International Packing Co. plant last night. At this meeting the fishermen discussed in detail the prices which they will ask the canneries to pay during the present season. The price is reported to be between $175 and $200 per ton. A committee representing the various fisherman’s associations will notify the canneries after a decision has been reached. The canneries will then inform the fishermen whether the price set is satisfactory. Many phases dealing with tuna fishing and canning, the present unstable market conditions, and the desire of all concerned to reduce the retail price of the ‘chicken of the sea’ were discussed at yesterday afternoon’s conference.

OPERATING COSTS HIGH

The fishermen pointed out that the cost of nets, distillate, and gear has not dropped; and that their operating expenses will be virtually the same as they were last year. The canneries agreed that the fishermen should not (cont. Pg. 5) be compelled to go to sea facing a certain operating loss. On the other hand the canneries pointed out that to pay $225 per ton (the price paid for tuna last season) would be out of the question during the present season. The canneries said consumers are looking for a decrease in the price of seafood and unless fishermen and canneries alike heed the demand of the general public, the present unstable market for tuna will continue indefinitely.

Both packers and fishermen attending the conference made no attempt at subterfuge. They discussed the situation freely and frankly, and all admitted that both sides would have to make some concessions if a satisfactory agreement was to be reached. At the close of the conference the fishermen were told to submit a price that would be agreeable to the various associations. The canneries would then hold a conference to determine whether such a price could reasonably be paid.

ADMITS JUSTICE OF CLAIM

‘One cannot blame the fishermen for demanding a fair price for their work and for their catches,’ said Mr. A. J. COHN of the International Packing Corporation. ‘Their expenses are no lower than they were last year. Nets, distillate, and fishing gear in general has not dropped in price. The canneries realize that it would avail them nothing to ask them to fish at a price which would not be fair and just. These fishermen are not only skilled in catching tuna, but they also are expert mechanics and could command excellent wages if they were engaged in mechanical work ashore. In fact, many tuna fishermen have forsaken their boats for the machine shops and the garages.’

Among those who attended the conference yesterday afternoon were: Mr. B. Houssels of the International Packing Corp. of Los Angeles, Mr. Frank Van Camp, President of the Van Camp Seafood Co. of San Pedro, Mr. N. C. Sprague, President of the Neptune Seafood Co. of San Diego, Mr. Walter S. Hayashida, Secretary of the Japanese Fishermen’s Association of San Diego; Mr. G. Childs, President of the American Protective Fishermen’s Association of San Diego, and Mr. E. Takegawa, President of the Japanese Fishermen’s Association of San Pedro.

Canners and fishermen say it probably will be several days before a satisfactory price is agreed upon. The present uncertainty will ‘not interfere’ with the 1921 packing season, they say, because tuna have not (yet – ed.) appeared in large schools in local waters. The present cool weather and cloudy skies are said to be responsible for the long fins seeking warmer waters to the southward.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Tuesday, June14, 1921 – Pg. 1 & 5)

*******

“PRICE OF TUNA TO BE SETTLED AT CONFERENCE – Fishermen Will Meet With Packers at LOS ANGELES, Monday; Sealed Vote – A final conference between Southern California fishermen’s associations and the Southern California FISH PACKERS ASSOCIATION to determine an equitable price that will be paid this season for albacore and tuna, will take place at Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, it was announced here yesterday.

Mr. Walter Hayashida, Secretary of the Japanese Fishermen’s Association of San Diego, said yesterday that members of the association voted secretly Thursday night on what they thought should be the ruling price per ton this year. The American Protective Fishermen’s Association of San Diego, comprising among its membership American, PORTUGUESE, and Italian tuna fishermen, already have voted in secret. The Japanese Fishermen’s Association of San Pedro will hold a mass meeting Sunday night at which they will submit a sealed vote.

The votes of the three associations will then be pooled, an average per-ton-price established, and on Monday representatives of the three associations will present the result of the vote to the canners. Although none of the officials of the local fishermen’s associations will comment on the price to be set, it is authoritatively reported it will be around $200 per ton (i.e. $25 per ton less than the price last year, an 11.1% reduction – ed.). Should the canners agree to meet the fishermen’s demands 330 fishing boats from San Pedro and San Diego will put to sea at daybreak Tuesday morning to start the tuna catching season. If the canneries should refuse to meet the fishermen’s price, the fishermen will only catch barracuda, halibut, mackerel, and cod; refraining entirely from catching any ‘chicken of the sea’ for canning purposes.

