Page 81 - Bulletin 18

78

Operation

Minor port

In 1918 Kalk Bay was one of eight minor ports, the others being Walvis Bay, Port Nolloth,

Simon’s Town, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Storms River, and Port St. Johns. Records were

therefore kept of goods tonnage handled and admissions to the breakwater. These are
presented below. The data show that for the first 15 years the harbour was very busy; the

general absence of data after this unfortunately obscures any trends. The goods handled were
primarily whale-oil brought in by whale-catchers from the whaling station at Stony Point,

Cape Hangklip, and guano. However, the whale-oil landings ceased in 1921 when the station
closed. Guano volumes, from Seal Island among other places, fluctuated with prices, and also

on account of weather conditions and availability.

Table 1: Flows of goods, people and money through Kalk Bay Harbour, 1913 – 1939.

Year Tonnage Breakwater Year Tonnage Breakwater
(ending handled admissions & (ending handled admissions &
March) permit income March) permit income
1913 No data No data 1926 No data 35,416 /£682
1914 No data No data 1927 No data 34,924 / £554
1915 No data 17,749 1928 54 29,523 / £439
1916 1,636 37,246 / £340 1929 No data 46,199 / No data
1917 1,686 / £1,104 1930 34 No data
1918 2,156 46,919 / £880 1931 No data No data
1919 2,641 46,503 / £870 1932 41 No data
1920 204 87,435 1933 46 No data
1921 2,042 64,464 1934 No data No data
1922 56 74,522 / £1,364 1935 No data No data
1923 No data No data / £1,763 1936 No data No data
1924 No data 68,292 / £1,169 1937 130 No data
1925 No data 47,948 / £853 1938 31 No data
1939 89 No data

Annual Report of the General Manager of Railways and Harbours, 1913 – 1939.

Furlong recorded that as the Breakwater extended it became more and more popular each

season among fishermen. They were issued permits and a small charge was levied to cover
the wages of the watchman. All of these figures were recorded and show that tens of