Page 116 - Bulletin 8 2004
P. 116

113




                  and 234 coloured fisherman. It is interesting to note here that there were no black fishermen
                  in Kalk Bay at the time.


                  Because  of  motorisation  larger  and  heavier  boats  were  being  built,  but  they  were  still

                  designed  to  be  sailed.  They  were  fitted  with  a  mast  and  a  small  low  deck-house  above

                  which the boom carrying the mainsail could swing freely. When not under sail the boom,
                  with sail furled around it, would typically be lain centrally fore and aft and lashed to the top

                  of the deckhouse – producing the typical profile of the small motor fishing boat. (Fig. 3.9).
                  The emergence of the  Kelvin 14 hp  engines  and the new deck boats  meant  that fishing

                  vessels could venture further from port, and life became more bearable for the skipper and
                  the crewmen.  It  took  approximately two hours from Kalk  Bay to  the fishing  grounds at

                  Cape Point.


                  The breakwater provided only partial protection to the fleet as the seas could still sweep in

                  from  the  open  north  side.  (Fig.  3.10).  So,  some  twenty  years  after  completion  of  the

                  breakwater, in 1939, the new North Mole and wooden jetty were constructed in order to
                  provide a fully protected harbour. This also allowed for more mooring space. (Figs. 3.11 &

                  3.12).


                  Boat-owners and Skippers


                  Many  families  have  been  prominent  as  boat-owners  and  skippers.  The  now-established

                  Fernandez family, Leon Klein, the Ferreiras, the Michaels, the Edwards, the Fish family,
                  the  Trimmel  Bros.,  the  Gomez  family,  the  Cozyns,  the  Fortune  family,  the  Williams,

                  Jameson,  and  Poggenpoel  families,  the  Orgills,  the  Clarence  family,  the  Emandiens,
                  Almazans, the Eckeles, the Erispes, the Sasmans, the Teichards, and others – all of them

                  kept the fishing industry alive and would create employment for hundreds of fishers in the
                  years to follow. The majority of fishermen came from the Kalk Bay area as well as from the

                  Simon’s Town, Red Hill, Glencairn, Noordhoek and Kommetjie areas. Some of the most
   111   112   113   114   115   116   117   118   119   120   121