One hundred and five (105) tuna boats at this (San Diego) port have been made ready to begin operations Tuesday morning. At San Pedro there are 220 tuna boats.” (325 So. Cal. tunaboats – ed.)

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Tuesday, June18, 1921 – Pg. 9)

*******

“FISHERMEN REACH AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL PACKERS – Understanding as to Price for Albacore Rest of Season; Oil Companies Scoured – Announcement that American, Italian, and PORTUGUESE albacore fishermen with the members of the San Diego Fish Packers’ Association regarding a price to be paid for albacore during the remainder of the season, was made by Mr. Ray Hawley, President of the American Protective Fishermen’s Association of this port.

Hawley said that the albacore fishermen agreed to lower their demand for albacore delivered at the cannery wharves for several reasons. Chief among these was the realization that 1,500 cannery workers are idle here because of the failure of the canners and albacore fishermen to reach an agreement. In the interest of these idle men and women, and the desire to meet the canners ‘half way’ the American Protective Fishermen’s Association set a price for their labor which it is believed will be acceptable to the cannery men.

The JAPANESE fishermen of San Diego and San Pedro have not aligned themselves as yet with the American, Italian, and PORTUGUESE; but committees representing the Japanese associations at both ports (San Diego & San Pedro – ed.) will confer here today with officials of the American Protective Fishermen’s Association.

Mr. Hawley, speaking for the various fishermen’s associations in Southern California, then scoured the Standard Oil and Union Oil Companies for their failure to reduce the price of fuel oil or co-operate in any manner with the joint efforts of the fishermen to reduce the price of seafood to the consumer. He stated that at no time during the 6 WEEKS of conferences between the fishermen and the association have the oil companies made ANY move toward a reduction of fleet operating expenses.

San Diego tuna canneries will probably begin operations Monday. Fishermen reported yesterday that they expect a big fleet of albacore boats will put to sea early tomorrow.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Saturday, July16, 1921 – Pg. 13)

*******

“FISHERMEN CHARGE BAD FAITH ON PART OF LOCAL CANNERS; WILL HOLD BOATS – Secretary of Protective Association Declares Employers Failed to Sign Contract as They Agreed to Do – Bad faith on the part of the fish canners here has put the tuna price question up in the air again, and postponed indefinitely the opening of the local fish canneries, according to Mr. Ray Hawley, Secretary of the American Fishermen’s Protective Association.

The fishermen held a meeting Saturday night at their headquarters to sign an agreement with the canners. The canners had agreed, Hawley said, to be present and sign with the fishermen, agreeing to pay $125 per ton for the albacore catch this season, according to Hawley. But when the time came for the canners to sign…, NONE appeared, and when telephone calls were put in for them, there was ‘nobody home’, according to Hawley.

Mr. A. J. Cohn of the International Packing Company, the largest fish cannery here; admitted yesterday that the Canner’s Association had no representative at the fishermen’s meeting. ‘An offer of $125 per ton was made,’ Cohn said. Of this, $25 was to be held back as a guarantee that there would be no fish sold for less than $125 per ton. It was made to stabilize the market. I have been out of town and am not thoroughly in touch with all developments of the last few days.’ Efforts to find other local cannery managers were unsuccessful yesterday.

After considerable discussion among the fishermen, it was decided to allow the canners until Tuesday at noon to sign at the price of $125-per-ton for albacore. If they do not sign by Tuesday at noon for that price, the offered price increases to $135 per ton, and thereafter will jump $20 per ton each week until the agreement is signed, Hawley said yesterday. Signatures of Captains, representing (cont. Pg. 2) 350 local fishermen were obtained to the resolution, and the Japanese fishermen also have signed similar pacts, it was said.

