Newspaper articles on the Catalina local of the Fishermen's Protective Union



compiled by Dr. Melvin Baker (c)1999




The Mail and Advocate, January 29, 1915

"Live news notes from Catalina"



On Saturday the members of the FPU held their annual meeting, which was the largest ever held here. The weather was most suitable for the occasion and pretty nearly all our oldest members turned out in good shape.

The FPU store will close on Monday and will remain closed while stock taking. Mr. Stone, who has been away north, returned by train on Saturday just in time for the parade.

Mr. Boyd Hicks is now confined to his bed suffering from the effects of a dog bite. As his case is not serious we hope to see him around again in a few days.

The most of the men are now enjoying a holiday, as the snow is all gone, which of course prevents them from getting into the woods. But the ladies are more than busy knitting socks and doing everything else that is necessary to relieve our soldier boys.

Skipper Tom King is now trying his hand at boat building and has an idea that he's going to knock out friend Garland Clouter, who has a dandy boat which he built last winter; but as everybody says it's not so much the boat, it's the engine that counts, and what everybody says must be true - "You can't beat the 'Coaker.'"

Skipper Theop. King is also putting up one which no doubt will be a slasher, but as he uses the Fraser engine we can't see where he's coming in. However, Uncle Colly Clouter is not satisfied with his old boat of last year; but Uncle Colly says he'll bet his boots when he gets her completed and his "Coaker" Engine installed. Then he's satisfied to face the Germans.

Times are indeed dull around now and before the last of March we expect to see hard times all over the country. As yet the folks around here are not so bad, but later on we expect to hear of some complaints.

The S.S. Prospero, Ryan, arrived here yesterday morning from the north and according to reports struck a solid rock or a large derelict at the Horse Islands, which of course wasn't on the Chart.




The Mail and Advocate, February 6, 1915 letter from Sweet Joe, Catalina, dated February 2, 1915

Dear Sir,

On Monday night we held our regular meeting, although the weather was very stormy, yet a goodly number turned up, even our friend James Goodyear from Little Catalina who is certainly a credit to our Council, seemingly no weather stops this faithful and loyal supporter of the Union from putting in his appearance at every meeting, as a matter of fact. Mr. Editor, all our Union meetings are well attended, and as soon as one of our boys returns from Sydney or the United States the first thing we know is that he is seeking admission into our ranks, as was the case on Monday night when we had the pleasure of accepting Mr. Edward Howell who has been away to Boston for quite a while, but who returned very recently to remain in dear old Terra Nova as long as the British flag flies over it.

Friend Nathaniel White who has been sick since last spring is we are sorry to say very little better. The Union men however don't intend to let him get cold as quite a number of volunteers have offered to pull him a load of wood each which no doubt will be acceptable.

This Local Council here is certainly doing a great deal of good in many ways. For instance, during the fall they built a house for a widow woman and at Xmas time a collection was taken up to provide fresh beef for the widow, here and now the Council have decided to pull wood for friend White and Mr. Fowlow who of course cannot get around themselves. A great deal of credit is due the Chairman, Dug White, who is always ready to extend a helping hand and stand up for the poor man.





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