Page 46 - Bulletin 18 2014

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them but whaling had ceased by the 1870s due to the decimation of the whale populations.

But evidence of whaling was still visible in the form of blubber pots, tubs, and whale bones.
(Figs. 2.1 & 2.2.)

A typical beach-boat was about 25 ft. long, 7 ft. 6 ins. in beam, and weighed about one ton.
Each had a crew of 6 - so the active fishery involved perhaps 250 – 300 men. They ventured

no more than 5 - 6 miles into the bay to do hand-line fishing. Upon return, during normal

weather conditions, boats lay on the beach above the high tide line. During spring tides and
storms they were dragged to safety onto the main road, and this was easily accomplished until

the Cape Government Railways (CGR) extended the railway to Simon’s Town in 1890
without giving much consideration to the fishery.

Severe consequences for the fishing fleet followed: first, the viaduct placed a barrier between

the beach and the safe storm refuge on main road – there were three narrow openings in the
viaduct but they were steep and narrow and it was almost impossible to carry and drag boats

through them; second, it narrowed the beach causing heavy seas to backwash off the viaduct

and scour away the sand, lowering the beach profile, and exposing the boats to even normal
seas and tides; third, in these conditions boats were jostled against each other and the viaduct

causing them much damage. (Figs. 2.3 & 2.4.) During a particularly bad storm in 1898 half
the fleet, about 20 boats, was severely damaged and this added to the clamour for a

breakwater to provide a safe refuge. The toe of the viaduct was also undermined by wave
attack and photographs over the years show that protective masonry cladding was added to

the wave-exposed face.

The first official reference to a harbour is found in the Kalk Bay Municipal Improvement Bill
of 1897 which had gained the support of ratepayers at a public meeting in the Anglican

Church school-hall on 15 April 1896. After various amendments the Kalk Bay Municipal
Improvement Act No. 26 of 1897 came into effect on 1 July 1897. Section 8 empowered the

municipality to carry out six public works the first of which was a breakwater at Kalk Bay.