You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
YSERFONTEIN HABOUR
- Thread starter peks@mweb.co.za
- Start date
subaruseun
Sealiner
nice pic... was it a processing factory?
Lekker pic Pieter.
I dig these old black and white photos from a bygone era.
I'm thinking that perhaps these structures could have had something to do with guano harvesting from Dassen Island.
Penguin eggs were also a popular dish in those times and Dassen Island was apparently one of the places were these were collected.
On the other hand, it could just be a small cannery or fishmeal ppant.
I dig these old black and white photos from a bygone era.
I'm thinking that perhaps these structures could have had something to do with guano harvesting from Dassen Island.
Penguin eggs were also a popular dish in those times and Dassen Island was apparently one of the places were these were collected.
On the other hand, it could just be a small cannery or fishmeal ppant.
Carll wrote:
Absolutely!
As for the structures, just did a quick search, and it turns out that they may well be the apparently unsuccessful fish cannery that was set up there just after WW2.
An interesting fact that may in some way relate to this, is that of the export of canned snoek to Britain during the war.
Due to severe food rationing, sources of protein to feed the Brits was hard to come by. What better source of protein was to be had than that to be caught off the coast of South Africa.
Locally caught snoek was canned and sent to the UK as part of the war effort.
Unfortunately, the quality of the end product was horrific and canned snoek became almost legendary in wartime Britain as a prime example of the hardships of war.
Anyone who thought that they would make money out of exporting canned snoek to post war Europe would have been poorly mistaken!
Think that was the good all days
Absolutely!
As for the structures, just did a quick search, and it turns out that they may well be the apparently unsuccessful fish cannery that was set up there just after WW2.
An interesting fact that may in some way relate to this, is that of the export of canned snoek to Britain during the war.
Due to severe food rationing, sources of protein to feed the Brits was hard to come by. What better source of protein was to be had than that to be caught off the coast of South Africa.
Locally caught snoek was canned and sent to the UK as part of the war effort.
Unfortunately, the quality of the end product was horrific and canned snoek became almost legendary in wartime Britain as a prime example of the hardships of war.
Anyone who thought that they would make money out of exporting canned snoek to post war Europe would have been poorly mistaken!
Hi Guys.
I chatted with both my Father and Uncle in regards to this old picture of Yzerfontein Harbour and they had the following to say:
The first time they ventured down to Yzerfontein was with the late Bill Jack (later a resident of Yzerfontein) somewhere between 1952 and 1954 at which stage there was no processing of fish happening and the factory was closed. From my Uncle's recollection of what he was told at the time the factory was built to process sardines, maybe that is where the canning part came in? It seems the intended business was a misadventure. By the time my Dad and them went down the wooden jetty you see near the end of the concrete outer wall (which is still there today), had been swept away. Anyone that knows Yzerfontein can confirm that some heavy swells break over and around that wall, so I am assuming one of the reasons for the misadventure was unpredictable weather. Unlike Stompneus Bay where you still see this type of trawler operation.
My uncle says that Gastron Fernandez operated with live crayfish tanks in those buildings after the sardine operation closed down.
Anyway, one could state that my Uncle, Father and Bill Jack were most likely the pioneers of early Snoek Fishing from Yzerfontein, launching their dingy next to the factory, rowing the boat into the corner before putting on the motors and other equipment long before the first slipway was built, the steep one that is unused today.
I think it is important to remember these details. From what I understand Gastron is still alive, if someone knows where he lives, they should interview him as to his memories of what happened here.
Regards,
BTTB.
@Astrix. My one was 15Kg, one of 19Kg was caught about 4 or 5 years ago. But certainly the exception to the norm, maybe even a lifetime achievement.
I chatted with both my Father and Uncle in regards to this old picture of Yzerfontein Harbour and they had the following to say:
The first time they ventured down to Yzerfontein was with the late Bill Jack (later a resident of Yzerfontein) somewhere between 1952 and 1954 at which stage there was no processing of fish happening and the factory was closed. From my Uncle's recollection of what he was told at the time the factory was built to process sardines, maybe that is where the canning part came in? It seems the intended business was a misadventure. By the time my Dad and them went down the wooden jetty you see near the end of the concrete outer wall (which is still there today), had been swept away. Anyone that knows Yzerfontein can confirm that some heavy swells break over and around that wall, so I am assuming one of the reasons for the misadventure was unpredictable weather. Unlike Stompneus Bay where you still see this type of trawler operation.
My uncle says that Gastron Fernandez operated with live crayfish tanks in those buildings after the sardine operation closed down.
Anyway, one could state that my Uncle, Father and Bill Jack were most likely the pioneers of early Snoek Fishing from Yzerfontein, launching their dingy next to the factory, rowing the boat into the corner before putting on the motors and other equipment long before the first slipway was built, the steep one that is unused today.
I think it is important to remember these details. From what I understand Gastron is still alive, if someone knows where he lives, they should interview him as to his memories of what happened here.
Regards,
BTTB.
@Astrix. My one was 15Kg, one of 19Kg was caught about 4 or 5 years ago. But certainly the exception to the norm, maybe even a lifetime achievement.
peks@mweb.co.za
Senior Member
Thanx for the info !!
Seabiscuit
Member
I see Gastron quite often in South Arm road in the Port of Cape Town. Gastron is the owner of Lusitania & Waterfront Cold Store.
the old steep slip was quite a challenge when there was a crowd waiting to come out and there's a bad swell running. seen many mishaps there . our big advantage when the boat was full of snoek was that we operated with a 4.2 land cruiser . there were not many 4x4s around then (35yr ago) like there is now so we had to help quite a few light weight vehicles. back then i learnt very fast how to reverse the trailer on target and NEVER to forget to engage the rachet of the winch.