Interview with Alan Aberdein

Captain Alan S Aberdein born Aberdeen, Scotland 1934. Recalls going to sea with the British India Steam Navigation Company as an apprentice deck officer in 1951. Talks about his early days at sea and arrival in New Zealand. Describes his first trip to sea on a fishing boat out of Auckland and working on the fishing vessel `Coromel' which acted as a mother ship to some of the blue cod fishing boats at the Chatham Islands in 1956. Discusses some of the cargo ships he worked on around New Zealand, in particular, vessels belonging to the Northern Steam Ship Company. Explains that on leaving the Northern Steam Ship Company he and some others set up the Kaiapoi Shipping Company and discusses the problems experienced and how the introduction of the rail ferry Aramoana decimated coastal shipping in the early 1960s. With the failure of the company recalls how he and some of his partners decided to set up a fishing venture. He talks about the problems of getting out onto the Marnoo bank, the fishing methods and the blue cod and groper caught on this virginal ground. Describes the initial attempts to develop the crayfish fishery at Chatham Islands, outlines the crayfish boom which started in 1965 and lasted until the early 1970s, and considers himself one of the pioneers. Talks about the setting up of the Mernoo Fishing Company and refers to vessel `Picton' and the formation of the Picton Fishing Company in 1964. Also discusses the processing plants and the helicopters used for taking the crayfish off the fishing boats. The fishing boat convoys between the mainland of New Zealand and the Chathams are discussed, their problems and boat losses, his part as convoy leader, and problems with the Marine Department. Talks about his fishing career after the crayfish boom which included expeditions to some of New Zealand's southernmost islands and trips into the Pacific in search of crayfish. Concludes by talking about his life as mate and later skipper aboard the Government Fishery Research vessels, `James Cook' and `Kaharoa'.

Interviewer(s) - Emmanuel Makarios

Venue - 20 Leinster Ave, Raumati South and Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010213-010216

Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 3 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3410.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.