Last year the fishermen got from $200 to $300 per ton for their product. After weeks of conferences, the canners offered to pay the fishermen $100 per ton, with a ‘bonus’ of $25 to be paid at some future time. The fishermen held out for the flat rate of $125 per ton, and according to Hawley, the canners agreed to meet this price. This latest turn throws ‘out of gear’ plans for opening the canneries today. It had been announced that everything was in readiness for the resumption of work which employs almost 2,000 persons here. Unless the canners sign, the fishermen say they will not put out to sea for the tuna. In agreeing to fish for $125 per ton, the fishermen say they are accepting their share of the price deflation. They say that at this price the canneries can put their product on the market at a greatly reduced price, compared with last year’s peak.

OIL COMPANIES BLAMED

Another source of complaint by both canners and fishermen has been the attitude of the oil companies here, which are said to have refused to stand their share of the price reduction. ‘Neither the Union nor the Standard Oil company has done anything at all toward aiding the situation.’ Hawley said yesterday. ‘We used to burn distillate in our boats, but the distillage now on the market would not run a coal-tar engine. We are forced to buy gasoline in many cases, and the price of gasoline is higher than it was last year.‘ ‘In 1920 the fishermen here spent approximately $6,000 for oil (equivalent to $104,240 today – ed.). Unless some remedy is applied, this money will not pass through the oil companies’ hands this year. The oil concerns are not playing fair with the fishermen or the public at large. ‘It is easy to see the concession the fishermen are making when they offer to fish at more than $100 per ton less, with their expenses for fuel practically the same as last year. We think we have done our part to bring about lower prices. Now let the oil companies do at least half what they should and there would be more general satisfaction.’

ONLY ONE AT WORK

There is only ONE San Diego fisherman now operating for the canneries, according to Hawley. ‘That man is W. O. Chase, operating the boat ‘MINA C.’, said Hawley. ‘He is acting independently in the capacity of a strikebreaker, but he will not break our ranks.’ It was hinted that the canners hoped by delay to break the ranks of the fishermen’s associations? This the canners deny and say their offer of $100 per ton, cash (but a 50% minimum decrease from the higher average last year – ed.) with the bonus of $25 should have been accepted. They were silent when the question of their non-attendance at the fishermen’s meeting was brought up.

So, unless the matter is decided soon, it appears that the tuna run will be over before a settlement is reached. It is practically certain that no cannery will begin operations this morning.

Also, announcements that canners and fishermen had ‘agreed on a price of $50 a ton do not affect this port, it was said. The price of $50 was set for blue-fin tuna only caught by the purse seiners. The tuna canned here is known as albacore and the meat of the fish is white. This is the highest grade of tuna and cannot be caught by the purse seiners.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Monday, July 18, 1921 – Pg. 1 & 2)

*******

“65 FISHING BOATS REACH AGREEMENT WITH ONE CANNERY – Price of $125 per Ton, Basis of Settlement; First Large Catch of Season Expected – Sixty-five fishing boats, owned by members of the American Fishermen’s Protective Association of this port, left the harbor last night to fish for albacore. They are the first boats of the unionized fishing fleet of Southern California to begin albacore catching operations on a large scale this season.

Announcement that the American Fishermen’s Protective Association, comprising American, Italian, and PORTUGUESE fishermen, had reached an agreement with a local cannery to purchase albacore at $125 per ton, delivered at the wharf, was made yesterday by Mr. Ray Hawley, President of the association. The agreement came after nearly TWO MONTHS of wrangling over the price to be paid this season for albacore.

*The JAPANESE Fishermen’s Associations are NOT included in the new agreement and it is believed the boats of those associations here and at San Pedro will not engage in albacore fishing this year. It is the first time in the history of the tuna industry in Southern California that the Japanese have been ‘frozen out’. Heretofore the Japanese have pre-dominated in the albacore and tuna catching industry.

The first large catch of albacore is expected to be brought into port late today. It is understood the fish will be delivered to the International Packing Company plant. Ray Hawley, President of the American Fishermen’s Protective Association said: ‘The fishermen of our association have done everything possible to reach an agreement with the cannery men. We realized that continued idleness of the fishing boats kept many men and women out of employment.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Monday, July 22, 1921 – Pg. 11)

********

“WHITE FISHERMEN DECLARE WAR ON JAPANESE RIVALS – Underbid Asiatics but Cannot Get Contracts from Canners, Leader Asserts – Open warfare between American, Italian, and PORTUGUESE fishermen on one side and Japanese fishermen on the other was declared yesterday.

