Canopus (Ship)

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Audio

Interview with Paolo Saffioti and James Imlach

Date: 20 Dec 1994

From: New Zealand fishing history oral history project

By: Imlach, James, 1914-1995; Saffioti, Paolo, 1918-

Reference: OHInt-0444-05

Description: James Imlach born in the North of Scotland and came from a family of fishermen for many generations. Recalls that his father, Jimmy Imlach senior, came to New Zealand with his family at the end of World War I, initially working on a cargo ship employed on the cheese run between Patea and Wellington before taking up fishing. Recalls that in 1930, at the age of 16, left school and joined father and Shetland Islander, Tommy Isbister, on the `Southern Cross' which father owned. Paolo Saffioti born in New Zealand. Recalls that father was from Italy and had jumped ship in Auckland, travelling to Wellington where he heard there was an Italian community. Father worked on a coastal cargo ship, the `Canopus' carrying coal, before taking up fishing on one of the Italian boats in Eastbourne, later shifting to Island Bay where he continued fishing, eventually buying his own boat, the `All Black'. Recalls that it was in this vessel that self started fishing career at the age of 14 years during the early 1930s. Jimmy and Paolo worked on the `Southern Cross' and were to work together most of their fishing careers and were neighbours in Island Bay. They recall the types of fishing they were involved in, such as groper and crayfishing, the areas where they fished, type of gear used and the early winches and some of the dangers and accidents using them. They talk about some of the early fish wholesalers and the difficulties in selling their catch, particularly during the Depression. They discuss the Wellington Fishermen's Co-op in which Paolo's father, Santo Saffioti, was a founding member. Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the Co-op and its demise. Crayfishing from Island Bay during the early 1950s is also discussed. They recall boats that were built at Island Bay and their builders; making of wet weather gear and floats by the women of the fishing community and the slipway near the western entrance to Island Bay which was built and owned by a Mr Cunningham. Jimmy Imlach retired from fishing in 1965 though his sons are still involved in commercial fishing, owning a trawler, `The Rowallen' which works from Wellington. Paolo retired in 1983. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Emmanuel Makarios Venue - 200 The Esplanade, Island Bay, Wellington Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010224-010225 Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3414.