Charges that Japanese fishermen are being supported by a number of San Diego canneries was made by Mr. Ray Hawley, President of the American Fishermen’s Protective Association of this port. Hawley announced that an agreement between the Mexican Industrial Company, the WESTGATE PACKING CO., and the American Fishermen’s Association; whereby the fishermen were to receive a flat rate of $125 per ton for albacore, was *BROKEN* at midnight Thursday. ‘We understand that this contract was annulled because the banks, presumably at the request of several canners, refused to finance the WESTGATE PACKING COMPANY.’, said Hawley. ‘The members of our association had equipped their boats with fuel oil, secured their provisions, and were preparing to leave for the fishing grounds when I stopped them at midnight Thursday.

JAPANESE FAVORED

‘Behind all this is the fact that the canners (not all, but many of them) prefer Japanese fishermen to Americans or Italians. The International Packing Corporation gives the Japanese fishermen free house rent, free gas, and free lights. The Japanese are holding out for a flat rate of $135 per ton, against a rate of $125 per ton offered by the Americans. The majority of the canners prefer to pay the Japanese $135 per ton because they will get back a good percentage under certain agreements they have with the Asiatics. (*Note: Those supposed “certain agreements” were never specified in any of these articles – ed.)

Said Hawley, ‘It is against the statutes for Japanese to live on our tidelands. The Italians were ousted 10 years ago and there is absolutely no reason why the Japanese should not be given similar treatment. I intend to go before the City Council and request that this be done. The Council recently granted the International Packing Company the right to permit (cont. Pg. 3) the Japanese fishermen to live on the tidelands for 15 more months. Why wait 15 months to do this? The Italians were ousted without ceremony. And the Japs are going too, if the American Fishermen’s Association has to take the matter up with State authorities.’

UNDERBID JAPANESE

‘The members of our association are willing to catch albacore at $125 per ton. The Japanese want $135 per ton and, if certain of the local canners have their way; the Japanese will get it. Naturally the consumer foots the additional cost.

Last year, at this period, the total weight of albacore brought to port aggregated 1,500,000 pounds (i.e. 750 tons – ed.). Due to the controversy over the price to be paid this year, the total amount brought to port this season is less than 36,000 pounds (i.e. just 2.4% – ed.). ‘The American fishermen want to work. They realize that several hundred San Diegansare kept out of employment because of the canneries’ failure to start operations. We offered to fish for$10 per ton LESS than the price asked for by the Japanese. I don’t know what the canners intend to do, but I do know this. The American Fishermen’s Protective Association is going to fight the Japanese to a finish.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Saturday, July 23, 1921 – Pg. 1 & 3)

********

“74 FISHING BOATS GO OUT FOR WHITE MEAT ALBACORE – Plant at La Playa Arranges to Handle Catch on Co-Operative Plan; to Employ 364 – A new angle in the tuna-packing dispute which has kept local plants idle at a season when they usually are very busy, came last night when it was announced that 74 boats had gone out to catch white meat albacore, the choicest of the tuna variety. The boats are all owned and operated by American fishermen belonging to the American Fishermen’s Protective Association. Secretary Ray Hawley of the association said last night: ‘We have decided to go into this matter on the co-operative plan. The K. HOVDEN COMPANY of La Playa (foot of Canon St. – ed.) has agreed to furnish its plant for the packing, and I want to express to the public the appreciation of the fishermen for the fine way in which this company has come to the front and kept its agreement. By this plan we shall be able to keep in employment several hundred persons who otherwise would have been out of work at a time when the plants ought to be busy. We will run the plants on three shifts, employing from 75 to 100 personsin each shift. We can pack about 50 tons perday.’

‘The boats of the association will keep 364 men busy, so you can see that what we are trying to do will be a big help to the city.’ The first catch is expected in tonight. For several days the American Fishermen’s Protective Association had been keeping track of a large school of albacore.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Bee newspaper – Tuesday, July 26, 1921 – Pg. 1)

********

“LEAVES FAMILY AT BREAKFAST TABLE TO END LIFE – Rising from the breakfast table, at which was seated his wife and children, as well as his brother-in-law, Mr. RAY HAWLEY, former President of the American Fishermen’s Protective Association, this morning went to an adjoining room of his home at 1508 Arctic Street, and a few moments later sent a .38 calibre bullet crashing into his brain, his death being instantaneous. Financial troubles are said to have been responsible for Hawley’s ending his life. Members of his family know that he had been worrying over finance, although he has been steadily employed, but had no intimation that he contemplated suicide. At the breakfast table this morning he is said to have given no indication of despondency. However, at 8:40 o’clock he suddenly got up from the breakfast table and went into an adjoining room. A moment later Mrs. Hawley, Arthur Chartrind (brother-in-law), and the children of the family heard the report of a shot. Hawley, it developed, had secured a .38 calibre revolver and fired a shot into his right temple. Hawley was 38 years old. He is survived by the widow Adaline Hawley, and five children; ranging in age from 2 to 16 years. The body was removed to the Smith & Goodbody Undertaking establishment, where Coroner S. C. Kelly is to hold an inquest Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock.” (He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego – ed.)

(*Source: San Diego EVENING TRIBUNE newspaper – Saturday, July 1, 1922 – Pg. 10)

“CHICKEN OF THE SEA’ ORIGINATOR DIES AT 94 – The man who originated the brand and slogan ‘Chicken of the Sea’ (now property of the VAN CAMP SEA FOOD CO.), died recently in Beverly Hills, California at the age of 94. He was Dr. Gerrit Lansing Hogan, first President of the WHITE STAR CANNING CO., still an element of the VAN CAMP organization. According to Mr. Walter Gillis, long-time Van Camp Vice-President and dean of the tuna industry, Dr. Hogan was engaged in salmon canning on the Klamath River before he participated in the organization of the White Star Canning Co., which later became a part of the Van Camp structure.”

(*Source: Pacific Fisherman magazine, – February 1957 – Pg. 13)

*Editorial Note: Gerrit Lansing Hogan (future M.D.) was born November 17, 1862 in Albany, New York (one of six children), and died in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles Co., California on December 31, 1956. He was pre-deceased by his wife Rose Story Hogan in 1953, whom Gerrit had married on January 22, 1890 in Bozeman, Montana. They had four children; Amelia, Nelson, Romaine, and Vandeveer. Gerrit & Rose will be interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, Los Angeles Co., California. ~ Another OBITUARY noted, in part: “… Dr. Hogan, a native of Albany, N.Y., joined the staff of California hospital here in 1904 after graduation from Union College and the Albany Medical School… ~ …He formed a salmon canning firm on the Klamath River in 1912 (at the age of 50 – ed.) and two years later (i.e. 1914 – ed.), started operating a fleet of TUNA BOATS at San Pedro, California.”

(*Source: Redding Record-Searchlight newspaper – Thursday, January 3, 1957 – Pg. 7)

“THIS SEA YARN EQUALS FEATS OF MOBY DICK! – Captain of Fishing Craft Uses Shark’s Back for Exercise Board at Sea – (San Diego UP) – If the ‘Moby Dick’ yarn should suddenly become a reality, it could not arouse more interest among people of the waterfront here than did the audacious tale of deep-sea prowess of the captain of a local fishing craft. As the story goes, Capt. Guy Silva and his crew were hauling in a few tuna while they lay off Cape San Lucas (the southern tip of Baja, California – ed.). Suddenly one of the huge leopard sharks (Note: This species identification is wrong and should read ~whale~ shark – ed.), which sometimes reach a length of 60’ and a weight of nearly as many tons, heaved itself to the surface and lay alongside.

Acting on impulse, Capt. Silva jumped overboard and landed upon the shark’s back! With a shout to his men to clear the decks, he RAN THE FULL LENGTH OF THE FISH and clambered back aboard his ship before the creature could realize what had happened?! A weather-beaten Olde Salt brought the tale to port and claimed the shark was ‘a good 50 feet in length’!

When bystanders made remarks about the inferiority of Ananias compared to present-day fishermen (i.e. ‘Ananias’ is a reference to the Biblical fisherman [Acts 5:1-5] and chronic liar God struck dead; insinuating that fishermen often, including here, lie – ed.), he heatedly offered to put up ‘plenty of money’ to vouch for his ability to gather witnesses that would substantiate his story. He has seen Silva’s feat, he said! The ‘leopard’ shark (again, actually a whale shark – ed.), he added, is the laziest of the fish family. And even after Silva had regained his ship, the monster still drifted alongside as though nothing had happened. ~ Silva gained fame here some time ago when he rigged up a means of electrocuting 300-pound tuna, which did away with the necessity of tiring them out at the end of a line before they could be hauled aboard a fishing craft.”

(*Source: SAN MATEO TIMES newspaper – Thursday, January10, 1929 – Pg. 7)

*Editorial Notes: Although “Silva” is an extremely common Portuguese surname, Capt. Guy H. Silva’s paternal line/surname goes back to his grandfather John Silva born 1815 in Savoy, Sardinia, ITALY; later coming to St. Louis, Missouri and having a son (later Guy’s father) Louis John Silva, who married a Miss Emma Roslyn Sutemeier there. The name of master electrician and fishing Capt. Guy H. Silva’s most famous tunaboat in San Diego was the 95’ “Emma R. S.”, named after his beloved mother. ~

***I also wanted to include this article for the (final sentence) reference to Capt. Silva’s “successful testing” (but never fully implemented?! – ed.) of electrically stunning hooked tuna via the fishing line and pole, before AUTOMATICALLY pulling them aboard pneumatically, thereby eliminating much of the time, need, and expense of actual fishermen. Potential fishermen “on deck” in such a scenario were obviously/rightly frightened of the possibility of they themselves getting electrocuted in such a conductive/dangerous environment, not to mention the large-scale threat to their future employment and way of life. Nowadays…, I still wonder if perhaps this idea’s “time has come”?

“FISHING BOAT TO HAVE SHORT WAVE RADIO SET – Equipment Carried to Communicate With Home Office During Trip – (San Diego) – Capt. Guy Silva’s new type (the ‘POINT LOMA’, an upgrade of the earlier ‘Emma R.S.’, and designed by Mr. Ray Prewett at San Diego Marine Construction. She will sink July 2, 1932. – ed.) 95’ fishing boat will leave here shortly, with the first SHORT-WAVE RADIO TRANSMITTING SET to be installed on a fishing boat on the coast.

The set will be used to communicate with the amateurs in this country and Silva’s ‘home office’ during a trip to explore the Allaire Bank (a fishing bank – ed.) 600 miles southwest of Cape San Lucas. The boat itself will carry a pneumatic steering gear, a gas system for fire fighting, and electric drive. She will also have a cork-insulated hull, making it (for all intents and purposes) a floating refrigerator. The short wave radio set will keep it in touch with shore at ALL times, the transmitting unit having a range of 3,000 to 8,000 miles. The call numbers will be assigned shortly by the U.S. Department of Commerce.”

(*Source: Oakland Tribune newspaper – Sunday, June 10, 1928 – Pg. 5)

*Editorial Notes & Bookends of History: Some ‘Truths’ are much harder to accept than others, but nevertheless: It is prudent when considering a study of any particular group (in this case, Portuguese-Americans [aka. PA’s here – ed.], it should be noted HOW they (as a group) were generally perceived, treated and referred to within the receiving culture and country of their ‘future home’, perhaps especially so near the time of their initial immigration? As such, I’m including two published “book end” references or excerpts here, as they pertain to PA’s in the 20-year span between them:

(1.) From famed American author Mark Twain’s (aka. Samuel Clemens) very popular book, ‘THE INNOCENTS ABROAD’ published in 1869, and;

(2.) An article from the Boston Courier newspaper published 20 years later (i.e. nearly a generation – ed.), in 1889.

In 1869 famed American author Mark Twain cruelly included in Chapter 5 these crass descriptions of Azoreans from Faial in his book “The Innocents Abroad”, writing: “These islanders are…,’ ‘…noisy, lying, shoulder-shrugging, gesticulating Portuguese… ‘all ragged and barefoot, uncombed and unclean, and by instinct, education, and profession; beggars…, ‘The people lie, and cheat the stranger, and are desperately ignorant, and have hardly any reverence for their dead. The latter trait shows how little better they are than the donkeys they eat and sleep with.” …and… “The community is eminently Portuguese – that is to say, it is SLOW, POOR, SHIFTLESS, SLEEPY, and LAZY.”

Such pompous drivel apparently passed for “Fun Facts” in 1869 America, and coming from Mr. Clemens’ lofty position, one can only guess from this curious lapse that this son of an attorney and judge somehow forgot that he fortified his own 6^th-grade schooling by educating himself in both well-supplied home and public libraries; institutions unavailable to the Azoreans he so harshly judged? Perhaps he felt it was his steadfast bravery (just joking – ed.) during his extensive (i.e. 2 weeks! – ed.) Confederate “military service” (?!) before he deserted to Nevada that justified his steely (yet cowardly – ed.) discernment? No matter, because my Azorean grandfathers never knew or cared that Mark Twain had defamed their homeland, culture, and countrymen (although I easily imagine the smaller one would have offered ol’ Mark an opportunity to “step outside” to “discuss it”. – ed.). They were neither famous or rich, but at least they were REAL men; with character, honor, and the desire and ability to Keep Their Word.

Finally, another reason I chose these two “bookend” references for this 20-year span, is they are also equidistant to the year 1879, an especially tragic and deadly year for the seamen of Gloucester; where many of the fishermen (and the whalers before – ed.) were sons of Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, and the Cape Verde islands. In 1879 alone, 249 fishermen and 29 vessels were lost during a single, terrible storm off Cape Ann.

And for an even broader perspective, please know that in 1925, when the Gloucester Tercentenary Permanent Memorial Association sponsored the artistic competition to commemorate Gloucester’s 300^th anniversary and to permanently memorialize the many, many (nearly 10,000! – ed.) fishermen lost at sea from Gloucester’s historic port, with that city’s famous, “Man at the Wheel” and/or “They That Go Down to the Sea in Ships…” (Psalms 107:23) Statue there. It is not to be missed if you are in the area. It is considered sculptor Leonard Craske’s greatest work, costing $10,000 in 1925 (equivalent to $177,337 today; yet [astonishingly!] that equates to less than $18 per dead seafarer – ed.), and is located bayside on the Stacy Esplanade.

And for an even truer perspective, when there don’t forget to also visit the nearby (west of the Blynman Canal drawbridge) newer “Fishermen’s Wives Memorial”, dedicated in 1996 by the GLOUCESTER FISHERMEN’S WIVES ASSOCIATION “to honor the wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters of fishermen for their diligences and fortitude.”

And finally, given the powerful history of Gloucester’s great seafaring success (and that it was often built on the backs of supremely brave, sacrificing, and hard-working Portuguese immigrants) and it’s famed “They That Go Down to the Sea…” Memorial Monument (and later, Gloucester’s nearby and poignant “Fishermen’s Wives Memorial”), it is little wonder that Provincetown, Massachusetts’ PA native son, CAPT. ANTHONY MASCARENHAS deeply understood the significance of Gloucester’s Memorial, and subsequently the importance of the San Diego’s “Tunaman’s Memorial Monument” that he so diligently promoted and fund-raised for here in San Diego, especially considering that he also lived in Gloucester for a time before coming west.

**********************

“NOT SO BAD AS ALL THAT – It is well known that fishermen after getting a fare at the Georges (Atlantic fishing banks some 150 east of Cape Cod – ed.) make haste to get to Boston, having been fortunate enough to secure an unusually large quantity of fish, crowded on all sail and started for home. A severe storm arose, during which three men were washed overboard and lost. One of these was a native of PORTUGAL. The loss was a severe blow the Captain, who had been congratulating himself upon receiving the commendations of the owners of the vessel for the very large fare he has secured. The news of the loss of the men preceded the vessel’s arrival, and the owners were aware of it and looked down with very grave faces upon the Captain as he sheered alongside of the wharf.

‘We’ve got the biggest fare that’s come to this wharf, you bet!’ said the Captain. ‘What good is that,’ asked one of the owners, ‘when you’ve lost three men?’

‘Who says that?’ asked the Captain. ‘Why, the tugboat brought in the news.’

‘That we lost three men?’ ‘Yes.’ they replied.

Said the Captain, ‘Well it ain’t so bad as all that…, only two men and a Portagee.”

(*Source: Los Angeles Daily Herald newspaper (via Boston Courier) – Sunday, September 1, 1889 – Pg. 9)

“PORTUGUESE CELEBRATE – 2,000 JOIN IN FETE TO LAUD QUEEN – Nearly 2,000 San Diegans of Portuguese ancestry gathered at OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CHURCH yesterday morning to pay homage to QUEEN SAINT ISABEL in the 600-year-old Feast of the Holy Ghost. The Mass was celebrated in the church by Fr. Alves of San Jose, who delivered the sermon in Portuguese. After the Mass, Miss GERALDINE OLIVER was crowned Queen of the celebration, and MARY ANN OLIVER was crowned Little Queen. After the coronation, 400 of the worshipers gathered outside the church to form a 3-block-long Procession that wound through the neighborhood to come back to the Italian Hall, which adjoins the church at State & Date Sts.

FEASTING BEGINS

The feasting – on nearly a ton of barbecued beef, sweet bread, potatoes, sopa, and ice cream – began immediately. Nearly 1,500 persons were served in the basement of the hall, which was lined with tables to seat more than 250 at a time. Upstairs in the hall, dancing was held from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. and last night in the Eagles’ Hall a second dance was held. Leading yesterday’s Procession from the church were the delegations from the Portuguese Lodges. They were followed by a band and 102 richly costumed small girls, escorting the Little Queen of the fiesta.

QUEEN IN MARCH

Marching with that group was Miss LORRAINE SILVA, who reigned as Queen at the Feast of the Holy Ghost celebrated last Sunday at the S.E.S. HALL and St. AGNES CHURCH on Point Loma. At the end of the Procession was the Queen of yesterday’s celebration, Miss GERALDINE OLIVER, attended by her ladies in waiting, and the Moose Band. The celebration was sponsored by a group of 20 members of the Portuguese colony, with DENNIS L. OLIVER (aka Denis Lourenco Oliveira – ed.) acting as President of the fiesta. The sponsors were: VIRGIL PAIXAO, JOE F. ROSA, GEORGE ALAMEDA, HERMAN CARDOSO, JOAQUIN THEODORE, TONY MANIZ (aka Moniz? – ed.), MANUEL HOMEM, MANUEL MATTOS, MANUEL BALELO, LAWRENCE OLIVER, FRANK LAWRENCE, JOE LAWRENCE, FRANK G. FRANCIS, MANUEL PERRY, MANUEL COELHO, JOHN AMARAL, MANUEL SILVA, and VICTOR GOULARTE.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Beenewspaper – Monday, June 13, 1949 – Pg. 24)

“NEW TUNA CLIPPER HEROIC LAUNCHED – The 120’ tuna clipper ‘HEROIC’, the 18^th vessel in 37 months to be launched at the LYNCH SHIPBUILDING CO. yard at the foot of Twenty-Eighth St., was sent down the way last night at 6:00, with appropriate ceremonies. The vessel, which will be ready to sail for the fishing banks of Costa Rica early next year, was christened with champagne by pretty Miss HAZEL VIRISSIMO. Her maid of honor was her sister, DEOLINDA. Both girls are daughters of the skipper, Mr. ESMAEL VIRISSIMO, who owns the boat in partnership with M. VIRISSIMO, M. O. MEDINA, FRANK and JOSEPH CORREIA, and MANUEL FRANK. Mr. George Wallace, Vice-President of the American Fishermen’s Tunaboat Association (a forerunner of the A.T.A. – ed.), officiated at the ceremony. The crew of 14 are returned Servicemen.”

(*Source: San Diego UNION & Daily Beenewspaper – Monday, September 17, 1945 – Pg. 6)